2019 Scottish & Irish Gold - 16 Days/15 Nights

SCOTTISH & IRISH GOLD 16 DAYS / 15 NIGHTS/26 MEALS

Day 1: GLASGOW CITY TOUR
Tour begins 2:30 PM at your Glasgow hotel. Tour central Glasgow’s main attractions including parks, squares, and Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum. Enjoy a welcome drink with your group.


Day 2: LOCH LOMOND & INVERARAY CASTLE
Embark on a cruise of Loch Lomond for views of Highland peaks. Stroll through Inveraray before touring Inveraray Castle, which you may recognize from the Downton Abbey series. Travel through Glencoe, considered one of Scotland’s most beautiful places, and then to your hotel in Ballachulish.
(B, D)

Day 3: Isle of Skye & Eilean Donan Castle
Take the “Road to the Isles” through some of Scotland’s loveliest scenery. Enjoy a panoramic tour of the Isle of Skye and visit the picturesque Eilean Donan Castle. Keep your camera ready as you travel along the shores of Loch Ness on your way to your hotel in Nairn, a lovely manor house set in spacious grounds near the North Sea.
(B, D)

Day 4: CULLODEN BATTLEFIELD & SHEEPDOG
Visit the Culloden Battlefi eld Visitor Centre to learn about the historic battle. Stroll the moorland to see monuments commemorating troops. Immerse yourself in farm life and enjoy a sheepdog demonstration. Spend the evening in a gracious manor-style hotel near Pitlochry.
(B, D)

Day 5: BLAIR CASTLE & WHISKY TASTING
Tour Blair Castle, then visit Blair Athol Distillery to learn about whisky making and sample a “wee dram.” Spend the afternoon at leisure exploring the hotel gardens, museum, and facilities, or browse around Pitlochry town.
(B, D)

Day 6: GLAMIS CASTLE & ST ANDREWS
Visit Glamis Castle, the legendary setting of Macbeth, then travel to St Andrews, the “Home of Golf.” See the famous Royal and Ancient Clubhouse and the Old Course on a panoramic drive. Browse through the medieval town with its ruined cathedral and castle. In Edinburgh, enjoy a traditional Scottish evening with dinner and entertainment.
(B, D)

Day 7: EDINBURGH CASTLE & CITY TOUR
Take a sightseeing tour of Edinburgh to see the wide streets and elegant mansions of the Georgian 200-year-old “New Town” and the narrow lanes and medieval townhouses along the Royal Mile, the oldest part of the city. Visit the imposing Edinburgh Castle and admire splendid views. Spend the afternoon and evening at leisure. The July 28 – August 18 departures watch the spectacular Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo on the Castle Esplanade.
(B)

Day 8: TITANIC BELFAST & DUN LAOGHAIRE
Say farewell to your Scottish guide/driver and embark on a ferry ride to Belfast, enjoying lunch on board. Immerse yourself in the history of the Titanic through displays at Titanic Belfast. Head to your hotel in the seaside town of Dun Laoghaire near Dublin, and meet your Irish driver/guide. Enjoy a free evening in this bustling seaside town. .
(B, L)

Day 9: Clonmacnoise & Galway
Meet your new Irish tour group this morning. Journey across the rolling pastures of Ireland’s heartland to visit Clonmacnoise. This monastic settlement was founded in 545 AD and is set on the banks of the mighty River Shannon. See elaborate high Celtic crosses decorated with biblical scenes. Head to Galway for a guided walking tour through the city center. Enjoy free time to explore Galway on your own before dinner.
(B, D)

Day 10: Connemara & Catamaran Cruise
Explore Kylemore Abbey and gardens, and enjoy a casual lunch. Embark on a cruise of Killary Harbour, a 9-mile fjord (March 18 –October 21 departures), and enjoy views of hills where traces of “lazy beds” of potato ridges from the 19th century can still be seen. Spend a free evening in Galway.
(B, L)

