A Taste of Ireland and Scotland
A Taste of Ireland and Scotland
A Taste of Ireland and Scotland
9 Days Starting in Dublin, Ireland and ending in Edinburgh, Scotland
Visiting: Dublin, Galway, Belfast, Oban, Edinburgh
Tour operator:
Tour code:
GL-2025
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Tour operated in:
EnglishInterests:
Cultural, Foodie and Wine Tours, Gardens & Nature Tours, History, Rail Tours
Activities:
Tour Overview
Embark on "A Taste of Ireland and Scotland" tour, a captivating journey through the rich cultural and historical landscapes of Northern Ireland and Scotland. Begin in Dublin, exploring iconic sites like O’Connell Street, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, and Trinity College. Experience local life with scone baking and sheep herding at Rathbaun Farm, and enjoy free time in Galway. Discover Belfast with a YourChoice Excursion and visit the Titanic Belfast experience. Cross to Scotland, visiting Inveraray Castle, and enjoy scenic drives through Glen Coe and The Trossachs National Park. Conclude in Edinburgh with a visit to Edinburgh Castle and Scotland’s Crown Jewels. This tour includes guided tours, local experiences, scenic drives, and comfortable accommodations, ensuring an unforgettable adventure.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive In Dublin,Ireland
Location: Dublin
Accommodation Name: The Gibson
Meals Included: Dinner
This evening, meet your Tour Director and travel companions for a welcome dinner at your hotel.
Day 2: Dublin
Location: Dublin
Accommodation Name: The Gibson
Meals Included: Breakfast
DUBLIN Ireland’s Capital City DUBLIN Take a morning orientation drive to see O’Connell Street, Georgian squares, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, and Trinity College. Free time this afternoon. (B)TOUR HIGHLIGHTCITY 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 the legendary library of Trinity College.
Day 3: Dublin,Athlone,Rathbaun Farm,Galway,Castlebar
Location: Galway
Accommodation Name: Breaffy House Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
DUBLIN–ATHLONE–RATHBAUN FARM–GALWAY–CASTLEBAR Scones and Cities ATHLONE Visit the town.RATHBAUN [LF] Try your hand at scone baking, learn about sheep herding, and enjoy coffee and scones at an Irish farm.GALWAY Free time.191 mi / 308 km (B,D)LOCAL FAVORITELOCAL TASTES Someone’s in the kitchen in Rathbaun Farm, just outside of Galway. You can don an apron and whip up your own delicious home-made scones, served with fresh preserves and whipped cream. Learn about the long-time tradition of sheep farming in this beautiful Irish landscape.
Day 4: Castlebar,Bundoran,Belfast,Northern Ireland
Location: Belfast
Accommodation Name: Europa
Meals Included: Breakfast
CASTLEBAR–BUNDORAN–BELFAST, NORTHERN IRELAND Spend Your Day Your Way in Belfast BUNDORAN Free time.BELFAST Explore Belfast on an included YourChoice Excursion in Northern Ireland’s capital city.186 mi / 300 km (B)TAKE YOUR PICKExplore your way today with your choice of excursions:PACK UP YOUR TROUBLES Take an inspiring journey through war and peace on a city center walking tour of Belfast. Learn the history of The Troubles and the path to peace and reconciliation.OR: BEST OF BELFAST Discover the essential Belfast with your expert Local Guide. Explore its beautiful architecture, stunning street art, unique heritage, and the amazing stories of its citizens from across the centuries.
Day 5: Belfast,Glasgow,Scotland
Location: Belfast
Accommodation Name: AC Hotel by Marriott Glasgow
Meals Included: Breakfast
BELFAST–GLASGOW, SCOTLAND Strait to Scotland BELFAST Visit the Titanic Belfast experience. Take a ferry crossing to Cairnryan on Scotland’s southwest coast en route to Glasgow.132 mi / 212 km (B)TOUR HIGHLIGHTEPIC RIDE The North Channel (also called the Irish Channel) connects northeast Ireland to the southwestern coast of Scotland. The North Channel is part of the Ocean’s Seven, a set of seven long-distance open-water swims, although most who cross rely on the many ferries that run between Belfast and Cairnryan, the Scottish village with a proud maritime history, including building sections of the floating Mulberry Harbors built to support the D-Day invasion of Normandy.
Day 6: Glasgow,Inveraray,Oban
Location: Oban
Accommodation Name: Oban Bay Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
GLASGOW–INVERARAY–OBAN Clans and Slate LOCH LOMOND Stop for photos.INVERARAY Visit the castle.ELLENABEICH Visit the remote former slate-mining village.OBAN Free time.102 mi / 164 km (B,D)TOUR HIGHLIGHTTHE CLAN’S CASTLE Inveraray Castle is the ancestral home of the Duke of Argyll, the chief of Clan Campbell, one of Scotland’s most powerful and influential clans. The castle’s conical roofs and turrets give it a fairy-tale appearance, while its interior features stunning rooms with opulent decorations. Located with stunning views over Loch Fyne, it’s no wonder it has been used for location filing on many occasions, including the popular Downton Abbey.
Day 7: Oban,Glen Coe,Stirling Castle,Edinburgh
Location: Edinburgh
Accommodation Name: Marriott Courtyard
Meals Included: Breakfast
OBAN–GLEN COE–STIRLING CASTLE–EDINBURGH Glens and Tipples GLENCOE Scenic drive through Glen Coe and The Trossachs National Park.STIRLING Visit the Castle and a [LF] whisky distillery.155 mi / 249 km (B)LOCAL FAVORITELOCAL TASTES We’ll raise a wee dram of malt whisky at an historic distillery, distilling in slow Scottish style in the highlands for many years. Slàinte Mhath!
