Knobby knees? Skinny calves? Thick ankles? No matter here. You can show them off with pride on this tartan-filled tour through the kilted and Celtic countries of Scotland, Ireland, and Wales with the added bonus of England’s postcard-perfect Lake District. Whether you’re in search of heritage, haggis, rolling glens or smooth Guinness, there’s so much to discover on this Celtic tour of Britain and Ireland. Ancient castles? Check. Legendary lochs? Indeed. Sparkling seascapes and hallowed battlefields? You can bet your boots. Speaking of betting, you’ll visit the Irish National Stud at Kildare, a working stud farm and the beating heart of Ireland’s esteemed thoroughbred racehorse industry. From the storied cities to the tiny towns, you’ll feel your own heartbeat as you savor the deep-rooted traditions and customs of the Emerald Isle and the Scottish Highlands and Lowlands.
Special Features Included in this Tour:• Guided sightseeing in Edinburgh with visit to Edinburgh Castle and the Scottish Crown Jewels• Admission to The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo (August 8, 9, 15, 16, 22 and 23 departures)• Grasmere Gingerbread tasting• Visit to The Beatles Story in Liverpool• Orientation drive in Dublin• Visit to the Irish National Stud in Kildare• Visit to the Cliffs of Moher• Guided walking tour on the city walls of Derry• Visit to the Giant’s Causeway• Visit to the Titanic Experience in Belfast• Orientation drive in Glasgow• Visit to Loch Ness• Visit to Culloden Moor Visitor Centre and battlefield• Visit to Blair Castle
Notes: This tour requires some uphill walking on rough terrain at Edinburgh Castle which may pose a challenge to guests with physical limitations or reliant on mobility devices such as wheelchairs. Some walking involved back to the hotel after the Edinburgh Tattoo for departures that include the Tattoo.
Welcome to Glasgow! Settle in with free time before meeting your Tour Director and travel companions at 6 pm for a welcome dinner at your hotel Dinner
Day 2 GLASGOW–FORT WILLIAM–INVERNESS
Secret Keys to Scottish Lochs Your Celtic adventure starts with an orientation drive through Glasgow where you’ll see the 12th-century cathedral, university buildings and elegant Georgian squares. A spectacular drive through the Highlands takes you to Fort William. Take time to admire Ben Nevis, the UK’s highest peak, before looking out for the mysterious monster as you view Loch Ness. Spend the night in Inverness, the Highland Capital. (B)
178 mi / 286 km
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
EPIC RIDE They can take the low road, but we’ll take the high road on a scenic ride through magic and mystery of the moors and glens of the Scottish Highlands. From lovely Loch Lomond and Loch Linnhe to the boggy expanses of Rannoch Moor and the dizzying beauty of Glen Coe and Ben Nevis, you’ll discover the legends of Loch Ness and more across the beauty of Scotland’s magnificent scenery Breakfast
Day 3 INVERNESS–CULLODEN–BLAIR ATHOLL–EDINBURGH
A Red Moor & A White Castle Start the day at the Culloden Moor battlefield and visitor center to hear the story of the crushing Hanoverian victory over Bonnie Prince Charlie’s Scottish clans. A drive through the Cairngorms National Park takes you to Blair Castle, ancient seat of the Dukes and Earls of Atholl and home to Europe’s last remaining private army, the Atholl Highlanders. Then, on to the Scottish capital, Edinburgh. (B)
163 mi / 262 km
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
HISTORIC SPOT If these walls could talk, they would tell how the 19 generations of Stewarts and Murrays of Atholl have loved, won, and lost through seven centuries of history at Blair Castle, visited over time by Mary Queen of Scots, Bonnie Prince Charlie, and Queen Victoria Breakfast
Day 4 EDINBURGH
Drummers, Pipers & Precious Jewels Morning city sightseeing with a Local Guide introduces you to the 200-year-old “New Town” and the famous scientists, inventors, and novelists who lived there. In the “Old Town,” visit Edinburgh Castle to admire Scotland’s Crown Jewels. The afternoon is free to enjoy the Scottish capital at your own pace. (B)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
THE ROYAL EDINBURGH MILITARY TATTOO Unpack your plaid! Edinburgh Military Tattoo performances included on departures August 8, 9, 15, 16, 22 and 23.
