26 Days ~ England ~ Scotland ~ Ireland ~ Wales
Tour Pace
A well paced tour with two-night
stays in the cities of Edinburgh, Thurso, Sligo, Plymouth and Dublin, plus the change
of pace with two different Irish ferry crossings and pleasant driving days with
frequent stops.
DAY 1 – DEPART USA
Overnight flight to London.
DAY 2 – ARRIVE LONDON
Welcome
to London! On arrival you are transferred to your London tour hotel.
Hotel: Thistle
Marble Arch.
DAY 3 – LONDON SIGHTSEEING
Your half day sightseeing tour shows you Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, Big
Ben and the Houses of Parliament. The afternoon is at leisure. (B)
DAY 4 – LONDON – STRATFORD
After a warm welcome from your Tour Director, head west over the green Chiltern
Hills. Stop in the university town of Oxford before driving through pretty Cotswold
villages to visit Shakespeare’s birthplace in Stratford-upon-Avon. Enjoy a
Welcome Drink.
Hotel: Thistle. (CB,D)
DAY 5 – STRATFORD – YORK
Visit the Wedgwood china factory before continuing to York to wander the
cobbled streets of the Shambles and see the huge York Minster.
Hotel: Marriott.
(B,D)
DAY 6 – YORK – EDINBURGH
Tour the beautiful Lake District before stopping at Gretna Green in Scotland. Then
it’s on to Edinburgh. Tonight, selected departures attend the spectacular Military
Tattoo at Edinburgh Castle.
Hotel: Royal Terrace. (B)
DAY 7 – EDINBURGH SIGHTSEEING
Take a guided tour inside historic Edinburgh Castle. Continue down the Royal
Mile, past St Giles’ Cathedral to the Queen’s Holyroodhouse
Palace. Cross to the 18th century New Town. The afternoon is at leisure. (B)
DAY 8 – EDINBURGH – HIGHLANDS
Cross the Firth of Forth on your way to St Andrews – the home of golf. Continue
to Perth and over the Grampian Mountains, past Blair Athol, to the sparkling Spey
Valley. Enjoy a traditional dinner with Scottish entertainment.
Hotel: Laggan Country
Hotel. (B,HD)
DAY 9 – HIGHLANDS – THURSO
First stop to see the Clava Stone Circles and continue across the battlefield of
Culloden. Drive via Inverness and along the shores of Loch Ness, before following
the coast to Thurso.
Hotel: Royal. (B,D)
DAY 10 – ORKNEY ISLANDS
EXCURSION
Drive to John O’Groats, the most northerly town on the British
mainland, where you board a ferry to the Orkney Islands. Visit the village of Skara
Brae, the Ring of Brodgar, Kirkwall and the Italian Chapel. Head back to the mainland
for the evening. (B,D)
DAY 11 – THURSO – ISLE OF SKYE
Relax and enjoy the lochs and mountains on your way to the
fishing town of Ullapool. Then it’s ‘over the sea to Skye’. Admire
the scenic splendor of the Cuillin Hills en route to your hotel in Portree.
Hotel:
Tongadale. (B,D)
DAY 12 – ISLE OF SKYE
– GLASGOW
Take in magnificent scenery as you pass Eilean Donan Castle
and continue through Glencoe, ‘the valley of the weeping’. Stop on the
‘bonnie banks’ of Loch Lomond before arriving in Glasgow.
Hotel: Marriott.
(B)
DAY 13 – GLASGOW – LONDONDERRY
Bid farewell to Scotland as you cross the Irish Sea, enjoying
views of the Island of Arran on the way. Take the scenic Antrim coast road to the
Giant’s Causeway before reaching your hotel.
Hotel: Everglades/City. (B,D)
DAY 14 – LONDONDERRY
– SLIGO
Join a guide to see Derry’s Walls, the Guildhall and the
city’s cathedral before driving south to visit the Belleek Pottery Centre.
Continue to the churchyard at Drumcliff, where the Irish poet WB Yeats is buried,
en route to your hotel in Sligo.
Hotel: Radisson SAS. (B,D)
DAY 15 – DONEGAL EXCURSION
Pass Ballyshannon to see O’Donnell’s Castle in Donegal, then it’s
on to Ardara for a hand loom demonstration before returning to Sligo via picturesque
Killybegs. (B)
DAY 16 – SLIGO – LIMERICK
Take a scenic drive through the Connemara region to visit the famous marble factory.
Continue to Galway where you see St Nicholas Cathedral, the Spanish Arch and Eyre
Square. Now on to Bunratty Folk Park, a living museum. Stay tonight in Limerick.
Hotel: George. (B)
DAY 17 – LIMERICK – KILLARNEY
An orientation tour shows you King John’s Castle, St. Mary’s
Cathedral and the treaty stone. Now drive through the charming village of Adare
into County Kerry. In Killarney, enjoy a ride on a famous jaunting car. Hotel: Killarney
Avenue & Towers. (B,D)
DAY 18 – KILLARNEY – WATERFORD
Tour the Ring of Kerry before continuing to Blarney Castle to
kiss the Blarney Stone. See the city of Cork before arriving at Waterford.
Hotel:
Dooleys. (B,D)
DAY 19 – WATERFORD – DUBLIN
After visiting the Waterford Crystal showroom, drive to Kilkenny to
see its castle en route to the fun loving Irish capital, Dublin.
Hotel: Radisson
SAS Royal. (B)
DAY 20 – DUBLIN SIGHTSEEING
Tour Dublin’s elegant Georgian squares and visit Dublin castle (when open)
with a local guide. Also see the Irish President’s home, O’Connell Street
and historic Customs House before spending the afternoon at leisure. (B)
DAY 21 – DUBLIN – ST HELENS
Cross the Irish Sea and travel through North Wales, past Conwy
Castle, to the walled city of Chester. See the ruined Roman amphitheatre, Tudor
‘Rows’ and cathedral before continuing to your hotel.
Hotel: Hilton St
Helens. (B,D)
DAY 22 – ST HELENS – BRISTOL
Drive to the border town of Ludlow, with its half-timbered houses
and ruined castle. Continue along the Wye Valley past romantic Tintern Abbey and
over the soaring Severn Bridge to Bristol.
Hotel: Marriott City Centre. (B)
DAY 23 – BRISTOL – PLYMOUTH
Travel the short distance to Bath, famous for its Georgian architecture.
Visit the Roman Baths before moving on to Plymouth, taking in Glastonbury along
the way. On arrival in Plymouth, enjoy a highlight cruise on the harbour.
Hotel:
Jurys Inn. (B,D)
DAY 24 – DARTMOOR & TINTAGEL EXCURSION
Stop in Princetown, in the heart of rugged Dartmoor,
and visit King Arthur’s Tintagel, returning to Plymouth via Bodmin Moor. (B)
DAY 25 – PLYMOUTH – LONDON
Visit mysterious Stonehenge before crossing Salisbury Plain to return
to London.
Hotel: Thistle Marble Arch. (B)
DAY 26 – RETURN TO USA
Your tour ends with a transfer to the airport. (CB)
