Best of Ireland & Scotland

Relax at your hotel before joining your Travel Director for a warm and friendly dinner, an opportunity to get to know your fellow travellers.

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.

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.

Todays Insight Choice invites you to experience one of Irelands most iconic sites. Opt to explore Blarney Castle, climbing its medieval tower to kiss the famous Blarney Stone, long said to grant the gift of the gab. Alternatively, skip the climb and take time to roam the castles 1,500-acre estate, discovering the Wishing Steps, Witchs Kitchen and a series of imaginative themed gardens, from the tranquil Water Garden to the tropical Fern Garden.

Enjoy a Relaxed Start before setting out along the Dingle Peninsula, a region rich in Gaelic culture and striking Atlantic views. Drive the Slea Head route, one of Irelands most scenic stretches, passing rugged cliffs, ancient stone huts and panoramic lookouts across the Blasket Islands. Along the way, gain insight into Irelands early Christian heritage and the daily life of this remote, Irish-speaking region.

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 214 m (702 ft) 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 U.S. President, John F. Kennedy.

Leaving the City of Tribes behind, it's time to tour the wild Connemara region, a scenic wonderland of rivers, lakes and silent hills. Drive along the scenic shores of Sligo Bay before arriving at your hotel. Tonight, enjoy some local favours during dinner.

Cross into Northern Ireland and arrive in Londonderry for a walking tour with Ronan, one of the regions leading storytellers. Follow the original 17th-century city walls, complete with cannons, and make your way down Shipquay Street, lined with Georgian townhouses. Pause outside the red sandstone Guildhall, a prominent example of neo-Gothic architecture. Later, visit the UNESCO-listed Giants Causeway, where over 40,000 basalt columns were formed by ancient volcanic activity. Continue along the scenic Antrim Coast to your hotel overlooking Ballygally Bay.

Depart Ballygally this morning and cross the Irish Sea by ferry to reach Scotland. This route has long connected the islands of Ireland and Britain, with centuries of migration, trade and cultural exchange shaping both shores. On a clear day, spot Ailsa Craig rising from the seaa striking volcanic plug that has supplied granite for curling stones worldwide since the 19th century. Continue to Glasgow, known for its 19th-century shipyards and the distinctive architecture of Charles Rennie Mackintosh.

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.

In the morning, see the sights of Inverness before travelling to the Culloden Moor Visitor Centre, where Bonnie Prince Charlie's Jacobite army met its fateful end. Then, enjoy a 'wee dram' with a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER Experience at Uile-bheist, a pioneering distillery blending age-old traditions with cutting-edge sustainability. Hear tales of whisky smugglers, explore the craft behind their signature single malts and beers, and uncover the legends that inspire their brews.

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.

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 Scotlands 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.

Your 14 days in Ireland and Scotland come to an end after breakfast with transfers arriving at Edinburgh airport.