Ireland & Scotland

May 5 - 19, 2010

ITINERARY

Day 1
Arrive at Dublin Airport and drive to our hotel. A guided walking tour of Dublin will familiarize us with this ancient city and introduce us to its rich history. This evening we enjoy our first gourmet dinner which dispels any possible doubts about the talents of Ireland's great chefs.

Day 2
This morning we head for the western coast. Passing the Curragh Racecourse, one of Ireland's premier sporting venues, we visit the ancient ruin of the Rock of Dun na Mase, where English involvement in Ireland began. We then travel through Dublin, Kildare, Tipperary and Limerick Counties toward County Clare. We take a break for lunch by the River Shannon, the longest river in Great Britain, before an afternoon visit to Bunratty Castle. Built in 1425, Bunratty Castle is the best surviving example of a medieval fortress in Ireland. The castle is also decorated with over 450 pieces of furniture and artifacts from the medieval period. In the evening, after checking into our beautiful hotel in Doolin, a quaint fishing village and the self-proclaimed capital of traditional Irish music, we enjoy dinner in one of Ireland's famous "singing pubs".

Day 3
After breakfast we drive through the unique and haunting Burren region, which is the largest limestone area in Europe, covering over 300 square kilometers. This lunar-like landscape, an anomaly amidst the green Irish countryside, is rich in archaeological, botanical, and geological importance. We see the Poulnabrone dolmen, a Neolithic stone tomb dating from the 4th century B.C. Heading back to the coast we walk along a path at the edge of the majestic 700 foot Cliffs of Moher and stop at the beach in Lahinch, Ireland's surfing capital, on our way back to Doolin for a delicious dinner of local seafood.

Day 4
Passing through Lisdoonvarna, home of the famous Matchmaking Festival, we stop to see the stunning ruins of Concomroe Abbey, a 13th century Cistercian monastery on the beautiful West Coast. We then pass through the seaside village of Kinvarra to see the impressive Dunguaire Castle. In the 1920s this early 16th century castle became a favorite meeting place for writers W.B. Yeats, his patron Lady Gregory, George Bernard Shaw, Edward Martin and J.M. Synge. In the lively town of Galway we have lunch and free time. Next we head north into the Connemara region, famous for its wild and rugged landscape and stunning scenery. We follow in the footsteps of Saint Patrick on a walk in the Mamturk mountains before checking into our magnificent castle hotel in Ballynahinch. Set on a 450 acre wooded estate overlooking a famous salmon fishery, the castle looks out over the beautiful Twelve Bens Mountain range. We enjoy a gourmet dinner in the castle's beautiful restaurant.

Day 5
We begin this day with a refreshing stroll on Dogs Bay Beach. Further along the coast we have the opportunity to take an optional horseback ride on the white sandy beach in Ballyconneelly. For those who can ride this is a truly memorable experience. Driving through the Twelve Bens Mountain range, we come to the beautiful and romantic Kylemore Abbey. Set on a lake with a backdrop of the mountains, the abbey has lovely formal gardens we can stroll through. Next we travel to Killary Harbor and take a walk along the "famine road" on the south shore of Ireland's only fjord. Before heading back to our hotel, we stop in the beautiful village of Leenane for a quick pint in 'The Field Pub', named after the movie which was filmed here.

Day 6
After departing Ballynahinch we cross through the Mweelrea Mountains into County Mayo. This stunning drive takes us up through the mountain pass of Doolough Valley, 'the Valley of the Black Lake'. We take a walk part way up Croagh Patrick, the mountain from which St. Patrick banished the snakes from Ireland. In the shadow of the mountain lie the ruins of an old abbey built on ths site of a church founded by Saint Patrick. We stop for lunch in the picturesque town of Westport and then drive through North Mayo to Enniscrone, where we have the option of taking a fantastically relaxing hot seaweed bath, supposedly infused with mysterious healing properties. Gazing up to the top of the mountain we can see the tomb of Queen Maeve, an enormous mysterious mound crowning the mountaintop which towers above the Sligo coastline. Our Irish guide tells us the legend of the mythical queen and her exploits. We have the option of climbing the mountain to see the tomb and earn our reward with beautiful views down onto Sligo Bay. On our way to our hotel in Mullaghmore we stop in Drumcliffe to see the grave of William Butler Yeats, the famous poet who was the first Irishman to receive the Nobel Prize in Literature. Our hotel in this quaint village overlooks the lovely Mullaghmore Harbor on Sligo Bay. Seafood lovers will not be disappointed by the choices at dinner tonight: Poached Lissadell Mussels, Grilled darne of Donegal Bay Salmon, or Mullaghmore Lobster. After dinner you can step into the pub and join in with the Irish musicians or practice your Irish jig. I know we can talk our guide into giving us a jig lesson!