MUSIC & MASTERPIECES Ascend to Castle Rock to explore Edinburgh Castle, one of the most important historical strongholds in the Kingdom of Scotland, with a 1,100-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 Tattoo, an extravaganza of bagpipes and drums performed en masse in August each year Breakfast
Day 5 EDINBURGH–GRETNA GREEN–GRASMERE, ENGLAND–LIVERPOOL
Songs, Sonnets & Secret Vows First stop today is at Gretna Green, where the blacksmith performed weddings for eloping young couples. Journey into England through the tranquil Lake District, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, to Grasmere, home of the poet William Wordsworth, to try original [LF] Grasmere Gingerbread. In Liverpool, visit The Beatles Story, a fascinating journey into the life and music of the “Fab Four.” (B)
235 mi / 378 km
LOCAL FAVORITE
TIMELESS TRADITIONS Sweeten the day with classic Grasmere gingerbread and hear the story of Sarah Nelson, the Victorian cook who invented the world famous cross between cake and biscuit in 1854 Breakfast
Day 6 LIVERPOOL–NORTH WALES–DUBLIN, IRELAND
Forest Sprites & Ferry Sights Take a scenic drive through the forest village of Betws-y-Coed and the incomparable landscapes of Snowdonia National Park takes you across the Isle of Anglesey to Holyhead. Board your ferry and cross the Irish Sea to Dublin. (B)
117 mi / 188 km
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
NATURAL WONDERS Pass through Snowdonia National Park’s forests, rugged mountains and sweeping coastline, where Welsh and the language of nature are spoken in stunning style Breakfast
Day 7 DUBLIN
Ireland’s Capital City An orientation drive in the Irish capital includes statue-lined O’Connell Street, elegant Georgian squares, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, and Oscar Wilde’s Trinity College. There is 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 Trinity College Breakfast
Day 8 DUBLIN–KILDARE–CASHEL–BLARNEY–KILLARNEY
The Winner’s Circle Horse-racing country awaits this morning. Drive across the Curragh to visit the [LF] Irish National Stud at Kildare, whose thoroughbreds command respect on the racecourses of the world. Pause to take photos of the Rock of Cashel, where St. Patrick preached before continuing to Blarney, the village know for is magical Kissing Stone. Walk up to the castle or shop for traditional Irish handicrafts. Enjoy some free time on arrival in Killarney. (B,D)
231 mi / 372 km
LOCAL FAVORITE
CULTURE & TRADITION The Irish National Stud is home to the long tradition of Ireland’s love of horses. This horse breeding facility in County Kildare, considered the beating heart of Ireland's thoroughbred industry, continues to inspire all who visit. Hear about some of the world’s most magnificent champion stallions that have made racing history since the turn of the 20th century BreakfastDinner
Day 9 KILLARNEY–RING OF KERRY–LIMERICK
Irish Eyes & Cheeky Rhymes Take a panoramic drive around part of Ireland’s southwestern peninsula, known as the Ring of Kerry. Have your camera ready as you enjoy the spectacular scenery. Arrive in Limerick for your overnight stay. (B)
167 mi / 268 km
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
NATURAL WONDERS Explore the emerald tapestries of green fields and ocean views that make other coastlines green with envy. The Ring of Kerry begins and ends in Killarney, taking you on a trip along the southwest coast of Ireland. Discover a paradise of panoramic cliffs, lush landscapes, and breathtaking beaches of the Iveragh Peninsula Breakfast
Day 10 LIMERICK–CLIFFS OF MOHER–GALWAY–SLIGO
Notes Above High Sea At the spectacular Cliffs of Moher, rising 668 feet above the Atlantic Ocean, step on to the edge of the world to admire awe-inspiring views. Via the limestone plateau of The Burren, reach Galway, a popular seaside destination with a buzzing center of colorful shops and a busy café and bar culture. Then, spend the night in the coastal seaport of Sligo. (B,D)
188 mi / 302 km
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
PICTURE PERFECT Feast your eyes on a stunning spectacle of sea and sky at the Cliffs of Moher on the Wild Atlantic Way. Try to resist the inspiration that has moved artists, poets, and scientists throughout the ages as you stand on the edge of 320 million years of geologic perfection on the rugged coastline of County Clare BreakfastDinner
