| Scottish Dream Tours Presents 15 Day Scotland & Ireland Summer Discovery Tour July 14th - 28th, 2011 Sold Out! Dublin City Tour, Malahide Castle, Locke's Distillery Tour, Clonmacnoise Monastic Settlement, Galway, Strokestown Park House and Famine House, Boyle Abbey, Sligo, Belleek Pottery, Old Bushmills Distillery, Giant's Causeway, Belfast, Loch Lomond, The Trossachs, Stirling Castle, Edradour Distillery, The Queens View, Castle Menzies, Pitlochry Festival Theatre, Perth, St. Andrews, Dunfermline Palace and Abbey, 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 8 - 10 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! $4495US per person double occupancy. Only 2 spots available! $500 per person deposit to reserve your spot on this tour. Click here to make your Deposit |
Day 1 - July 14th - Arrive in Dublin with time enough for some sightseeing and shopping in Ireland's Capitol City before lunch. 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 Dinner to kick off the tour! Overnight Dublin at Butlers Town House Hotel, a luxury boutique hotel
in the Ballsbridge Area. (L,D)
Day 2 - This morning we drive to Malahide on the north side of the city to Malahide Castle, a stunningly picturesque fortress that
stands amidst a profusion of massive oaks, mighty chestnuts and towering sycamores. The castle is one of the oldest and most historic
castles in Ireland. From 1185 until 1975, it was the home of the Talbot family. This was a remarkable tenure by a single family and is one
of the longest in Ireland. We then return to Dublin for Afternoon Tea at Butlers before some free time in the city for shopping,
sightseeing or just relaxing at home. Pub Dinner and Music Night Tonight in Dublin with the Merry Ploughboys. Overnight
Dublin. (B,L,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 we find
Afternoon Tea at the G Hotel. Galway is the center for the Irish-speaking regions in the West and a lively university city which lies on
the banks of the River Corrib which flows from Lough Corrib. We'll enjoy some time in Galway before getting checked into our
accommodation in the Salthill Region of Galway in the Georgian Style Marless House. Pub Dinner and Overnight Galway. (B,
L,D)
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.
Afternoon Tea in DerryInver before a stop in Clifden, framed by the grandeur of the Twelve Bens mountain range. Once we return to
Galway you will take some time to investigate the city and enjoy a night out on your own. Overnight Galway. (B,L)
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. We stop in Boyle before a visit to 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. Dinner and Overnight Sligo at Temple House, a historic 17 century mansion house. (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 where you can view this fine Parian China. Our next stop is Donegal and Donegal Town, a
thriving market town at the head of Donegal Bay. After some time to look around we journey to Lough Eske Castle for Afternoon
Tea. After tea we visit Derry and have a tour of the Walls of Derry. Derry is the only remaining completely walled city in Ireland and
one of the finest examples of Walled Cities in Europe. The tour will end in St Columbs Cathedral, completed in 1633 and considered one
of the most important buildings in Ireland. Dinner and Overnight in Portstewart at The York Hotel situated on the Atlantic
Coastline. (B,L,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 with a stop at the ruins of
Dunseverick Castle. King Dunsobairce of Ireland built a fortress here in 1525BC to rule the ancient Kingdom of Dariada, the
location is named after him. We also take in 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! Lunch in Ballycastle
before we are off to Belfast for an evening free in the city. The Coastline on the way to Belfast is breathtaking and will be worth a
few photo ops. Overnight Belfast at Tara Lodge, located in the Queen's Quarter of the city. (B,L)
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. This afternoon we visit Carrickfergus Castle a Norman castle situated in the town of Carrickfergus on the shore of Belfast
Lough. Besieged in turn by the Scots, Irish, English and French, the castle played an important military role until 1928 and remains one of
the best preserved medieval structures in the whole of Ireland. Dinner and Overnight Belfast. (B,D)
Day 9 - This morning we take the ferry across to Stranraer, Scotland. Once we are in Scotland, we will Stop for Lunch as we make
our way along the Beautiful Coastline of Southwest Scotland. Our next 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 over the
River Clyde and to the shores of bonny Loch Lomond. After a lovely drive through the Trossachs our next stop is the wee
Trossachs Village of Callander where we will find dinner waiting. Dinner and Overnight Callander at Abbotsford Lodge, a
lovely Victorian Stone Lodge. (B,L,D)
Day 10 - Following breakfast this morning we take some time to enjoy Callander. Callander is full of wonderful shops, woollen mills and
delightful tearooms. Lunch in Stirling before we visit Stirling and Stirling Castle. Stirling is one of the grandest of all Scottish
Castles and Mary Queen of Scots was crowned here. An ongoing project has returned the six ground floor apartments in the castle’s
Renaissance palace to how they may have looked in the mid 16th century. We next begin our journey into the Highlands and the to the
beautiful Highland Village of Pitlochry. Our first 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 Pitlochry. Dinner and then a Performance of "See How They
Run" at the Pitlochry Festival Theatre. Overnight Pitlochry at Craigatin House and Courtyard, an early Victorian
Home. (B,L,D)
Day 11 - Our first stop this morning is Edradour Distillery where we will visit a traditional working distillery which is also the smallest in
Scotland. Next we stop at 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. After a spectacular drive through the moors we find
ourselves in Aberfeldy for Lunch as the Moon and Sixpense. Following lunch we make our way to Blair Atholl and Blair Castle,
ancient seat of the Dukes and Earls of Atholl. Bonnie Prince Charlie spent 2 days here in this 700 year old rambling, turreted castle
with over 32 rooms open to the public. The rest of the afternoon will be for enjoying Pitlochry and sampling one of the many eateries to be
found on High Street. Overnight Pitlochry. (B,L)
Day 12 - This morning we leave the Highlands behind on the way to Perth and Scone Palace, the home of the Earls of Mansfield.
