Leisurely United Kingdom and Ireland

WELCOME TO LONDON!
Transfer from airport to hotel. Later, our guide will give an overview of the tour or you can check the informative panels in the hotel reception area.

Highlights: Guided tour, changing of the guards. Transfer to Soho.


In the early morning, comprehensive tour with local guide, lasting two hours and a half. We will see the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben, Trafalgar Sq., Picadilly Sqare, Oxford Street, Tower of London, Tower Bridge and Buckingham Palace and the famous Changing of the Guard (depending on the time of year).


Afternoon at leisure.
18.30 h. In the evening, a stroll through Leicester Square, China Town and Soho, with its atmosphere, its theaters and its entertainment. Sit down for dinner at your preferred restaurant (Indian, Chinese, Thai, in­ternational, and so on) in the lively district. Return to hotel.

Total distance covered: 480 km. Scenery: Picturesque countryside with hills and woods.


07:30 hrs - London –Departure-. We cross the city and travel towards the north of England. Attractive countryside in the English countryside.
10:00 hrs - Cambridge –Arrival-. We have time to admire the beautiful main colleges and have lunch.
12:30 hrs - Cambridge –Departure-. We continue our journey towards the north, with views over agricultural fields and Sherwood Forest, former home of the legendary Robin Hood.
15:30 hrs - York –Arrival-. Passing along the walls that date to Roman times, we walk towards the cathedral. Time to stroll around its lively shopping streets.
17:30 hrs - York -Departure- We continue our journey northwards.
19:30 hrs - Durham –Arrival-. Impressive medieval city. Time to stroll around its cobbled streets in the centre and to discover its cathedral and castle, both of which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Accommodation.

Total distance covered: 230 km. Scenery: Cross into Scotland. Castles, views over the sea.
08:30 hrs - Durham –Departure-. We travel north through England, and pass by the edge of the city of Newcastle.
09:45 hrs - Alnwick.- Medieval town dominated by its large castle. Attractive gardens. This was one of the backdrops for the Harry Potter film. Time to visit the castle (admission not included) or to stroll around. Note: the castle will be shut during the winter months (01 October-31 March).
11:15 hrs - Alnwick –Departure-. Cross into Scotland.
13:15 hrs - Edinburgh –Arrival-. We are now in the capital of Scotland, in one of the liveliest cities in the north of Europe, whose spectacular centre has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The castle dominates the city centre, with its cobbled streets and parks. In the summer, the Edinburgh Festival is held, and the city brims with life and its many shows. Free time.
17:30 hrs -Scenic visit round the city with a local guide (occasionally, this could be earlier, being undertaken on our arrival in the city). Later on, we provide a transfer to return to the hotel.

Free day. You can enjoy the charm of this city and explore and discover memorable places.

Total distance covered: 305 km Countryside: Pretty scenery throughout the stage, especially in the afternoon when we go through the Cairngorms mountains.


08.00hrs - Edinburgh –Departure-. We travel to another historic city near Edinburgh.
09:15hrs- Stirling –Arrival-. Time for a stroll in its historic centre overlooked by its great castle. After this, in the bus, we will go to the Wallace Monument, erected in honour of William Wallace, a thirteenth century Scottish military hero. We get there along the path that climbs up to the base of the monument (tickets to the monument are not included, but you can walk up the path without having to pay).


11.00 hrs - Stirling/Wallace Monument –Departure-.
12:45 hrs - Pitlochry. - On our arrival, we include tickets to a traditional Whisky distillery: Blair Athol, where Bell´s is produced. After this, free time in this picturesque town for lunch.


15.00hrs - Pitlochry –Departure-.
15.15 hrs - Blair Castle. - Tickets are included to this beautiful palace with its impressive gardens. -


16.45 hrs - Blair –Departure-. We travel to the north of Scotland, pretty mountain scenery lining our way.
18.45hrs - INVERNESS, Arrival at the maritime city very near Loch Ness. Dinner includedand accommodation.


NB: The hotel infrastructure in the north of Scotland is highly limited. In some departures (normally in the month of August) accommodation may be offered in a town near Inverness. -

Total distance covered: 250 km Countryside: Magnificent scenery, lakes, high mountains sometimes with snowy peaks.
Notes: We recommend having some warm clothes to hand, you may need them to enjoy the boat trip more. The schedules of this stage may change depending on the time assigned for the Loch Ness crossing.


