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Included Premium Highlights
* In Stratford-upon-Avon visit the birthplace of the Bard, William Shakespeare
* Visit Edinburgh Castle for fine views over the city and to see the 'Honours of Scotland'
* Experience the sights & spectacle of the Edinburgh Millitary Tattoo (selected departures only)
* Embark on a guided highlight cruise on Loch Lomond - one of Scotland's most beautiful lochs
* Join a local guide for a visit to Dublin Castle (when open)
* Experience the magnificent Ring of Kerry with breathtaking views over mountains and sea
* Visit the well-preserved Roman Baths and Georgian Pump Rooms in the English city of Bath
* Visit the mysterious megaliths of Stonehenge
Included Personal Insights
* Learn some of the lesser known facts about the life of William Wordsworth, Britain's best-loved poet
* An equine professional will join you for a behind the scenes look at Ireland's National Stud and its famous Japanese Gardens
Included Additional Excursions & Sights
* Enter York's medieval city walls to see the Minster and the tilting houses of the 'Shambles'
* See Durham's Castle and fine Romanesque Cathedral
* See part of the Roman built Hadrian's Wall
* See Jedburgh's ruined Abbey
* Cross Edinburgh's New Town and drive the Royal Mile to Holyroodhouse Palace
* Visit the university town of St Andrews to see the famous golf course
* Drive through dramatic Glencoe
* See Chester's 'Rows' and city walls
* See Dublin's Customs House
* See the Rock of Cashel
* Kiss the stone at Blarney Castle
* Visit Waterford Crystal showroom
* See Cardiff's Millennium Stadium and Castle
* Cross the mighty Severn bridge
* Scenic drives - English Lake District, Ring of Kerry, Scottish Highlands, Grampian Mountains
Included First Class Services
* Escorted by a professional Tour Director
* Luxury air-conditioned 40 seat coach with onboard toilet
* Insight Hotels include all service charges, taxes and porterage
* Insight Traveller document wallet, map book journal and information pack
* Free London Airport shuttle service, conditions apply.
Included Quality Dining
* Traditional Highland Dinner with Scottish entertainment (HD)
* 12 full Breakfasts (B) and 5 three-course Dinners with choice, or buffets, plus tea or coffee (D)
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ITINERARY INSIGHT VACATIONS Britain and Ireland Explorer
Tour Pace
Well paced tour with two night stays in the contrasting cities of Edinburgh, Dublin & Tralee; plus the variation in pace with the two different Irish ferry crossings to Dublin and from Rosslare.
Day 1 - LONDON - STRATFORD - YORK
After a warm welcome from your Tour Director, drive through the Oxfordshire countryside into the 'heart of England' to Stratford-upon-Avon to visit the birthplace of the Bard, William Shakespeare. Head north to York, the ancient capital of Viking Britain, and see history unfold before your eyes as you pass the crooked houses of the 'Shambles' to reach York Minster, England's largest medieval cathedral. Settle into the hotel with a Welcome Drink with your fellow travellers.
