Experience the best of England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales on this in-depth exploration of the British Isles. Begin your vacation in London with a full day to enjoy the city on your own or to take optional tours, then visit enigmatic Stonehenge and the magnificent cathedral at Salisbury. Drive through Dartmoor National Park and visit Widecombe-in-the-Moor, setting of The Hound of the Baskervilles, before arriving in Plymouth, starting point for the Pilgrims’ 1620 voyage. Hear about legendary King Arthur in Glastonbury and explore elegant Georgian Bath, famous for its Roman ruins. Leave England, cross into Wales, and arrive in Cardiff, capital of Wales, for an orientation drive. Ferry across St. George’s Channel to Ireland, stopping in Blarney, famous for the legendary “Blarney Stone,” and in the popular resort of Killarney. Along the scenic “Ring of Kerry” coastal route, see sparkling seascapes, mountains dotted with brightly colored farmhouses, and spectacular views of the Lakes of Killarney. Savor more splendid views from the shores of the Dingle Peninsula, and in Adare, take photographs of the lovely thatched cottages. Spend the night in the market town of Ennis before heading west to the spectacular 668-foot Cliffs of Moher. Travel via Galway to Dublin, Ireland’s capital, where you’ll see all the major sights. Cross the Irish Sea to Holyhead on the Welsh Isle of Anglesey, then motor to 2,000-year-old Chester in England. Head north through the Lake District, and cross the border into Scotland. Spend the night in Glasgow before traveling into the Highlands. Follow the banks of mysterious Loch Ness on the way to Inverness. Cross Culloden Moor and stop at St. Andrews, the home of golf, founded in 1754. Spend two nights in regal Edinburgh, Scotland’s capital, and visit mighty Edinburgh Castle on your guided tour. Continue south to see a section of Hadrian’s Wall, the Roman coast-to-coast defense against marauding northern tribes. Stop in York, England’s most complete medieval city; enjoy time in Shakespeare’s Stratford-upon-Avon; and drive through the scenic Cotswolds on your way back to London for the finale of your unforgettable vacation.
Highlights:
Scenic Highlights: Stonehenge and Salisbury Plain, Dartmoor National Park, Ring of Kerry and Lakes of Killarney, Dingle Peninsula, The Burren, Lake District National Park, Scottish Lowlands and Highlands, Loch Lomond, Northumberland National Park, Cotswold Hills
Itinerary:
Day #1 Arrive in London, England. Uniformed hosts are available to help you make the most of your stay.
Day #2 London. A full day to enjoy our exciting program of optional activities. Morning sightseeing with a Local Guide includes all the famous landmarks: the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben beside the River Thames, Westminster Abbey, Whitehall’s mounted horseguards and the Prime Minister’s Downing Street, Piccadilly Circus, Buckingham Palace. Highlights are a visit to St. Paul’s Cathedral (except on Sundays) and the ceremonial pageantry of the Changing of the Guard, if held. This afternoon you may want to visit Windsor Castle or the Tower of London with the spectacular Crown Jewels, and tonight a leisurely cruise on the River Thames would be fun. (B)
Day #3 London–Stonehenge–Salisbury–Widecombe–Plymouth. Meet your Tour Director and traveling companions and depart at 8 am for the West Country. Cross the chalky terrain of Wiltshire and pass Stonehenge, one of England’s most intriguing mysteries. Stop in Salisbury, the “City of the Soaring Spire,“ then drive through fabled Wessex. In the heart of Dartmoor National Park, visit quaint Widecombe-in-the-Moor, ghostly setting for Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s The Hound of the Baskervilles. Later in Plymouth, hear about Sir Francis Drake and see the Mayflower Steps, where the Pilgrim Fathers embarked in 1620. (B,D)
Day #4 Plymouth–Glastonbury–Bath–Cardiff, Wales. Via Glastonbury and its associations with King Arthur to the elegant city of Bath, famed for its amazing Roman relics and Georgian buildings. Cross the spectacular Severn Bridge into Wales and head for the capital, Cardiff. Here, an orientation drive introduces you to all the major attractions: Cardiff Castle, Cathays Park, Millennium Stadium, and the stately civic buildings. A suggestion for tonight: why not join an evening of Welsh entertainment and dinner? (B)
Day #5 Cardiff–Tenby–Tramore, Ireland. Vistas of rich dairy farmland this morning on the way to the pretty seaside resort of Tenby. Then on to Pembroke, departure point for the ferry across St. George’s Channel to Ireland. Arrive at Rosslare in just under four hours. (B,D)
Day #6 Tramore–Blarney–Killarney. Today, discover why Ireland is called the “Emerald Isle.” Drive along the southern coast, passing Cork, the country’s second-largest city. Stop in Blarney, famous for its Stone of Eloquence. Time to see the castle and shop for Irish crafts and handmade crystal. After lunch, continue to the popular resort of Killarney. Tonight, enjoy the optional outing to Tralee for dinner and a performance at Siamsa Tire, Ireland’s National Folk Theatre. (B)
