15 Days Glasgow to Dublin.
Highlights Include: Isle of Skye, Inverness, Scotland’s Highlands, Edinburgh, Belfast, Dublin, Killarney, Connemara, and Galway.
Scotland & Ireland Adventure
DAY 1 ARRIVE IN SCOTLAND: Arrive in Glasgow. After you make your way through customs, meet with your Scottish guide in the arrivals area. Shortly afterwards, begin your exciting journey in Scotland! Enjoy a tour of central Glasgow’s highlights including red sandstone Victorian buildings, delightful parks, Glasgow Cathedral, and the River Clyde, once famous for shipbuilding. Visit extensive and varied art collections in Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum. Afterwards, check in to your hotel and enjoy the rest of the day at leisure in Glasgow. This evening enjoy dinner in your hotel. (D)
DAY 2 LOCH LOMOND / INVERARAY / BALLACHULISH: Embark on a short cruise of Loch Lomond to appreciate the beauty of this famous loch and admire panoramic views of the Highlands. Browse around the town of Inveraray before taking a guided tour of Inveraray Castle which you may recognize from the Downton Abbey series. Journey across Rannoch Moor and through Glen Coe, often considered one of Scotland’s most spectacular and beautiful places. Continue to Ballachulish on the coast. This evening enjoy dinner in your hotel. (B/D)
DAY 3 ISLE OF SKYE / INVERNESS: After breakfast, depart and take the “Road to the Isles” through some of Scotland’s loveliest scenery, stopping for photos at the Glenfinnan Monument. Board a ferry to the Isle of Skye to visit the Clan Donald Centre at Armadale Castle. Discover the history of the Lords of the Isles and the most powerful clan of the Isle of Skye. Return to the mainland, stopping for photos at the picturesque Eilean Donan Castle. Keep your camera handy as you travel the shores of Loch Ness on your way to Inverness. Overnight and dinner in Inverness. (B/D)
DAY 4 CULLODEN BATTLEFIELD / SHEEPDOGS / PITLOCHRY: A short distance from Inverness is the Culloden Battlefield Visitor Centre where the British Government forces defeated the army of Prince Charles Edward Stuart, popularly named Bonnie Prince Charlie. Walk around the moorland and the Visitor Centre which explains how events led to the conflict ending the clan system in Scotland. Continue through majestic Highland scenery to a local farm for a demonstration of trained dogs herding sheep. Travel through the high peaks of the Grampian Mountains to your hotel near Pitlochry. Enjoy dinner in your hotel. (B/D)
DAY 5 BLAIR CASTLE & WHISKY TASTING: Visit Blair Castle, home of the Dukes and Earls of Atholl. Delve into the history of Mary, Queen of Scots, Bonnie Prince Charlie and how Queen Victoria’s famous stay led to the creation of Europe’s only private army, the Atholl Highlanders. Go behind the scenes at Blair Athol Distillery for a whisky making tour and a sample of the finished product. Spend the afternoon at leisure exploring the gardens, hotel museum and other facilities or browse around the town of Pitlochry. Enjoy dinner in your hotel. (B/D)
DAY 6 GLAMIS CASTLE / ST. ANDREWS / EDINBURGH: Travel through lush countryside to visit Glamis Castle, the legendary setting of “Macbeth” and childhood home of the late Queen Mother. This is a majestic building filled with priceless artefacts and furnishings. Head to St Andrews, the “Home of Golf”, to see the famous Royal and Ancient Clubhouse and the Old Course. Onwards to Edinburgh where you enjoy the remainder of your day at leisure. (B)
DAY 7 EDINBURGH: Enjoy breakfast in your hotel. Afterwards, meet with your tour guide and driver in the hotel lobby. Today, start off with a city tour of Edinburgh where you will appreciate the contrast between the 18th century Georgian “New Town” with its wide, tree lined streets and elegant squares and the medieval “Old Town”. The Royal Mile is the backbone of the old quarter, running from the Palace of Holyrood House to Edinburgh Castle. You will visit Edinburgh Castle which dominates the city from its 400-foot rock where you will see the Scottish crown jewels and the Stone of Destiny, now back in Scotland where it belongs. You can also visit the private apartments of Mary Stuart and St Margaret’s Chapel, the oldest building in the city which dates to the 11th century. Later, visit the Palace of Holyrood House, most often called Holyrood Palace. Like its majestic companion, it’s riddled with some of Scotland’s most potent history. The Abbey in the grounds was founded in 1128, and the palace itself is baroque. These days Holyrood Palace is the Scottish residence of King Charles III, but it’s probably best known for its association with another royal figure, Mary Queen of Scots. Later, return to your hotel and enjoy your afternoon at leisure. (B)
