Day 1 - ARRIVE DUBLIN
Welcome to Ireland! On arrival at Dublin Airport, your airport transfer service leaves for the tour hotel at 08:00, 11:00 & 13:30. Perhaps stroll around the shops of Grafton Street? Tonight, join your Tour Director and fellow guests for a Welcome Reception and light informal meal.
Hotel: Burlington/Herbert Park
Meals: Welcome Reception
Day 2 - DUBLIN SIGHTSEEING
A sightseeing tour of Dublin includes the elegant Georgian squares of Ireland’s ‘fair city’ and a visit to the Old Library of Trinity College to admire the 8th century Book of Kells. See also famous O’Connell Street and the historic Customs House, one of architect James Gandon’s masterpieces. As evening falls, there is time for shopping and the chance to see an Irish Cabaret show.
Meals: Full Breakfast
Day 3 - DUBLIN – KILDARE – WATERFORD
This morning drive to Kildare for a look behind the scenes at one of the country’s main racehorse breeding centres and to visit Europe’s finest Japanese Gardens. Continue to the medieval town of Kilkenny to see the 13C castle. Then head for Waterford to see Reginald’s Tower, the ruined city walls and visit the famous Waterford Crystal Showroom.
Hotel: Dooleys
Meals: Full Breakfast / Dinner
Day 4 - WATERFORD – CORK – KILLARNEY
Travel via the fishing village of Dungarvan to Cork for an orientation tour. Acquire the ‘gift of the gab’ by kissing the Blarney Stone at Blarney Castle and shop for woollens at the Blarney Mills. Continue to Killarney where you join a local ‘Jarvie’ aboard one of the jaunting cars.
Hotel: Killarney Towers/Killarney Avenue
Meals: Full Breakfast / Dinner
Day 5 - RING OF KERRY EXCURSION
A highlight Ring of Kerry tour opens up superb seascapes, towering cliffs and spectacular mountains. Unhurried Irish life surrounds you as you travel through charming villages to view the three Lakes of Killarney before returning mid afternoon for time at leisure. Tonight, for your dining pleasure, choose from a selection of local restaurants.
Hotel: Killarney Towers/Killarney Avenue
Meals: Full Breakfast / Dine Around
Day 6 - KILLARNEY – ADARE – LIMERICK
Journey through picturesque Adare to Limerick, on the shores of the Shannon, Ireland’s longest river and the setting of Angela’s Ashes. Sightseeing takes in the ruins of 13C King John’s Castle and St Mary’s Cathedral.
Hotel: Boutique Hotel
Meals: Full Breakfast
Day 7 - LIMERICK – GALWAY – ROSSES POINT
Visit Galway to see the Cathedral of St Nicholas, the Spanish Arch and Eyre Square, dedicated to the late US President John F. Kennedy. Now drive out to the Connemara, a scenic wonderland of rivers, lakes and silent hills. Stay tonight in a picturesque holiday village on the shores of Sligo Bay.
Hotel: Yeats Country Hotel
Meals: Full Breakfast
Day 8 - ROSSES POINT – BELLEEK – BALLYGALLY
Visit the Belleek Pottery Centre before reaching Derry, its well preserved walls are still topped with cannon. Sightseeing with a local guide takes you past the Georgian houses of Shipquay Street to the Gothic Guildhall. Continue around the coast to the amazing ‘Giant’s Causeway’. Now enjoy a spectacular drive along the Antrim coast road to your hotel.
Hotel: Ballygally Castle
Meals: Full Breakfast / Dinner
Day 9 - BALLYGALLY – ALLOWAY – GLASGOW
Take the ferry to Scotland and continue along the Ayrshire coast, taking in views of the Firth of Clyde and the Island of Arran. Pass the Open golf links of Turnberry before arriving in Alloway, where you will visit Robert Burns’ birthplace and see Burns’ Monument and the famous ‘Brig O’ Doon’. Spend the night in the vibrant city of Glasgow.
Hotel: Crowne Plaza
Meals: Full Breakfast
Day 10 - GLASGOW – HIGHLANDS
It’s only a short drive from Glasgow to the bonnie banks of Loch Lomond where you will enjoy a guided cruise on this beautiful loch. Now into the dramatic scenery of Glencoe, still echoing with the cries of massacred clansmen, before reaching Fort William. Pause at the Commando Memorial for a view of Britain’s highest mountain, Ben Nevis, then continue along Loch Laggan to Newtonmore.
Hotel: Highlander
Meals: Full Breakfast / Dinner
Day 11 - HIGHLAND EXCURSION
Drive along the Spey Valley to visit the Culloden Visitor Centre on the moor, where Bonnie Prince Charlie’s Jacobite army was finally defeated. Pause for a wee dram of the finest Highland whisky at the Tomatin distillery before continuing to Inverness and the mysterious shores of Loch Ness. Return to your hotel for a rousing evening, Highland style! Enjoy dinner with haggis and traditional Scottish entertainment.
Meals: Full Breakfast / Highlight Dinner
Day 12 - HIGHLAND EXCURSION
A scenic drive takes you through the Grampian Mountains past the Duke of Atholl’s Blair Castle. Travel via the Pass of Killiecrankie to Pitlochry, famous for its Salmon Leap. Drive down and cross the Tay to visit St. Andrews, the home of golf. Now continue across the majestic Forth Road Bridge to the Scottish Capital. Selected departures enjoy the spectacular flood-lit Edinburgh Military Tattoo at the castle.
Hotel: Apex
Meals: Full Breakfast
Day 13 - EDINBURGH SIGHTSEEING
Join your guide for a tour of Edinburgh Castle, which houses the Scottish Crown Jewels. Pass St Giles’ Cathedral, as you drive down the Royal Mile to Holyroodhouse Palace. Turn on to Princes Street, past the Scott Memorial to see Edinburgh’s famous Georgian New Town. Later, there is still time to shop. Join your friends in raising your glasses at a tour finalé Celebration Dinner tonight.
Meals: Full Breakfast / Celebration Dinner
Day 14 - EDINBURGH
Departure transfers arrive at Edinburgh Airport at 06:15 & 09:00.
Meals: Full Breakfast