Day #7 Killarney. Ring of Kerry Excursion. At Killorglin, join the road known as the “Ring of Kerry“ for a 100-mile coastal panoramic drive: sparkling seascapes, mountains dotted with brightly colored farmhouses, winding lanes bordered with subtropical vegetation, and spectacular views of the Lakes of Killarney from Ladies View. Back in Killarney, a special optional adventure: take a horse-drawn jaunting car along the national park lakeshore for pictures of Ross Castle. (B)
Day #8 Killarney–Dingle Peninsula–Adare–Limerick–Ennis. Breathtaking scenery this morning on the Dingle Peninsula, where the 32-mile Slea Head drive affords magnificent vistas of the Atlantic Ocean. See the Blasket Islands and hear about the way of life and unique literary achievements of its inhabitants prior to their evacuation in 1953. Then, via Adare, a village known for its prize-winning thatched cottages, and Limerick to Ennis. Tonight, an optional banquet at Knappogue Castle. (B)
Day #9 Ennis–Cliffs of Moher–Galway–Dublin. A scenic route this morning via the Cliffs of Moher and The Burren on the way to the port city of Galway, a popular seaside destination and a buzzing cosmopolitan center with cobbled streets, colorful shops, and busy café and bar culture. Continue across the mighty Shannon before arrival in Dublin. The optional dinner suggestion is a fun Irish cabaret evening with dance, song, and laughter. (B)
Day #10 Dublin. A day in the “Fair City” starts with an orientation drive through Eire’s capital, including statue-lined O’Connell Street, elegant Georgian squares, and St. Patrick’s Cathedral. The rest of the day at leisure. Why not join an optional dinner evening at the Guinness Storehouse. (B)
Day #11 Dublin–Chester, England–Liverpool. Across the Irish Sea to Holyhead on the Welsh Isle of Anglesey with its tongue-twisting place names. Follow the North Wales coast to Chester, the ancient county town on the River Dee. See the Roman remains, black and white half-timbered buildings, and the two-tiered arcades called the “Rows.” Overnight in Liverpool of Beatles fame and once the departure port of the great transatlantic liners. (B,D)
Day #12 Liverpool–Grasmere–Lake District–Gretna Green, Scotland–Glasgow. Drive into the tranquil Lake District, often considered to be the finest of England’s national parks. Visit Grasmere, home of poet William Wordsworth, and over the border for a visit to Gretna Green, where the blacksmith used to wed runaway couples. Travel through the history-steeped Lowland Hills to Glasgow, Scotland’s largest city. (B,D)
Day #13 Glasgow–Fort William–Inverness–Culloden Moor–Grantown-On-Spey. Along the “Bonnie Banks” of Loch Lomond and through wild Rannoch Moor into the Highlands. Via Glen Coe, where the MacDonald Clan was massacred in 1692, to Fort William beneath Ben Nevis. Then, the Great Glen for vistas of the Caledonian Canal, Loch Lochy, and Loch Oich. Follow the banks of Loch Ness, home of the timid and timeless Nessie. Continue via Inverness, the Highland capital, and on the way to tonight’s destination, stop at the battlefield of Culloden Moor with its memories of Bonnie Prince Charlie. (B,D)
Day #14 Grantown-On-Spey–Pitlochry–Perth–Dundee–St. Andrews–Edinburgh. Drive through more spectacular Highland scenery for a stop in the pretty Victorian mountain resort of Pitlochry. The routing then takes in Perth and Dundee before crossing the Tay Bridge to St. Andrews, whose Royal and Ancient Golf Club, founded in 1754, has given us the rules of golfing. Continue through Fife and over the mighty Forth Road Bridge to spend the next two nights in Edinburgh. A suggestion for this evening: enjoy a traditional Scottish night out with Highland dancers, bagpipers, and, of course, the Ceremony of the Haggis. (B)
Day #15 Edinburgh. A full day to enjoy the Scottish capital. Morning sightseeing with a Local Guide introduces you to the 200-year-old “New Town” and famous scientists, inventors, and novelists. In the “Old Town,” drive up the narrow Royal Mile to Edinburgh Castle to admire Scotland’s Crown Jewels. Afternoon at leisure. Later, a unique optional experience: board the former Royal Yacht Britannia, which for the Queen was once the perfect royal residence for glittering state visits and family holidays. Tour five decks and see how the Royal Family and crew of 240 lived and worked on board. Dinner rounds off this optional evening. For departures July 20 through August 10, tickets are included for tonight’s performance of the world-renowned Military Tattoo. (B)
Day #16 Edinburgh–Jedburgh–York, England–Sheffield. At Jedburgh, glimpse the house of Mary, Queen of Scots, and see the abbey ruins before heading towards the Cheviot Hills and the English border, then through wild Northumberland National Park. On the way, see a section of Hadrian’s Wall, the Roman coast-to-coast defense against marauding northern tribes. In York, England’s most complete medieval city, stand in awe in front of the great structure of York Minster, then follow your Tour Director through a maze of quaint streets, including the narrow Shambles. Overnight in Sheffield. (B,D)
Day #17 Sheffield–Stratford-upon-Avon–London. In Shakespeare’s Stratford-upon-Avon, take your pictures of Anne Hathaway’s Cottage and explore the town at your own pace. After returning to London around 4 pm, how about celebrating the success of your tour with an optional night out on the town? (B)
Day #18 London. Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (B)