DAY 8 EDINBURGH / STRANRAER / BELFAST / DUBLIN: Enjoy breakfast. Afterwards, depart from Edinburgh and make your way to Stranraer where you board a ferry bound for Belfast. Visit the Titanic Belfast to learn about this famous ill-fated liner through state-of-the-art displays. Continue to Dublin where your evening is free. (B)
DAY 9 DUBLIN: After breakfast, depart on a panoramic city tour, introducing Dublin’s grand architectural treasures, beautiful Georgian squares and history stretching back more than 1,000 years. Visit Trinity College to view the exquisitely illustrated Book of Kells. Afterwards, enjoy a visit the Christ Church Cathedral. Founded around 1028, Christ Church Cathedral is the spiritual heart of the city and one of the top visitor attractions in Dublin. Step inside and you can enjoy the cathedral’s beautiful interior and fascinating medieval crypt. Follow the steps that bring you beneath the cathedral and explore the medieval crypt, one of the largest in Britain & Ireland, and the earliest surviving structure in the city. Enjoy some free time for lunch before a visit to the Guinness Storehouse. Raise a mug of the “black stuff” and drink in Dublin views at the Gravity Bar. The remainder of your afternoon and evening are free in Dublin. (B)
DAY 10 CASHEL / BLARNEY / KILLARNEY: After breakfast, depart from Dublin and start your journey towards Killarney in County Kerry. Pause to visit the unforgettable Rock of Cashel. The dramatic limestone rock crowned with secular and religious buildings dominates the flat countryside for miles around. Onward to County Cork where you stop to visit Blarney Castle with its magical stone that gives the gift of eloquence for a kiss. You have plenty of free time to explore and shop in Blarney Woollen Mills too! Continue to bustling Killarney. The town on the lakes is famous for its lively pubs and open, cheerful atmosphere, full of what the Irish call “craic!” – Gaelic for fun. This evening enjoy a special gourmet dinner in your hotel. (B/D)
DAY 11 RING OF KERRY: Travel the road that winds around the beautiful Iveragh Peninsula, better known as The Ring of Kerry. It is undoubtedly one of the most magical places in all Ireland. Here mountains, valleys, lakes and sea blend into a landscape that is often breathtaking beyond words. A number of stops will allow you to marvel at the spectacular scenery; walk around the colorful village of Sneem and pause at Moll’s Gap for amazing views of the Lakes of Killarney. Return to Killarney where the remainder of your day and evening are free to explore Killarney’s many pubs and restaurants. (B)
DAY 12 CLIFFS OF MOHER / GALWAY: After breakfast, depart from Killarney and make your way into County Clare to visit the spectacular Cliffs of Moher. The Cliffs of Moher have majestically faced the Atlantic for over 350 million years and their beauty is incomparable – rising 700 feet above the pounding Atlantic waves and stretching 5 miles along the coast of County Clare in the west of Ireland. From the cliffs on a clear day one can see the Aran Islands and Galway Bay. O’Brien’s Tower stands near the highest point and has served as a viewing point for visitors for hundreds of years. Afterwards, make your way through the Burren and towards Galway where you enjoy dinner in your hotel. (B/D)
DAY 13 CONNEMARA EXCURSION: After breakfast in your hotel, make your way out into Connemara. Whitewashed cottages are scattered over a land of rocky mountains, sparkling brooks and rivers. Stop for to visit the beautiful Kylemore Abbey, a castellated neo-Gothic mansion, occupied since 1920 by the Irish Benedictine community of Nuns. Onwards to Clifden for free time to enjoy lunch. Visit the Connemara Marble Factory before returning to Galway where your evening is free. (B)