08.00 hrs - Inverness –Departure-. We have a stage loaded with thrills. Amidst very beautiful scenery, forests, lakes, empty lands and fields in the North of Scotland.
10:30 hrs - EILEAN CASTLE, a very picturesque castle in the waters of the fiord. We will remember the ghosts that fill the castles of Scotland. Tickets included.


11:30 hrs - Eilean Castle –Departure-. Mountings and lakes line our way.
12:45 hrs - FORT AUGUSTUS where we will see the lock system and have time to stroll and find a place for lunch.


14.00 hrs - Fort Augustus –Departure- . We go round LOCH NESS. We will see the mediaeval URQUHART Castle in ruins by the lake (tickets included).


At around 15:30 hrs we include a boat trip from Urquhart Castle in the dark waters of the lake, for around 60 minutes to Dochgarroch.
17.00 hrs - Inverness. Arrival in the capital of the Highlands and the only city of the region on the mouth of the river Ness. Dinner included and accommodation in INVERNESS.

Total distance covered: 370 km Countryside: Once more, beautiful lake and mountain scenery, huge open spaces, isolated areas and thick forests.


07:30hrs - Inverness –Departure-. We travel back to Aviemore through isolated regions, subarctic flora and mountains. On our way, we will make a brief stop at Spean Bridge, by the monument to the commandos who trained here for the Normandy invasion in the Second World War. We photograph Ben Nevis, the highest peak in the British Isles.
10.00 hrs - Fort William –Time for a coffee in this tourist city.


10:45 hrs - Fort William –Departure-. We follow some sections of coastline, fjords by the ocean. - On our way we will pass Kilchurn Castle. A castle in ruins that projects its image over a beautiful lake.


13:30 hrs - Inveraray –Arrival-. A historic, picturesque small town by a lake with a beautiful castle (tickets not included). Time to have a stroll and for lunch.


15:30 hrs - Inveraray –Departure-. Our road takes us round part of Loch Lomond with its beautiful scenery,
17:30 hrs - Glasgow –Arrival-, free time in which we suggest a stroll around the centre of this Victorian capital. -

Total distance covered: 295 km. Scenery: Seaside, hills, woods.
Notes: Remember to keep your passport; it will be requested at the point of embarkation. It is helpful if you can travel with some Scottish bank notes. Scotland mint their own notes, as does the North of Ireland. These Scottish or Northern Irish bank notes can be used easily in Scotland and Ireland respectively, but they may not be accepted in England and they are not valid in international banks. That is, if you have any Scottish or Irish notes left over, you will not be able to exchange them outside the United Kingdom. We recommend that you make sure you don´t have any Scottish bank notes left over on leaving Scotland and especially after our crossing to Belfast.
The schedules for this whole stage may vary depending on the boat.


08.00 hrs -Glasgow- Brief tour on the coach while leaving the city and then we travel toward the east coast of Scotland.


In Cairnryan we board a modern ferry to Ireland. Normally the boat leaves at 11.30 hrs. Crossing. The boats are very modern; you can shop in its stores or have lunch in its bars.

13.45 hrs - We get off the boat in Belfast. Arrival in this city of Victorian architecture which reminds us of the difficult coexistence between Protestants and Catholics in this area.- After a look round the Catholic and Protestant neighbourhoods that remind us of their troubled past, we visit the famous murals. Free time in the city centre.
16:30 hrs - Belfast –Departure-. We continue to the Republic of Ireland (Eire).
18:30 hrs - Dublin –Arrival at hotel-.

Dublin - Sightseeing tour of the city. A guide will tell us about the history of the city, its Georgian neighbourhoods, its bustling city centre streets and the University. Afternoon free in the Irish capital. You will be able to wonder round the lively banks of the River Liffey and visit its museums or the famous Guinness brewery (admission not included).
(Note: Occasionally, depending on our time of arrival in Dublin, the sightseeing tour of the city may be made on the previous afternoon).

Total distance covered: 330 km Countryside: Pleasant countryside, forests, hills, picturesque villages on the way.


