Grand Tour of Britain & Ireland

A grand tour in many ways! This tour covers the length and breadth of the British Isles, with an extensive itinerary stopping at each of the capital cities of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, all the main tourist favourites, and a good few lesser known hidden gems.

Sightseeing Highlights:

• Salisbury View the Cathedral.
• Stonehenge Visit the stone circle.
• Plymouth See the Mayflower steps.
• Cornish Highlights Excursion to St. Michael's Mount and St. Ives.
• Glastonbury View the Abbey.
• Wells View its majestic Cathedral.
• Bath Orientation including a visit to the Roman Baths.
• Cardiff See Cardiff Castle.
• Waterford Visit the crystal showroom (when open).
• Cork Orientation.
• Blarney Visit the Castle.
• Killarney Ring of Kerry drive.
• Adare See the prettiest village in Ireland.
• Limerick Orientation includes King John's Castle, St. Mary's Cathedral and the treaty stone.
• Cliffs of Moher See the seascape towering above the Atlantic.
• Galway Orientation tour.
• Kylemore View the Abbey.
• Londonderry/Derry Sightseeing includes the historic city walls.
• Giant's Causeway Visit this geological formation.
• Belfast Sightseeing includes the City Hall and Queen's University.
• Dublin Sightseeing views St. Patrick's Cathedral and Trinity College.
• Conwy View the Castle.
• Chester Visit the historic city and see the famous 'Rows'.
• Gretna Green Visit this historic site for eloping couples.
• Glasgow Orientation tour.
• Glencoe See the Vale of Weeping.
• Isle of Skye See the island of Bonnie Prince Charlie.
• Culloden See the battle site.
• Blair Atholl View the Castle.
• St. Andrews See the famous golf course.
• Edinburgh Sightseeing includes a visit to the Castle.
• Jedburgh See the Abbey.
• Hadrian's Wall See the ancient Roman fortifications.
• York Orientation including the Minster.
• Coventry See the two Cathedrals.
• Stratford-upon-Avon Visit Shakespeare's birthplace.
• Scenic Drives across Salisbury Plain, Waterford coast drive, Ring of Kerry, Connemara, North Antrim Coast, Snowdonia National Park, English Lake District, the Scottish Highlands and Borderlands and through the Cotswolds.

DEPARTURE WEDNESDAY OR THURSDAY. LAND ONLY COST PER PERSON SHARING TWIN OR DOUBLE ROOM

What’s included in your tour:

• Transfers to and from London Airports to Central London
• Sightseeing by luxury coaches throughout
• Services of a professional tour director
• A qualified local guide in Edinburgh, Derry, Belfast and Dublin
• Tickets for the Edinburgh Tattoo (when available)
• Ferry across the Irish Sea from Wales to Ireland and return.
• A stylish travel bag and wallet containing tour documents and helpful information.
• You'll stay in twin-bedded rooms with private facilities
• All hotel service charges and tips, baggage handling fees and local taxes included.
• A welcome drink with your Tour Director
• 11 Full English breakfasts
• 8 Irish breakfasts
• 10 three-course dinners
• 1 local pub restaurant dinner in Carlisle
• 30 meals in total (see day-by-day itinerary)

Day Number 1: Depart USA

Overnight flight to London.

Day Number 2: Arrive London (2nights)

After checking into your hotel, take the remainder of your day at leisure.

Day Number 3: London sightseeing & at leisure

Many major London sights are included on your morning sightseeing tour. Then London is yours to explore. (Continental breakfast)

Day Number 4: London - Stonehenge - Plymouth (2nights)

Greetings from your Tour Director as you drive across Salisbury Plain, and stop to view the stunning Cathedral at Salisbury. From here make your way to ancient Stonehenge before heading off to Plymouth, port of departure for the Pilgrim Fathers of America. Tonight, enjoy a welcome drink with your Tour Director. (Continental breakfast/ Dinner)

Day Number 5: Cornish Excursion

This morning after breakfast, you’ll start your day with stunning coastal views on a scenic drive to Penzance. Stop here to view St. Michael`s Mount before making your way back to Plymouth via the fishing village of St. Ives. (Full breakfast)

Day Number 6: Plymouth - Bath - Cardiff

This morning make your way to King Arthur`s Glastonbury to visit the Abbey ruins. Then on through Wells with its majestic Cathedral to historic Bath where orientation includes a visit to the Roman Baths. Later, across the Severn Bridge into Wales and its capital city, Cardiff. This evening, why not join in at a medieval Welsh banquet? (Full breakfast)

Day Number 7: Cardiff - Waterford

A morning orientation tour of Cardiff gives you a chance to explore the Castle. Then later, drive through South Wales to the port of Pembroke, to board your ferry to Rosslare in Ireland. Waterford is your destination for this evening’s stay. (Full breakfast/ Dinner)

Day Number 8: Waterford - Blarney - Killarney (2nights)

Your first stop today is at the Waterford Crystal showrooms. Then you’ll enjoy a scenic drive via Dungarvan and Youghal, which brings you to Cork to view St. Anne`s Shandon Church. Next you’ll pay a visit to Blarney Castle, to kiss the Blarney Stone and acquire the `gift of the gab` before you reach Killarney. (Full breakfast/ Dinner)

Day Number 9: Ring of Kerry Excursion

Todays highlight is a drive around the Ring of Kerry. Plunging cliffs, lakeland, mountains, and sandy beaches all form part of this photgraphers delight. You’ll also see Dingle Bay, the South Kerry Mountains and Ladies View before heading back to Killarney. (Full breakfast)

