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| Map of Ireland | Self Drive Vacations | Ireland Golf Tours | Escorted Tours | Ireland Travel Guide |
| Map Scotland and Ireland TOUR Vacation Highlights INCLUDED FEATURES Vacation Highlights INCLUDED FEATURES Glasgow: Orientation drive Fort William Highlands: Guided tour of a whisky distillery Balmoral: Visit the castle (when open) Braemar Edinburgh: Guided sightseeing, visit Edinburgh Castle and Holyrood Palace Gretna Green Bowness-on-Windermere: Visit the picturesque lakeside town Chester: Walking tour Betsw-y-Coed: Take a stroll in this popular resort Caernarvon: Admire the impressive castle Holyhead-Dublin: Cross the Irish Sea by ferry Dublin: Orientation drive, visit Trinity College Kildare: Guided tour of the Irish National Stud Rock of Cashel: Take photographs of this famous landmark Blarney: Visit the famous woolen mills Killarney: Visit the popular resort town Ring of Kerry: Scenic peninsula drive Adare: Admire the thatched cottages Limerick: Orientation drive Cliffs of Moher: Savor the spectacular views Galway: Orientation Knock: Visit the religious site Drumcliff: Visit W.B. Yeats’ grave Belleek: Guided tour of the pottery factory Derry: Walking tour with a Local Guide County Antrim: Take pictures of Dunluce Castle, visit the Giant’s Causeway Belfast: “Living History” tour with a Local Guide Belfast-Stranraer: Cross the North Channel by Stena Line’s High Speed Service Note: Tickets for the world-renowned Edinburgh Military Tattoo are included for the following departures: August 9 August 16 August 23 INSIDE VISITS Inside visits and special features are shown in the description, including admission charges when applicable. STANDARD INCLUDED FEATURES Learn more about transportation, hotels, and other standard included Accommodations MEALS - (B) Breakfast (L) Lunch (D) Dinner Full English breakfast daily (B); 7 three-course dinners (D) with choice of menus, including a welcome dinner and a farewell dinner in Glasgow SUPERIOR HOTELS - (D) Deluxe (SF) Superior First-Class (F) First-Class Glasgow Novotel (F), Inverness Columba (F), Edinburgh The George (SF), Chester St. David’s Park (SF) at Ewloe, Dublin Hilton Kilmainham (SF), Killarney Holiday Inn (F), Limerick Hilton (SF), Sligo Clarion (SF), Belfast Stormont (SF), Glasgow Radisson SAS (SF) Dublin: Orientation drive, visit Trinity College Kildare: Guided tour of the Irish National Stud Rock of Cashel: Take photographs of this famous landmark Limerick: Orientation drive Cliffs of Moher: Savor the spectacular views Galway: Orientation Connemara: Visit a marble factory Rathbaun Farm: Visit and afternoon tea Killimer–Tarbert: Cross the Shannon estuary by ferry Ring of Kerry: Scenic peninsula drive Killarney: Visit the popular resort town Blarney: Visit the famous woolen mills W aterford: Guided tour of the Waterford Crystal factory Avoca: Guided tour of the handweaving mill Glendalough: Guided tour of St. Kevin’s center of Irish Christianity Note: Departure 1228: special dinner with wine and New Year’s Eve celebrations at the Killarney tour hotel Departure 1228: Trinity College and Waterford Crystal factory closed INSIDE VISITS Inside visits and special features are shown in the description, including admission charges when applicable Accommodations MEALS - (B) Breakfast (L) Lunch (D) Dinner Full Irish breakfast daily (B); 3 three-course dinners (D) with choice of menus, including a welcome dinner in Dublin SUPERIOR HOTELS - (D) Deluxe (SF) Superior First-Class (F) First-Class Dublin Clarion (SF), Ennis Temple Gate (F), Killarney Holiday Inn (F) or Scotts (F), Waterford Tower (F), Dublin Clarion (SF) or Maldron Hotel Cardiff Lane (F) |
CELTIC HIGHLIGHTS (GD) 14 days incl. air, or 13 days from Glasgow to
