Classically Scotland & Ireland Tour

Edinburgh
Today you arrive at Edinburgh Airport where you make your own way to your hotel via taxi. The rest of the day you are free to explore on your own. Overnight Apex Hotel.

Day 2
Edinburgh on Own
You may decide to do sightseeing with the Hop on Hop off Bus. Travel down the Royal Mile past St Giles Cathedral, the historic City Church of Edinburgh with its famed crown spire. Also known as the High Kirk of Edinburgh, it is the Mother Church of Presbyterianism and contains the Chapel of the Order of the Thistle (Scotland’s chivalric company of knights headed by the Queen). Continue past The Scottish Parliament building to the Palace of Holyrood house, the official residence of the Queen in Scotland. The palace was home to Mary Queen of Scots for six years and houses beautiful tapestries and paintings. Now take the opportunity to compare the old and the new by taking a trip around the New Town through Charlotte Square to the Georgian House to experience the elegance of 18th-century living in Edinburgh’s New Town. Designed in 1791 by Robert Adam, Scotland’s foremost 18th-century architect, Charlotte Square was one of the most fashionable and desirable residential addresses in the New Town. Alternatively, you may wish to visit Ocean Terminal and view the Royal Yacht Brittania where presidents, kings and queens were entertained. It was, first and foremost, the home from home of the Royal family when entertaining abroad.  

Edinburgh-Inverness
Your driver will collect you at and you will travel to Stirling, once known as the ‘Key to
Scotland’, with its imposing position in the centre of the country, to Stirling Castle. For centuries this was the most important castle in Scotland and the views from the top make it easy to see why. Stirling Castle played an important role in the life of Mary Queen of Scots. She spent her childhood in the castle and Mary’s coronation took place in the Chapel Royal in 1543. From the ramparts you can see the Wallace Monument, perched high on the Abbey Craig around where Wallace camped before his heroic battle of Stirling Bridge in 1297, built in 1869 to commemorate Scotland’s hero. Nearby is Culloden Battlefield where the last hand-to-hand battle was fought on British soil which takes on a whole new meaning with the opening of an exciting new visitor centre and
interactive exhibition. Dinner and overnight at Kingsmill Hotel Inverness.

Inverness
This morning you will travel the short distance to the Clansman Harbor for a 1 Hour Jacobite Cruise to enjoy the stunning views of the surrounding mountains from the loch and sail the deepest part using the Jacobite sonar then alight at Urquhart Castle where you will have the chance to explore for an hour before cruising back up the loch to the Clansman Harbour. Urquhart Castle was the site of many battles led by the Clan MacDonald. It stands on a rocky promontory on the north shore with stunning views of the glen and a chance to spot the famous Loch Ness Monster. It has a turbulent history: seized by the English in 1296, sacked in 1545 by MacDonald Lord of the Isles and later left to decay after 1689. Returning to land travel to the little town of Beauly and the tranquil ruins of Beauly Priory. Founded around 1230AD by monks of the Valliscaulian order. They came from their mother house in Burgundy, in France, and settled beside the Beauly River, at the place where it enters the Beauly Firth. They were invited to do so by the lord, Sir John Bisset. And there their successors lived for the next 300 years, until the Protestant Reformation of 1560. Enjoy the stunning scenery as you drive, spotting the islands of Skye and the Hebrides from the west coast. Round off today with a visit to Culloden Battlefield where the last hand-to-hand battle was fought on British soil which takes on a whole new meaning with the opening of an exciting new visitor centre and interactive exhibition. The battlefield itself is now restored to as close as possible that marched on by the two sides on that fateful day. Overnight Kingsmills Hotel, Inverness.

Inverness-Ft William
Your journey begins in Inverness, the capital of the Highlands, where you set out along the Great Glen Way. Traveling southwest, your route follows the banks of the Caledonian Canal, passing through charming villages such as Dochgarroch and Invermoriston, both offering chances to stretch your legs and enjoy Highland scenery. The road takes you alongside Loch Ness, where you may pause at Urquhart Castle, one of Scotland’s most photographed ruins, to admire sweeping views across the water. Continuing further, you pass the village of Fort Augustus, located at the southern tip of Loch Ness, a lively spot to watch boats navigating the locks of the canal and enjoy a quick meal or tea. From here, the road winds through the dramatic landscapes of Loch Oich and Loch Lochy, framed by steep hills and dense forests, making this stretch one of the most scenic in the Highlands. Small hamlets like Spean Bridge, with its famous Commando Memorial, provide additional opportunities to take in panoramic views of Ben Nevis and the surrounding peaks. Finally, your journey concludes in Fort William, known as the “Outdoor Capital of the UK.” Nestled at the foot of Ben Nevis, Fort William offers a perfect base to relax after the drive, wander the High Street, or prepare for further adventures into Glencoe or a climb up the UK’s highest mountain. We continue to Fort William. Overnight The Ben Nevis Hotel.

