13 Day Celtic Highlights

Itinerary

Globus Coach Tour starting in Glasgow and finishing in Glasgow

This fascinating journey delivers the best of Scotland, England's Lake District, North Wales, and the Emerald Isle. Begin in lively Glasgow and head north via the Bonnie Banks of Loch Lomond to Fort William, Loch Ness, and the Highland capital, Inverness. Travel south, stopping to visit a whisky distillery and sampling a wee dram', our Local Favorite, and Balmoral Castle (when open). Spend two nights in Edinburgh; visit the famous castle and Holyrood Palace. In the Lowland hills, see the blacksmith's shop at Gretna Green before crossing into England. Delight in the beauty of the Lake District on your way to Liverpool, where you visit the award-winning Beatles Story. Explore the North Wales towns of Betws-y-Coed and Caernarvon, before ferrying across the Irish Sea to the Fair City of Dublin, where an orientation drive shows off O'Connell Street, St. Patrick's Cathedral, and Trinity College. Visit the Irish National Stud at Kildare. Stop in Blarney on the way to the popular resort of Killarney, and enjoy an orientation tour of Limerick. Marvel at the scenic Ring of Kerry, the spectacular Cliffs of Moher, and stunning Giant's Causeway. Visits to the pilgrimage village of Knock, the walled city of Derry, and Northern Ireland's capital Belfast are also included, before returning to Glasgow for the conclusion of your tour.

Day By Day

Day 1 Arrive In Glasgow, Scotland.

Welcome to Glasgow! Check into your hotel. The rest of the day is free to relax in Scotland's largest city. At 6 pm, meet your Tour Director and travelling companions for a welcome dinner with wine at your hotel. (D)

Day 2 Glasgow-Fort William-Inverness.

Your Celtic adventure starts in earnest with a city drive, taking in the fine 12th-century cathedral, imposing university buildings, and elegant Georgian squares. On the way this morning: the "Bonnie Banks" of Loch Lomond, wild Rannoch Moor, Glen Coe, lovely Loch Linnhe, and Fort William beneath Ben Nevis. In the afternoon, look out for signs of the mysterious Loch Ness monster. Spend the night in Inverness, the Highland capital. (B/D)

Day 3 Inverness-Culloden-Braemar-Edinburgh.

At CULLODEN VISITOR CENTRE, hear the story of the crushing Hanoverian victory over Bonnie Prince Charlie's Scottish clans. Drive through the Grampian Mountains to visit BALMORAL CASTLE (except when the Royal Family is in residence), then through Braemar, home of the Royal Highland Games for over 900 years, and in the afternoon, via Perth to Edinburgh. Tonight, don't miss our optional Scottish evening with Highland dancers, bagpipers, and the Ceremony of the Haggis. (B)

Day 4 Edinburgh.

Morning city sightseeing with a Local Guide introduces you to the 200-year-old "New Town" and famous scientists, inventors, and novelists who lived there. In the "Old Town," drive up the narrow Royal Mile to EDINBURGH CASTLE to admire Scotland's Crown Jewels, then explore HOLYROOD PALACE (when available). Later, a unique optional excursion: board the former Royal Yacht Britannia once the perfect royal residence for glittering state visits and family holidays. Dinner rounds off this evening. For departure numbers 0808, 0815, and 0822, tickets are included for tonight's performance of the world-renowned MILITARY TATTOO. (B)

Day 5 Edinburgh-Gretna Green - Grasmere, England - Liverpool.

On the way through the history-steeped Lowland Hills, stop at Gretna Green. Then, leave the land of the Scots and journey into England through the tranquil Lake District to Grasmere, home of poet William Wordsworth, to try original GRASMERE GINGERBREAD. In Liverpool, visit the award-winning BEATLES STORY, an atmospheric journey into the life, times, culture, and music of the "Fab Four." (B/D)

Day 6 Liverpool - North Wales - Dublin, Ireland.

Travel to lovely Betws-y-Coed, then through the incomparable landscapes of Snowdonia National Park and over breathtaking Llanberis Pass. After a stop at Caernarvon, cross Britannia Bridge to the Isle of Anglesey for a photo stop at tongue-twisting Llanfair.... At Holyhead, board your FERRY and cross the Irish Sea to Dublin. For a first taste of Ireland, why not join an optional Irish cabaret evening including dinner, dance, song, and laughter? (B)

Day 7 Dublin.

An orientation drive in the Irish capital includes statue-lined O'Connell Street, elegant Georgian squares, St. Patrick's Cathedral, and Oscar Wilde's Trinity College. Afternoon at leisure. Tonight, you might want to take in an optional dinner outing to the Guinness Storehouse. (B)

Day 8 Dublin-Kildare-Cashel-Blarney-Killarney.

Horse-racing country this morning. Drive across the Curragh to visit the IRISH NATIONAL STUD at Kildare, whose thoroughbreds command respect on the racecourses of the world. After your guided tour, enjoy TEA and SCONES at the Japanese Gardens Restaurant. On the way to Killarney, stop at the Rock of Cashel, where St. Patrick preached, and In Blarney, renowned for its magical Kissing Stone. (B/D)

Day 9 Killarney-Ring Of Kerry-Adare-Limerick.

Follow the road known as the RING OF KERRY for a spectacular 160-kilometre (100-mile) panoramic drive around the island's southwestern tip. Have your camera ready for sparkling seascapes, brightly coloured farmhouses, subtropical vegetation, and the breathtaking panorama of the Lakes of Killarney from Ladies View. In the afternoon, travel via quaint Adare to Limerick. A suggestion for a very special night out: an optional medieval banquet at Bunratty Castle. (B)

Day 10 Limerick-Cliffs Of Moher-Galway-Knock-Sligo.

Motor to the spectacular CLIFFS OF MOHER, rising 204 metres (668 feet) above the Atlantic. Via the limestone plateau of The Burren, reach Galway, a popular seaside destination and a buzzing cosmopolitan centre with colourful shops and a busy cafe and bar culture. Visit Knock, a village that attracts pilgrims from all over the world, then spend the night in Sligo. (B/D)

Day 11 Sligo-Derry, Northern Ireland-Giant's Causeway- Belfast.

First highlight today is after lunch: take photographs of Dunluce Castle, then visit awe-inspiring GIANT'S CAUSEWAY, composed of thousands of strangely symmetrical basalt columns jutting out to sea. Stay in Belfast tonight, Northern Ireland's seat of government. (B/D)

Day 12 Belfast-Glasgow, Scotland.

On this morning's "Living History" tour in the company of a Local Guide, learn more about this fascinating city where the Titanic was built. Board your FERRY for the crossing of the North Channel to Cairnryan on the west coast of Scotland. Back in Glasgow, celebrate the success of your journey with a farewell dinner with wine at your hotel. (B/D)

Day 13 Glasgow.

Your holiday ends with breakfast this morning. (B)