BRITISH & IRISH VOYAGER 14 Day Itinerary
Day
1 - Fri: London Arrival & Introductory
Tour
Welcome
to Heathrow Airport, London! After immigration and baggage claim,
take an independent coach transfer to your hotel, located on Tottenham Court
Road. Coaches operate frequently. Use your London
open-top hop-on hop-off independent bus tour voucher to reach places all around
London that
appeal to you. You may choose to stay on the bus for the entire route and enjoy
the commentary. In the evening meet your guide and fellow travellers over a
welcome drink to discuss your vacation before heading to a real English pub for
some typical food. (D)
Day
2 - Sat: Hampton
Court & Leisure
Time
This
morning drive to Hampton Court
Palace, which is set in
handsome gardens and parkland close to the River Thames. Tour the Palace to see
the Tudor Kitchens, the great gatehouse, the orangery, the Hampton Court Vine
and the maze. Return to London where the afternoon and evening are at
leisure for independent activities. If you did not use your independent bus tour
voucher on the previous day, you may use it to discover the heart of this
vibrant capital. The pass is valid for 24 hours. (CB)
Day
3 - Sun: Cotswolds & Chester
Drive
through part of the Cotswolds, a delightful hilly region with honey-collared
stone houses, many dating back to medieval times. Stop in Stratford-upon-Avon for a look around on your own to see
Shakespeare's Birthplace and some of the old black-and-white houses. Continue
your drive to Chester and check in to your hotel. Then take a
walking tour to explore the narrow old streets of Chester. See the black-and-white Rows and walk
along parts of the medieval city walls. (CB, D)
Day
4 - Mon: Lake District & Gretna Green
Travel
through the glorious Lake District to enjoy
stunning views of shimmering lakes, gentle hills and valleys. Stop in the quaint
village of
Grasmere to visit Dove
Cottage, where William Wordsworth penned some of his most popular lines. Also
see his grave in the village churchyard. Cross the border into
Scotland and stop at
Gretna Green, one of the world's most popular
wedding destinations. Drive through the Borders region to Edinburgh and your hotel
in the "New Town." In the evening take a tour of Edinburgh's hidden gems and dine at a waterside restaurant
in Leith. (B, D)
Day
5 - Tue: Edinburgh
Castle & City Tour
Explore
central Edinburgh this morning, starting in the
200-year-old "New Town" with its planned streets and elegant Georgian houses,
homes of many famous writers and inventors. See the Royal Mile where the old
medieval houses are clustered. Tour Edinburgh Castle where the Crown Jewels of Scotland
and the Stone of Destiny are housed. The afternoon is free for independent
activities. On August 06, 13 and 20 departures watch the spectacular Military
Tattoo at Edinburgh Castle. (B)
Day
6 - Wed: Stirling
Castle, Glen Coe &
Traditional Music
Visit
the mighty Stirling Castle, captured from the English in 1297
by William Wallace and again in 1314 by Robert the Bruce. Drive through
Callander and into the scenic Trossachs region, called "The Highlands in
Miniature." Stop at Kilmahog Woollen Mill, which stocks a large selection of
Scottish goods and whiskies. Travel across Rannoch Moor and through Glencoe,
notorious for the massacre of the Clan Macdonald by the Campbells. Check in to
your lovely Highlands hotel and enhance the Highland atmosphere when a Scottish piper and step-dancer
perform for you after dinner. (B, D)
Day
7 - Thu: Highlands & Loch Lomond Cruise
Travel
through wonderful Highland scenery with many
bodies of water. Drive by Loch Etive and Loch Awe and through Glen Aray to the
Georgian town of Inveraray on the shores of Loch Fyne. The New
Town of Inveraray was built between 1753 and 1776 by the 3rd Duke of Argyll who
decided to move the existing town to landscape his splendid new castle properly. Cross
the mountain pass of "Rest and Be Thankful" to Loch
Lomond. Embark on a scenic cruise to admire panoramic views of
Highland peaks before driving into Glasgow for a short orientation tour. (B,
D)
Day
8 - Fri: Ferry to Ireland & Viking Dublin
Make
an early start this morning as you drive south from Glasgow through the gentle
pastoral countryside of the Southern Uplands to Cairnryan. Your tour group and
coach will embark on a short ferry journey to Larne. Take a brief look around
the city of Belfast before travelling south past
the Mourne Mountains and along the east coast to Dublin. Check into your
hotel, located on the north side of the city. The evening is free for
independent dining and hotel personnel or your tour escort will assist in
finding an appealing restaurant. (B)
Day
9 - Sat: Book of Kells & Shindig Evening
This
morning tour Dublin city centre in the company of a local
guide to see public buildings, delightful gardens and lively shopping streets.