Day 11: Cliffs of Moher & Irish Night
Visit a farm to enjoy a demonstration of dogs herding sheep. See the Cliffs of Moher, soaring almost 700 feet above the Atlantic. Ferry across the River Shannon and head to picturesque Killarney. Enjoy an Irish evening featuring a lively show and dinner.
(B, D)

Day 12: JAUNTING CAR & RING OF KERRY
A traditional jaunting car will drive you along the shores of Lough Leane to view Ross Castle. Take in the views as you travel the famous Ring of Kerry and stop for a casual lunch. Take a break in the colorful village of Sneem before returning to Killarney for a free evening.
(B, L)

Day 13: Blarney Castle & Waterford Crystal
Visit Blarney Castle to kiss the famous “Stone of Eloquence” or stroll through the lovely gardens. Stop in Dungarvan at the Marine Bar for an Irish coffee and informal traditional music. At the House of Waterford Crystal watch glass blowing and cutting by master craftspeople.
(B, D)

Day 14: WATERFORD WALK & DUBLIN
Take a walking tour to discover Waterford’s long history. Visit Kilkenny where you will go to the Smithwick's Experience before heading to Dublin, where you'll savor an elegant dinner at a local restaurant.
(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 the General Post Office Museum.
(B)

Day 16: TOUR ENDS IN DUBLIN
Your tour ends after breakfast.
(B)

B: Breakfast; L: Lunch; D: Dinner

Authentic Local Experiences:

• Reserved seats at the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo on July 28 – August 18 departures.
• Mill the malt, stir the mash and smell the hops on a tour of Smithwick’s Experience, telling the story of the popular breweryin the heart of Kilkenny since 1710

Trip Highlights:

• Culloden Battlefield

  Clonmacnoise Monastic Site

  This great monastery was founded in 548 by St Ciaran and was a great centre of learning in medieval times. Many manuscripts were written there. Today see three high crosses and the ruins of a cathedral, seven churches and two round towers set on a mound beside the River Shannon.
• Glamis Castle

  Culloden Battlefield

  This is the site of the last land battle within the UK, in which King George II’s troops defeated Bonnie Prince Charlie and his Jacobite supporters in 1746; around 1200 people were reputedly killed. The Visitor Centre, opened in 2008, includes exhibitions, restaurant, shop and a landscaped roof platform for views over the battlefield.
• St Andrews

  Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum

  The Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum is a museum and art gallery in Glasgow, Scotland. It reopened in 2006 after a three-year refurbishment and since then has been one of Scotland's most popular visitor attractions.
• Edinburgh Castle

  St Andrews

  Golf has been played on the Links at St Andrews since around 1400 AD and the Old Course is renowned throughout the world as the Home of Golf. By the 19th century it was part of the way of life for many local people and golf. Golf still plays a major part in the culture and economy of St Andrews today.
• Titanic Belfast

  Titanic Belfast

  Opened in April 2012 to commemorate the centenary of the sinking of this iconic ship, this new visitor experience tells the story of the Titanic from conception and construction right through the maiden voyage and tragic ending.
• Blarney Castle
• House of Waterford Crystal

Dining Experiences:

• 15 breakfasts (B), 2 lunches (L) and9 dinners (D) including a festive Scottish evening in Edinburgh, a traditional Irish Night in Killarney, and dinner in a Dublin restaurant.

Hotels:

• GB-GLA-RAD or GB-GLA-HIL | Glasgow (1)
• GB-ARY-ISL | Ballachulish (1)
• GB-NAI-NEW | Nairn (1)
• GB-PES-ATH | Pitlochry (2)
• GB-EDI-HOL | Edinburgh (2)
• IE-DUB-RMA | Dun Laoghaire, Dublin (1)
• IE-GAL-RSA | Galway (2)
• IE-KER-TMA | Killarney (2)
• IE-WAT-GRH | Waterford (1)
• IE-DUB-BUR | Dublin (2)