Wonders 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 Many major sights are included on our morning sightseeing tour with a local guide including views of the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben as well as Trafalgar Square and Buckingham Palace. Then London is yours to discover. (Buffet Breakfast)
Day 4 - London — Stonehenge — Bath — Cardiff A warm welcome from our Tour Director as we leave London via Windsor Great Park in the shadow of the famous Castle and travel through Runnymede where the Magna Carta was sealed. Then on to the mysterious stone circle at Stonehenge for a fascinating visit before stopping in Salisbury with a chance to visit the beautiful Cathedral. We continue to the elegant Georgian streets of Bath were we tour the Roman Baths before crossing the Severn Bridge to Cardiff, capital of Wales. This evening, we enjoy a Welcome drink with our Tour Director. (Continental Breakfast)
Day 5 - Cardiff — Pembroke — Waterford This morning after breakfast we will see Cardiff's Castle before driving across South Wales via Carmarthen. Next we head to Pembroke to view the castle, birthplace of Henry VII of the Tudor Dynasty. Here we board our ferry for Rosslare in Ireland. On our arrival we drive to Waterford for dinner and overnight. (Full Breakfast / Dinner)
Day 6 - Waterford — Blarney — Kenmare (Kerry) Today our first stop is a visit to the Waterford Crystal showroom, afterwards we drive along the splendid southern coast through the fishing port of Youghal and Cork. Nearby, we visit Blarney Castle — so that you can kiss the stone and acquire the 'gift of the gab'. From here we continue over the Cork and Kerry Mountains to Kenmare. We dine at our hotel this evening. (Full Breakfast / Dinner)
Day 7 - Kenmare — Ring of Kerry — Limerick This morning we drive around the "Ring of Kerry" a wonderful landscape hewn by the last Ice Age with some of the most beautiful and unspoilt beaches in the world and Ireland's highest mountains. Then north to County Limerick, through Adare, the prettiest village in Ireland and crossing the mighty Shannon to our hotel in Limerick. Why not enjoy an Irish Ceilidh tonight" (Full Breakfast)
Day 8 - Limerick — Dublin (2 nights) After a full Irish breakfast this morning we will have the chance to visit Bunratty Castle and Folk park. Then we drive across County Clare en route to view Galway Bay. We stop in Galway then head across Ireland's rich farmland to Dublin, Ireland's capital. (Full Breakfast)
Day 9 - Dublin sightseeing & at leisure This morning's sightseeing tour of Dublin's 'fair city' with a local guide shows us Trinity College and the astoundingly beautiful "Book of Kells", St. Patrick's Cathedral, Phoenix Park and the Georgian Squares. The rest of your day is at leisure. You may wish to take an optional excursion to a stately home or to an ancient monastic site this afternoon. For your last night in Ireland, why not join your fellow travelling companions at an Irish cabaret this evening. (Full Breakfast)
Day 10 - Dublin — Chester Today we will enjoy a relaxing cruise on the world's largest passenger ferry across the Irish Sea, affording magnificent views of Dublin Bay. We arrive in the spectacular mountain scenery of North Wales as we arrive in Holyhead on the Welsh island of Anglesey. You - ll need to use the wide-angle lens on your camera to take a picture of our next place of call — the station with the longest name in the world... Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwlllantysiliogogogoch. Passing by the Snowdonia National Park we travel on to Chester where our Tour Director takes us on a walking tour which includes the Roman walls the 'Rows' and an interesting Hidden Treasure. (Full Breakfast / Dinner)
Day 11 - Chester — Lake District — Edinburgh (2 nights) Today we travel to one of the most beautiful National Parks in the world — the English Lake District — home of William Wordsworth and Beatrix Potter. We stop in pretty Grasmere to see the home of William Wordsworth in the village on the lake; Our next stop is at Gretna Green just across the Scottish border — featured in "Pride and Prejudice" and famous for its love and romance — the place where eloping couples could marry against their parents" wishes. Finally on to the Scottish capital — Edinburgh for our two-night stay. During the Festival, we include tickets to the spectacular Edinburgh Tattoo. (Full Breakfast)
Day 12 - Edinburgh sightseeing & at leisure Morning sightseeing with a local guide includes a visit of the apartments in the Castle and views of Holyrood House by Arthur's seat. We will also drive along elegant Princes Street with its views on to the Crag and Tail on which the Castle and Royal Mile are built and we will see the impressive monument to Sir Walter Scott. Edinburgh's New town will also be included on our sightseeing tour. You may wish to visit the Rosslyn chapel just south of Edinburgh — closely associated with the Knights Templar and Freemasons and made famous by "The Da Vinci Code". Tonight, why not enjoy a Scottish night out" (Full Breakfast)
Day 13 - Edinburgh — York Through the Scottish Borderlands, and across the River Tweed we stop to see the ruins of Jedburgh Abbey and then view the magnificent scenery at Carter Bar. Driving into the Northumberland National Park we stop to inspect a section of the Emperor Hadrian's Wall at Heddon and then cross the River Tyne at Newcastle. Next on to York where our Tour Director takes us on a walking tour through the 'Shambles' and other great parts of the city finishing at the largest Cathedral in Britain, York Minster. Afterwards we will enjoy typical Yorkshire hospitality at dinner in a local pub. (Full Breakfast / Highlight Dinner)
Day 14 - York — Coventry — Shakespeare Country (Warwick) This morning we drive into the heart of England, passing close by Sherwood Forest, associated with the legendary Robin Hood, to the city of Coventry. Here we see the two cathedrals — one bombed during the second World War and the other built to replace it like a Phoenix rising from the ashes. We - ll also see the statue of Lady Godiva before before enjoying a Farewell Dinner at our hotel tonight. (Full Breakfast / Farewell Dinner)
Day 15 - Shakespeare Country (Warwick) — Stratford — Oxford — London Today we view Anne Hathaway's thatched cottage en route to Stratford-upon-Avon to visit Shakespeare's birthplace. Next a scenic drive through the Cotswolds to the little churchyard at Bladon to see Sir Winston Churchill's grave. Our final stop en route to London is at Oxford, the oldest University city in the British Isles. We will enjoy a guided walk around one of the famous colleges to get a real taste of student life here before our journey leads us back to London. (Full Breakfast)
Day 16 - London - USA Time to bid farewell this morning as we transfer to the airport for our return flight to America. (Buffet Breakfast)
|
