Superior First Class Hotels - 13 or 14 Day Coach Tour
See two popular Celtic countries on this program. Start in Glasgow, travel through the magnificent Scottish Highlands. Tour Edinburgh Castle and enjoy Scottish entertainment before taking the ferry to Ireland. View the sights of Dublin and enjoy the spectacular scenery of Ring of Kerry and the Cliffs of Moher. Experience a Scottish cabaret in Edinburgh and finish your tour with a medieval banquet at Shannon. Excellent hotels in convenient locations, good food and hospitable staff blend together for a dream vacation.
Day 1: Depart U.S. for Scotland
Depart U.S. on your overnight flight to Glasgow.
Day 2: Glasgow City Tour
Arrive in Glasgow Airport where your CIE Tours guide or representative will greet you. Complimentary group transfers depart Glasgow Airport at 8:00 am, 10:00 am and 12:00 noon. Passengers arriving later will transfer to the hotel at their own expense. Your hotel is centrally located near Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow's main pedestrianized shopping thoroughfare. At 3:00 pm take a coach tour to see the main attractions of Glasgow including red sandstone Victorian buildings, delightful parks, Glasgow Cathedral and the River Clyde, once famous for shipbuilding. Visit extensive collections in Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, originally opened in 1901 and recently refurbished. Chat with your tour director and fellow travelers over a welcome drink before dinner. (D)
Day 3: Loch Lomond Cruise & Glen Coe
Depart Glasgow and drive north along the banks of Loch Lomond with views of Ben Lomond and other Highland peaks. Pause at the quaint village of Luss with charming cottages, which stretch to the lochside. At Tarbet embark on a short cruise to appreciate the beauty and peacefulness of this famous loch and admire panoramic views. Cross the mountain pass of "Rest and Be Thankful" to the Georgian town of Inveraray, built between 1753 and 1776 by the 3rd Duke of Argyll who decided to move the existing town to landscape his splendid new castle properly. Then journey across mysterious Rannoch Moor and through Glen Coe, a spectacular glen made famous by the Campbells' massacre of the Clan Macdonald in 1692. Arrive at Loch Linnhe, an inlet of the sea, and check into your hotel in Ballachulish. (B, D)
Day 4: The Great Glen & Culloden Battlefield
Drive to Fort Augustus, which sits at the southern end of the famous Loch Ness. Travel beside Loch Ness, keeping an eye out for the famous monster and enjoying the scenic views of Scotland's largest inland body of water. Drive through Inverness, capital city of the Highlands, and on to Culloden Moor to tour the Visitor Centre. Walk around the battlefield where, on 16th April 1746, British Government forces defeated the army of Prince Charles Edward Stuart in just one hour and ended hopes of restoring the Jacobite Stuarts to the British throne. The brutal measures imposed after the battle signaled the end of the distinctive Highland way of life and culture. Drive to Blairs on the outskirts of Aberdeen to your elegant 19th century mansion in time for dinner. (B, D)
Day 5: Crathes Castle & Afternoon Tea
Depart your hotel mid-morning to visit Crathes Castle, a fairytale Renaissance castle completed in 1594 with a wealth of fine furnishings. See the wonderful gardens before driving along the River Dee Valley, favored by Queen Victoria and most of the Royal Family since her era. Stop in the attractive town of Ballater where many shops show a royal warrant, indicating patronage by the Royal Family. Near the village of Banchory stop at the Falls of Feugh, a charming tea shop, which is popular with people in the area. Sample afternoon tea with delicious freshly-baked scones. Return to Blairs in time to relax before dinner at your hotel. (B, D)
Day 6: Glamis Castle & St. Andrews
Travel south through the lush countryside of Aberdeenshire to visit Glamis Castle, the legendary setting of "Macbeth" and childhood home of the late Queen Mother. Drive across the modern Tay Bridge to St. Andrews, the "Home of Golf". See the famous Royal and Ancient Clubhouse and the Old Course and enjoy free time to visit the British Golf Museum or browse through the medieval town with its cathedral and castle. Drive south into Edinburgh, Scotland's capital. At this evening's cabaret sample local specialties, including haggis, and enjoy bagpipes, traditional music, singing and dancing. (B, D)
Day 7: Edinburgh Castle & City Tour
