Leisurely United Kingdom

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: 200 Km. Scenery: We pass through Wales: beautiful maritime landscapes along the Irish Sea. Remember to have your passport to hand; it may be required to enter the United Kingdom.


06.45 hrs Departure from the hotel to board the modern ferry that departs at 08.05 hrs. Crossing of approximately 3 1/2 hrs (occasionally, due to technical reasons or because of bad weather, we may take a different ferry).
11.30 hrs Disembark in Holyhead, a port situated on an island in north Wales.
12.15 hrs Caernarfon.- After crossing the Britannia bridge, we arrive at this town, which is a World Heritage Site situated on the seashore, with its spectacular castle that dominates the bay and its medieval streets. This is where those who are in line for the throne have been crowned since the Fourteenth Century ("the Prince of Wales"). Time to walk around and have lunch.
13:45 hrs Caernarfon –Departure-. We follow the coast towards England.
16:45 hrs Liverpool –Arrival at hotel.- We suggest a visit to the Beatles Museum (admission not included) so that you can discover this fascinating place and the Albert Dock.

Total distance covered: 400 km. Scenery: Picturesque hilly countryside.


07:45 hrs- Liverpool –Departure-. Brief bus tour round this World Heritage Site, taking in some of the iconic sites in the city. Travel towards the heart of England.
11:00 hrs- Stratford Upon Avon.- The small town where Shakespeare was born, with its beautiful gardens and Tudor houses. Time, if you wish, to visit the house where Shakespeare was born (admission not included), to stroll around and have lunch.
13:00 hrs- Stratford –Departure-. We cross beautiful landscapes of the Cotswolds, with its hills and cottages with thatched roofs.
14:30 hrs- Oxford –Arrival-. Free time in this prestigious University city and to visit one of its spectacular main colleges. Time to stroll around.
16:30 hrs- Oxford –Departure-.
18:00 hrs - London –Arrival-.

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