14 Day Scottish & Irish
Dream Tour Itinerary
Day 1: Glasgow City Tour
Your trip starts in
Glasgow Airport with a group hotel transfer from Glasgow Airport at 8:00 am,
10:00 am or 12:00 noon. At 2:30 pm take a coach tour around central Glasgow.
View extensive collections in Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum. Chat with your
tour director over a welcome drink before dinner. (D)
Day 2: Loch Lomond Cruise & Inveraray Castle
Embark on a short cruise of Loch Lomond to appreciate views of Highland
peaks. Take a guided tour around Inveraray Castle, home of the Campbell family,
and browse around the nearby town. Drive through Glen Coe, a spectacular valley
where the Campbells massacred many of the Clan Macdonald in 1692 and on to
Ballachulish. (B, D)
Day 3: Isle of Skye & Clan Donald Centre
Travel on the scenic “Road to the Isles”, stopping for photos at the
Glenfinnan Monument. Take a ferry to the Isle of Skye and visit the Clan Donald
Centre at Armadale Castle. Drive through the island and return to the mainland
by bridge, stopping for photos at the famous Eilean Donan Castle. Pass through
the Highlands to your hotel in Nairn. A Scottish Highland evening will feature
haggis, bagpipe music and dancing. (B, D)
Day 4: Culloden Moor & Glenfiddich Distillery
Visit the Culloden Battlefield Visitor Centre to learn about Bonnie
Prince Charlie's defeat in 1746. Drive into the Speyside region, renowned for
whisky production. Stop at the Speyside Cooperage which produces fine casks for
maturing whisky and then tour the Glenfiddich Distillery to enjoy a “wee dram.”
Drive to your 19th century manor house hotel near Blairs. (B, D)
Day 5: Royal Deeside & Afternoon Tea
Drive
along the charming River Dee Valley, called “Royal Deeside” as it was made
popular by Queen Victoria. Pass Balmoral Castle and visit the lovely Crathie
Church. Stop in Braemar, renowned for Highland games, and in Ballater, where
shops bear the Royal Warrant. Stop at the Falls of Feugh to sample afternoon tea
with freshly-baked scones and enjoy a talk on Highland life. (B, D)
Day 6: Glamis Castle & St
Andrews
Visit Glamis Castle, legendary setting of Macbeth
and childhood home of the late Queen Mother. Travel across the Tay Bridge to St
Andrews, the “Home of Golf.” Enjoy free time to look around and perhaps visit
the British Golf Museum. Stop for a walk in the quaint fishing village of
Anstruther. Continue south to Edinburgh for dinner at a local restaurant
followed by a ceilidh. (B, D)
Day 7: Edinburgh Castle & City Tour
Tour
Edinburgh this morning to see the Georgian 200-year-old “New Town” and the
oldest part of the city along the Royal Mile. Tour the imposing Edinburgh Castle
and enjoy splendid views. Spend the afternoon and evening at leisure. On July 29
to August 19 departures enjoy the Military Tattoo at Edinburgh Castle. (B)
Day 8: Titanic Belfast & Dublin
Depart
Edinburgh early this morning and drive south through Ayrshire and along the
coast. At Cairnryan take a ferry ride to Larne. Drive to Belfast for a panoramic
city tour followed by a visit to the newly-opened Titanic Belfast to learn about
this famous liner through state-of-the-art displays. Drive south to Dublin and
check in to your centrally-located hotel. You are free to dine independently (B)
Day 9: Dublin Touring & Merry Ploughboy
Pub
Enjoy the morning at leisure or use your included
open-top bus tour voucher. At 2:00 pm meet a local guide and tour central Dublin
to see Trinity College, public buildings, tranquil parks and rows of Georgian
houses. Take a guided tour through Dublin Castle's elegant State Apartments.
Dine at the Merry Ploughboy Pub and enjoy a great show. (B, D)
Day 10: Blarney Castle & Killarney
Depart
Dublin and stop for photos at the stately Rock of Cashel. Visit Blarney Castle
to kiss the famous “Stone of Eloquence” and shop at the Blarney Woollen Mills.
Drive to Killarney, picturesquely set beside lakes and mountains. Check in to
your hotel and relax before dinner. Afterwards you may like to head to a
“singing pub.” (B, D)
Day 11: Ring of Kerry & Skellig Experience
Today embark on the Ring of Kerry drive - a winding route with
breathtaking views of mountains and coastline. Watch a local farmer and his dogs
herding flocks of sheep. Cross to Valencia Island by bridge to visit the Skellig
Experience which describes austere monastic life on the nearby islands. Pause at
Moll's Gap for stunning views before returning to Killarney. (B, D)
Day 12: Cliffs of Moher & Bunratty Castle
Take a ferry ride across the River Shannon Estuary and view the Cliffs
of Moher, a spectacular wall of limestone that reaches 700 feet above the
Atlantic Ocean. Check in to Bunratty Castle Hotel and enjoy free time. Head to
Bunratty Castle for a memorable medieval-style feast with a program of song and
harp music, evocative of the Middle Ages. (B, D)
Day 13: Galway Extension
Drive along the famous
Galway Bay to the Connemara Marble Factory to see locally-quarried marble and
enjoy tea and scones. Take a panoramic tour around Galway and travel to Dublin
where you are free for independent activities and dining. (B)
Day 14: Depart from Dublin
Airport
Group transfers are provided to Dublin
Airport. After check-in, you'll have time to shop at the duty-free stores
before boarding the aircraft for the journey home. (B)