20 Day Grand Tour of Britain & Ireland

Tour Description

You’ll feel just like a local after touring Britain and Ireland on this 24 day tour. You’ll visit many of the area’s famous sites, marvel as you are swept along visually magnificent scenic drives and experience local food specialties that vary region to region.

Your Hotels

Stay at the following or similar:

• Copthorne, Plymouth
• Radisson Blu, Cardiff
• The Belfry, Waterford
• Kenmare Bay, Kenmare
• Carlton Hotel, Galway
• Sligo Park, Sligo
• Europa, Belfast
• Maldron Cardiff Lane, Dublin
• Jurys Inn, Liverpool
• North Lakes / Hydro, Lake District
• Radisson SAS, Glasgow
• Kings Arms, Isles of Skye
• Macdonalds Highland Resort, Scottish Highlands (Aviemore)
• Holiday Inn, Edinburgh
• Hotel 53, York

Sightseeing Highlights:

• Salisbury: View the Cathedral.
• Stonehenge: Visit the stone circle.
• Plymouth: See the Mayflower steps.
• Cornish Highlights: Excursion to view St. Michael’s Mount and St. Ives.
• Glastonbury: Visit the Abbey.
• Wells: View its majestic Cathedral.
• Bath: Visit the Roman Baths.
• Cardiff: See Cardiff Castle.
• Waterford: Visit the crystal showroom (when open).
• Cork: Orientation including views of St. Anne’s Shandon Church.
• Blarney: Visit the Castle.
• Killarney: Ring of Kerry drive.
• Adare: See the prettiest village in Ireland.
• Limerick: Orientation includes King John’s Castle and the treaty stone.
• Cliffs of Moher: See the seascape towering above the Atlantic.
• Galway: Orientation tour.
• Kylemore: View the Abbey.
• Londonderry/Derry: Sightseeing includes the city walls.
• Giant’s Causeway: Visit this geological formation of huge basalt columns.
• Belfast: Sightseeing includes the City Hall and Queen’s University.
• Dublin: Sightseeing views St. Patrick’s Cathedral and visits Trinity College to see the Book of Kells.
• Conwy: View the Castle.
• Chester: Visit the historic city.
• Gretna Green: Visit this historic site for eloping couples.
• Glasgow: Orientation tour.
• Glencoe: See the Vale of Weeping.
• Isle of Skye: Visit the island of Bonnie Prince Charlie.
• Culloden: Visit the battle site.
• St. Andrews: View the golf course.
• Edinburgh: Castle visit, views of Holyrood House.
• Jedburgh: View the Abbey.
• Hadrian’s Wall: View the fortifications.
• York: See the ‘Shambles’ and Minster.
• Coventry: See the two Cathedrals..
• Stratford-upon-Avon: Visit William Shakespeare’s birthplace.

First Class Travel Highlights

• First Class hotel accommodation includes twin-bedded rooms with private facilities, all hotel service charges and tips, baggage handling fees and local taxes.
• Touring by luxury air-conditioned coach with reclining seats and a washroom onboard.
• The services of one of Trafalgar’s top professional Tour Directors.
• The services of a Trafalgar Representative if you stay at our recommended London hotel.
• A qualified local city guide in Londonderry/Derry, Belfast, Dublin and Edinburgh.li>
• Tickets are included for the world-famous Tattoo during the Edinburgh Festival.
• Ferry across the Irish Sea from Wales to Ireland and return.
• A stylish wallet, tour documents and a Welcome on Tour book.
• London airport shuttle service, conditions apply.

Dining Highlights

• 6 English, 8 Irish and 5 Scottish full breakfasts.
• Cream tea in Devon.
• 8 three-course dinners.
• Local highlight restaurant dinner with wine in Liverpool.
• Farewell Dinner with wine in York.

B = Breakfast, D= Dinner

20 Day Itinerary

Day 1: London – Stonehenge – Plymouth (2 nights)

We head west for Salisbury to view the cathedral, then to Stonehenge, before continuing to Plymouth. Here we see the Mayflower steps, point of departure for the Pilgrim Fathers, and later we enjoy a Welcome Drink and dinner with our Tour Director and fellow travellers. (D) Stay: Copthorne

Day 2: Cornish Excursion

First to Penzance to view St. Michael’s Mount, then to St. Ives, popular artists’ haunt. Later we enjoy a traditional cream tea before returning to Plymouth. (B)

Day3: Plymouth – Bath – Cardiff

We visit the abbey ruins at Glastonbury and see the legendary site of King Arthur’s tomb. Then through Wells to Georgian Bath where we visit the Roman Baths. Today our Tour Director will reveal to us the first Hidden Treasure of our tour! Later we cross the Severn Bridge to Cardiff. (B) Stay: Radisson Blu

Day 4 Cardiff – Waterford

A morning orientation tour of Cardiff gives us a chance to view the mighty castle. Then later, we drive through South Wales to the port of Pembroke where we board our ferry to sail to Rosslare in Ireland. (B/D) Stay: The Belfry

Day 5 Waterford – Blarney – Kenmare (2 nights)