Glasgow Vacation Overview This vacation brings you the best of Scotland, England’s Lake District, North Wales, and Ireland. Your trip begins in Scotland in the lively city of Glasgow, Scotland’s largest city, and continues via the “Bonnie Banks” of Loch Lomond to Fort William and the Highland capital of Inverness. On your way to Edinburgh, drive through Braemar, home of the Royal Highland Games for over 900 years. In Edinburgh, Scotland’s capital, tour famous Edinburgh Castle and the Queen’s Holyrood Palace. In the lowland hills, visit the famous blacksmith’s shop at Gretna Green before crossing the border into England. Delight in the beauty of the peaceful Lake District on your way to historic Chester, where you see the Roman remains on your walking tour. Explore the north Welsh towns of Betws-y-Coed and Caernarvon, then take a ferry across the Irish Sea to the “Fair City” of Dublin, Ireland’s capital. In Dublin, visit Trinity College, famous for the 1,200-year-old Book of Kells. Blarney, the Ring of Kerry, the Cliffs of Moher, and the Giant’s Causeway are all included on this tour. Your Irish vacation experience is completed with a visit to Belfast with a “Living History” tour in the company of a Local Guide. Next, travel back to Glasgow to complete this popular vacation Itinerary Day 1 (Sun.) Board your overnight transatlantic flight. Day 2Arrival in Glasgow, Scotland (Mon.) Check into your hotel. The rest of the day is free to relax in Scotland’s largest city. At 6 pm, meet your Tour Director and traveling companions for a welcome dinner at your hotel. (D) Day 3Glasgow–Fort William–Inverness (Tue.)  Your Celtic adventure
starts in earnest before you head for the Highlands with a city drive taking in
the fine 12th-century cathedral, imposing university buildings, and elegant
Georgian squares, built by the wealthy tobacco barons. On the way this morning:
the “Bonnie Banks” of Loch Lomond; wild Rannoch Moor; Glen Coe, where
the MacDonalds were treacherously massacred by the Campbells; lovely Loch
Linnhe; and Fort William beneath Ben Nevis, Britain’s highest mountain,
are memorable highlights. The spectacular afternoon drive follows the
Caledonian Canal, with vistas of the Great Glen, Loch Lochy, and Loch Ness,
looking out for signs of the mysterious monster. Spend the night in Inverness,
the Highland capital. (B,D) Day 4Inverness–Braemar–Edinburgh Edinburgh, Scotland (Wed.) Cross the battlefield of Culloden Moor and continue through heather-clad moors for a visit to a WHISKY DISTILLERY, where your guide explains the ancient art of converting barley, water, and yeast into a heart-warming liquor. On to BALMORAL CASTLE, the Queen’s residence during the hunting season (when available). Then drive through Braemar, home of the Royal Highland Games for over 900 years, and in the afternoon, travel via Perth and over the mighty Forth Road Bridge to Edinburgh. Tonight, don’t miss our optional Scottish evening with Highland dancers, bagpipers, and the Ceremony of the Haggis. (B) Day 5Edinburgh (Thu.) 
Morning city sightseeing with a Local Guide introduces you to the 200-year-old
“New Town” and famous scientists, inventors, and novelists. In the
“Old Town,” drive up the narrow Royal Mile to EDINBURGH CASTLE The
Edinburgh Castle dominating the skyline of Edinburgh, Scotland to admire
Scotland’s Crown Jewels, then explore HOLYROOD PALACE The Holyrood Palace
in Edinburgh serves as the offical residence of the Queen (except when the
Queen is in residence). The afternoon is free to enjoy this “Prince of
Cities” at your own pace. Later, a unique optional experience: board the
former Royal Yacht Britannia, once the perfect royal residence for the
Queen’s glittering state visits and family holidays. Tour five decks and
see how the Royal Family and crew of 240 lived and worked on board. Dinner
rounds off this optional evening. For departure numbers 0810, 0817, and 0824
tickets are included for tonight’s performance of the world-renowned
MILITARY TATTOO Enjoy the sounds of bagpipes and drums at the Military Tattoo
performance , a vast spectacle of massed Scottish pipe bands which takes place
in an arena on the esplanade of Edinburgh Castle. (B) Day 6Edinburgh–Lake District, England–Chester  (Fri.) On the way through the
history-steeped Lowland Hills, stop at GRETNA GREEN Story aboutGretna Green
"There are many legends of love that surround Gretna Green – the
first town encountered across the Scottish border. For centuries, Gretna Green
has been synonymous with elopement and blacksmith marriages, although marriage
by a blacksmith is more legend than fact. Until the 18th century, church
marriages among the lower classes in Europe were almost unheard of. Instead,
lower class weddings were usually looked at as “marriage by
declaration.” When England passed the Marriage Act of 1754, establishing
church weddings as the only legal form of marriage, a sudden industry began
over the border in Scotland, where couples could still wed by declaration.
