| 13 Days ~ England
~ Scotland ~ Wales ~ Ireland
Tour Pace
Well paced tour with two night
stays in the contrasting cities of Edinburgh, Dublin & Tralee; plus the
variation in pace with the two different Irish ferry crossings to Dublin and
from Rosslare.
DAY 1 – LONDON – YORK
A warm welcome from your Tour
Director this morning! We drive through the Oxfordshire countryside into the
'heart of England' to Stratford-upon-Avon, where we
visit the birthplace of the Bard, William Shakespeare.
Then we head north to York, the ancient capital of
Viking Britain. History unfolds before us as we pass the crooked houses of
the 'Shambles' to reach the Minster,
England's largest medieval cathedral. Tonight, enjoy a Welcome
Drink with your fellow travellers. Hotel: Marriott. (dinner)
DAY 2 – YORK –
EDINBURGH
Stop off in Durham to see the
castle and the fine Romanesque cathedral before moving on to see Hadrian’s
Wall, Britain’s most impressive Roman monument. Cross the wild
Northumberland moors into Scotland, passing Jedburgh Abbey and the house of
the ill-fated Mary Queen of Scots en route to the capital of Edinburgh, your
base for two nights. Hotel: Royal Terrace. (breakfast)
DAY 3 – EDINBURGH
SIGHTSEEING
A guided tour visits the castle
which dominates the city from its rocky crag, and drives down the Royal
Mile, past the venerable St Giles’ Cathedral, to see the Queen’s
Holyroodhouse Palace before crossing over to the 18th century New Town. The
afternoon provides time to shop on Prince’s Street. Tonight, selected
departures enjoy the Military Tattoo – a colourful mixture of historic
battles and modern military manoeuvres, complete with pipes and
drums. (breakfast)
DAY 4 – EDINBURGH –
HIGHLANDS
Cross the Firth of Forth to St
Andrews, where golf was born in the 15th century, before heading to Perth to
visit the famous Caithness Glass Factory. Later, visit a whisky distillery
where the local water, the finest malt and age-old skills combine to produce
a ‘wee dram’ for you to taste. Cross the Grampian Mountains for a warm
Highland welcome at your hotel in Newtonmore. Enjoy a Highlight Dinner with
haggis, accompanied by the sound of the bagpipes. Hotel: Highlander. (breakfast, Speciality
Highlight Dinner)
DAY 5 – HIGHLANDS –
LAKE DISTRICT
Mountains and glens greet you
as you drive through dramatic Glencoe. On the ‘bonnie, bonnie banks of
Loch Lomond’ you’ll board a guided Highlight cruise on one of
Scotland’s most beautiful lochs. Afterwards, continue south through
Glasgow into the Southern Uplands of Scotland before crossing the border to
arrive at your hotel in the beautiful English Lake District. Hotel:
Windermere Hydro. (breakfast, dinner)
DAY 6 – LAKE DISTRICT –
CHESTER
Time to enjoy the beauty of the
Lake District, its fells, lakes and valleys combining to make it one of
England’s best loved regions. There is time take a cruise on Lake
Windermere, before stopping in Grasmere where the Lakeland poet William
Wordsworth is buried. Then it’s on to Chester for the evening.
Hotel: Hoole Hall. (breakfast, dinner)
DAY 7 – CHESTER –
DUBLIN
Step back into Roman times in
Chester, where you will see the city’s ancient encircling walls and its
remarkable 13th century black and white galleried ‘Rows’, now shopping
arcades. Continue into Wales, glimpsing the massive Conwy Castle before
crossing the Menai Straits to pass through the world-famous village with the
very Welsh name of
Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch. From Holyhead,
sail across the sea to Ireland and its capital, Dublin, for a two-night
stay. Hotel: Burlington. (breakfast)
DAY 8 – DUBLIN
SIGHTSEEING
Join a local guide who will
show you Dublin’s elegant Georgian squares and the equally impressive
castle, which you will visit (if open). Also see the Irish President’s
home in Phoenix Park, famous O’Connell Street and the historic Customs
House. The afternoon is yours to shop in elegant Grafton Street or to
continue sightseeing. Consider an Irish cabaret show and dinner in the
evening. (breakfast)
DAY 9 – DUBLIN – TRALEE
Drive to County Kildare,
Ireland’s premier thoroughbred horse region, for a guided tour of the
National Stud, and admire the adjoining Japanese Gardens. View one of the
great sights of Ireland, the Rock of Cashel, as you cross the rolling
pastures which encircle Tipperary, which is immortalised in the famous song.
Enjoy plenty of Irish hospitality in Tralee. Hotel: Abbey Gate. (breakfast, dinner)
DAY 10 – RING OF KERRY
EXCURSION
An excursion takes you around
the magical Ring of Kerry, a world of towering cliffs, lush lake lands and
remote villages. As you pass through Ireland’s highest mountain range, the
MacGillicuddy Reeks, a sense of the unhurried pace of Irish life will
surround you, especially as you reach the three peaceful Lakes of Killarney.
Before returning to Tralee, take an optional ride with the locals on one of
Killarney’s jaunting cars. (breakfast)
DAY 11 – TRALEE –
WATERFORD
Cross the rugged Derrynasaggart
Mountains to Blarney, and visit the woollen mill and the ancient
castle, where you’ll never be lost for words after kissing the famous
Blarney Stone. Travel on through the scenic port of Dungarvan to Waterford,
where you can admire a sparkling display of crystal before settling
into your hotel for the night. Hotel: Dooleys. (breakfast, dinner)
DAY 12 – WATERFORD –
CARDIFF
Drive to Rosslare to take the
ferry across the Irish Sea to Pembroke. Continue past the valleys of South
Wales to the Welsh capital, Cardiff, famous for its imposing castle and the
brilliant Millennium Stadium. Hotel: Thistle. (breakfast)
DAY 13 – CARDIFF –
LONDON
Cross the Severn bridge,
spanning the Bristol channel between England and Wales, then on to Bath with
its Georgian streets and crescents, and visit the Roman Baths. Cross
Salisbury Plain and stop to visit the mysterious megaliths of Stonehenge.
From here, travel to London, where the tour ends. (breakfast)
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