Itinerary Details
A Taste Of Ireland And Scotland
Day 1 ARRIVE IN DUBLIN, IRELANDCéad mile fáilte—a hundred-thousand welcomes! This evening, meet your Tour Director and travel companions for a welcome dinner at your hotel. (D)
Day 2 DUBLINIreland’s Capital City DUBLIN Take a morning orientation drive to see O’Connell Street, Georgian squares, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, and Trinity College. Free time this afternoon. (B)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
CITY SIGHTS “In Dublin’s fair city where girls are so pretty” you’ll also find great personality and charm. The charisma of Dubliners and the bounty of pubs here is matched only by the gorgeous Georgian Squares, 12th-century St. Patrick’s Cathedral, and the legendary library of Trinity College.
Day 3 DUBLIN–ATHLONE–RATHBAUN FARM–GALWAY–CASTLEBARScones and Cities ATHLONE Visit the town.
RATHBAUN [LF] Try your hand at scone baking, learn about sheep herding, and enjoy coffee and scones at an Irish farm.
GALWAY Free time.
191 mi / 308 km (B,D)
LOCAL FAVORITE
LOCAL TASTES Someone’s in the kitchen in Rathbaun Farm, just outside of Galway. You can don an apron and whip up your own delicious home-made scones, served with fresh preserves and whipped cream. Learn about the long-time tradition of sheep farming in this beautiful Irish landscape.
Day 4 CASTLEBAR–BUNDORAN–BELFAST, NORTHERN IRELANDSpend Your Day Your Way in Belfast BUNDORAN Free time.
BELFAST Explore Belfast on an included YourChoice Excursion in Northern Ireland’s capital city.
186 mi / 300 km (B)
TAKE YOUR PICK
Explore your way today with your choice of excursions:
PACK UP YOUR TROUBLES Take an inspiring journey through war and peace on a city center walking tour of Belfast. Learn the history of The Troubles and the path to peace and reconciliation.
OR:
BEST OF BELFAST Discover the essential Belfast with your expert Local Guide. Explore its beautiful architecture, stunning street art, unique heritage, and the amazing stories of its citizens from across the centuries.
Day 5 BELFAST–GLASGOW, SCOTLANDStrait to Scotland BELFAST Visit the Titanic Belfast experience.
Take a ferry crossing to Cairnryan on Scotland’s southwest coast en route to Glasgow.
132 mi / 212 km (B)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
EPIC RIDE The North Channel (also called the Irish Channel) connects northeast Ireland to the southwestern coast of Scotland. The North Channel is part of the Ocean’s Seven, a set of seven long-distance open-water swims, although most who cross rely on the many ferries that run between Belfast and Cairnryan, the Scottish village with a proud maritime history, including building sections of the floating Mulberry Harbors built to support the D-Day invasion of Normandy.
Day 6 GLASGOW–INVERARAY–OBANClans and Slate LOCH LOMOND Stop for photos.
INVERARAY Visit the castle.
ELLENABEICH Visit the remote former slate-mining village.
OBAN Free time.
102 mi / 164 km (B,D)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
THE CLAN’S CASTLE Inveraray Castle is the ancestral home of the Duke of Argyll, the chief of Clan Campbell, one of Scotland’s most powerful and influential clans. The castle’s conical roofs and turrets give it a fairy-tale appearance, while its interior features stunning rooms with opulent decorations. Located with stunning views over Loch Fyne, it’s no wonder it has been used for location filing on many occasions, including the popular Downton Abbey.
Day 7 OBAN–GLEN COE–STIRLING CASTLE–EDINBURGHGlens and Tipples GLENCOE Scenic drive through Glen Coe and The Trossachs National Park.
STIRLING Visit the Castle and a [LF] whisky distillery.
155 mi / 249 km (B)
LOCAL FAVORITE
LOCAL TASTES We’ll raise a wee dram of malt whisky at an historic distillery, distilling in slow Scottish style in the highlands for many years. Slinte Mhath!
Day 8 EDINBURGHDrummers, Pipers & Precious Jewels EDINBURGH Morning city sightseeing with a Local Guide includes the New Town, the Old Town, and a visit to Edinburgh Castle to see Scotland’s Crown Jewels. Free time this afternoon. (B)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
EDINBURGH MILITARY TATTOO Unpack your plaid! Edinburgh Military Tattoo performances included on departures August 1, 8 and 15.
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
MUSIC & MASTERPIECES Ascend to Castle Rock to explore Edinburgh Castle, one of the most important historical strongholds in the Kingdom of Scotland, with an 11,000-year history as “the most besieged place in Great Britain.” Here, you’ll find the royal regalia and Scotland’s Crown Jewels. The Castle forms the background of the spectacular Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, an extravaganza of bagpipes and drums performed en masse in August each year.
Day 9 EDINBURGHSafe travels until we meet again! Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning.
(B)