Day 8: Edinburgh
Location: Edinburgh
Accommodation Name: Marriott Courtyard
Meals Included: Breakfast
EDINBURGH Drummers, Pipers & Precious Jewels EDINBURGH Morning city sightseeing with a Local Guide includes the New Town, the Old Town, and a visit to Edinburgh Castle to see Scotland’s Crown Jewels. Free time this afternoon. (B)TOUR HIGHLIGHT THR ROYAL EDINBURGH MILITARY TATTOO Unpack your plaid! Edinburgh Military Tattoo performances included on departures July 26, August 2, 9 and 16. TOUR HIGHLIGHTMUSIC & MASTERPIECES Ascend to Castle Rock to explore Edinburgh Castle, one of the most important historical strongholds in the Kingdom of Scotland, with an 11,000-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 Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, an extravaganza of bagpipes and drums performed en masse in August each year.
Day 9: Edinburgh
Location: Edinburgh
Meals Included: Breakfast
Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning.
What's Included
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Accommodation
Stay at The Gibson in Dublin, Breaffy House Hotel in Castlebar, Europa in Belfast, AC Hotel by Marriott Glasgow in Glasgow, Oban Bay Hotel in Oban, and Marriott Courtyard in Edinburgh.
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Meals
Daily breakfast and selected dinners are included.
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Transport
Travel includes a ferry crossing from Belfast to Cairnryan, and various drives between cities such as Dublin, Galway, Belfast, Glasgow, and Edinburgh.
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Guided Tours
Guided tours in Dublin, Belfast, and Edinburgh, including visits to St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Trinity College, Titanic Belfast, and Edinburgh Castle.
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Local Experiences
Try scone baking and learn about sheep herding at Rathbaun Farm. Visit Inveraray Castle and a whisky distillery in Stirling.
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Scenic Drives
Scenic drives through Glen Coe and The Trossachs National Park.
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YourChoice Excursion
Explore Belfast on an included YourChoice Excursion.
What's Not Included
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Flights
International and domestic flights are not included.
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Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is not included and is recommended.
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Personal Expenses
Personal expenses such as souvenirs, additional meals, and beverages are not included.
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Optional Excursions
Optional excursions and activities not mentioned in the itinerary are not included.
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Gratuities
Gratuities for guides, drivers, and hotel staff are not included.
UNESCO Sites
Old and New Towns of Edinburgh
Accommodation
Stay at The Gibson in Dublin, Breaffy House Hotel in Castlebar, Europa in Belfast, AC Hotel by Marriott Glasgow in Glasgow, Oban Bay Hotel in Oban, and Marriott Courtyard in Edinburgh.
Mode of Transport
Travel includes a ferry crossing from Belfast to Cairnryan, and various drives between cities such as Dublin, Galway, Belfast, Glasgow, and Edinburgh.
Notes
This tour requires some uphill walking on rough terraine 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.Headsets available on tour except for London
Meals
8 Breakfasts, 3 Dinners
Check out our Q&As
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What kind of local experiences can I expect on this tour?
You will have the opportunity to try your hand at scone baking and learn about sheep herding at Rathbaun Farm. Additionally, you will visit a whisky distillery in Stirling.
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Are there any scenic drives included in the tour?
Yes, the tour includes scenic drives through Glen Coe and The Trossachs National Park.
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What kind of guided tours are included?
Guided tours are included in Dublin, Belfast, and Edinburgh. These tours will take you to places like St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Trinity College, Titanic Belfast, and Edinburgh Castle.
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What is the YourChoice Excursion in Belfast?
The YourChoice Excursion in Belfast allows you to choose between a city center walking tour focusing on the history of The Troubles and the path to peace, or a tour exploring Belfast's architecture, street art, and heritage.
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What meals are included in the tour?
Daily breakfast and selected dinners are included in the tour.
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What kind of accommodation can I expect?
You will stay at The Gibson in Dublin, Breaffy House Hotel in Castlebar, Europa in Belfast, AC Hotel by Marriott Glasgow in Glasgow, Oban Bay Hotel in Oban, and Marriott Courtyard in Edinburgh.
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What transportation is provided during the tour?
Transportation includes a ferry crossing from Belfast to Cairnryan, and various drives between cities such as Dublin, Galway, Belfast, Glasgow, and Edinburgh.
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What are some of the highlights of the tour?
Highlights include exploring Dublin's O’Connell Street, Georgian squares, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, and Trinity College, visiting the Titanic Belfast experience, Inveraray Castle, and Edinburgh Castle to see Scotland’s Crown Jewels.
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Are there any optional excursions available?
Yes, optional excursions and activities not mentioned in the itinerary are available but not included in the tour price.
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What is the final destination of the tour?
The tour ends in Edinburgh, Scotland.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
For over 90 years.
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Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Yes
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What policies are in place for Covid-19?
Please contact us for latest Covid-19 policies
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What documents will I receive before I travel?
Travel documents, including any air tickets, itineraries, and other information, are available approximately two to three weeks prior to departure provided full payment has been received.
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
The Globus Lighthouse Project - an illuminating initiative where we can all come together to tread lightly and give generously for the globe's greater good. Globus, along with sister companies Avalon Waterways and Cosmos, invite our travellers and partners to help us in supporting causes that provide for a more sustainable planet and a brighter tomorrow.
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Low Deposit
Barrhead Travel requires a minimum deposit of 200 GBP per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 98 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of barrhead travel charges.
Up to 98 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 97 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.
At 74 days before tour starts: Forfeit 75% of booking price.
At 28 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
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