| Scottish Dream Tours Presents 15 Day Scotland & Ireland Castles & Pubs Discovery Tour June 24th - July 8th, 2008 Only 2 spots left on this tour! |
Dublin City Tour, Locke's Distillery Tour, Clonmacnoise Monastic Settlement, Galway, Strokestown Park House and Famine House, Boyle Abbey, Sligo, Belleek Pottery, Ulster-American Folk Park, Breaghmore Stone Circle, Old Bushmills Distillery, Giant's Causeway, Belfast Loch Lomond, The Trossachs, Stirling Castle, Edradour Distillery, The Queens View, Castle Menzies, Pitlochry Festival Theatre, Balhousie Castle and Black Watch Museum, Perth, Dunfermline Palace and Abbey, Linlithgow Palace, Edinburgh City Tour, Edinburgh Castle, Palace of the Holyrood House, Highland Dinner and Show and much more! A small intimate tour of Scotland and Ireland limited to 10-12 people in order to provide a more personal experience. In keeping the tour size small we are able to take advantage of accommodation, restaurant and sightseeing options that would not be available to a larger group. With a small tour size we can veer off the main tourist areas and get a real feel for these warm wonderful countries. We will not rush you from venue to venue and each tour is designed to spend as little time on the minibus as possible. You may find yourself staying in a delightful city guest house, a warm country house hotel or farmhouse and a 200 year old coaching Inn all in the same visit. Full Irish breakfast each morning and all meals as indicated in itinerary. All accommodations. Guided minibus tour with luggage handling. All sightseeing including any entrance fees. All taxes and service charges. No hidden costs! $3295US/$2595Euro/£1735GBP per person double occupancy. $495US/$375Euro/£260GBP per person single supplement. $500 per person deposit to reserve your spot on this tour. Payments and Deposits - Click Here |
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Day 1 - June 24th - Depart for Dublin, Ireland's largest and capital city.
Day 2 - Arrive in Dublin with time enough for some sightseeing and shopping in Ireland's Capitol City.
You will take an Open Top Bus Tour with hop on and off service this afternoon. Stops you may want to
make while on the tour are Guinness Storehouse, Phoenix Park, Old Jameson Distillery, Christ
Church Cathedral, St. Patrick's Cathedral. This evening we will gather for a Welcoming Pub
Dinner to kick off the tour! Overnight Dublin.(D)
Day 3 - We leave the big city behind today was we head toward the west. First stop today is Locke's
Distillery Museum which houses last remaining example of a small pot distillery in Ireland established in
1757. The distillery made pot still Irish Malt Whiskey for almost 200 years. This afternoon we visit
Clonmacnoise Monastic Settlement, an early Christian site founded by Saint Ciaran in the 6th
century on the banks of the River Shannon. The site includes the ruins of a cathedral, eight churches
(10th-13th century), two round towers, three high crosses and a large collection of early Christian grave
slabs. Then it is on to Galway and Galway Bay where the evening is free to explore the many
eateries to be found in this lovely seaside town. Overnight Galway.(B)
Day 4 - This morning we visit Cong and Cong Abbey. The most fascinating remains of this 12th
century Augustinian abbey are the Gothic chapter house, stone bridges and the monks'
fishing-house overhanging the river. Next we travel through the beautiful National Park in the heart
of Connemara, a combination of bogland, lakes and mountains. Along the way we visit Kylemore Abbey
sheltered by the slopes of the Twelve Bens, this lakeside castle is a romantic, battlemented Gothic
Revival fantasy. Once we return to Galway we will take some time to investigate the city before we enjoy
a lovely Seafood Dinner. Galway is the center for the Irish-speaking regions in the West and a lively
university city. The center of the city lies on the banks of the River Corrib which flows from Lough
Corrib. Overnight Galway.(B,D)
Day 5 - Our first destination today is Strokestown Park House, an 18th century mansion which has
been faithfully restored. It is unique in that it retains its original furnishings and professionally guided tours
allow visitors to browse freely through the stately surroundings. There is also a Famine Museum which
uses a combination of original documents and images from the Strokestown Park collection to explain the
circumstances of the Great Irish Famine of the 1840's. This afternoon finds us at Boyle to visit
Boyle Abbey, an impressive and well preserved Cistercian Monastery which was founded in the 12th
century under the patronage of the local ruling family, the MacDermotts. Although a ruin, Boyle Abbey
nevertheless retains its ability to impress the visitor as one of the most formidable of the early Cistercian
foundations in Ireland. Pub Dinner Sligo. Overnight Sligo.(B,D)
Day 6 - This morning we visit the little border village of Belleek where the world famous Belleek
Pottery was founded in 1857. We will stop at the visitors' centre and museum. Our next stop is the
Ulster-American Folk Park which is one of the best open-air museums of its kind! The park has over
30 historic buildings examining why 2 million people emigrated to the States in the 18th and 19th century.