View elegant Georgian squares lined with townhouses boasting collared doors.
Enter Trinity
College to view the 8th
century illuminated gospel manuscript of the Book of Kells in the Old Library.
The afternoon is at leisure when you may take an open-top bus tour with a
Guinness or Jameson visit. In the evening attend a "Shindig" at the Old Jameson
Distillery. See whiskey-making processes before dining on Irish specialties,
followed by a festive entertainment program. (B, D)
Day
10 - Sun: Blarney Castle & Killarney
Depart
Dublin and view the green countryside as you
travel through the centre of Ireland, which has many mixed farms.
Stop to view the stately church ruins atop the Rock of Cashel, which rises high
above the surrounding plain. Continue your drive south and just a few miles
outside Cork, visit Blarney Castle to kiss the famous "Stone of
Eloquence." Also visit the Blarney Woollen Mills before driving through Macroom
and into County
Kerry, where the scenery
becomes more mountainous. Check into your hotel in Killarney and relax before
dinner. (B, D)
Day
11 - Mon: Dingle
Peninsula & Blasket
Experience
Today
discover the scenic Dingle Peninsula, made famous by two movies -
"Ryan's Daughter" and "Far & Away." Drive along the south shore and stop to
admire views of heathery mountains and the sandy stretches of Inch Beach. Pause in Dingle before continuing
to the western tip of the peninsula. Tour the Blasket Centre in Dunquin to learn
about the Blasket Islands, inhabited until 1953 by hardy families who eked out a
living by farming and fishing. Return to Killarney and enjoy free time to relax
or take a walk. After dinner in your hotel you may like to visit some of the
cosy pubs featuring live music. (B, D)
Day 12 - Tue: Flying Boat Museum &
Cliffs of Moher
Travel
north to Foynes on the River Shannon Estuary to learn about the early days of
flight at the Flying Boat
Museum. This was the
landing place for Pam Am Clippers from the United
States and Europe. Drive
to the village of Bunratty and look around Durty Nelly's Pub or the
Bunratty
Folk Park. Head to the coast to view the Cliffs
of Moher, an impressive wall of rock that rises 700 feet above the Atlantic Ocean. Continue to Galway for a panoramic drive
before checking in to your hotel, which overlooks Galway Bay. (B, D)
Day
13 - Wed: 6th Century Clonmacnoise & Dunboyne
Castle
Leave
Galway and drive to the centre of the country
to visit Clonmacnoise, a monastic settlement founded in 545 AD by St. Ciaran.
See round towers, elaborately decorated Celtic crosses and the ruins of many
churches picturesquely set on the banks of the tranquil River Shannon. Continue
your drive eastward to your elegant hotel, just outside Dublin. Enjoy the
facilities and relax for a while before joining in a farewell dinner with your
group. Savour great food followed by some local entertainment. (B,
D)
Day
14 - Thu: Depart Dublin for Home
Complimentary
group transfers are provided to Dublin Airport to arrive at 6:00 am, 9:00 am or
12:00 noon. After check-in, you'll have time to shop at the duty-free stores
before the journey home. (B)