Once the crowning place of Scottish Kings, Scone Palace occupies a unique position in Scotland's history. A breathtakingly beautiful
place of power and mystery and the rightful home of the celebrated Stone of Scone, Scone Palace is regarded as a national treasure and is
revered as the historic jewel in Scotland's crown. You will want to visit the Grounds and Gardens as well. We will stop in the bustling town of
Cupar on our way to visit St. Andrews before Lunch in Leuchars at the St. Michaels Inn. In St. Andrews, sightseeing will include
the Old Course, St. Andrews Castle and Cathedral. The Castle was the former Bishops' Palace, the residence of the Archbishops
of St Andrews. The Cathedral itself dates from around 1160, and was consecrated in the presence of Robert the Bruce in July 1318.
Dinner and Overnight Anstruther at The Spindrift, an imposing stone built Victorian built by a Tea Clipper Captain called
John Smith in the 1800's. (B,L,D)
Day 13 - Our journey today 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. Lunch in Dunfermline before our journey to Edinburgh. The evening is free for exploring Princes Street, the Royal
Mile and the many eateries to be found in the city. Overnight in Edinburgh at 23 Mayfield, a luxury boutique guest house built in
1868. (B,L)
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 gather
for a Farewell Dinner and Scottish Evening at Prestonfield Stables with their World Famous "Taste of Scotland" show for
our last night in Scotland. Get ready for an unmissable evening of Scottish music, costume, bagpipes, fiddles and dance in the magically
historic setting of Prestonfield House. Overnight Edinburgh. (B,D)
Day 15 - This morning we make our way to Edinburgh International for your journey home. (B)
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 Dinner to kick off the tour! Overnight Dublin at Butlers Town House Hotel, a luxury boutique hotel
in the Ballsbridge Area. (L,D)
Day 2 - This morning we drive to Malahide on the north side of the city to Malahide Castle, a stunningly picturesque fortress that
stands amidst a profusion of massive oaks, mighty chestnuts and towering sycamores. The castle is one of the oldest and most historic
castles in Ireland. From 1185 until 1975, it was the home of the Talbot family. This was a remarkable tenure by a single family and is one
of the longest in Ireland. We then return to Dublin for Afternoon Tea at Butlers before some free time in the city for shopping,
sightseeing or just relaxing at home. Pub Dinner and Music Night Tonight in Dublin with the Merry Ploughboys. Overnight
Dublin. (B,L,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 we find
Afternoon Tea at the G Hotel. Galway is the center for the Irish-speaking regions in the West and a lively university city which lies on
the banks of the River Corrib which flows from Lough Corrib. We'll enjoy some time in Galway before getting checked into our
accommodation in the Salthill Region of Galway in the Georgian Style Marless House. Pub Dinner and Overnight Galway. (B,
L,D)
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.
