Grand Tour of Britain & Ireland
Day 1 - Depart USA Overnight flight to London.
Day 2 - Arrive London (2 nights) After checking into your Trafalgar hotel, the remainder of your day is at leisure.
Day 3 - London sightseeing & at leisure Sightseeing with a local guide features Westminster Abbey, the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben as well as Buckingham Palace. Then London is yours to explore. (Buffet Breakfast)
Day 4 - London — Stonehenge — Plymouth (2 nights) Greetings from our Tour Director as we drive across Salisbury Plain, where we stop to visit the town of Salisbury and to view its Cathedral — the tallest in England! Then we make our way to Stonehenge to visit the mysterious Stone Circle before heading off to Plymouth. Here an orientation tour of the city shows us the Mayflower steps — point of departure for the Pilgrim Fathers. Perhaps take a cruise around the harbour with its memories of Sir Francis Drake and the Spanish Armada. Tonight, we will enjoy a welcome dinner and drink with our Tour Director and fellow travelers. (Continental Breakfast/ Welcome Dinner)
Day 5 - - Cornish Excursion This morning after breakfast, we will start our day with stunning coastal views on a scenic drive to Penzance. Here we view St. Michael's Mount before making our way back to the picturesque fishing village of St. Ives, popular haunt of artists. We return to Plymouth skirting Bodmin Moor. (Full Breakfast)
Day 6 - Plymouth - Bath - Cardiff This morning we make our way to Glastonbury where we will visit the Abbey ruins in which we will see the legendary tomb of King Arthur. Then on through Wells with its majestic Cathedral to historic Bath where orientation includes a visit to the Roman Baths and a drive through the Georgian streets. Later, across the Severn Bridge into Wales and its capital, Cardiff. Tonight we will enjoy a Welsh dinner in a local restaurant. (Full Breakfast / Highlight Dinner)
Day 7 - Cardiff — Waterford A morning orientation tour of Cardiff gives us a chance to view the mighty Castle. Then later, we drive through South Wales to the port of Pembroke and its castle where Henry VII of the Tudor dynasty was born and where we board our ferry to sail to Rosslare in Ireland. We pass Wexford before arriving in Waterford. (Full Breakfast / Dinner)
Day 8 - Waterford — Blarney — Killarney (2 nights) Our first stop is at the Waterford Crystal showrooms. Then we enjoy a scenic drive via Dungarvan and the fishing village of Youghal which brings us to Cork where we view the St. Anne's Shandon Church. Next we pay a visit to Blarney Castle where there's a chance to acquire the 'gift of the gab' by kissing the Blarney stone before we reach Killarney and the beautiful Killarney Lakes. (Full Breakfast / Dinner)
Day 9 - Ring of Kerry Excursion Today's highlight is our drive around the 'Ring of Kerry'. Plunging cliffs, lakeland, mountains, and sandy beaches all form part of this photographers' delight. We also see Dingle Bay, the South Kerry Mountains and Ladies View before we head back to Killarney. (Full Breakfast)
Day 10 - Killarney — Limerick — Galway This morning we travel via the prettiest village in Ireland, Adare, with its thatched cottages on our way to Limerick on the River Shannon. Here an orientation shows us King John's Castle, St. Mary's Cathedral and the treaty stone. Next on via the spectacular Cliffs of Moher, towering above the Atlantic to our hotel at Galway. (Full Breakfast)
Day 11 - Galway — Sligo We enjoy an orientation drive in Galway city, then into the lakes and mountains of Connemara stopping first to view the Abbey at Kylemore. We continue through Yeats' Country to Sligo. (Full Breakfast / Dinner)
Day 12 - Sligo — Londonderry — Giant's Causeway — Belfast Today we drive through County Donegal before crossing the border into Northern Ireland to Londonderry. On our arrival a sightseeing tour shows us the city walls, some of the best preserved in Europe. Next we visit the Giant's Causeway, huge basalt columns rising from the sea. Finally, along the Antrim Coast Road through Ballycastle and Glenarm to Belfast. (Full Breakfast / Dinner)
Day 13 - Belfast sightseeing — Dublin (2 nights) Our morning sightseeing tour shows us the highlights of Belfast which include the City Hall, Queen's University and Stormont as well as the docks where the Titanic was built. Then we drive past Newry and Dundalk, crossing over the River Boyne at Drogheda and on to Dublin's 'fair city'. (Full Breakfast)