Day 7
In the morning we cross into Northern Ireland and make our way to Belfast, the capital city. After lunch in the famous Crown Pub, we take a Black Cab tour of the city, where our guide gives us an emotional lesson on Belfast's turbulent past. After the tour we say our goodbyes to Ireland and board a ferry which takes us from Belfast to Stranraer, Scotland. Our Scottish guide welcomes us and takes us to our hotel in Troon where we relax before dinner.

Day 8
In the morning we have the opportunity to visit historic Stirling Castle and the surrounding battlefields, learning about legends such as William Wallace and Robert the Bruce. From there we head for the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park where we travel along the "bonnie bonnie banks of Loch Lomond" ,hearing stories of Rob Roy, the Robin Hood of the Highlands. From Loch Lomond we head up and over the Arrochar Alps to the stunning west coast and down to Inverary for some lunch. This town was established by the Clan Campbell, one of the most powerful clans in the Highlands, and Inverary Castle is definitely worth a look. We then head to our next hotel located on the Crinan Canal in Argyll. Our hotel is renowned for its world class seafood, an excellent wine list, and warm hospitality.

Day 9
In the morning we explore the extraordinary Kilmartin Glen with over 350 ancient monuments within a six-mile radius of the village of Kilmartin (150 of them are prehistoric). This astonishing concentration and diversity of monuments distinguishes Kilmartin Glen as an area of outstanding archaeological importance. From there we head through the seaside town of Oban and on to Castle Stalker where we have lunch. In the afternoon we make our way to the awesome Glencoe with its majestic mountains where you will hear all about the infamous massacre. We then begin to travel up the Great Glen, past the foot of mighty Ben Nevis, the highest mountain in the UK, and on to Glenfinnan, where Bonnie Prince Charlie and the Jacobites gathered in 1745 to begin their final campaign. We also view the spectacular Glenfinnan viaduct from there, made famous by the Harry Potter films. We then take the ferry "over the sea to Skye" and head to our hotel on the island.

Day 10
We will spend a full day exploring the magical Isle of Skye with its ruined castles and amazing scenery. We hear tales of Bonnie Prince Charlie's Jacobite Rebellion against the backdrop of the jagged Cuillin Mountains, discover the scenic Island Capital of Portree, take a walk by its harbor, sample some locally caught seafood or just relax. Our journey heads to the north of the Island past the mysterious Trotternish Ridge with its spectacular cliffs and rock formations, including the Old Man of Storr. The 'Winged Isle' is immersed in Celtic myths and legends. We'll hear about Selkies, the mischievous faeries, and even learn the secret of eternal youth! We spend a second night on this fascinating island.

Day 11
Today we head to the picturesque National Trust conservation village of Plockton, a peaceful Highland community in the Gaelic heartland, made famous by "Hamish Macbeth" and "The Wickerman". From here we travel down to explore the most photographed (and most beautiful) castle in Scotland, Eilean Donan. In the afternoon we make a stop at Glen Ord Distillery to learn the secret behind how we make Scotland's national drink "uisge-beatha" (whiskey) which literally translates as the water of life. We then head down to the banks of Loch Ness where we spend the night in the charming village of Fort Augustus. From here we enjoy spectacular views along the length of the loch.

Day 12
This morning we travel the full length of one of the most mysterious stretches of water on the planet, searching for the elusive Loch Ness monster. We make a stop at Urquhart Castle, a spectacular 13th century ruin (where most of the monster sightings take place). We explore the ruins and learn the history of the area before boarding a boat that takes us further up the loch. Our next stop is the atmospheric Culloden Battlefield, scene of the final defeat of Bonnie Prince Charlie's Jacobite rebellion. What happened here changed life in the Highland forever. We then journey through the Cairngorm National Park, through Perthshire and over the Forth Bridge, where we can enjoy fantastic views of one of Scotland's greatest engineering achievements, the Forth Rail Bridge. From there it's a short drive into Scotland's Capitial, Edinburgh, where we will spend the next two nights.

Day 13
Our last day in Scotland will be spent in its culturally rich capital city. We begin the day with a guided walking tour of the medieval Old Town and the Georgian "New Town". The stunning architecture in the center of the city classify it as UNESCO World Heritage site. The afternoon is free to explore, visit a world-class museum or gallery, poke around the shopping districts in the West End and New Town, or sip some Scottish whiskey while enjoying one of the most beautiful cityscapes in the world. We regroup for a fabulous farewell dinner in the city.

Day 14
After breakfast we head to the Edinburgh Airport for the return flight home.