16 Day Scottish & Irish Gold

Authentic Local Experiences:

Reserved seats at the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo August 2 – 23 departures.
Mill the malt, stir the mash and smell the hops on a tour of Smithwick’s Experience, telling the story of the popular brewery in the heart of Kilkenny since 1710
Local guides will impart historic facts and local lore on walking tours of Dublin’s Trinity College, Galway and Waterford.

Dining Experiences:

15 breakfasts (B), 3 lunches (L) and 9 dinners (D) including a festive Scottish evening in Edinburgh, a traditional Irish Night in Killarney, and Cleaver East in Dublin.

2020 Scottish & Irish Gold – 16 Days / 15 Nights / 27 Meals

B: Breakfast; L: Lunch; D: Dinner

Day 1: Glasgow City Tour

Tour begins at 2:30 PM at your Glasgow hotel. Set out on a tour of central Glasgow’s highlights including red sandstone Victorian buildings, delightful parks, Glasgow Cathedral, and the River Clyde, once important for shipbuilding. Visit the extensive and varied art collections in Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum. Chat with your tour director and fellow travelers over a welcome drink.

Day 2: Loch Lomond & Inveraray Castle

Embark on a short cruise of Loch Lomond to appreciate the beauty of this famous loch and admire the panoramic views. Browse around the town of Inveraray and have lunch on your own before taking a guided tour of Inveraray Castle, featured in “Downton Abbey”. Journey across Rannoch Moor and through Glencoe, often considered one of Scotland’s most spectacular and beautiful places. Continue to Ballachulish on the shore of Loch Leven.
(B, D)

Day 3: Isle of Skye & Loch Ness

Travel on the scenic “Road to the Isles”, stopping for photos at the Glenfinnan Monument. Ferry to the Isle of Skye to visit Armadale Castle, taking some free time for lunch. Back on the mainland, travel along the shores of Loch Ness. End the day at your hotel in Nairn, a lovely manor house set on spacious grounds near the North Sea.
(B, D)

Day 4: Culloden Battlefield & Sheepdogs

A short distance from Nairn is the Culloden Battlefield Visitor Centre. Learn about the battle which took place on 16th April 1746 when British Government forces defeated the army of Prince Charles Edward Stuart. The Visitor Centre explains how events led to the conflict and was the end of the clan system in Scotland. Continue through majestic Highland scenery to Leault Farm where dogs herd sheep. Drive past the Grampian Mountains to your gracious manor-style hotel near Pitlochry.
(B, D)

Day 5: Blair Castle & Whisky Tasting

Your first stop today is Blair Castle, home of the Dukes and Earls of Atholl. Dating back to 1269, the castle has been transformed through the ages, from a strong medieval fortress to a Victorian castle in the baronial style. You will learn about Mary, Queen of Scots, Bonnie Prince Charlie, Queen Victoria and the Atholl Highlanders. Visit Blair Athol Distillery to learn about whiskey making and sample a “wee dram”. Spend the afternoon at leisure on exploring the hotel gardens, museum and facilities or browsing around the town of Pitlochry.
(B, D)

Day 6: Glamis Castle & St Andrews

Travel through lush countryside to visit Glamis Castle, the legendary setting of “Macbeth” and childhood home of the late Queen Mother. This majestic building is filled with priceless artifacts and furnishings. Head to St Andrews, the “Home of Golf,” to see the famous Royal and Ancient Clubhouse and the Old Course. Enjoy free time to browse around the medieval town. In Edinburgh, Scotland’s capital, enjoy a traditional Scottish evening with dinner, haggis, bagpipes, kilts, and Highland dancing.

Day 7: Edinburgh Castle & City Tour

Explore Edinburgh to compare and contrast the wide streets and elegant mansions of the Georgian 200-year-old “New Town” with the narrow lanes and medieval townhouses along the Royal Mile, the oldest part of the city. Tour the imposing Edinburgh Castle with its splendid views of the city. The rest of the day is free for independent exploring, shopping, and dining. August 2 – 23 departures enjoy the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo on the Castle Esplanade.
(B)

Day 8: Titanic Belfast & Dun Laoghaire

Say farewell to your Scottish guide and embark on a ferry ride to Belfast with lunch provided onboard. Visit Titanic Belfast, a state-of-the-art attraction that will immerse you in the full story of the ill-fated ocean liner, built in the nearby shipyards in 1912. Head to your hotel in the seaside town of Dun Laoghaire near Dublin, where you will meet your Irish driver/guide, and enjoy a free evening in this bustling seaside town.
(B, L)

Day 9: Sean’s Bar & Galway City Tour

Head to Athlone for Sean’s Bar, the oldest bar in Europe; Sean’s Bar has been serving customers since 900 AD. Take a guided walking tour through the beautiful harbor city of Galway to view its iconic 18th-century Eyre Square and the surrounding stone-clad buildings and medieval winding lanes. Enjoy some free time to explore Galway on your own, then join your fellow travelers for dinner at your hotel.

Day 10: Connemara Catamaran Cruise & Kyelmore Abbey

Explore scenic Connemara to admire how constantly-changing cloud formations give granite hills, sparkling lakes and peat bogs an added dimension. Take a short catamaran cruise of Killary Harbour, a 9-mile fjord (seasonal). Head to Kylemore Abbey to see elegant rooms and the charming church, set beside a tranquil lake. Visit the Victorian Walled Gardens and enjoy a casual lunch. Return to Galway where the evening is free to explore the city.
(B, L)

Day 11: Sheepdogs, Cliffs & Traditional Irish Night

Travel south around Galway Bay and through the Burren, a region of rounded limestone hills that has a curious lunar-like appearance. Immerse yourself in farm life and watch trained sheepdogs obey their owner as they direct sheep through various obstacles. View the Cliffs of Moher, which rise almost 700 feet above the pounding Atlantic surf. Embark on a memorable ferry ride across the River Shannon Estuary and head to Killarney. The evening concludes with a traditional Irish night featuring a lively show with dinner.
(B, D)

Day 12: Jaunting Car & Ring Of Kerry

Take a traditional horse-drawn jaunting car through Killarney National Park to scenic Ross Castle, set on the shores of Lough Leane. See the highlights of Ireland’s most popular scenic drive, the Ring of Kerry, and take a break in the colorful village of Kenmare.
(B, L)

Day 13: Blarney Castle & Traditional Music Session

Drive through the mountains into rich farming country on the way to Blarney Castle. Kiss the famous “Stone of Eloquence” or explore the tranquil gardens. Travel along the coast to the Marine Bar in Dungarvan for some traditional music. Continue to Waterford to witness the creation of crystal masterpieces during your visit to the House of Waterford Crystal.
(B, D)

Day 14: Waterford Walk & Kilkenny

In the morning, join a local guide for a walking tour through the narrow streets of the old city to discover Waterford’s long history and some of its colorful characters. Later, stop in Kilkenny for a look around the compact city center and have lunch on your own. Partake in the Smithwick’s Experience and enjoy a tasting paddle of their famous ales. Travel to Dublin and in the evening head to Cleaver East, a popular Dublin restaurant for a glass of wine and dinner.
(B, D)

Day 15: Independent Day in Dublin

Enjoy an independent Dublin Hop-On, Hop-Off bus tour and a visit to one of Dublin’s top attractions — Guinness Storehouse, Teeling Distillery, EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum, or GPO Witness History.
(B)

Day 16: Tour Ends in Dublin

Your tour ends after breakfast.
(B)