Tour Overview
Embark on the "Celtic Highlights" tour, a captivating journey through the heart of the British Isles and Ireland. This expertly guided tour takes you from the historic streets of Glasgow to the enchanting landscapes of the English Lake District, the rugged beauty of Snowdonia National Park, and the iconic Cliffs of Moher. Discover the cultural treasures of Edinburgh, the musical legacy of Liverpool, and the vibrant charm of Dublin. Marvel at the natural wonder of the Giant's Causeway and the scenic splendor of the Ring of Kerry. Enjoy comfortable stays in first-class hotels and travel in style with private, air-conditioned motorcoach transportation. With small group sizes, you'll have the space to explore and connect with the rich history and breathtaking scenery of these Celtic lands. This tour promises an unforgettable experience filled with cultural, historical, and natural wonders. ...more ...less
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive In Glasgow,Scotland
Location: Glasgow
Accommodation Name: Clayton Hotel Glasgow or Radisson Blu Glasgow
Meals Included: Dinner
Free time. At 6 pm, meet your Tour Director and travel companions for a welcome dinner at your hotel.
Day 2: Glasgow,Fort William,Inverness
Location: Glasgow, Fort William, Inverness
Accommodation Name: AC Hotel by Marriott Inverness or Mercure Inverness Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
GLASGOW–FORT WILLIAM–INVERNESS Secret Keys to Scottish Lochs GLASGOW Orientation drive to see the 12th-century cathedral, university buildings, and Georgian squares.HIGHLANDS Take a scenic drive along Loch Lomond and Loch Linnhe, and through Rannoch Moor and Glen Coe.FORT WILLIAM See the gateway to Ben Nevis, UK’s highest peak.LOCH NESS Visit the legendary lake. (B) 178 mi / 286 kmTOUR 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.
Day 3: Inverness,Culloden,Blair Atholl,Edinburgh
Location: Inverness, Culloden, Blair Atholl, Edinburgh
Accommodation Name: Marriott Courtyard
Meals Included: Breakfast
INVERNESS–CULLODEN–BLAIR ATHOLL–EDINBURGH A Red Moor & A White Castle CULLODEN Visit the Culloden Moor battlefield site and visitor center.BLAIR ATHOLL Visit Blair Castle. (B) 163 mi / 262 kmTOUR HIGHLIGHTHISTORIC 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.
Day 4: 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 in the afternoon. (B)TOUR HIGHLIGHT THE ROYAL EDINBURGH MILITARY TATTOO Unpack your plaid! Edinburgh Military Tattoo performances included on departures August 3, 4, 10, 11, 17 and 18. TOUR HIGHLIGHTMUSIC & 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.
Day 5: Edinburgh,Gretna Green,Grasmere,England,Liverpool
Location: Edinburgh, Gretna Green, Lake District, Grasmere, Liverpool
Accommodation Name: The Municipal Hotel Liverpool- Mgallery
Meals Included: Breakfast
EDINBURGH–GRETNA GREEN–GRASMERE, ENGLAND–LIVERPOOL Songs, Sonnets & Secret Vows GRETNA GREEN See where the Scottish blacksmith performed weddings for eloping young couples.LAKE DISTRICT Take a scenic drive.GRASMERE Visit Wordsworth’s beloved village and sample [LF] the original Grasmere gingerbread.LIVERPOOL Visit The Beatles Story for a fascinating journey into the life and music of the Fab Four. (B) 235 mi / 378 kmLOCAL FAVORITETIMELESS 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.
Day 6: Liverpool,North Wales,Dublin,Ireland
Location: Liverpool, North Wales, Dublin
Accommodation Name: Royal Marine Hotel or The Address Connolly
Meals Included: Breakfast
LIVERPOOL–NORTH WALES–DUBLIN, IRELAND Forest Sprites & Ferry Sights NORTH WALES Scenic drive through the forest village of Betws-y-Coed and Snowdonia National Park. Take a ferry to cross from Holyhead to Dublin. (B) 117 mi / 188 kmTOUR HIGHLIGHTNATURAL 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.