Scottish “blacksmith priests” began working in pubs and inns and the
eloping couples came in droves." , where the blacksmith used to wed
runaway couples. Leave the land of the Scots and journey through the tranquil
Lake District, considered the finest of England’s national parks, and
drive over spectacular Kirkstone Pass to visit picturesque
Bowness-on-Windermere. Continue to Chester, the historic county town on the
River Dee. On your walking tour, see the Roman remains, the characteristic
black and white half-timbered houses, and the famous two-tiered arcades called
the “Rows.” (B,D) Day 7Chester–North Wales–Dublin Dublin, the capital of Ireland , Ireland (Sat.) Travel through the incomparable landscapes of Snowdonia National Park via lovely Betws-y-Coed and over breathtaking Llanberis Pass, a region where Welsh is widely spoken as the first language. At Caernarvon you have time to explore the castle which saw the investiture of Charles as Prince of Wales. Now it’s across Britannia Bridge to the Isle of Anglesey for a photo stop at tongue-twisting Llanfair... At Holyhead, board your fast FERRY and cross the Irish Sea to Dublin. (B)  Day 8Dublin (Sun.) An orientation drive
in the Irish capital includes statue-lined O’Connell Street, elegant
Georgian squares, and St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Then visit Oscar
Wilde’s TRINITY COLLEGE Enjoy the beautiful campus of the renowned Trinity
College , famous for the 1,200-year-old Book of Kells and the magnificent Old
Library. Afternoon at leisure. Take your Tour Director’s dining
recommendation. (B)  Day 9Dublin–Kildare–Blarney–Killarney Take in
the beautiful scenery of the Killarney National Park (Mon.) Horse-racing
country this morning. Drive across the Curragh to visit the IRISH NATIONAL STUD
at Kildare, whose thoroughbreds command respect on the racecourses of the
world. The Rock of Cashel, where St. Patrick preached, is another milestone on
the route to Blarney, renowned for its magical Stone of Eloquence. Time here to
visit the castle and shop for fine Waterford crystal at the famous WOOLEN MILLS
before continuing on to the popular resort of Killarney. (B,D)  Day 10Killarney–Ring of Kerry
Enjoy the beautiful views along the Ring of Kerry in Ireland
–Adare–Limerick (Tue.) Follow the road known as the RING OF KERRY for
a spectacular 100-mile panoramic drive around the island’s southwestern
tip and take your photos of the Lakes of Killarney from Ladies View. In the
afternoon, drive via quaint Adare to Limerick, where an orientation drive
features St. Mary’s Cathedral, King John’s Castle, and the Stone
where the Treaty of Limerick was signed in 1691. A suggestion for a very
special night out: an optional medieval banquet at Bunratty Castle. (B)  Day 11Limerick–Cliffs of Moher
Visit the Cliffs of Moher and see some of Ireland’s most spectacular
views –Galway–Sligo (Wed.) Motor to the spectacular CLIFFS OF MOHER,
rising 668 feet above the Atlantic. Via the limestone plateau of The Burren you
reach Galway, a vibrant city with a great seafaring tradition. Hear about the
infamous Lynch Stone, commemorating the day Mayor James Lynch Fitzstephen
hanged his son for murder. Pass through the region featured in the film The
Quiet Man and visit Knock, a village that attracts pilgrims from all over the
world since townsfolk saw apparitions. Spend the night in Sligo. (B,D)  Day 12Sligo–Derry, Northern
Ireland–Giant’s Causeway–Belfast (Thu.) A rich string of
attractions awaits you today: the grave of native son and poet W.B. Yeats in
Drumcliff; BELLEEK POTTERY FACTORY, renowned for its exquisite cream-colored
Parian china; and a fascinating walking tour of Derry with a Local Guide,
taking in the Guildhall, old city walls, and St. Columb’s Cathedral. Pass
Dunluce Castle, a romantic ruin clinging to its clifftop, and visit
awe-inspiring GIANT’S CAUSEWAY, composed of thousands of strangely
symmetrical basalt columns jutting out to sea. Follow the scenic Antrim coast
road to the vibrant city of Belfast. (B,D) Day 13Belfast–Glasgow, Scotland (Fri.) On this morning’s “Living History” tour in the company of a Local Guide, learn more about this fascinating city where the Titanic was built. Board your FERRY for the fast crossing of the North Channel to Stranraer on the west coast of Scotland. Back in Glasgow, the rest of the afternoon is free for last-minute shopping. Tonight, celebrate the success of your journey with a farewell dinner at your hotel. (B,D) Day 14 (Sat.) Your homebound flight arrives the same day. (B) BOOK YOUR FLIGHTS WITH US Learn more about booking an air-inclusive vacation - the reasons why include, you'll receive free airport transfer on published dates and your air will be coordinated with your vacation. AIRPORT TRANSFER TIMES Details about airport transfer times, prices and what's included with your vacation Ireland travel information : BOOK YOUR FLIGHTS WITH US Learn more about booking an air-inclusive vacation - the reasons why include, you'll receive free airport transfer on published dates and your air will be coordinated with your vacation. AIRPORT TRANSFER TIMES Details about airport transfer times, prices and what's included with your vacation. |
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