We are then on our way to the Breaghmore Stone Circles, composed of seven stone circles and several
stone rows dating from between 2000 and 1200BC. Dinner and Overnight Coleraine.(B,D)
Day 7 - Our first stop this morning will be Old Bushmills Distillery which is the oldest distillery in the
world! We will tour the distillery and end up with whiskey sampling in the 1608 bar. This afternoon we take
in the Causeway Coast and The Giants Causeway where 37,000 basalt columns extend from the cliffs
and into the sea. No matter how many times I have seen this, the sheer wonder and magic of the columns
never fails to impress! We are then of to Belfast. Dinner on your own tonight. Overnight
Belfast.(B)
Day 8 - Today we spend in Belfast, Northern Ireland's largest city and one of my favorite European
cities! We'll take a Tour of the City aboard an Open Top Bus. Get on and off at your own pace and
take in the sights of the city. You may want to take in a lunch stop at the famous Crown Liquor Saloon, a
flamboyant Victorian drinking palace. You may also want to visit City Hall and St. Anne's Cathedral.
Dinner and Overnight Belfast.(B,D)
Day 9 - This morning we take the ferry across to Stranraer, Scotland. Our first stop in Scotland is at
Culzean Castle. Standing on a cliff's edge, this 16th century keep stands in an extensive parkland estate
and is Robert Adam's finest masterpiece. We now head north through Glasgow and to the shores of bonny
Loch Lomond where we will find dinner waiting. Dinner and Overnight Loch Lomond.(B,D)
Day 10 - Following breakfast this morning we head into The Trossachs and Stirlingshire. This is Rob
Roy Country and we will visit Rob Roy's Visitor Centre in Callander. Callander is full of wonderful
shops, woollen mills and delightful tearooms. This afternoon we visit Stirling and Stirling Castle.
Stirling is one of the grandest of all Scottish Castles and Mary Queen of Scots was crowned here. Our
next stop is Edradour Distillery where we will visit a traditional working distillery which is also the
smallest in Scotland. Our journey then takes us to the Highland village of Pitlochry. Dinner on your
own tonight in Pitlochry. Overnight Pitlochry.(B)
Day 11 - Our first stop this morning is The Queen's View named after Robert The Bruce's wife Isabel but
made popular by Queen Victoria. This is one of the most breathtaking sights in Scotland and will become
a favorite of yours. You can't stop here without visiting the Tearoom and having a piece of millionaires
shortbread! Next we visit Castle Menzies, a spectacular sixteenth century castle, seat of the Chiefs of Clan
Menzies for over 400 years and importantly situated, it was involved in the turbulent history of the
Highlands and here Bonnie Prince Charlie rested on his way to Culloden in 1746. We then return to
Pitlochry where the evening's highlight will be Dinner and a Performance at the Pitlochry Festival
Theatre! Overnight Pitlochry.(B,D)
Day 12 - This morning we visit Balhousie Castle which houses the Museum of the Black Watch
which is the first ever Highland regiment. We will also visit Church of St John, founded in 1126. It was
here that preacher John Knox delivered the fiery sermons which led to the destruction of many local
monasteries. The afternoon and evening will be free to explore the lovely city of Perth. Dinner
and Overnight Perth.(B,D)
Day 13 - This mornings journey will take us south toward Edinburgh but not before stopping in
Dunfermline and visiting Dunfermline Palace and Abbey. Dunfermline Abbey was founded about
1070 by Queen Margaret, wife of Malcolm Canmore. Margaret was made a saint, and she and Malcolm
were buried here. Robert the Bruce's body (apart from his heart, which is at Melrose) is buried here as
well. This afternoon will find us stopping in Linlithgow to visit Linlithgow Palace birth place of
Mary Queen of Scots. The evening is free for exploring Princes Street, the Royal Mile and the
many eateries to be found in the city. Overnight Edinburgh.(B)
Day 14 - This morning you will take in all the sights of Edinburgh and the best way to see the city is by
bus, so we will board an Open Top Tour Bus and enjoy all the highlights of the city. You may want to
depart the bus at both Palace of the Holyrood House and Edinburgh Castle. You will have the
afternoon free for shopping on Princes Street and The Royal Mile. Tonight we will enjoy a
Farewell Evening of food, fun, Highland dance, song and of course bagpipes! Overnight
Edinburgh.(B,D)
Day 15 - This morning we make our way to Edinburgh International for our journey home.