Day Number 10: Killarney - Limerick - Galway Bay

This morning you travel via the prettiest village in Ireland, Adare, with its thatched cottages on your way to Limerick. Here an orientation shows us King John`s Castle, St. Mary`s Cathedral and the Treaty Stone. Next you’ll stop at the spectacular Cliffs of Moher, towering above the Atlantic to your hotel at Galway Bay. (Full breakfast/ Dinner)

Day Number 11: Galway Bay - Sligo

Enjoy an orientation drive in Galway City, then into the lakes and mountains of Connemara stopping first to view the Abbey at Kylemore, before continuing through Yeats Country to Sligo. (Full breakfast/ Dinner)

Day Number 12: Sligo - Derry - Giants Causeway - Belfast

Today you’ll drive through County Donegal before crossing the border into Northern Ireland to Derry. On your arrival a sightseeing tour will take you around the 16^th Century city walls, some of the best preserved in Europe. Next stop is a visit to the Giants Causeway, huge basalt columns rising from the sea. Finally, along the scenic Antrim Coast Road through Ballycastle and Glenarm to Belfast. (Full breakfast/ Dinner)

Day Number 13: Belfast Sightseeing - Dublin (2nights)

Your morning sightseeing tour shows you the highlights of Belfast such as the City Hall, Queens University and Stormont. Then you’ll drive past Newry and Dundalk, crossing over the River Boyne at Drogheda and on to Dublins fair city. (Full breakfast)

Day Number 14: Dublin sightseeing & at leisure

After breakfast your sightseeing tour includes views of Trinity College, Phoenix Park, St. Patrick`s Cathedral, Dublin Castle and more. Then there is time at leisure to perhaps shop in O`Connell or Henry Streets, or Grafton Street where Molly Malone sold cockles and mussels. (Full breakfast)

Day Number 15: Dublin - Chester Area

Today you’ll board the ferry to cruise across the Irish Sea to Holyhead on Anglesey Island. Once in Wales you’ll be making a stop to view Conwy Castle before driving through the magnificent mountain passes of Snowdonia on your journey into England and to Chester where you can admire the town’s Tudor architecture and galleried `Rows` before reaching your hotel for the night.
(Full breakfast/ Dinner)

Day Number 16: Chester Area - Lake District

Your morning journey takes you to the beautiful scenery of the English Lake District, the inspiration for Wordsworth`s poetry. From here you’re off to your hotel in Carlisle, where this evening you will enjoy a dinner of local specialities at a charming restaurant. (Full breakfast/ Dinner)

Day Number 17: Lake District - Glasgow

After breakfast today you’ll travel over the border into Scotland, stopping at Gretna Green, renowned for eloping couples. Next, travel on to Glasgow where you’ll enjoy an orientation tour, before time at leisure. This evening, why not join your Tour Director for night of traditional Scottish entertainment? (Full breakfast)

Day Number 18: Glasgow – Isle of Skye

Today you’ll drive along the banks of Loch Lomond to Glencoe, then on past Fort William, in the shadows of Ben Nevis, Britain’s tallest mountain. Enjoy more stunning scenery as you travel the famous road to the Isles for your ferry from Mallaig `over the sea to Skye` and your hotel. (Full breakfast/ Dinner)

Day Number 19: Isle of Skye – Loch Ness - Scottish Highlands

This morning you have some free time to explore the island before returning to the mainland through Glen Shiel and along the banks of Loch Ness to Culloden, site of the famous battle. Finally, you’ll arrive at your hotel in the Scottish Highlands. (Full breakfast/ Dinner)

Day Number 20: Scottish Highlands - St. Andrews - Edinburgh (2nights)

This morning you’ll drive past Blair Atholl to Pitlochry and on through Perth to the famous golf course at St. Andrews. From here continue your journey en route to Edinburgh, Scotland`s capital, over the splendid Forth Bridge. During the Festival, we include tickets to the spectacular Edinburgh Tattoo. (Full breakfast)

Day Number 21: Edinburgh sightseeing & at leisure

Your morning sightseeing tour visits Edinburgh Castle and views the Palace of Holyroodhouse. Take the rest of the day to shop and stroll along the Royal Mile. Later, perhaps enjoy an optional night out with a haggis dinner, bagpipes and Scottish dancing. (Full breakfast)

Day Number 22: Edinburgh - York

After breakfast today you’ll travel through the Scottish Borderlands past the ruins of Jedburgh Abbey and back into England stopping for a photo opportunity at Hadrian`s Wall. Then it`s on to York where an orientation tour takes you to view the Minster and for a walk around the streets of the `Shambles`. Enjoy some free time before dinner at your hotel. (Full breakfast/ Dinner)

Day Number 23: York - Coventry - Stratford - London

Today you’ll drive through the Midlands on your way to Coventry, home of Lady Godiva, where you can see the city’s two Cathedrals. Then on past Anne Hathaway`s cottage into Stratford-upon-Avon for a visit to the house where Shakespeare was born. Later, you’ll drive through the scenic Cotswolds, dotted with the golden sandstone of thatched cottages en route back to London. (Full breakfast)

Day Number 24: London – USA

Time to bid farewell to new-found friends as you transfer to the airport for your return flight to America. (Continental breakfast)

Grand Tour of Britain & Ireland

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Duration

Sights on Itinerary

• Cardiff Castle
• St. Michaels Mount
• Stonehenge
• Culloden Moor
• Blarney Castle
• King John's Castle
• Giants Causeway

Prices per person

• From $ 4275 (ex. flights)

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Tour Information