Best of Ireland & Scotland - Classic Group
Best of Ireland & Scotland - Classic Group
Best of Ireland & Scotland - Classic Group
14 Days Starting in Dublin and ending in Edinburgh
Visiting: Dublin, Kildare, Cork, Blarney Castle, Killarney, Ring of Kerry, Cliffs of Moher, Galway, Connemara, Sligo Bay, Londonderry, Giant's Causeway, Ballygally, Ardgowan House, Glasgow, Loch Lomond, Glencoe, Loch Ness, Inverness, Culloden, St. Andrews, Edinburgh
Tour operator:
Tour code:
B935AZM20
Tour Overview
Dublin impresses with the cobbled courtyards of Trinity College and the millennia old Book of Kells. Experience centuries of rich Gaelic history as you take High-Tea at the Ardgowan Estate near Glasgow and see the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh. Glencoe offers a glimpse of Britain’s highest mountain Ben Nevis ahead of a cruise on Loch Ness and the chance to seek out Scotland’s most infamous bonnie monster. Up in the highlands, a whisky tasting at a distillery, to uncork tales of smugglers before the vacation embarks on a grand tour of the Scottish capital. Edinburgh doesn’t disappoint with the Royal Mile, home to Edinburgh Castle, Scotland’s Crown Jewels and the Scottish Parliament.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: Welcome To Dublin
Location: Dublin
Accommodation: Clayton Charlemont, Dublin
Accommodation Name: Clayton Charlemont, Dublin
Meals Included: Dinner
Relax at your hotel before joining your Travel Director for a warm and friendly dinner, an opportunity to get to know your fellow travellers.
Day 2: In Dublin’S Fair City
Location: Dublin
Accommodation: Clayton Charlemont, Dublin
Accommodation Name: Clayton Charlemont, Dublin
Meals Included: Breakfast
An orientation with your Local Expert will take you past the Custom House and travel along the River Liffey. See the Guinness Storehouse, Christchurch Cathedral and St. Patrick's Cathedral. Enjoy entrance to the 9th century Book of Kells and a walk through the cobbled courtyards of Trinity College to gain insight into the establishment's impressive history.
Day 3: Kildare And Cork
Location: Dublin, Kildare, Cork
Accommodation: The Kingsley, Cork, Maldron South Mall, Cork
Accommodation Name: The Kingsley, Cork, Maldron South Mall, Cork
Meals Included: Breakfast
Witness life behind the scenes of the National Stud Farm, where many legendary racehorses are bred. Then see the finest Japanese gardens in Europe, where the gardens portray the symbolism of life and trace the journey of a soul, designed by master horticulturists, Tassa and Minoru Eida. Continue on to Cork, Ireland's second most populous city, built on the River Lee. Travel along Grand Parade to see Cork's City Hall and Opera House.
Day 4: Blarney Castle And Killarney Relaxed Start
Location: Cork, Blarney Castle, Killarney
Accommodation: Killarney Plaza Hotel and Spa
Accommodation Name: Killarney Plaza Hotel and Spa
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Visit the ruined 15th century Blarney Castle, home of the famous Stone of Eloquence - once kissed, never forgotten! Or enjoy a sensory walk in the extensive and varied estate gardens. The rest of the afternoon is at leisure.
Day 5: Ring Of Kerry Experience Relaxed Start
Location: Killarney, Ring of Kerry, Killarney
Accommodation: Killarney Plaza Hotel and Spa
Accommodation Name: Killarney Plaza Hotel and Spa
Meals Included: Breakfast
Explore Killarney with Insight Choice. Choose a memorable ride on a horse-drawn jaunting car with the local jarveys. Alternatively, join a gentle hike with a Local Expert along the lake shore and past the grounds of Ross Castle, admiring the incredible scenery of the National Park. While there aren't any mountains to climb, walkers should be fit, have good walking shoes or boots, sunscreen and rain gear. Tour the superb seascapes, towering cliffs and spectacular mountains of the Ring of Kerry. Journey past lush lakelands and through delightful villages like Sneem. Cross the peat bogs of the Black Valley to Moll's Gap and admire Queen Victoria's Ladies View. Upon returning in the mid-afternoon, the rest of the day is at leisure.
Day 6: The Cliffs Of Moher
Location: Killarney, Cliffs of Moher, Galway
Accommodation: Connemara Coast, Galway
Accommodation Name: Connemara Coast, Galway
Meals Included: Breakfast
Begin the day with a short ferry ride across the Shannon estuary. Enjoy magnificent views of the Clare coast, as you journey to the Visitors' Centre at the 700-foot Cliffs of Moher.Continue on to your hotel, located at the heart of the Wild Atlantic Way. Join your Travel Director in Galway to see the infamous Lynch Memorial and the Church of St. Nicholas, where Christopher Columbus reputedly prayed before his discovery of America. Also see the aged Spanish Arch and Eyre Square, dedicated to the late US President, John F. Kennedy.
Day 7: Glorious Galway To Sligo Bay Relaxed Start
Location: Galway, Connemara, Sligo Bay
Accommodation: Clayton, Sligo
Accommodation Name: Clayton, Sligo
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Tour the wild Connemara region, a scenic wonderland of rivers, lakes and silent hills.Drive along the scenic shores of Sligo Bay.