Day 2 - Arrive in Dublin with time enough for some sightseeing and shopping in Ireland's Capitol City.
You will take an Open Top Bus Tour with hop on and off service this afternoon. Stops you may want to
make while on the tour are Guinness Storehouse, Phoenix Park, Old Jameson Distillery, Christ
Church Cathedral, St. Patrick's Cathedral. This evening we will gather for a Welcoming Pub
Dinner to kick off the tour! Overnight Dublin.(D)
Day 3 - We leave the big city behind today was we head toward the west. First stop today is Locke's
Distillery Museum which houses last remaining example of a small pot distillery in Ireland established in
1757. The distillery made pot still Irish Malt Whiskey for almost 200 years. This afternoon we visit
Clonmacnoise Monastic Settlement, an early Christian site founded by Saint Ciaran in the 6th
century on the banks of the River Shannon. The site includes the ruins of a cathedral, eight churches
(10th-13th century), two round towers, three high crosses and a large collection of early Christian grave
slabs. Then it is on to Galway and Galway Bay where the evening is free to explore the many
eateries to be found in this lovely seaside town. Overnight Galway.(B)
Day 4 - This morning we visit Cong and Cong Abbey. The most fascinating remains of this 12th
century Augustinian abbey are the Gothic chapter house, stone bridges and the monks'
fishing-house overhanging the river. Next we travel through the beautiful National Park in the heart
of Connemara, a combination of bogland, lakes and mountains. Along the way we visit Kylemore Abbey
sheltered by the slopes of the Twelve Bens, this lakeside castle is a romantic, battlemented Gothic
Revival fantasy. Once we return to Galway we will take some time to investigate the city before we enjoy
a lovely Seafood Dinner. Galway is the center for the Irish-speaking regions in the West and a lively
university city. The center of the city lies on the banks of the River Corrib which flows from Lough
Corrib. Overnight Galway.(B,D)
Day 5 - Our first destination today is Strokestown Park House, an 18th century mansion which has
been faithfully restored. It is unique in that it retains its original furnishings and professionally guided tours
allow visitors to browse freely through the stately surroundings. There is also a Famine Museum which
uses a combination of original documents and images from the Strokestown Park collection to explain the
circumstances of the Great Irish Famine of the 1840's. This afternoon finds us at Boyle to visit
Boyle Abbey, an impressive and well preserved Cistercian Monastery which was founded in the 12th
century under the patronage of the local ruling family, the MacDermotts. Although a ruin, Boyle Abbey
nevertheless retains its ability to impress the visitor as one of the most formidable of the early Cistercian
foundations in Ireland. Pub Dinner Sligo. Overnight Sligo.(B,D)
Day 6 - This morning we visit the little border village of Belleek where the world famous Belleek
Pottery was founded in 1857. We will stop at the visitors' centre and museum. Our next stop is the
Ulster-American Folk Park which is one of the best open-air museums of its kind! The park has over
30 historic buildings examining why 2 million people emigrated to the States in the 18th and 19th century.