Day 7: Dublin
Location: Dublin
Accommodation Name: Royal Marine Hotel or The Address Connolly
Meals Included: Breakfast
DUBLIN Ireland’s Capital City DUBLIN Take an orientation drive to see O’Connell Street, Georgian squares, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, and Trinity College. Free time. (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 Trinity College.
Day 8: Dublin,Kildare,Cashel,Blarney,Killarney
Location: Dublin, Kildare, Cashel, Blarney, Killarney
Accommodation Name: Killarney Towers Hotel or Scotts Hotel Killarney
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
DUBLIN–KILDARE–CASHEL–BLARNEY–KILLARNEY The Winner’s Circle KILDARE [LF] Visit the world renowned Irish National Stud.CASHEL See the Rock of Cashel, where St. Patrick preached.BLARNEY Visit the village known for its magical Kissing Stone.KILLARNEY Free time. (B,D) 231 mi / 372 kmLOCAL FAVORITECULTURE & 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.
Day 9: Killarney,Ring Of Kerry,Adare,Limerick
Location: Killarney, Ring of Kerry, Adare, Limerick
Accommodation Name: Clayton Hotel Limerick
Meals Included: Breakfast
KILLARNEY–RING OF KERRY–ADARE–LIMERICK Irish Eyes & Cheeky Rhymes RING OF KERRY Panoramic drive around part of Ireland's southwestern peninsula.ADARE Stop at the quaint village to see its pretty thatched cottages.LIMERICK Free time. (B) 167 mi / 268 kmTOUR 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.
Day 10: Limerick,Cliffs Of Moher,Galway,Sligo
Location: Limerick, Cliffs of Moher, Galway, Sligo
Accommodation Name: Sligo Park Hotel and Leisure Club
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
LIMERICK–CLIFFS OF MOHER–GALWAY–SLIGO Notes Above High Sea CLIFFS OF MOHER Visit 668-foot-high cliffs above the Atlantic Ocean.GALWAY Free time. (B,D) 188 mi / 302 kmTOUR HIGHLIGHTPICTURE 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.
Day 11: Sligo,Derry,Northern Ireland,Giant’S Causeway,Belfast
Location: Sligo, Derry, Giant's Causeway, Belfast
Accommodation Name: Stormont Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
SLIGO–DERRY, NORTHERN IRELAND–GIANT’S CAUSEWAY–BELFAST Giant Steps in Northern Ireland DERRY [LF] Walk on top of the city walls with a Local Guide.GIANT’S CAUSEWAY See more than 40,000 interlocking basalt columns formed millions of years ago. (B,D) 200 mi / 322 kmLOCAL 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.
Day 12: Belfast,Glasgow,Scotland
Location: Belfast, Glasgow
Accommodation Name: Clayton Hotel Glasgow or Radisson Blu Glasgow
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
BELFAST–GLASGOW, SCOTLAND A Grand Ship & Great Scots BELFAST Visit the Titanic Belfast experience.Take a ferry crossing to the maritime port of Cairnryan on Scotland’s west coast en route to Glasgow. (B,D) 82 mi / 132 kmTOUR HIGHLIGHTHISTORIC 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.
Day 13: Glasgow
Location: Glasgow
Meals Included: Breakfast
Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning.
What's Included
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Accommodation
Stay in first-class or superior first-class hotels with private bath or shower, including hotel taxes, porterage, tips, and service charges.
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Fully Guided
The tour is fully guided by an expert Tour Director, Driver, and Local Guides.
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Transport
Travel in comfort with private, air-conditioned motorcoach transportation, complete with free Wi-Fi where available. Enjoy scenic drives and ferry crossings as part of your journey.
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Small Group
Globus offers Small-Group Discoveries on select Europe dates, limited to an average of just 24 guests per departure.
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UNESCO Sites
Visits to UNESCO World Heritage Sites including Forth Road Bridge, Giant's Causeway and Causeway Coast, Old and New Towns of Edinburgh, and The English Lake District.
What's Not Included
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Insurance
Travel insurance is not included.
