The Scots and the Irish - 11 day tour

Day 2 - Edinburgh City Tour and Edinburgh Castle

This morning tour Edinburgh to compare and contrast the wide streets and elegant mansions of the Georgian 200-year-old "New Town” and Princes Street with the medieval Royal Mile. Walk along part of the Royal Mile to view narrow lanes and townhouses, some of which are 11 stories tall. Visit Edinburgh Castle, which contains the Scottish Crown Jewels (known as the Honours of Scotland) and the Stone of Scone. The balance of the day is free. Dine at a Scottish Evening and enjoy a lively show with songs, stories and traditional dancing. On 9 - 25 August departures attend the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo at Edinburgh Castle in which case the Scottish Evening will take place the previous night.

Day 3 - Edinburgh - Blair Castle - Inverness/Nairn

Travel north into Highland Perthshire.  Visit Blair Atholl Whisky Distillery to take a tour and sample a dram of the finished product. Enjoy free time in Pitlochry before making for nearby Blair Castle, the home of the Dukes of Atholl. There's a chance to view the castle's many rooms containing fine collections of furniture, portraits, lace, china and Jacobite relics. Continue through the majestic Highland scenery of the Cairngorms National Park to your hotel in Inverness, the principal City of the Highlands, (Sunday departures) or Nairn, a popular Victorian seaside resort (Tuesday departures).

Overnight: Columba Hotel, Inverness/The Newton Hotel, Nairn (or similar)

Day 4 - Inverness/Nairn - Isle of Skye - Ballachulish

Drive along the banks Loch Ness and enjoy views of this deep lake, famous for tales of the monster “Nessie”. Continue through wild Highland scenery, pausing for photos at iconic Eilean Donan Castle, then cross to the Isle of Skye by bridge. Drive through part of the island known as Sleat, to visit the Armadale Castle, Gardens and Museum to discover the history of the powerful Lords of the Isles. Return to the mainland by ferry and take the "Road to the Isles” through some of Scotland’s most popular scenery, stopping for photos at the Glenfinnan Monument which sits at the head of Loch Shiel.

Overnight: Ballachulish Hotel/Isles of Glencoe Hotel, Ballachulish (or similar)

Day 5 - Ballachulish - Robert Burns Country - Belfast

This morning enjoy final views of the magnificent Highlands as you drive south through the awesome peaks of Glen Coe and alongside the lovely shores of Loch Lomond. Stop briefly in Alloway to visit the Robert Burns Birthplace Museum. He is widely regarded as the national poet of Scotland and is celebrated worldwide as a pioneer of the Romantic movement. He is famed as the author of "Auld Lang Syne” which is sung throughout the World at New Year. Travel along the coast to Cairnryan for a short ferry ride to Belfast. Check in to your hotel where dinner is served.

Overnight: Europa Hotel, Belfast (or similar) (2 nights)

Day 6 - Discovering Belfast

Take a gentle walk with a Belfast guide to see the imposing City Hall in Donegall Square and Victorian buildings, including the Opera House and the Crown Liquor Saloon. Visit Titanic Belfast to learn about this famous liner through state-of-the-art displays. Browse around the city on your own in the afternoon. Tonight make the short drive to visit the Crosskeys Inn, Ireland’s oldest thatched pub, for dinner and entertainment.

Day 7 - Belfast - Giant’s Causeway - Letterkenny

Drive along the scenic route of the Nine Glens of Antrim, for splendid views of mountains and valleys. Our coastal drive brings us to the Giant’s Causeway, where we view the gigantic hexagonal columns have inspired legends about the mythical giant, Finn McCool. Stop to capture the scene at ruined Dunluce Castle then travel to Derry where a local guide will take us on a short walking tour around the defensive walls. Later head to Letterkenny in beautiful County Donegal for our overnight stay.

Overnight: Station House Hotel, Letterkenny (or similar)

Day 8 - Letterkenny - Donegal - Galway

This morning we travel to the Glenveagh National Park  to visit picturesque Glenveagh Castle which sits overlooking Lough Veagh.  The castle opened in 1873 and during the visit you’ll discover more about the history of this attractive mansion and enjoy time to explore the sprawling gardens filled with exotic plants. Later there is time to explore Donegal Town and enjoy lunch before heading to Belleek Pottery to watch the skilled artisans at work making delicate and highly decorative pieces. After the visit we continue on to Kilronan Castle.

Overnight: Kilronan Castle Hotel, Ballyfarnon (or similar) (2 nights)

Day 9 - Arigna Mining Experience and Carrick-on-Shannon Excursion

Visit the Arigna Mining Experience to discover how life was lived for a coal miner in the Arigna Valley. Explore the exhibition which chronicles over 400 years of history. Later relax in the pleasant surroundings of Carrick-on-Shannon before returning to your lovely castle hotel in the delightful town of Ballyfarnon.

Day 10 - Galway - Cliffs of Moher - Ennis

Travel to Galway city for a walking tour with a local guide to see Lynch’s Castle and Eyre Square.  Travel through the limestone hills of the Burren, and view the Cliffs of Moher, a dramatic wall of rock that plunges to the Atlantic Ocean. In the early evening head to 15th century Bunratty or Knappogue Castle for a fun medieval-style banquet and check in to your hotel in Ennis afterwards.

Overnight: Temple Gate Hotel, Ennis (or similar)

Day 11 - Tour Ends in Shannon

Your tour ends after breakfast. Airport transfers are available.