First we visit the Waterford Crystal Showroom before enjoying a scenic drive via Dungarvan and the fishing village of Youghal to Cork where we see St. Anne’s Shandon Church. Then to Blarney Castle where there’s a chance to acquire the ‘gift of the gab’ by kissing the Blarney Stone. (B/D) Stay: Kenmare Bay

Day 6: Ring of Kerry Excursion

Our highlight drive around the Ring of Kerry shows us plunging cliffs, lakeland, mountains and sandy beaches. We also see Dingle Bay, and the South Kerry Mountains before we head back to Kenmare. (B)

Day 7: Kenmare – Limerick – Galway

This morning we travel via the prettiest village in Ireland, Adare, on our way to Limerick on the River Shannon. Here an orientation shows us King John’s Castle, St. Mary’s Cathedral and the treaty stone. Next to Galway via the spectacular Cliffs of Moher. (B) Stay: Carlton Hotel

Day 8: Galway – Sligo

We enjoy an orientation drive in Galway city, then into the lakes and mountains of Connemara stopping first to view the Abbey at Kylemore which is renowned for the beauty and tranquility of its surroundings and gardens. We continue through Yeats’ country to Sligo. (B/D) Stay: Sligo Park

Day 9: Sligo – Londonderry – Giants Causeway – Belfast

We cross the border into Northern Ireland to Londonderry to enjoy a tour showing us the city walls. Next we visit the Giants Causeway, and continue along the Antrim Coast Road through Ballycastle to Belfast. (B/D) Stay: Europa

Day 10: Belfast sightseeing – Dublin (2 nights)

Our tour highlights the City Hall, Queen’s University and Stormont. Then we drive past Newry and Dundalk, crossing over the River Boyne at Drogheda and on to Dublin’s ‘fair city’. (B) Stay: Maldron Cardiff Lane

Day 11: Dublin sightseeing and at leisure

After breakfast our sightseeing tour with a local guide includes a visit of Trinity College to see the Book of Kells, Phoenix Park, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin Castle and more. Then time at leisure to perhaps shop or relax. (B)

Day 12: Dublin – Liverpool

We take the ferry back to Holyhead and drive to see the magnificent scenery of Snowdonia before viewing Conwy Castle. Then to Chester where our walking tour includes the famous ‘Rows’ and another Hidden Treasure. Finally to our hotel in Liverpool and a local restaurant Highlight Dinner tonight. (B/HD) Stay: Jurys Inn

Day 13: Liverpool – Lake District

We drive into the beautiful scenery of the English Lake District to our hotel. (B/D) Stay: North Lakes / Hydro

Day 14: Lake District – Glasgow

We stop at Gretna Green on the Scottish border, renowned for eloping couples, then on to Glasgow where our tour shows us the cathedral, George Square and the River Clyde before time at leisure. (B) Stay: Radisson SAS

Day 15: Glasgow – Isle of Skye

We follow the banks of Loch Lomond to Glencoe, Vale of the Weeping. Then, past Fort William, in the shadow of Ben Nevis, before we travel the famous road to the isles for the ferry to our hotel on the Isle of Skye. (B/D) Stay: Kings Arms

Day 16: Isle of Skye – Loch Ness – Scottish Highlands (Aviemore)

Explore the island before returning to the mainland through Glen Shiel and along the banks of Loch Ness where we look out for the monster! Then to Culloden, site of the famous battle before arriving at our hotel in the Scottish Highlands. (B/D) Stay: Macdonalds Highland Resort

Day 17: Scottish Highlands – St. Andrews – Edinburgh (2 nights)

We drive to Pitlochry, famous for excellent salmon fishing, before continuing to St. Andrews. Then on to Edinburgh via the splendid Forth Bridge. During the Edinburgh Festival, Edinburgh Tattoo tickets are included. (B) Stay: Holiday Inn

Day 18: Edinburgh sightseeing and at leisure

Our guided tour includes the elegant New Town, Princes Street, the Royal Mile, views of Holyrood House and Arthur’s Seat and enjoys a guided visit of the apartments at Edinburgh Castle. Later, perhaps enjoy an optional night out with a haggis dinner, bagpipes and Scottish dancing. (B)

Day 19: Edinburgh – York

We travel through the Scottish Borderlands past ruined Jedburgh Abbey and back into England stopping at Hadrian’s Wall. Then to Viking York where we will walk along the narrow cobbled street, known as the Shambles, and view the maginificent Minster. Tonight we join our Tour Director and travelling companions for a special Farewell Dinner together at the end of our tour. (B/D) Stay: Hotel 53

Day 20 York – Coventry – Stratford – London

We pass Sherwood Forest, of Robin Hood fame, en route to Coventry, home of Lady Godiva, where we see its two cathedrals. We see Anne Hathaway’s Cottage in the village of Shottery before reaching Stratford-upon-Avon where we visit Shakespeare’s birthplace before finally returning to London. (B)

Dates and Prices for 2011

Dates and Prices for 2012

Compare Coach Tour Costs and See where the Real Value
for your $ is!

Accommodation rating Represents the standard of hotel used most frequently throughout this tour

Extras Represents the individual operators suggested budget to pay for additional activities on tour (dinners,entertainment,excursions etc) NOT included in base tour price

Hotel legend:
D deluxe | SF superior first | F first | MF moderate first | ST superior tourist | T Tourist