Discover the best of Ireland and Scotland on this first class fifteen day coach tour.
• Transportation throughout by modern touring coach
• 14 nights accommodation in first class hotels
• All rooms ensuite
• Full breakfast daily
• 9 table d'hote evening meals in hotels
• Welcome drink on arrival
• Jamie's Scottish evening with dinner and entertainment
• One-way flight Scotland to Ireland
• Guided tour of a malt whisky distillery including a "Wee Dram"
• Tour of Derry City with local guide
• Admissions to:
• Porterage based on one suitcase per person
Day 1 - Saturday
Arrive Glasgow
On arrival you will be met by your guide and coach at Glasgow Airport and depart for a Panoramic city tour of Glasgow, the largest city in Scotland. You then check into your hotel and can enjoy a welcome drink in the evening. Dinner is at your own arrangement.
Overnight - Menzies Hotel, Glasgow
Day 2 - Sunday
Stirling and the Trossachs
Depart for a day trip to Stirling and the Trossachs. You will visit Stirling Castle. Afterwards, continue through the Trossachs area, home to the Scottish legend Rob Roy, to Callander, where you will have some time at leisure to explore the town. You will have the chance to visit the Kilmahog Woollen Mill, a 250 year old mill from Scotland's textile and industrial heritage before returning to Glasgow.
Dinner/Overnight - Menzies Hotel, Glasgow
Day 3 - Monday
Glasgow, West Coast, Loch Ness and Inverness
Depart Glasgow for Inverness Area travelling via the West Coast and Loch Ness. You will enjoy a short stop at Loch Lomond. You will also drive through Glencoe, scene of the 1692 massacre of part of the MacDonald clan by soldiers of King William. Your journey will continue via Loch Ness, which links Inverness with Fort William famous worldwide for its mysterious inhabitant, the Loch Ness Monster. On the banks of the loch you will visit Urquhart Castle, one of the largest castles in Scotland.
Dinner/Overnight - Palace Hotel and Spa, Inverness
Day 4 - Tuesday
Isle of Skye
Depart Inverness Area for a day trip to the Isle of Skye, one of the most beautiful and romantic islands in the Scottish Highlands. You will enjoy a photostop at Eilean Donan Castle, which dates back to 1214. You will cross the new Skye Bridge to the Isle of Skye. Continue your journey northwards through the imposing Cuillin Hills to the small fishing town of Portree, before returning to Inverness. Dinner is at your own arrangement.
Overnight - Palace Hotel and Spa, Inverness
Day 5 - Wednesday
Culloden, Speyside & Perthshire
Today you will depart Inverness for Perthshire. You will visit Culloden Moor, the site of the battle on 16 April 1746, when the forces of Bonnie Prince Charlie were defeated by the English. You will visit the new visitor centre, which includes an exciting, interpretive exhibition. Continue to Speyside, which is famous for its whisky distilleries. You will visit Glenlivet Distillery (or similar) where you will tour the distillery and bottling hall after an audio-visual introduction. Before you leave, you will have the opportunity to taste a sample.
Dinner/Overnight - Dunblane Hydro, Perthshire
Day 6 - Thursday
Perthshire, St Andrews and Edinburgh
Depart Perthshire for Edinburgh via the Kingdom of Fife. You will visit St Andrews where you will have time to explore this charming picturesque royal burgh which retains many important and historical sites. You can also visit St. Andrew's Castle, where many evil deeds took place during the reformation, or St. Andrew's Cathedral, which was built in the early 12th century. Continue to Edinburgh, where you will have some free time to familiarize yourself with the capital city of Scotland.
Overnight - Roxburghe Hotel, Edinburgh
Day 7 - Friday
Edinburgh
Depart for a Panoramic city tour of Edinburgh where you will appreciate the contrast between the 18th century Georgian "New Town" and the medieval "Old Town". The Royal Mile is the backbone of the old quarter, running from the Palace of Holyrood House to Edinburgh Castle. You will visit Edinburgh Castle, housing the Scottish Crown Jewels and the Stone of Destiny. The rest of the day is free for your leisure. This evening you will attend a traditional Scottish Evening which is sure to be a highlight of the tour.