This morning discover Edinburgh on a sightseeing tour. Drive along Princes Street, the main shopping thoroughfare. Compare and contrast the wide streets and elegant mansions of the Georgian 200-year-old "New Town" with the narrow lanes and medieval townhouses along the Royal Mile, the oldest part of the city, and together forming a World Heritage Site. Learn about the many prominent Scottish inventors, doctors and writers. Finish your tour at the imposing Edinburgh Castle where you can see many historic buildings and enjoy a splendid view of Edinburgh. The afternoon and evening are free for independent activities and dining. On August 2 to 23 departures enjoy the Military Tattoo at Edinburgh Castle. (B)
Day 8: Larne Ferry & Drive to Dublin
This morning depart Edinburgh after breakfast and drive south through part of the Southern Uplands and along the coastline. At Cairnryan take a ferry ride across the narrow channel between Scotland and Ireland to arrive in Larne, just outside Belfast. Drive south to Dublin and check into your hotel where the evening is at leisure for independent dining. (B)
Day 9: Viking Dublin & Merry Ploughboy Pub
Use your open-top bus voucher this morning to explore Dublin on your own. At 2:00 pm tour central Dublin with a local guide. Pass Trinity College , where the Book of Kells is housed; Dail Eireann, where the government meets; and rows of Georgian houses with gaily-colored doorways. Stop at Dublin Castle for a guided tour through the elegant State Apartments, which are filled with elaborate Waterford Crystal chandeliers and furnishings. Enjoy the afternoon at leisure or use your bus tour voucher. In the evening drive to the Merry Ploughboy Pub for a great dinner of Irish specialties, which is followed by a lively show of traditional Irish songs and intricate step-dancing. (B, D)
Day 10: Blarney Castle & Killarney
Depart Dublin and travel through the center of Ireland, stopping to view the stately church ruins atop the Rock of Cashel. Continue your drive south to visit Blarney Castle and kiss the famous "Stone of Eloquence." Also visit the Blarney Woollen Mills where you can find quality Irish-made goods. Drive into County Kerry where the scenery becomes more mountainous to Killarney, picturesquely set beside lakes and mountains. Check into your downtown hotel and relax before dinner. Afterwards you may like to head to a "singing pub." (B, D)
Day 11: Ring of Kerry & Muckross Gardens
Today embark on the Ring of Kerry drive - a winding route with breathtaking sights of mountains and coastal views. Stop near the Gap of Dunloe to see Essence of Kerry, an audio-visual presentation. As you travel, there will be plenty of stops for photos. Drive through the villages of Cahirciveen and Waterville and stop to walk around Sneem, where brightly-painted houses are grouped around at central green. Pause at Moll's Gap for stunning views and stop for a guided walk around Muckross Gardens on the shores of Muckross Lake before returning to Killarney in time to relax before the dinner. (B, D)
Day 12: Cliffs of Moher & Bunratty Castle
Drive to Tarbert for a ferry ride across the River Shannon Estuary. Continues to the Cliffs of Moher, a spectacular wall of limestone that reaches 700 feet above the Atlantic Ocean. Drive to Bunratty to check into Bunratty Castle Hotel, located very close to Bunratty Castle and Folk Park. If you wish, you may visit the Folk Park, have a drink in the 200-year-old Durty Nelly's Pub or shop at the Bunratty Mills. In the evening head to Bunratty Castle for a memorable medieval-style feast. During and after the meal the lords and ladies will serenade you with song and harp music, evocative of the Middle Ages. (B, D)
Day 13: Shannon Airport or Dublin Extension
Clients on the 13-day tour will take a group transfer to nearby Shannon Airport where your tour concludes at 10:30 am. Those on the 14-day tour will drive through the outskirts of Limerick and through the midland region of Ireland to Kildare. Here visit the Irish National Stud and Japanese Gardens. You can learn about horse breeding and see some of the valuable animals before touring the lovely Japanese Gardens, considered the best in Europe. Drive to the north side of Dublin city and you are free this evening for independent activities and dining. (B)
Day 15: Depart from Dublin Airport
As your hotel is convenient to Dublin Airport, a hotel shuttle service will transfer you to the airport terminal. After check-in, you'll have time to shop at the duty-free stores before U.S. Immigration pre-clearance and boarding your flight for the journey home. (B)
B=Breakfast, D=Dinner
Hotels on this tour
- Thistle Hotel, Glasgow (1 night)
- Isles of Glencoe Hotel, Ballachulish (1 night)
- Ardoe House Hotel, Blairs (2 nights)
- Holyrood Hotel, Edinburgh (2 nights)
- Stillorgan Park Hotel, Dublin (2 nights)
- Killarney Towers Hotel, Killarney (2 nights)
- Bunratty Castle Hotel, Bunratty (1 night)
- Bewley's Airport Hotel, Dublin (1 night - 14-day tour only)
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