Day 14 - Dublin sightseeing & at leisure After breakfast our sightseeing tour with a local guide includes a visit of Trinity College, to see the Book of Kells, Phoenix Park, St. Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin Castle and more. Then time at leisure to perhaps shop in O'Connell or Henry Streets where Molly Malone sold cockles and mussels. (Full Breakfast)
Day 15 - Dublin — Chester Today we board the ferry to cruise across the Irish Sea to Holyhead on Anglesey island. We join our coach making a stop to view Conwy Castle before we see the magnificent mountain passes of Snowdonia on our journey through North Wales into England. Tonight we stay in medieval Chester with its half-timbered buildings and old Roman city walls. (Full Breakfast / Dinner)
Day 16 - Chester — Lake District Our morning journey takes us to Chester, for a walking tour with our Tour Director to admire its Tudor architecture and galleried 'Rows'. Then we drive into the beautiful scenery of the English Lake District, inspiration for Wordsworth's poetry. Finally to our hotel, where this evening we will enjoy an included dinner. (Full Breakfast / Dinner)
Day 17 - Lake District — Glasgow After breakfast today we travel over the border to Scotland, stopping at Gretna Green, renowned for eloping couples marrying against their parents' wishes. Next on to Glasgow where we enjoy an orientation tour, showing us the Cathedral, George Square and the River Clyde before time at leisure. This evening, why not join your Tour Director for a traditional Burn's Night" (Full Breakfast)
Day 18 - Glasgow — Isle of Skye Today we drive along the banks of Loch Lomond to Glencoe, vale of the weeping. Then, past Fort William, in the shadow of Ben Nevis. We enjoy more stunning scenery as we travel the famous road to the isles for our ferry from Mallaig 'over the sea to Skye' and our hotel. A short drive on the island will take us toward the astonishing Cuillin Mountains. (Full Breakfast / Dinner)
Day 19 - Isle of Skye — Loch Ness — Scottish Highlands (Grantown on Spey) Free time this morning to explore the island before we return to the mainland through Glen Shiel and along the banks of Loch Ness where we stop at the ruins of Urquhart Castle to see if we can spot "Nessie", to Culloden, site of the famous battle. Finally, we arrive at our hotel in the Scottish Highlands.
(Full Breakfast / Dinner)
Day 20 - Scottish Highlands — St. Andrews — Edinburgh (2 nights) This morning we drive to Pitlochry and on through Perth to the famous golf course at St. Andrews, where we stop for a picture at the 18th hole. From here we continue our journey en route to Edinburgh, Scotland's capital, over the splendid Forth Bridge. During the Festival, we include tickets to the spectacular Edinburgh Tattoo. (Full Breakfast)
Day 21 - Edinburgh sightseeing & at leisure Our morning sightseeing tour with a local guide includes the elegant New Town, Princes Street, the Royal Mile, views Holyrood House and Arthur's seat and enjoys a guided visit of the apartments at Edinburgh Castle atop the Crag and Tail at the end of the Royal Mile. Later, perhaps enjoy an optional night out with a haggis dinner, bagpipes and Scottish dancing. (Full Breakfast)
Day 22 - Edinburgh — York After breakfast we travel through the Scottish Borderlands past ruined Jedburgh Abbey and back into England stopping for a photo at Hadrian's Wall. Then it's on to York where a walking tour with our Tour Director includes the famous "Shambles" and ends at the magnificent Minster for an Evensong service. (Full Breakfast / Dinner)
Day 23 - York — Coventry — Stratford — London Today we drive through Sherwood Forest to see the church where Robin Hood is supposed to have married Maid Marion. Then we make our way to Coventry, home of Lady Godiva, where we see its two Cathedrals. We continue past Anne Hathaway's cottage into Stratford-upon-Avon for a visit to the house where Shakespeare was born. Later, we drive through the scenic Cotswolds, dotted with the golden limestone of thatched cottages en route back to London. (Full Breakfast)
Day 24 - London - USA Time to bid farewell to new-found friends as we transfer you to the airport for your return flight to America. (Buffet Breakfast)
|