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International Travel
International flights to and from the tour starting point are not included.
Small Group
Globus offers Small-Group Discoveries on select Europe dates. A Small-Group Discovery is limited to an average of just 24 guests per departure. There’s always room to roam with extra space between you and other travelers—while still getting up close and personal to the experiences you’ve been dreaming of. Small-Group Discoveries include all the features of a traditional Globus Europe escorted tour, complete with expert Tour Director, Driver, and Local Guides who ensure that your health and safety is our top priority. A Small-Group Discovery trip is the perfectly sized European tour—without the crowds. ...more ...less
UNESCO Sites
Forth Bridge|Giant?s Causeway and Causeway Coast|Old and New Towns of Edinburgh|The English Lake District
Accommodation
Stay in first-class or superior first-class hotels with private bath or shower, including the Clayton Hotel Glasgow, Radisson Blu Glasgow, AC Hotel by Marriott Inverness, Mercure Inverness Hotel, Marriott Courtyard Edinburgh, The Municipal Hotel Liverpool- Mgallery, Royal Marine Hotel Dublin, The Address Connolly Dublin, Killarney Towers Hotel, Scotts Hotel Killarney, Clayton Hotel Limerick, Sligo Park Hotel and Leisure Club, and Stormont Hotel Belfast. ...more ...less
Mode of Transport
Travel in comfort with private, air-conditioned motorcoach transportation, complete with free Wi-Fi where available. Enjoy scenic drives and ferry crossings as part of your journey.
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.
Meals
12 Breakfasts, 5 Dinners
Check out our Q&As
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What type of accommodation is provided during the Celtic Highlights tour?
The tour provides accommodation in first-class or superior first-class hotels with private bath or shower. Some of the hotels include the Clayton Hotel Glasgow, Radisson Blu Glasgow, AC Hotel by Marriott Inverness, Mercure Inverness Hotel, Marriott Courtyard Edinburgh, The Municipal Hotel Liverpool- Mgallery, Royal Marine Hotel Dublin, The Address Connolly Dublin, Killarney Towers Hotel, Scotts Hotel Killarney, Clayton Hotel Limerick, Sligo Park Hotel and Leisure Club, and Stormont Hotel Belfast. ...more ...less
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Are meals included in the Celtic Highlights tour?
Yes, the tour includes 12 breakfasts and 5 dinners.
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What kind of transportation is used during the tour?
The tour uses private, air-conditioned motorcoach transportation, complete with free Wi-Fi where available. It also includes scenic drives and ferry crossings as part of the journey.
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Is the Celtic Highlights tour guided?
Yes, the tour is fully guided by an expert Tour Director, Driver, and Local Guides.
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What is the group size for the Celtic Highlights tour?
The tour offers Small-Group Discoveries on select Europe dates, limited to an average of just 24 guests per departure.
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Are there any UNESCO World Heritage Sites included in the tour?
Yes, the tour includes visits to UNESCO World Heritage Sites such as the Forth Road Bridge, Giant's Causeway and Causeway Coast, Old and New Towns of Edinburgh, and The English Lake District.
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What are some of the highlights of the Celtic Highlights tour?
Some highlights of the tour include exploring the historic city of Liverpool, seeing the Giant's Causeway, wandering through the old town of Edinburgh, journeying through the tranquil English Lake District, marveling at the landscapes of Snowdonia National Park, visiting the Cliffs of Moher, and taking a scenic drive around the Ring of Kerry.
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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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Terms and Conditions
Celtic Highlights
13 Days Starting and ending in Glasgow, UK
Visiting: Glasgow, Fort William, Inverness, Culloden, Blair Atholl, Edinburgh, Gretna Green, Lake District, Grasmere, Liverpool, North Wales, Dublin, Kildare, Cashel, Blarney, Killarney, Ring of Kerry, Adare, Limerick, Cliffs of Moher, Galway, Sligo, Derry, Giant's Causeway, Belfast ...more ...less
Tour operator:
Tour code:
GD-2025
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Special diets catered:
Vegetarians
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Activities:
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