Hotel: Hotel 53 (D)
Day 2 - YORK - DURHAM - EDINBURGH
Stop off in Durham to see the castle and the fine Romanesque cathedral before moving on to see Hadrian's Wall, Britain's most impressive Roman monument. Cross the wild Northumberland moors into Scotland, passing Jedburgh Abbey and the house of the ill-fated Mary Queen of Scots en route to the capital of Edinburgh, your base for two nights. Hotel: Royal Terrace (B)
Day 3 - EDINBURGH SIGHTSEEING
A guided tour takes you inside Edinburgh castle, dominating the city from its rocky crag. Continue down the Royal Mile, past the venerable St Giles' Cathedral, to see the Queen's Holyroodhouse Palace before crossing over to the 18th century New Town. The afternoon provides time to shop on Princes Street. Tonight, selected departures enjoy the Military Tattoo - a colourful mixture of historic battles and military manoeuvres, complete with pipes and drums. (B)
Day 4 - EDINBURGH - HIGHLANDS
After breakfast drive towards the Fife coast to St Andrews, a picturesque university town and home of the famous golf course. Over the River Tay, through Dundee and Perth to Pitlochry, to cross the Grampian Mountains for a warm Highland welcome at your hotel. This evening enjoy a Highlight Dinner with haggis, accompanied by dancing and the sound of the bagpipes. Hotel: Laggan Country Hotel. (B,HD)
Day 5 - HIGHLANDS - LAKE DISTRICT
Mountains and glens greet you as you drive through dramatic Glencoe. On the 'bonnie, bonnie banks of Loch Lomond' you'll board a guided Highlight cruise on one of Scotland's most beautiful lochs. Afterwards, continue south through Glasgow into the Southern Uplands of Scotland before crossing the border to arrive at your hotel in the beautiful English Lake District. Hotel: Windermere Hyrdo (B,D)
Day 6 - LAKE DISTRICT - GRASMERE - MANCHESTER
Time to enjoy the beauty of the Lake District, its fells, lakes and valleys combining to make it one of England's best loved regions. There is time take an optional cruise on Lake Windermere, before stopping in Grasmere where the Lakeland poet William Wordsworth is buried. Then it's on to our hotel in Manchester for the evening. Hotel:
Park Inn (B,D)
Day 7 - MANCHESTER - CHESTER - DUBLIN
Step back into Roman times in Chester. See the city's ancient encircling walls and its remarkable 13th century black and white galleried 'Rows', now shopping arcades. Continue into Wales, glimpsing the massive Conwy Castle before crossing the Menai Straits to pass through the world-famous village with the very Welsh name of Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch. From the port of Holyhead, sail across the sea to Ireland and its fun-loving capital, Dublin, for a two-night stay.
Hotel: Burlington (B)
Day 8 - DUBLIN SIGHTSEEING
A local guide will show you Dublin's elegant Georgian squares and the equally impressive castle, which you will visit (if open). Also see the Irish President's home in Phoenix Park, famous O'Connell Street and the historic Customs House. The afternoon is yours to shop in elegant Grafton Street or to continue sightseeing. In the evening, why not treat yourself to an Irish cabaret show and dinner? (B)
Day 9 - DUBLIN - KILLARNEY
Drive to County Kildare, Ireland's premier thoroughbred horse region, for a guided tour of the National Stud, and admire the adjoining Japanese Gardens. Continue to view one of the great sights of Ireland, St. Patrick's great Rock of Cashel, crowned with the noblest group of medieval monuments in Ireland. Cross the rolling pastures which encircle Tipperary, which is immortalised in the famous song, before reaching Killarney.
Hotel: Killarney Towers (B,D)
Day 10 - RING OF KERRY EXCURSION
A delightful excursion takes you around the magical Ring of Kerry, a world of towering cliffs, lush lake lands and remote villages. As you pass through Ireland's highest mountain range, the MacGillicuddy Reeks, a sense of the unhurried pace of Irish life will surround you, especially as you reach the three peaceful Lakes of Killarney. In the afternoon, perhaps take an optional ride with the locals on one of Killarney's jaunting cars. (B)
Day 11 - KILLARNEY - WATERFORD
Cross the rugged Derrynasaggart Mountains to visit the famous 15th century Blarney Castle, the home of the famous stone of eloquence, once kissed, never forgotten! Travel on through the scenic port of Dungarvan to the historic walled city of Waterford, where you can admire a sparkling display of crystal before settling into your hotel for the night.
Hotel: Dooleys. (B,D)
Day 12 - WATERFORD - CARDIFF
Drive to Rosslare to take the ferry across the Irish Sea to Pembroke. Continue past the valleys of South Wales to the Welsh capital, Cardiff, famous for its imposing castle and the brilliant Millennium Stadium.
Hotel: Radisson Blu. (B)
Day 13 - CARDIFF - BATH - STONEHENGE - LONDON
Cross the Severn bridge, spanning the Bristol channel between England and Wales, then on to Bath with its Georgian streets and crescents, and visit the Roman Baths. Cross Salisbury Plain and stop to visit the mysterious megaliths of Stonehenge. From here, travel to London, where the tour ends. (B)
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