Celtic Classic

Welcome to Scotland! Meet your tour guide at your designated pickup point before undertaking a panoramic tour of Glasgow. You will see Glasgow's highlights including red sandstone Victorian buildings, delightful parks, and the River Clyde, once important for shipbuilding.  We will visit Glasgow Cathedral, one of Scotland's most magnificent medieval buildings, Glasgow Cathedral is the only one on the Scottish mainland to survive the Reformation of 1560 intact. There will also be time to visit the extensive and varied art collections in Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum. Afterward we check into our hotel where we spend our first two nights.

Dinner/Overnight — Grand Central Hotel, Glasgow or similar

 

Depart for Rabbie Burns Country, where the first stop of the day is Burns National Heritage Park. The museum is the focal point of this beautifully landscaped park where visitors can cross the Brig o’Doon and visit the poet’s birthplace. 
Later, continue to Culzean Castle in Ayrshire. Culzean is surrounded by surging seas, lush forests, and secret gardens.

Overnight — Grand Central Hotel, Glasgow or similar

Depart Glasgow for Inverness travelling along Scotland’s West Coast and Loch Ness. Highlights of the day include Loch Lomond, dramatic Glencoe, a visit to Urquhart Castle and a cruise on Loch Ness in search of Nessie, the Loch Ness Monster.

Dinner/Overnight — Kingsmills Hotel, Inverness
Located just one mile from Inverness city centre and the River Ness the Kingsmills is set in four acres of carefully kept gardens and manicured lawns. All rooms feature luxurious ensuite  bathrooms with separate baths and showers, wi-fi, iPod docks, satellite television, goose-down quilts and cotton sheets. The hotel also has fully equipped leisure facilities and spa that guests can take advantage of during their stay.

Today a day trip to the Isle of Skye, one of Scotland’s most beautiful islands. First stop is Portree, capital of the island. You can enjoy some free time here, exploring the multi-coloured harbour, or warming up by a real coal fire in a local pub. On our return to Inverness, you will visit Eilean Donan Castle.

Dinner/Overnight—Kingsmills Hotel, Inverness

Today we head to Perthshire via Culloden Moor, site of the 1746 Battle of Culloden. Before leaving Speyside, stop at Kincraig for an impressive display from the Working Sheepdogs. On arrival at your hotel, you will be welcomed with “wee dram!”

Dinner/Overnight — Doubletree by Hilton Dunblane Hydro
Located within 10 acres of landscaped grounds, the Victorian-style Doubletree by Hilton Dunblane Hydro Hotel offers breathtaking views of the Trossachs. The hotel features a leisure centre and stylish restaurant. LivingWell leisure club features an indoor swimming pool and fully-equipped gym. Guests can relax in the steam room, bubble pool, or sauna. The Kailyard by Nick Nairn Restaurant serves traditional Scottish cuisine in elegant surroundings. Guests can enjoy fresh coffees and drinks in the 2 lounges, and there is also a cocktail bar. The luxury rooms each have a 32-inch LED TV. All rooms feature a designer bed and WiFi access, and some have wonderful views of the Perthshire countryside.

Depart Perthshire for Edinburgh via the Kingdom of Fife. Enroute you will stop for a distillery visit at Kingsbarns Distillery. This tour is the perfect introduction to Scotch whisky. You will visit our exhibition space, go on a guided tour of our distillery and then be led up to one of our tasting rooms to try our new make spirit and two samples of our Kingsbarns single malts including our award-winning ‘Dream to Dram’.  A shop and café await you at the end of the tour.  After the distillery tour, we will travel to St. Andrews, home of Scotland’s oldest university and capital of golf, and then on to Falkland to visit the village and the Palace, built by King James V in 1539. It became a favourite retreat of the Stuart Dynasty including Mary Queen of Scots.

Overnight — InterContinental Edinburgh The George
The InterContinental Edinburgh The George has been welcoming hotel guests since 1881. At its heart are five listed Georgian townhouses, built in 1775 as homes for Edinburgh’s most  prosperous citizens.  Winner of Luxury Brand Hotel of the Year at the 2019 Scottish Hotel Awards, The InterContinental Edinburgh The George is an ideal base from which to explore the city. The sensitive, multi-million-pound restoration and refurbishment combines luxurious natural materials such as oak, marble and leather with a palette of colours inspired by the great 19th-century Scottish landscape painters. The Printing Press Bar & Kitchen was once home to acclaimed novelist Susan Ferrier whilst Burr & Co. is a lovely coffee shop with a devoted local  following. The hotel also has a newly equipped gym.

After an early breakfast in the hotel, you will enjoy an exclusive, pre-opening tour of Edinburgh Castle. You will then enjoy a panoramic city tour of Edinburgh which features the “New” and the “Old” towns. The remainder of the day is at your leisure to explore the city further. Tonight, you will attend the Spirit of Scotland Show, an evening of traditional entertainment and dinner at The Royal College of Surgeons.

Dinner/Overnight — InterContinental Edinburgh The George

Today we bid farewell to Scotland and fly to Dublin for the Ireland portion of your journey. Today is leisurely as we all gather in our hotel in Malahide overlooking the Irish Sea in north County Dublin. This evening you will meet some new travelling companions at the welcome reception followed by dinner.

Dinner/Overnight—Grand Hotel, Malahide

Head north through the majestic Mountains of Mourne into Saint Patrick’s Country to visit the grave of Ireland’s Patron Saint and the Saint Patrick Centre which tells his story. Afterwards we drive to Strangford, where Game of Thrones is filmed, before arriving in Belfast late afternoon.

Dinner/Overnight—Europa Hotel, Belfast

A guided tour of Belfast City Hall is first on the agenda this morning. In the afternoon, visit the shipyard where the Titanic was built in 1909. The evening is free in Belfast.

Overnight—Europa Hotel, Belfast

This morning we drive north via Carnlough, Glenariff and Ballycastle on the North Antrim Coast. We visit the Giant’s Causeway and then Dunluce Castle enroute to Derry. A local guide will tell the "Story of Derry" on a walking tour of this historic walled city.

Dinner/Overnight—Kee’s Hotel, Donegal

We travel south thru’ Donegal and on to Belleek to visit the world famous porcelain factory. We then continue to Westport on Clew Bay.

Dinner/Overnight—Westport Coast Hotel, Westport

Enjoy a visit to Kylemore Abbey on the shores of Kylemore Lough and cross picturesque Maam Valley. This afternoon there will be free time to explore Westport.

Overnight—Westport Coast Hotel, Westport

We will make our way to Galway City for some free time, before driving along the southern shores of Galway Bay, traversing the Burren region, and viewing the mighty Cliffs of Moher. An optional medieval banquet at Knappogue Castle is on offer tonight.

Overnight—Radisson Blu, Limerick

Sadly your tour ends today. Please inquire about group transfer on offer.