Dinner/ Entertainment, Overnight - Roxburghe Hotel, Edinburgh
Day 8 - Saturday
Depart Scotland, Arrive Dublin
After your Scottish breakfast, you will be transferred from Edinburgh to Glasgow Airport for your flight to Dublin. Enjoy a pre-dinner drink and an introduction to some new travelling companions before an early dinner in your hotel.
Dinner/ Overnight - Grand Hotel, Co. Dublin
Day 9 - Sunday
Boyne Valley & Cooley Peninsula
Leaving Dublin, we head north thru' the rich pasturelands of the Boyne valley and visit the site of the famous Battle of the Boyne near Drogheda where in 1690 King William defeated his father-in-law King James. Both Kings commanded their armies in person with over 60,000 troops deployed - the largest number ever on an Irish battlefield. Afterwards we continue around the Cooley Peninsula, see 'the Mountains sweep down to the sea' and arrive in Belfast late afternoon.
Dinner/Overnight - Malone Lodge Hotel, Belfast
Day 10 - Monday
Belfast's Titanic Quarter
A guided tour of Belfast City Hall, recently renovated, is first on the agenda this morning. Then a panoramic tour which will include the political wall murals located on the Protestant Shankill Road and the Catholic Falls Road - a unique cultural experience. See also the shipyard where the Titanic was built in 1909 and learn all about one of the most intriguing stories in history. The afternoon is free for shopping and browsing
Dinner/Overnight - Malone Lodge Hotel, Belfast
Day 11 - Tuesday
Giant's Causeway & Derry
This morning we take the marine drive north past the 'Green Glens of Antrim' to Ballycastle on the North Antrim Coast and visit the Giant's Causeway, one of Ireland's most famous attractions. We then view the eerie ruins of Dunluce Castle enroute to Londonderry or Derry as most people call it. A local guide will tell the 'Story of Derry' on a walking tour of this historic walled city.
Dinner/ Overnight - Kee's Hotel, Co. Donegal
Day 12 Wednesday
Ben Bulben & Clew Bay
We travel south thru' Donegal town and Belleek to visit the world famous porcelain factory. Enter the romantic domain of W.B. Yeats via Drumcliffe and other sites in Sligo associated with the life of the poet. Into county Mayo thru' Swinford and Castlebar where we visit the National Museum of Country Life before continuing to Westport on Clew Bay.
Dinner/ Overnight - Atlantic Coast Hotel, Westport
Day 13 - Thursday
Connemara
Connemara remains the wildest and the most romantic place in Ireland. A drive around Murrisk Peninsula brings us to Killary Harbour Ireland's only true fjord. Enjoy a photo stop at Kylemore Abbey on the shores of Kylemore Lough before circling Connemara and crossing picturesque Maam Valley where black-headed sheep make up a large part of the population. Back in Westport you will have time to explore this lovely town which was voted Ireland's tidiest in 2008.
Dinner/Overnight - Atlantic Coast Hotel, Westport
Day 14 - Friday
Galway City & Cliffs of Moher
Enroute to Galway this morning we will pass thru' the village of Cong location for the classic film 'The Quiet Man'. Some time in Galway City before driving along the southern shores of Galway Bay, traversing the Burren region and viewing the mighty Cliffs of Moher. An optional medieval banquet in a 15th century castle is on offer tonight.
Overnight - Bunratty Castle Hotel, Bunratty
Day 15 - Saturday
Tour Ends
Your tour ends this morning after breakfast in your hotel. A transfer to Shannon Airport is provided for those participants returning home.
| Depart | Twin | Single | |
| May 15 Sep 25 |
3149 |
3999 |
|
| May 29 Jun 12, 26 Jul 10, 24 |
3199 | 4049 | |
| Aug 07, 21 |
3399 |
4249 |
|
| Sep 04, 11, 18 | 3199 | 4049 | |
Child Rate: Under 12 sharing with two adults $1999. | |||
August dates include the famous Edinburgh Military Tattoo!
(in lieu of Scottish evening)