Your tour departs from your hotel at 2:00 PM on a panoramic tour of the highlights of Glasgow, a city built on industry but now known for its stunning Victorian architecture, a creative cultural scene, and thriving restaurants and nightlife. Visit Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, housing one of Europe’s finest art collections, including masterpieces by Rembrandt, Titian, and Dali. Enjoy a welcome drink with your group and then the evening is yours to explore and dine as you wish.
Cruise Loch Lomond for views of highland peaks. Stroll through Inveraray before taking a guided tour of Inveraray Castle, featured in Downton Abbey. Drive through Glencoe, one of Scotland’s most beautiful places, and then on to dinner at your hotel in Ballachulish on the shores of Loch Leven.
Travel through the breathtaking Highlands, crossing the bridge to the Isle of Skye. Enjoy lunch at Sligachan with stunning views of the Cuillin Hills, and visit the Sligachan Old Bridge, famed for its legend of magical waters. Pause for photos at the iconic Eilean Donan Castle before traveling along the shores of Loch Ness to your hotel for dinner.
Visit the Culloden Battlefield Visitor Centre to learn about the historic battle and stroll around the moorland. Continue through majestic Highland scenery to a local farm for a demonstration of trained dogs herding sheep. Spend the evening in a gracious manor-style hotel near Pitlochry, where you’ll dine with your group.
Visit Blair Castle, home of the Dukes and Earls of Atholl. Go behind the scenes at Blair Athol Distillery for a tour and sample of the finished product. Spend the afternoon at leisure exploring the hotel gardens and museum, or browsing around Pitlochry town. Dine at your hotel this evening.
Visit Glamis Castle, the legendary setting of Macbeth. Head to St Andrews, the “Home of Golf”. Enjoy a traditional Scottish evening with dinner and entertainment. August 1 – 22 departures enjoy an evening free to dine independently.
Take a panoramic tour of Edinburgh, from its medieval townhouses along the Royal Mile to the 200-year-old “New Town” area. Tour the imposing Edinburgh Castle with its splendid views of the city. The rest of the day is free for independent exploring, shopping, and dining. August 1 – 22 departures attend The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo on the Castle Esplanade.
Say farewell to your Scottish guide and embark on a ferry ride to Belfast. Visit Titanic Belfast, a state-of-the-art attraction that will immerse you in the full story of the ill-fated ocean liner, built in the nearby ship yards in 1912. Head to your hotel in the seaside suburb of Dún Laoghaire near Dublin, where you will meet your Irish driver/guide, and enjoy a free evening in this charming harbor town.
Head to Athlone for a welcome drink at Sean’s Bar, the oldest bar in Europe. Join a local guide for a walking tour through the beautiful harbor city of Galway; see its stone-clad buildings and medieval, winding lanes. Enjoy some free time to explore Galway on your own, then join your fellow travelers for dinner at your hotel.
Explore scenic Connemara. Take a catamaran cruise of Killary Harbour, a 9-mile fjord (seasonal). Head to Kylemore Abbey, set beside a tranquil lake, to see elegant rooms, the charming church and the Victorian walled gardens. Return to Galway, where your evening is free to explore the city’s lively pubs and excellent restaurants.
Travel south around Galway Bay, through the austere beauty of the Burren, to visit a sheep farm and see trained sheepdogs show off their herding skills. Visit the Cliffs of Moher, rising 700 feet above the Atlantic surf. Take a ferry across the River Shannon Estuary as you head to Killarney, where you’ll settle in for a two-night stay at the 5-star Great Southern Killarney, a landmark Victorian hotel. Enjoy an evening of traditional Irish entertainment and dinner at Kate Kearney’s Cottage.
Take a traditional horse-drawn jaunting car through Killarney National Park to scenic Ross Castle. See the highlights of Ireland’s most popular scenic drive, the Ring of Kerry, and take a break in the colorful village of Kenmare. In the beautiful Gap of Dunloe, visit Moriarty’s, a CIE Tours preferred shopping partner. Return to Killarney for an evening on your own.
Drive through the mountains on the way to Blarney Castle. Climb the winding staircase to kiss the famous stone, or just explore the tranquil gardens. Travel along the coast to the Marine Bar in Dungarvan, a CIE Tours exclusive venue, for some traditional music. Continue to Waterford, where you’ll join a local guide for a walking tour through the narrow streets of Ireland’s oldest city, discovering its fascinating past. Dine at your hotel this evening.
Enjoy a guided tour of the House of Waterford Crystal, where you’ll watch skilled artisans create sparkling master-pieces. In Kilkenny, spend free time exploring the medieval city center, then tour the beautifully restored Kilkenny Castle to see glorious 17th-century tapestries, painted portraits, and sumptuous furnishings. Travel on to Dublin, where you’ll dine with a glass of wine at One Ballsbridge.
Enjoy an independent Hop-On, Hop-Off bus tour and a visit to one of Dublin’s top attractions – Guinness Storehouse, Teeling Whiskey Distillery, EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum, Jameson Distillery Bow St. Experience, or the GPO Museum.
Your 16-day tour ends after breakfast.
