Taste of Scotland and Ireland
Superior First Class Hotels - 10 days
Visit the popular sights of Scotland and Ireland on this
activity-filled vacation. See the craggy mountains of the Scottish
Highlands before visiting Edinburgh, Scotland’s capital. Fly to Dublin to
see its Georgian houses and public buildings before heading into the
countryside to kiss the Blarney Stone and tour the splendid Ring of Kerry.
Stay in great hotels where full breakfasts and all dinners but one are
included. Three evenings with varied entertainment programs will give you
a lighthearted insight into the two countries.
DAY 1 FRIDAY - Depart U.S. for Scotland
Depart your home city on an
overnight flight across the Atlantic Ocean. Enjoy inflight meals and
entertainment as you fly to Glasgow.
DAY 2 SATURDAY - Glasgow Highlights
Welcome to Glasgow,
Scotland! Meet your CIE Tours driver/guide or representative at Glasgow Airport
and transfer to your hotel, departing at 8:00 am, 10:00 am or 12:00
noon. If you arrive later you must transfer to the hotel at your own expense.
At 2:30 pm discover the main attractions of Glasgow including George Square with its Victorian
City Chambers and nearby Glasgow Cathedral. Visit the famous Burrell Collection
with its many treasures of art before returning to your hotel. Join
your fellow travelers over a welcoming drink before dinner is served in your
hotel. (D)
DAY 3 SUNDAY - Whisky Tasting & Loch Ness
Depart Glasgow and drive beside Loch Lomond for views
across the water of the surrounding hills. Drive over the haunting Rannoch
Moor and through Glen Coe, notorious for the massacre of the Clan Macdonald by the Campbells. Continue through Fort William
and stop at the Ben Nevis Distillery to learn
about whisky distilling and savor a “wee dram.” Continue to Fort
Augustus where a cruise on Loch Ness will enable you
to admire enchanting views of the hills and perhaps spy the famous
monster. Travel alongside the loch and into the lively marketing town of Inverness and your
centrally located hotel. (B, D)
DAY 4 MONDAY - Blair Castle & Stirling
Castle
Drive south through
the scenic Grampian Mountains to Blair Atholl. Here visit Blair Castle,
home of the Earls and Dukes of Atholl for more than 700 years. 32 rooms of
the castle contain a variety of furnishings, portraits, china and armor
which illustrate Scottish life over the past centuries. Travel to Stirling
Castle, captured by William “Braveheart” Wallace from the English in 1297.
Tour the many buildings which served as a royal residence and where Mary,
Queen of Scots, spent some years. Continue to Edinburgh for a Scottish
cabaret at Prestonfield House. Dine on local specialties, including
haggis, and enjoy traditional bagpipe music and storytelling. (B, D)
DAY 5 TUESDAY - Edinburgh Sightseeing
Take a morning tour of the principal sights of this
elegant Georgian city. Drive along Princes Street and through the
200-year-old New Town. Finish your tour at the imposing Edinburgh Castle
which dominates the city center. The afternoon is free for further
sightseeing or shopping and in the evening sample Edinburgh’s restaurants
or pubs. On departures from August 3 to 17 see the famous Edinburgh
Military Tattoo. (B)
DAY 6 WEDNESDAY - Dublin Touring
Transfer to
Glasgow Airport for the short flight to Dublin.
(Glasgow to Dublin flight is not included in land only price – please
ensure that you have an airline ticket for this segment.) Head to
the CIE Tours desk in the Arrivals Hall where a hotel transfer
will be arranged for you. At 2:00 pm set off on your
afternoon tour of Dublin with a local guide to show
you around. Your tour includes visits to St. Patrick’s Cathedral where Jonathan
Swift was once Dean and also to Dublin Castle to see
the State Apartments where many historic events have taken place. This
evening enjoy dinner and an Irish cabaret show right in your hotel. (B,
D)
DAY 7 THURSDAY - Blarney Castle & Killarney
See a variety of scenery today as you
depart Dublin and drive through rich farm country and busy market towns.
Stop near Cashel to sample some home-baked scones with tea served at
a sheep farm so you can learn a little about Irish farming. Just
outside Cork visit Blarney Castle where you have an opportunity
to acquire the gift of eloquence by kissing the famous stone.
Continue towards the mountainous country of Kerry and into Killarney. After
dinner you may take a stroll through the compact town center. (B, D)
DAY 8 FRIDAY - Ring of Kerry Tour
Ride a jaunting car through the Killarney National Park and
along the shores of Muckross Lake to the stately Muckross House
for a guided tour. Then embark on Ireland’s most popular scenic drive,
the Ring of Kerry, by skirting Ireland’s highest mountains, the Macgillycuddy’s Reeks. Your
route passes through Glenbeigh, with palm trees and beautiful beaches; remote
Waterville; and the colorful village of Sneem. Head back towards Killarney through
Moll’s Gap in time for dinner. (B, D)
DAY 9 SATURDAY - Cliffs of Moher & Bunratty Castle
Depart Killarney and travel to Tarbert to take
the ferry across the River Shannon. Your tour continues along
the Clare coast to the Cliffs of Moher which rise 700 feet
above the pounding Atlantic Ocean. Drive to the Shannonside region to
check into your hotel. This evening’s dinner is a medieval-style banquet and
evocative entertainment in Bunratty Castle. (B, D)
DAY 10 SUNDAY - Shannon Departure
As your hotel is located
at Shannon Airport, check in at whatever time suits your departure flight. You
will have some time to shop at the duty free stores before boarding
your flight. (B)
DEPARTURES
Departs every Friday between
May 4 and October 19
HOTELS
Stay at the following (or similar):
• Jurys Glasgow Hotel, Glasgow (1 night)
•
Caledonian Hotel, Inverness (1 night)
• Jurys Edinburgh Inn, Edinburgh
(2 nights)
• Burlington Hotel, Dublin (1 night)
• Killarney Towers
Hotel, Killarney (2 nights)
• Great Southern Hotel, Shannon (1
night)
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