DAY 14 CLONAMCNOISE / DUBLIN: Enjoy breakfast. Depart from Galway and start your journey across country towards Dublin. Pause to visit Clonmacnoise, an early Christian site founded by St. Ciarán in the mid-6th century on the eastern bank of the River Shannon. The site includes the ruins of a cathedral, seven churches (10th-13th century), two round towers, three high crosses and the largest collection of Early Christian grave Christian grave slabs in Western Europe. Continue to Dublin to visit the Dublin Liberties Distillery. Hear stories of mystery, mayhem and magic from the historic Liberties area in Dublin, stories that inspired exciting new expressions of Irish whiskey. Afterwards, check in to your Dublin hotel and shortly afterwards depart and make your way to Taylors Three Rock Pub for an evening if great food and traditional entertainment. (B/D)
DAY 15 DUBLIN / USA: After breakfast, group transfer to Dublin airport for your return flight to the USA, arriving home the same day. (B)
Customize to Suit
The above suggested itinerary can be customized to suit; more or less meals, different cities and/or sightseeing based on your clients’ interests. You name it, our expert group specialist professionals will put it together for you. Please call 1-800-818-8455 or simply complete the group request form, and we’ll get back to you with your proposal.
Inclusions
- Twin-bedded rooms in 4- or 5-Star hotels; hotel taxes, service charges and baggage handling
- Breakfast daily, except day of arrival
- 5 three-course dinners in Scotland
- 3 three-course dinners in Ireland, including a farewell dinner and traditional Irish entertainment in Dublin’s Three Rock Pub
- Luxury motorcoach with services of a professional driver/guide
- Professional Scottish guide while in Scotland (Days 1 – 7)
- Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum
- Cruise on Loch Lomond
- Inveraray Castle
- Clan Donald Centre at Armadale Castle
- Eilean Donan Castle
- Culloden Battlefield and visitor centre
- Working Sheepdogs Demonstration
- Blair Castle
- Blair Athol Distillery
- Glamis Castle
- Panoramic St. Andrews
- Full-day sightseeing tour of Edinburgh
- Edinburgh Castle
- Palace of Holyrood
- Ferry from Scotland to Belfast
- Titanic Museum, Belfast
- Panoramic sightseeing tour of Dublin
- Trinity College to view the Book of Kells
- Patrick’s Cathedral
- Guinness Storehouse
- The Rock of Cashel
- Blarney Castle, and Blarney Woollen Mills
- Ring of Kerry Excursion
- The Cliffs of Moher
- Connemara Excursion
- Kylemore Abbey
- Clonmacnoise Monastic Site
- Portfolio of travel documents
- 24-hour local customer service while traveling in Scotland & Ireland
Private Departures
Please Call 1-800-818-8455 for Group Rates on this Custom Group Journey
This suggested itinerary can be customized to suit; more or less meals, different cities and/or sightseeing based on your clients’ interests. You name it, our expert group specialist professionals will put it together for you. Please call 1-800-818-8455, or simply complete the group request form, and we’ll get back to you with your proposal.
Group Discounts
On custom journeys, discounts vary depending on group requirements. Typically, travel with a group of 20 and the 21st traveler receives a 100% discount* off the land portion of the vacation price. A second traveler receives a 100% discount* off the land on a group of 40 paying passengers.
*Per person prices are land only and based on two people sharing a room. Above dates represent “land start” date. Air: Please note that airfares are not included in the prices above. Journeys Connect can quote you the lowest possible GROUP airfare available on the day that you book. Minimum of 10 seats from same gateway. Less than 10 air seats will require full payment at time of booking. Single Room Supplement: On Request. Triple Room Reduction: On Request. Group discounts cannot be combined with our Triple Room discounts. Not valid on Specialty, Customized Vacations or River Cruises, optional extensions, extra nights, airfares, taxes and fees, flight supplements, or airport transfers. Other restrictions may apply. All passengers’ names must be advised before the discount is applied. *Group discount is on a twin-share basis only.
Contact Journeys Connect
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Travel professionals, please call and speak with one of our Group Specialty Professionals:
1-800-818-8455