08:30 hrs - Dublin –Departure-. We start our trip to Powerscourt, very close to Dublin.
09:15 hrs - POWERSCOURT, with our tickets included, we will visit the magnificent Palace Park designed in the eighteenth century, considered one of the prettiest parks in Ireland with its fountains, its Japanese garden and its pet cemetery.


10:30 hrs - Powerscourt –Departure-. We go on our way towards the south of Ireland, passing through the Wicklow National Park.
12:30 hrs - KILKENNY we have time for lunch and a stroll in this city full of life with its castle, cathedral and beer houses, etc.


14:30 hrs - Kilkenny –Departure-.
15:30 hrs- CASHEL –Arrival-. A mediaeval fortress that symbolises the Irish’s struggle against the English. Tickets included to Cashel Castle-Rock and time in the village.


17.00 hrs - Cashel –Departure-.
18.15 hrs - CORK, Arrival at the end of the afternoon. Time for a stroll around the centre of Ireland’s second largest city. Dinner in the hotel included.

Total distance covered: 245 km Countryside: Pretty countryside, above all in Killarney National Park


08:15hrs- Cork –Departure-.
09.00hrs - KINSALE –Arrival, we stop alongside Charles Fort to admire the views over the ocean beside the seventeenth century fortress. After this, we come to the centre of the village considered the prettiest of all of Ireland’s fishing villages. Time for a stroll in the historic centre with its maritime flavour.


10:30 hrs - Kinsale -departure.
12:30 hrs - KILLARNEY, a tourist city in the heart of Ireland. After time for a stroll and to have lunch, we include a romantic ride in a horse-pulled carriage through the national park, amidst gardens and by the lake. In our carriage we come to ROSS CASTLE and its marvellous views by the lake. Here we include a short boat cruise with magnificent views of the lake.


16.00hrs - Killarney –Departure-. We continue on our way. We take a brief stop in ADARE, a small village that maintains its picturesque stone houses with thatched roofs, and the ruins of an ancient abbey.
18.00 hrs - LIMERICK Arrival and free time to stroll by the river, to visit the cathedral or see its castle, etc.


19.30 hrs - Transfer to the hotel, dinner included.

Total distance covered: 190 km Countryside: Impressive scenery on the Moher cliffs


08:30 hrs - Limerick –Departure-. Near this city.
09.00hrs - Bunraty Folk Park. We include tickets to this open air museum complex, a marvellous park where we will get a glimpse of what life was like in Ireland in the past, it’s typical cottages, its ancient trades and mediaeval castle. Time to stroll.


11.30hrs - Bunraty Folk Park –Departure-. We travel to the coast amidst green scenery and hills.
11.30 hrs- MOHER CLIFFS, overlooking the ocean (entrance included). Those who want to, can walk to O’Brien’s Tower (tickets not included, sometimes closed because of the weather). Time for lunch.


14.00 hrs -departure.
15.00 hrs - Caherconnel Fort, Arrival at this circular stone Celtic Fort in the heart of the carstic scenery of BURREN NATIONAL PARK. Maybe we can see the display of shepherd dogs, and see how they drove their sheep.


16:30 hrs - Departure. We stop to take photos in this area, where we find the Poulnabrone Dolmen. Our road goes on through attractive scenery and little isolated villages.


18.15hrs- Arrival in GALWAY, time to see the city and its university atmosphere, with a picturesque pedestrian area.
19.45 hrs.- Transfer to the hotel.

Total distance covered: 295 km

090 hrs - Galway –Departure-.


10.00 hrs - Cong- Arrival in this small picturesque town in the magnificent area of lakes where John Ford filmed “The Quiet Man”. We will see the ruins of the Royal Abbey and stroll around the fantastic Ashford Castle, now turned into a hotel. Time to have a stroll.


11.30 hrs - Departure. We going towards the centre of Ireland.
13.00 hrs - Clonmacnoise: Time for lunch before we visit the ruins of the Celtic monasteries. (Ticket and tour included).


15.45 hrs– Clonmacnoise –Departure-. We continue on our route.
17.15 hrs - Dublin; Arrival. -


NB: The Clonmacnoise complex only allows a certain number of people to enter at a time. Sometimes your visit may be at a different time, depending on what we are allowed to do. We will adapt the stage for all of the planned visits to be made.

End of our services. Please, check the time of your flight in case you might need an additional night.