We are then on our way to the Breaghmore Stone Circles, composed of seven stone circles and several
stone rows dating from between 2000 and 1200BC. Dinner and Overnight Coleraine.(B,D)
Day 7 - Our first stop this morning will be Old Bushmills Distillery which is the oldest distillery in the
world! We will tour the distillery and end up with whiskey sampling in the 1608 bar. This afternoon we take
in the Causeway Coast and The Giants Causeway where 37,000 basalt columns extend from the cliffs
and into the sea. No matter how many times I have seen this, the sheer wonder and magic of the columns
never fails to impress! We are then of to Belfast. Dinner on your own tonight. Overnight
Belfast.(B)
Day 8 - Today we spend in Belfast, Northern Ireland's largest city and one of my favorite European
cities! We'll take a Tour of the City aboard an Open Top Bus. Get on and off at your own pace and
take in the sights of the city. You may want to take in a lunch stop at the famous Crown Liquor Saloon, a
flamboyant Victorian drinking palace. You may also want to visit City Hall and St. Anne's Cathedral.
Dinner and Overnight Belfast.(B,D)
Day 9 - This morning we take the ferry across to Stranraer, Scotland. Our first stop in Scotland is at
Culzean Castle. Standing on a cliff's edge, this 16th century keep stands in an extensive parkland estate
and is Robert Adam's finest masterpiece. We now head north through Glasgow and to the shores of bonny
Loch Lomond where we will find dinner waiting. Dinner and Overnight Loch Lomond.(B,D)
Day 10 - Following breakfast this morning we head into The Trossachs and Stirlingshire. This is Rob
Roy Country and we will visit Rob Roy's Visitor Centre in Callander. Callander is full of wonderful
shops, woollen mills and delightful tearooms. This afternoon we visit Stirling and Stirling Castle.
Stirling is one of the grandest of all Scottish Castles and Mary Queen of Scots was crowned here. Our
next stop is Edradour Distillery where we will visit a traditional working distillery which is also the
smallest in Scotland. Our journey then takes us to the Highland village of Pitlochry. Dinner on your
own tonight in Pitlochry. Overnight Pitlochry.(B)
Day 11 - Our first stop this morning is The Queen's View named after Robert The Bruce's wife Isabel but
made popular by Queen Victoria. This is one of the most breathtaking sights in Scotland and will become
a favorite of yours. You can't stop here without visiting the Tearoom and having a piece of millionaires
shortbread! Next we visit Castle Menzies, a spectacular sixteenth century castle, seat of the Chiefs of Clan
Menzies for over 400 years and importantly situated, it was involved in the turbulent history of the
Highlands and here Bonnie Prince Charlie rested on his way to Culloden in 1746. We then return to
Pitlochry where the evening's highlight will be Dinner and a Performance at the Pitlochry Festival
Theatre! Overnight Pitlochry.(B,D)
Day 12 - This morning we visit Balhousie Castle which houses the Museum of the Black Watch
which is the first ever Highland regiment. We will also visit Church of St John, founded in 1126. It was
here that preacher John Knox delivered the fiery sermons which led to the destruction of many local
monasteries. The afternoon and evening will be free to explore the lovely city of Perth. Dinner
and Overnight Perth.(B,D)
Day 13 - This mornings journey will take us south toward Edinburgh but not before stopping in
Dunfermline and visiting Dunfermline Palace and Abbey. Dunfermline Abbey was founded about
1070 by Queen Margaret, wife of Malcolm Canmore. Margaret was made a saint, and she and Malcolm
were buried here. Robert the Bruce's body (apart from his heart, which is at Melrose) is buried here as
well. This afternoon will find us stopping in Linlithgow to visit Linlithgow Palace birth place of
Mary Queen of Scots. The evening is free for exploring Princes Street, the Royal Mile and the
many eateries to be found in the city. Overnight Edinburgh.(B)
Day 14 - This morning you will take in all the sights of Edinburgh and the best way to see the city is by
bus, so we will board an Open Top Tour Bus and enjoy all the highlights of the city. You may want to
depart the bus at both Palace of the Holyrood House and Edinburgh Castle. You will have the
afternoon free for shopping on Princes Street and The Royal Mile. Tonight we will enjoy a
Farewell Evening of food, fun, Highland dance, song and of course bagpipes! Overnight
Edinburgh.(B,D)
Day 15 - This morning we make our way to Edinburgh International for our journey home.
| Itinerary |
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