Afternoon Tea in DerryInver before a stop in Clifden, framed by the grandeur of the Twelve Bens mountain range. Once we return to
Galway you will take some time to investigate the city and enjoy a night out on your own. Overnight Galway. (B,L)
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. We stop in Boyle before a visit to 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. Dinner and Overnight Sligo at Temple House, a historic 17 century mansion house. (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 where you can view this fine Parian China. Our next stop is Donegal and Donegal Town, a
thriving market town at the head of Donegal Bay. After some time to look around we journey to Lough Eske Castle for Afternoon
Tea. After tea we visit Derry and have a tour of the Walls of Derry. Derry is the only remaining completely walled city in Ireland and
one of the finest examples of Walled Cities in Europe. The tour will end in St Columbs Cathedral, completed in 1633 and considered one
of the most important buildings in Ireland. Dinner and Overnight in Portstewart at The York Hotel situated on the Atlantic
Coastline. (B,L,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 with a stop at the ruins of
Dunseverick Castle. King Dunsobairce of Ireland built a fortress here in 1525BC to rule the ancient Kingdom of Dariada, the
location is named after him. We also take in 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! Lunch in Ballycastle
before we are off to Belfast for an evening free in the city. The Coastline on the way to Belfast is breathtaking and will be worth a
few photo ops. Overnight Belfast at Tara Lodge, located in the Queen's Quarter of the city. (B,L)
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. This afternoon we visit Carrickfergus Castle a Norman castle situated in the town of Carrickfergus on the shore of Belfast
Lough. Besieged in turn by the Scots, Irish, English and French, the castle played an important military role until 1928 and remains one of
the best preserved medieval structures in the whole of Ireland. Dinner and Overnight Belfast. (B,D)
Day 9 - This morning we take the ferry across to Stranraer, Scotland. Once we are in Scotland, we will Stop for Lunch as we make
our way along the Beautiful Coastline of Southwest Scotland. Our next 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 over the
River Clyde and to the shores of bonny Loch Lomond. After a lovely drive through the Trossachs our next stop is the wee
Trossachs Village of Callander where we will find dinner waiting. Dinner and Overnight Callander at Abbotsford Lodge, a
lovely Victorian Stone Lodge. (B,L,D)
Day 10 - Following breakfast this morning we take some time to enjoy Callander. Callander is full of wonderful shops, woollen mills and
delightful tearooms. Lunch in Stirling before we visit Stirling and Stirling Castle. Stirling is one of the grandest of all Scottish
Castles and Mary Queen of Scots was crowned here. An ongoing project has returned the six ground floor apartments in the castle’s
Renaissance palace to how they may have looked in the mid 16th century. We next begin our journey into the Highlands and the to the
beautiful Highland Village of Pitlochry. Our first 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 Pitlochry. Dinner and then a Performance of "See How They
Run" at the Pitlochry Festival Theatre. Overnight Pitlochry at Craigatin House and Courtyard, an early Victorian
Home. (B,L,D)
Day 11 - Our first stop this morning is Edradour Distillery where we will visit a traditional working distillery which is also the smallest in
Scotland. Next we stop at 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. After a spectacular drive through the moors we find
ourselves in Aberfeldy for Lunch as the Moon and Sixpense. Following lunch we make our way to Blair Atholl and Blair Castle,
ancient seat of the Dukes and Earls of Atholl. Bonnie Prince Charlie spent 2 days here in this 700 year old rambling, turreted castle
with over 32 rooms open to the public. The rest of the afternoon will be for enjoying Pitlochry and sampling one of the many eateries to be
found on High Street. Overnight Pitlochry. (B,L)
Day 12 - This morning we leave the Highlands behind on the way to Perth and Scone Palace, the home of the Earls of Mansfield.
Once the crowning place of Scottish Kings, Scone Palace occupies a unique position in Scotland's history. A breathtakingly beautiful
place of power and mystery and the rightful home of the celebrated Stone of Scone, Scone Palace is regarded as a national treasure and is
revered as the historic jewel in Scotland's crown. You will want to visit the Grounds and Gardens as well. We will stop in the bustling town of
Cupar on our way to visit St. Andrews before Lunch in Leuchars at the St. Michaels Inn. In St. Andrews, sightseeing will include
the Old Course, St. Andrews Castle and Cathedral. The Castle was the former Bishops' Palace, the residence of the Archbishops
of St Andrews. The Cathedral itself dates from around 1160, and was consecrated in the presence of Robert the Bruce in July 1318.
Dinner and Overnight Anstruther at The Spindrift, an imposing stone built Victorian built by a Tea Clipper Captain called
John Smith in the 1800's. (B,L,D)
Day 13 - Our journey today 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. Lunch in Dunfermline before our journey to Edinburgh. The evening is free for exploring Princes Street, the Royal
Mile and the many eateries to be found in the city. Overnight in Edinburgh at 23 Mayfield, a luxury boutique guest house built in
1868. (B,L)
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 gather
for a Farewell Dinner and Scottish Evening at Prestonfield Stables with their World Famous "Taste of Scotland" show for
our last night in Scotland. Get ready for an unmissable evening of Scottish music, costume, bagpipes, fiddles and dance in the magically
historic setting of Prestonfield House. Overnight Edinburgh. (B,D)
Day 15 - This morning we make our way to Edinburgh International for your journey home. (B)
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" This was the best thing we have ever done for ourselves. Shannon, you are amazing and
the time we had was truely one of a kind. Thank you so much for the wonderful memories!
The people were warm hearted and the places we saw were unforgetable!"
Kathy and Scott Guyer
Sunbury, OH
the time we had was truely one of a kind. Thank you so much for the wonderful memories!
The people were warm hearted and the places we saw were unforgetable!"
Kathy and Scott Guyer
Sunbury, OH