Tour of Scotland with Northern Ireland and Dublin
September 19 - 28, 2024
Arrive in Edinburgh on September 20, return flight from Dublin on September 28
8 nights hotel with full breakfast daily
4 dinners
Cost for Land Only: $2,727 per person double occupancy, $3,537 single occupancy, $2,637 per person triple occupancy
Payment and Cancellation Policy: A $300 per person deposit reserves your space for the Land Only Tour. Final balance is due July 19, 2024. All payments are refundable through June 16, 2024, after which the tour is non-refundable.
Optional Group Air from Nashville $1,550 - Pay your $200 deposit by March 11 to join the group or you may book your own flight to arrive in Edinburgh Airport the morning of September 20, 2024, then fly home from Dublin on September 28.
Itinerary:
Sept. 19 - Fly overnight from Nashville (or your home city) (with a domestic layover) to Edinburgh, Scotland. Enjoy dinner and a light breakfast. Try to get some sleep!
Sept. 20 - We will begin our adventure in Scotland by heading into the town of Falkirk to see the magnificent Kelpies - giant horse sculptures that rise 98 feet in the air. Next we will step back in time to visit Stirling Castle - the childhood home of King James the VI and film set for multiple movies and TV shows. Next our journey will take us up into the magical Scottish Highlands where we will stop at Taste of Perthshire for a cup of tea or coffee, shop and see some Highland coos! (what we might call hairy cows) Onward to check into the historic Atholl Palace Hotel in Pitlochry and gather for our welcome dinner. After dinner, relax and enjoy the hotel pub. Then get a good night’s rest! (D)
Sept 21 - After a hearty Scottish breakfast, pack up and we will make our way to Blair Castle which dates back to 1269 and has seen 19 generations of Stewarts and Murrays. The storied history will take us on a journey of famous historical figures such as Mary, Queen of Scots, the Jacobite cause. We will enjoy lunch at Blair Castle before we depart for the Culloden Moor and the Battlefield Visitor Centre where history and television were both made. This afternoon we arrive in Inverness, regarded as the capital of the Highlands, and check into our lovely river front hotel for two nights and enjoy a group dinner. (B,D)
Sept 22 - Be ready for adventure today as we will take a boat cruise on the mysterious Loch Ness for a chance to spot the elusive Loch Ness Monster. Do you believe the legends? Be sure to have your cameras ready! Our next stop will be to explore the hauntingly beautiful ruins of the medieval Urquhart Castle - an ancient stronghold with a vivid history. Tonight you are on your own for dinner in Inverness and the rest of the evening will be yours to enjoy the local nightlife. (B)
Sept 23 - This morning will be relaxing as we drive down along Loch Ness and through Glencoe, one of Scotland’s most spectacular scenic places and most famous glen. We’ll make photo stops along the route and pull in at The Green Welly for lunch. We will continue on to Doune Castle - Castle Leoch from Outlander. From there we will travel back to Edinburgh. Tonight we will check into our hotel in the heart of Edinburgh for 2 nights. (B)
Sept 24 - This morning we will visit the stunning Edinburgh Castle, the crown jewel of Scotland. We will take the entire day to walk the cobblestone streets along the Royal Mile, hear stories of the monarchs who ruled from this city, visit the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the home of King Charles and Queen Camilla when they are in Edinburgh. We'll explore the underground world of Mary King’s Close, the cathedral of St. Giles, the Old Tolbooth that was used as a prison and give you time for shopping in the Grassmarket and to make your own discoveries. (B)
Sept 25 - Today we will board the ferry from Scotland to Belfast from the Cairnryan Port for a cruise across the Irish Sea. When we arrive, we will take a panoramic tour of the Murals depicting “the Troubles,” then the Cathedral Quarter and Queens University. We will visit Belfast’s Peace Wall, built to keep the Catholic and Protestant neighborhoods separated. You may write your name and message of peace for Belfast on the wall. Tonight we will have a group dinner at our hotel. After dinner you are free to explore Belfast. We suggest a pint or a shot at the famous Crown Saloon just across the street from our hotel. Will you step on the crown on the floor of the entryway, or over it? (B, D)
Sept 26 - Get your walking shoes on as we are going for an adventure! We will drive up to the north coast and visit the Giant's Causeway to ponder this breathtaking geological wonder and the legends surrounding its formation. We will drive back to Belfast along the lovely Antrim Coast stopping along the way for photos at Dunluce Castle and the Dark Hedges. You’ll work up a giant-sized hunger so we will get some lunch at a thatched roof pub dating back to the 1600s. This afternoon we will visit the Titanic Museum where you will get a glimpse into the society of Belfast during the time they were building the "unsinkable ship." This evening you are on your own for dinner and traditional music sessions in this vibrant city. (B)
Sept 27 - This morning we will drive down to the Republic of Ireland for more movie magic, making a stop in Trim, where Braveheart was filmed on the grounds of Trim Castle. A panoramic tour of Dublin will show you the famous sites such as Christchurch Cathedral, St. Stephen's Green The GPO - scene of the Easter Uprising and much more. You will have some time for lunch on your own in Temple Bar, Dublin's historic entertainment district. We will check into our Dublin hotel near the airport for our final night. We will finish our magical trip with a farewell dinner and relaxing evening to say our good-byes. (B, D)
Sept 28 - Transfer to Dublin Airport for your flights home.
Note: Itinerary subject to change at the discretion of ETS.