Day 11 SLIGO–DERRY, NORTHERN IRELAND–GIANT’S CAUSEWAY–BELFAST
Giant Steps in Northern Ireland Head into Northern Ireland today and enjoy a [LF] walking tour with a Local Guide along the city walls of Derry’s Old Town. Follow in the legendary footsteps of Finn McCool, as you admire the Giant’s Causeway, composed of 40,000 basalt columns formed millions of years ago. Stay in Belfast tonight, Northern Ireland’s seat of government. (B,D)
200 mi / 322 km
LOCAL FAVORITE
CULTURAL GEMS Ireland’s only fully preserved historic walled city, Derry also took centre stage when Amelia Earhart landed her plane nearby having flown from Newfoundland in 1932. Walk on top of the 400-year-old city walls and hear the history of this vibrant place that links the Wild Atlantic Way to Causeway Coastal Route BreakfastDinner
Day 12 BELFAST–GLASGOW, SCOTLAND
A Grand Ship & Great Scots This morning, visit the fascinating Titanic Experience and learn about the building of the largest passenger steam ship, its maiden voyage, and the tragic night of April 14, 1912. Board your ferry for the maritime port of Cairnryan on Scotland’s west coast before heading back to Glasgow and celebrate your journey with a farewell dinner at your hotel. (B,D)
82 mi / 132 km
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
HISTORIC SPOT Explore the fascinating Titanic Belfast experience for an in-depth look at the history and mystery of the legendary ocean liner. See artifacts and hear amazing accounts of Belfast’s boom in shipping and those who built her. Learn about the courage and loss of all involved on a fateful night in April 1912. Get an immersive look at the launch, sinking, and final resting place of the doomed ship, with myths and reality revealed BreakfastDinner
Day 13 GLASGOW
Safe travels until we meet again! Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning.
Accommodations
Glasgow
Glasgow
Inverness
Edinburgh
Liverpool
Dublin
Dublin
Killarney
Killarney
Limerick
Sligo
Belfast
Clayton Hotel Glasgow Superior First-Class
Hotel as shown or similar
298 Clyde St Glasgow United Kingdom
The hotel is situated on Clyde Street overlooking the beautiful River Clyde and just a 10 minutes' walk from George Square, and Glasgow's main shopping streets, art galleries, bars and restaurants. All rooms are air-conditioned and include King Koil mattresses for an enhanced sleep experience, HD TVs with Chromecast, WIFI and complimentary use of fitness suite.
Radisson Blu Glasgow Superior First-Class
Hotel as shown or similar
301 Argyle St. Glasgow United Kingdom
Offering free high-speed, wireless Internet access throughout, the hotel compromises 250 rooms with complimentary amenities like iPod docking stations, bathrobes and slippers. Collage Restaurant, two stylish bars, access to LA Fitness and a first floor dedicated solely to meetings and events round out the offerings. Glaswegian hospitality and Radisson Blu service standards blend to offer guests a memorable, upscale stay.
AC Hotel by Marriott Inverness Superior First-Class
Hotel as shown or similar
Inverness United Kingdom
Where the River Ness meets the Moray Firth, AC Hotel Inverness, the largest hotel in the city, offers modern accommodation in the heart of the Scottish Highlands. This perfectly positioned hotel is only a short walk from Inverness Railway Station and the finest shopping and sightseeing spots. Our thoughtfully designed guest rooms offer modern decor, flexible workspace, free Wi-Fi, a smart TV and plenty of space to unwind or focus before your meeting in a calm environment. The perfect blend of form and functions for a stay in Inverness. Start the day with a European-style breakfast and end it with hand crafted cocktails at the AC Lounge. The restaurant completes the offer with tapas-style bites and local flavors, perfectly paired with iconic views across the river. After a long day of exploring the legend of Loch Ness, let us pour you a glass of our signature gin tonic whilst you welcome a moment of tranquility on our riverside terrace. Unfold an enriching stay in one of Scotland¿s most picturesque cities.
