Embark on a journey to discover the highlights of Ireland and Scotland, where history, culture, and natural beauty come together in an unforgettable experience.
Welcome to Ireland! Relax at your hotel before joining your Travel Director for a warm and friendly dinner, an opportunity to get to know your fellow travelers.
An orientation with your Local Expert will take you past the Custom House and travel along the River Liffey. See the Guinness Storehouse, Christchurch Cathedral and St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Enjoy entrance to the 9th century Book of Kells and a walk through the cobbled courtyards of Trinity College to gain insight into the establishment’s impressive history.
Witness life behind the scenes of the National Stud Farm, where many legendary racehorses are bred. Then see the finest Japanese gardens in Europe, where the gardens portray the symbolism of life and trace the journey of a soul, designed by master horticulturists, Tassa and Minoru Eida. Continue on to Cork, Ireland’s second most populous city, built on the River Lee. Travel along Grand Parade to see Cork’s City Hall and Opera House.
Visit the partially ruined 15th century Blarney Castle, home of the famous Stone of Eloquence – once kissed, never forgotten! Continue to your accommodation in Killarney and unwind for a relaxing evening.
Today you will explore Killarney. Choose a memorable ride on a horse-drawn jaunting car with the local jarveys. Alternatively, join a gentle hike with a Local Expert along the lake shore and past the grounds of Ross Castle, admiring the incredible scenery of the National Park. While there aren’t any mountains to climb, walkers should be fit, have good walking shoes or boots, sunscreen and rain gear.
Tour the superb seascapes, towering cliffs and spectacular mountains of the Ring of Kerry. Journey past lush lakelands and through delightful villages like Sneem. Cross the peat bogs of the Black Valley to Moll’s Gap and admire Queen Victoria’s Ladies View. Upon returning in the mid-afternoon, the rest of the day is at leisure.
Begin the day with a short ferry ride across the Shannon estuary. Enjoy magnificent views of the Clare coast, as you journey to the Visitors’ Center at the 700-foot Cliffs of Moher.
Continue on to your hotel, located at the heart of the Wild Atlantic Way.
Join your Travel Director in Galway to see the infamous Lynch Memorial and the Church of St. Nicholas, where Christopher Columbus reputedly prayed before his discovery of America. Also see the aged Spanish Arch and Eyre Square, dedicated to the late US President, John F. Kennedy.
Tour the wild Connemara region, a scenic wonderland of rivers, lakes and silent hills. Drive along the scenic shores of Sligo Bay, then settle in for the night in Sligo.
Cross into Northern Ireland to visit Derry. What better way to experience sightseeing than with one of Northern Ireland’s best storytellers, Ronan, as he walks with you inside the city walls, still topped with cannons. Walk down Shipquay Street, with its elegant Georgian houses, to the Gothic Guildhall. Journey to the iconic Giant’s Causeway. This geological masterpiece was created by the cooling of lava which burst through the earth’s crust millions of years ago. Learn how the National Trust is enabling farming and biodiversity to work together, supporting both wildlife and quality food production. Next, take a spectacular drive along the Antrim Coast to your hotel, overlooking the sea at the head of Ballygally Bay.
Cross the Irish Sea by ferry and journey to Ardgowan. Sir Ludovic Shaw Stewart welcomes you to his family castle, set on a 10,000-acre coastal estate. Explore the history of the area and learn the Shaw Stewart family’s conservation efforts to protect the land, followed by delightful traditional Scottish tea and scones. Continue to Glasgow where your Travel Director will show you the city’s grand public buildings, including George Square and St. Mungo’s Cathedral.
A scenic drive takes you along the Bonnie Banks of Loch Lomond. Absorb the dramatic landscape of Glencoe, still echoing with the cries of massacred clansmen. Pause at the Commando Memorial for a view of Britain’s highest mountain, Ben Nevis before reaching the Great Glen. Continue on to Loch Ness and embark on a cruise to soak up the scenery, historic monuments and intriguing tales of Nessie in the heart of Scotland’s great glen.
In the morning, see the sights of Inverness, before traveling to the Culloden Moor Visitor Center, where Bonnie Prince Charlie’s Jacobite army was finally defeated. Then have a ‘wee dram’ during a visit to a local distillery, hear stories of the whisky smugglers as you delve into the fascinating world of the single malt.
A scenic drive takes you through the Grampian Mountains past the Duke of Atholl’s Blair Castle. Drive down and cross the Tay to visit St. Andrews. As you arrive, pass the Old Course, the home of golf since its invention in the 15th century. Enjoy free time to explore. Why not wander to St. Andrews University where the love story of Kate Middleton and Prince William began? Alternately, stroll to West Sands Beach where the famous ‘Chariots of Fire’ scene was filmed. Continue across the majestic Forth Road Bridge to the Scottish capital, Edinburgh. In the evening, select departures attend The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo.
In the morning, join a Local Expert to see the highlights of the city. Drive along Princes Street to the ornate Scott Memorial, then see the 18th century New Town with its neoclassical Georgian facades. In the Old Town see the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the official Scottish residence of the King. Venture up the Royal Mile to visit Edinburgh Castle, home of Mons Meg and Scotland’s Crown Jewels, the Honours of Scotland. In the afternoon, you are at leisure to continue exploring as you wish, or perhaps go shopping. Join your friends in the heart of Edinburgh at a Celebration Dinner of modern Scottish cuisine served with wine.
Your journey comes to an end after breakfast with transfers arriving to Edinburgh airport.
(For all Trans-Atlantic flights, we recommend arriving at the airport 3 hours before departure to ensure a smooth check-in process.)
All hotels and accommodations included in your trip are carefully selected to meet a 4-star standard or higher. While we occasionally book 3-star hotels or B&B properties, they must meet our high standards of quality and comfort. To ensure consistency, we strive to have a team member visit each property regularly or conduct a thorough site inspection.
*Some hotels will be dependent on your departure date.
The tour package does not include flights to and from the tour’s starting location, but we are happy to provide you with a flight quote for your trip to Scotland and Ireland, along with travel protection for the duration.
Although booking flights might seem straightforward, hidden fees or service classes without seat assignments, meals, or checked bags can arise. With our experience since 1985, we are familiar with the best routings and have access to great contracts, often offering better prices than those available online.
If you would like to create a custom itinerary before or after the tour to extend your trip, we would be happy to assist with this.
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