Ft. William-Glasgow
You will now travel to the most scenically beautiful of all Highland glens, Glencoe, stopping at the visitors centre to view some of the most spectacular mountain scenery anywhere. This area is steeped in history, and at the Visitors Centre you will hear about the infamous 1692 massacre of Clan MacDonald and see the new exhibition. Located at the western end of Loch Tay, the famous white waters of the Falls of Dochart(Loch Lomond) can be viewed from the village’s bridge and from here you can admire the misty spray rising in the air as the waters of the river crash into the rocks then flow around the Islands of Inchbuie, known as the traditional and ancient burial place of Clan MacNab. Travel via the Trossachs and Loch Lomond to Glasgow. Overnight at Apex Hotel.

Glasgow-Dublin
Make your way via taxi to nearby Glasgow Airport for your short flight to Dublin.(Flight not included). Arrive in Dublin Airport from your overnight flight. After clearing customs make your way via taxi (taxi additional costs- taxi stand directly outside) to your hotel, The Camden Court. You will have the rest of the afternoon free to explore Dublin on your Hop on Hop Off Bus Pass. Some stops may include (but not limited) St. Patrick’s Cathedral, G.P.O., Trinity College (Book of Kells) Guinness Storehouse, Jameson Distillery, St. Stephens Green, and many more. Overnight Radisson Blu Royal Hotel.

Dublin-Cork
We enjoy a traditional Irish breakfast this morning. After breakfast we meet our Driver Guide in the lobby of the hotel. We travel south stopping at the Rock of Cashel. We then travel to Cobh, a charming waterfront town. We visit the Cobh Heritage Center and learn about Irish emigration story, hear about the ill-fated Titanic and the Lusitania, and immerse yourself in Irish history. While will visit Cobh, where many folks departed Ireland during the Great Famine. We visit The Cobh Heritage Center. Dinner and Overnight Imperial Hotel Cork.

Cork- Killarney
We enjoy a traditional Irish breakfast this morning. We start our journey with a visit to Blarney Castle home to the blarney stone. They are here, of course, to plant their lips on the Blarney Stone, which supposedly gives one the gift of gab. We then make our way to Killarney. Overnight in Killarney International Hotel.

Killarney- Dingle- Killarney
After breakfast we depart Killarney for the Dingle Peninsula. The journey begins with some of the most magnificent scenery in all of Ireland. We continue to Slea Head. Along the way, we will see beehive style huts, originally inhabited by 12th century monks, which overlook the rugged Blasket Islands. There is no other landscape in western Europe with the density and variety of archaeological monuments as found on the Dingle Peninsula. Today we enjoy a Jaunting Cart Ride through Killarney National Park. Dinner and Overnight Killarney International Hotel.

Killarney-Galway
Today after breakfast we may take a tour of Ireland’s stony place – The Burren. Continuing to the Cliffs of Moher are stupefying impressive and staggeringly beautiful. On a clear day you’ll channel Barbra Streisand as you can see forever; the Aran Islands stand etched on the waters of Galway Bay, and beyond lie the hills of Connemara. As you leave the Cliffs, you will travel through the little village of Liscannor and just across the bay, you will see the beautiful seaside village and golfers’ mecca, Lahinch. Dinner and Overnight at Radisson Red Hotel Galway.

Connemara Tour
After breakfast we depart and tour the vast Connemara region. Connemara, (Conmaicnemara – the tribe of Cormac by the sea), white sandy beaches, dark bogs and tall jagged mountains make this one of the most scenic and unspoiled areas in the country. Wild and rugged, in some places here, Gaelic remains the only spoken language. We travel first to Clifden, (An Clochan). Founded in the early 19th century by John D’Arcy, it retains much of its Georgian architecture. Placed at the head of a broad Atlantic Bay and nestled below the Twelve Bens, the town is blessed by it beautiful setting. Known as the capital of Connemara, Clifden is a lively location full of shops, pubs, restaurants, and cafés. From here travel the Sky Road, an exhilarating circular drive west of Clifden. Return to Galway. Overnight at Radisson Red Hotel Galway.

Galway-Dublin
After a hearty Irish breakfast, we leave Galway and make our way to Dublin. Along the way stopping at Clonmacnoise. With a nearby ruined castle for company, the setting is quite sublime at Clonmacnoise – one of Ireland’s holiest and most significant monastic sites. We continue our way to Dublin. Many of the city’s most important sights and museums are here, as is Dublin’s best-loved city park, St Stephen’s Green. Overnight Radisson Blu Hotel.