14 Day Scottish & Irish Dream Tour Itinerary
Day 1 : Glasgow City Tour
Your trip starts in Glasgow Airport with a group transfer to your hotel at 8:00 am, 10:00 am or 12:00 noon. At 2:30 pm take a panoramic 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 & Highland Evening
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 Loch Ness on the way to your hotel in Nairn. A Scottish Highland evening will feature haggis, bagpipe music and dancing.
(B, D)
Day 4 : Culloden Moor & Speyside Distillery
Visit the Culloden Battlefield Visitor Centre to learn about Bonnie Prince Charlie’s defeat in 1746, which changed the traditional Highland way of life for the clans. Drive into the Speyside region to visit one of the prominent distilleries. Learn about whisky making and sample a “wee dram” at the end of the tour. Drive to your 19th century manor house hotel near Blairs.
(B, D)
Day 5 : Balmoral Castle & Afternoon Tea
Drive along the charming River Dee Valley, called “Royal Deeside” as it was made popular by Queen Victoria. Visit the Royal Family’s Balmoral Castle set in its spacious estate (Apr-Jul).Visit Crathes Castle when Balmoral is closed (Mar & Aug-Nov). Take a look around the town of 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 or the ruined cathedral. Continue south to Edinburgh to check in to your hotel near the Royal Mile. Head to the Ghillie Dhu for dinner followed by a ceilidh with traditional Scottish music.
(B, D)
Day 7 : Edinburgh Castle & City Tour
Tour Edinburgh this morning to see the Georgian 200-year-old “New Town” and walk along part of the Royal Mile, the medieval section of the city. Tour the imposing Edinburgh Castle and enjoy splendid views. Spend the afternoon and evening at leisure. On July 28 to August 18 departures enjoy the Royal Military Tattoo at Edinburgh Castle.
(B)
Day 8 : Titanic Belfast & Vibrant 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 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 historic Dublin Castle, seat of government for centuries. 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 awesome mountain and coastline views. Watch a local farmer and his dogs herding flocks of sheep. Cross to Valencia Island by bridge to visit the Skellig Experience which describes 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 Banquet
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 : Dublin Extension via Galway
This morning 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 to arrive at 6:00 am, 9:00 am or 12:00 noon to check in for your flight. If you need an earlier transfer, your tour director will arrange one for you. Then you can shop for duty-free goods before boarding your flight home.
(B)
B: Breakfast; D: Dinner