Marriott Courtyard Superior First-Class
Hotel as shown or similar
1 - 3 Baxter's Place Edinburgh United Kingdom
Courtyard by Marriott Edinburgh is the newest edition to the Scottish capital, combining heritage and style with an innovative design and locally inspired furnishings. The hotel has a prime location, just a five-minute walk from Princes Street and Waverley Station. Spacious, modern hotel rooms include quality amenities, such as a selection of in-room entertainment, plush bedding, and a work desk. Meals are served in The Lantern Room and the lobby offers an innovative and sophisticated space for working and relaxing.
Maldron Hotel Liverpool Superior First-Class
Hotel as shown or similar
2 Park Ln Liverpool United Kingdom
Ideally located in the heart of the city center, Maldron Hotel Liverpool is just minutes away from the city¿s star attractions.
Culture vultures will love concerts, comedy, and sports at the M&S Bank Arena, whilst history buffs take in the rich stories of the Royal Albert Docks. The hotel is just a short walk from the retail paradise that is Liverpool One and Beatles fans will find loads of great attractions and famous sites within an easy walk of the hotel.
Royal Marine Hotel Superior First-Class
Hotel as shown or similar
Marine Road Dun Laoghaire-C.Dublin Ireland
The Royal Marine Hotel in Dun Laoghaire is an historic and much-loved luxury landmark hotel, dating back to 1828, located in a prime South Dublin position overlooking Dublin Bay.
The Samuel Hotel Superior First-Class
Hotel as shown or similar
"Spencer Place,
North Wall Quay,
Dublin 1,
Ireland." Dublin Ireland
The Samuel is Dublin's stylish new 4-star hotel located in the heart of the city, overlooking the river Liffey, within walking distance of many shops, restaurants and historic landmarks. The hotel boasts a bar and brasserie-style restaurant. Fully air-conditioned Deluxe double and twin rooms have all the modern amenities such as dual rain fall shower, tea and coffee making facilities, high speed Wi-Fi, 43" HDTV with Chromecast streaming, iron and iron board as well as laundry service, laptop compatible in room safe, hairdryer and toiletries.
Killarney Towers Hotel Superior First-Class
Hotel as shown or similar
College Square Killarney Ireland
Killarney Towers Hotel offers spacious and bright rooms, designed, furnished and decorated with comfort and convenience in mind. The hotel boasts restaurants, bars, a concierge service and on-site fitness facilities.
Scotts Hotel Kilarney First-Class
Hotel as shown or similar
Scotts Street Killarney-Co.Kerry Ireland
Located in the heart of Killarney town centre, they is access to Scotts Hotel from East Avenue Road and College Street. It is within walking distance to Killarney National Park, restaurants, shops and bars.
Clayton Hotel Limerick Superior First-Class
Hotel as shown or similar
Steamboat Quay Limerick Ireland
Experience what Limerick has to offer first hand at Clayton Hotel Limerick - the friendliness of the people, the vibrancy of the riverside City, the sporting passion, the history, the rural majesty of County Limerick and lots more.
Sligo Park Hotel and Leisure Club Superior First-Class
Hotel as shown or similar
Pearse Road Sligo Ireland
Located on the Wild Atlantic Way, just on the edge of Sligo Town, the hotel is set in quiet parkland, surrounded by some of the scenic Irish countryside. Hotel facilities include 16 meter swimming pool, sauna, tennis court, plunge pool, fully equipped gym, and holistic treatment suite. There is an on-site award winning Hazelwood Restaurant and Jack B's Bar. The stylish and well-appointed rooms offer all the amenities such as tea/coffee facilities and complimentary Wi-Fi.
Stormont Hotel Superior First-Class
Hotel as shown or similar
Upper Newtownards Road Belfast United Kingdom
The 4 star Stormont Hotel Belfast is located just minutes away from Belfast city center and overlooking the beautiful grounds of the Stormont Estate making it an ideal base for business or leisure. In addition to an excellent reputation for professionalism and exceptional hospitality, this hotel boasts superb facilities to assure the ultimate in comfort and style and the friendly and professional staff will ensure you have everything you need and much more during your stay.