Day 8: Walk In The Giant’S Steps
Location: Sligo Bay, Londonderry, Giant's Causeway, Ballygally
Accommodation: Ballygally Castle, Co. Antrim
Accommodation Name: Ballygally Castle, Co. Antrim
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Cross into Northern Ireland to visit Londonderry. What better way to experience sightseeing than with one of Northern Ireland's best storytellers, Ronan, as he walks with you inside the city walls, still topped with cannons. Walk down Shipquay Street, with its elegant Georgian houses, to the Gothic Guildhall. Journey to the iconic Giant's Causeway for a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience. This geological masterpiece was created by the cooling of lava which burst through the earth's crust millions of years ago. Learn how the National Trust is enabling farming and biodiversity to work together, supporting both wildlife and quality food production. Next, take a spectacular drive along the Antrim Coast to your hotel, overlooking the sea at the head of Ballygally Bay.
Day 9: High Tea At Ardgowan Estate Relaxed Start
Location: Ballygally, Ardgowan House, Glasgow
Accommodation: Radisson Blu, Glasgow
Accommodation Name: Radisson Blu, Glasgow
Meals Included: Breakfast
Cross the Irish Sea by ferry and journey to Ardgowan. Sir Ludovic Shaw Stewart welcomes you to his family castle, set on a 10,000-acre coastal estate. Explore the history of the area and learn the Shaw Stewart family's conservation efforts to protect the land on this MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience, followed by delightful traditional Scottish tea and scones. Continue to Glasgow where your Travel Director will show you the city's grand public buildings, including George Square and St. Mungo's Cathedral.
Day 10: Glencoe And Loch Ness Relaxed Start
Location: Glasgow, Loch Lomond, Glencoe, Loch Ness, Inverness
Accommodation: Kingsmills, Inverness
Accommodation Name: Kingsmills, Inverness
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
A scenic drive takes you along the Bonnie Banks of Loch Lomond. Absorb the dramatic landscape of Glencoe, still echoing with the cries of massacred clansmen. Pause at the Commando Memorial for a view of Britain's highest mountain, Ben Nevis before reaching the Great Glen. Continue on to Loch Ness and embark on a cruise to soak up the scenery, historic monuments and intriguing tales of Nessie in the heart of Scotland's great glen.
Day 11: A Highlands Experience Relaxed Start
Location: Inverness, Culloden
Accommodation: Kingsmills, Inverness
Accommodation Name: Kingsmills, Inverness
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
In the morning, see the sights of Inverness, before travelling to the Culloden Moor Visitor Centre, where Bonnie Prince Charlie's Jacobite army was finally defeated. Then have a 'wee dram' during a visit to a local distillery, hear stories of the whisky smugglers as you delve into the fascinating world of the single malt.
Day 12: St. Andrews And Edinburgh
Location: Inverness, St. Andrews, Edinburgh
Accommodation: Sheraton Grand Hotel & Spa, Edinburgh.
Accommodation Name: Sheraton Grand Hotel & Spa, Edinburgh
Meals Included: Breakfast
A scenic drive takes you through the Grampian Mountains past the Duke of Atholl's Blair Castle. Drive down and cross the Tay to visit St. Andrews. As you arrive, pass the Old Course, the home of golf since its invention in the 15th century. Enjoy free time to explore. Why not wander to St. Andrews University where the love story of Kate Middleton and Prince William began? Alternately, stroll to West Sands Beach where the famous 'Chariots of Fire' scene was filmed. Continue across the majestic Forth Road Bridge to the Scottish capital, Edinburgh. In the evening, select departures attend The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo.
Day 13: Scotland’S Capital Of Culture
Location: Edinburgh
Accommodation Name: Sheraton Grand Hotel & Spa, Edinburgh
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
In the morning, join a Local Expert to see the highlights of the city. Drive along Princes Street to the ornate Scott Memorial, then see the 18th century New Town with its neoclassical Georgian facades. In the Old Town see the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the official Scottish residence of the King. Venture up the Royal Mile to visit Edinburgh Castle, home of Mons Meg and Scotland’s Crown Jewels, the Honours of Scotland. In the afternoon, you are at leisure to continue exploring as you wish, or perhaps go shopping. Join your friends in the heart of Edinburgh at a Celebration Dinner of modern Scottish cuisine served with wine.
Day 14: Farewell Edinburgh
Location: Edinburgh
Meals Included: Breakfast
Your journey comes to an end after breakfast with transfers arriving at Edinburgh airport.
Check out our Q&As
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Can I join the tour once it has departed?
We regret that no refunds can be made for absences from a tour, including experiences such as missed meals or sightseeing.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Since 1978.
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
Insight Vacations is a founding member of the TreadRight Foundation, a joint initiative created by the brands within The Travel Corporation (TTC) almost 15 years ago to ensure our impact through tourism is positive. Our ethos to #MakeTravelMatter guides our decision-making at every level of our business.
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Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Yes
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
You have two options as a solo traveller. Either choose to be matched with a same sex partner for a room share - at no extra cost. Or choose a room of your own with a reduced or even free private room upgrade on select tours.
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What policies are in place for Covid-19?
Please contact us for latest COVID-19 policies
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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
Why book with Barrhead?
Fully Protected
All our holidays are fully financially protected.
Your flight & hotel package is fully ATOL protected.
Range
Our bespoke holidays are tailor-made to suit your personal requirements.
We can book flights, rail journeys, accommodation, cruises, attraction tickets and much more.
Industry leading discounts, we won't be beaten on price.
Expert Knowledge
We know because we go – our Touring & Adventure specialists have travelled to over 55 countries.
Reliable & unbiased advice from our trusted travel experts.
Trusted Agent
Multi award-winning agency with almost 50 years experience.
Rated 4.9/5 on Trustpilot – the highest-rated high-street travel agent.
We look after you every step of the way.