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Day 1 - LONDON - STRATFORD
After a warm welcome from your Tour Director, head west over the green Chiltern Hills. Stop in the university town of Oxford before driving through pretty Cotswold villages to visit Shakespeare's birthplace in Stratford-upon-Avon. Tonight join your Tour Director for a Welcome Drink.
Hotel: Swans Nest/Alveston Manor. (D)
Day 2 - STRATFORD - YORK
Visit the Wedgwood China Visitor Centre before continuing to the walled city of York. Explore the cobbled streets of the Shambles and see the huge York Minster.
Hotel: Marriott (B,D)
Day 3 - YORK - EDINBURGH
Tour the beautiful Lake District and visit Wordsworth's grave before stopping at Gretna Green in Scotland. Then it's on to Edinburgh. Tonight, selected departures attend the spectacular flood lit Military Tattoo at Edinburgh Castle.
Hotel: Royal Terrace/Roxburghe. (B)
Day 4 - EDINBURGH SIGHTSEEING
Take a guided tour inside historic Edinburgh Castle, home to the Honours of Scotland. Continue down the Royal Mile, past St Giles' Cathedral to the Queen's Holyroodhouse Palace. Cross to the 18th century New Town. The afternoon is at leisure. (B)
Day 5 - EDINBURGH - HIGHLANDS
Cross the Firth of Forth on your way to St Andrews - the home of golf. Continue over the Grampian Mountains, past Blair Athol, to the sparkling Spey Valley. Tonight, enjoy a Highland style dinner with Scottish entertainment.
Hotel: Laggan Country Hotel. (B,HD)
Day 6 - HIGHLANDS - THURSO
See the Clava Stone Circles before continuing across the battlefield of Culloden. Drive via Inverness and along the shores of Loch Ness, before following the coast to Thurso.
Hotel: Royal (B,D)
Day 7 - ORKNEY ISLANDS EXCURSION
Drive to John O'Groats, the most northerly town on the British mainland, where you board a ferry to the Orkney Islands. Visit the village of Skara Brae, the Ring of Brodgar, Kirkwall and the Italian Chapel. Head back to the mainland for the evening. (B,D)
Day 8 - THURSO - ISLE OF SKYE
Relax and enjoy the lochs and mountains on your way to the fishing town of Ullapool. Then it's 'over the sea to Skye'. Admire the scenic splendour of the Cuillin Hills en route to your hotel in Portree. Hotel: Tongadale. (B D)
Day 9 - ISLE OF SKYE - GLASGOW
Take in magnificent scenery as you pass Eilean Donan Castle and continue via Fort William to Glencoe, 'the valley of the weeping'. Stop on the 'bonnie banks' of Loch Lomond before arriving in Glasgow.
Hotel: Marriott (B)
Day 10 - GLASGOW - LONDONDERRY
Bid farewell to Scotland as you cross the Irish Sea, enjoying views of the Island of Arran on the way. Take the scenic Antrim coast road to the amazing rock formation known as the Giant's Causeway before reaching your hotel.
Hotel: Da Vinci's. (B,D)
Day 11 - LONDONDERRY - SLIGO
Join a guide to see Derry's Walls, the Guildhall and the city's cathedral before crossing the border to see O'Donnell's Castle in Donegal. Drive south to visit the Belleek Pottery Centre. Continue to the churchyard at Drumcliff, where the Irish poet WB Yeats is buried, then it's on to Sligo.
Hotel: Radisson SAS. (B,D)
Day 12 - SLIGO - LIMERICK
Take a scenic drive through the beautiful Connemara region to visit the famous marble factory. Continue on to Galway where you see St Nicholas Cathedral, the Spanish Arch and Eyre Square. Now on to Bunratty Folk Park, where old Ireland comes to life in the thatched cottages and cobbled streets of the museum. Stay tonight in Limerick, famous for rhymes, lace and elegant Georgian houses.
Hotel: George Boutique Hotel. (B)
Day 13 - LIMERICK - KILLARNEY
An orientation tour shows you King John's Castle, St. Mary's Cathedral and the treaty stone. Now drive through the charming village of Adare into County Kerry. In Killarney, enjoy a ride on a famous jaunting car.
Hotel: Killarney Towers. (B,D)
Day 14 - RING OF KERRY EXCURSION
Experience scenery of plunging cliffs and spectacular lakes, and drive between granite mountains and endless beaches as you tour the Ring of Kerry. (B)
Day 15 - KILLARNEY - WATERFORD
Cross the Derrynasaggart Mountains to kiss the Stone of Eloquence at Blarney Castle. Enjoy an orientation tour of Cork seeing St Finbar's Cathedral before continuing along the coast to your hotel in Waterford.
Hotel: Dooleys (B,D)
Day 16 - WATERFORD - KILKENNY - DUBLIN
After visiting the Waterford Crystal showroom, drive to Kilkenny to see its castle en route to the fun loving Irish capital, Dublin.
Hotel: Burlington. (B)
Day 17 - DUBLIN SIGHTSEEING
Tour Dublin's elegant Georgian squares and visit Dublin castle (when open) with a local guide. Also see the Irish President's home, O'Connell Street and historic Customs House. This afternoon you are at leisure to browse the shops along Grafton Street. (B)
Day 18 - DUBLIN - CHESTER - MANCHESTER
Cross the Irish Sea and travel through North Wales, past Conwy Castle, to the walled city of Chester. See the ruined Roman amphitheatre, Tudor 'Rows' and cathedral before continuing to your hotel in Manchester.
Hotel: Park Inn. (B,D)
Day 19 - MANCHESTER - BRISTOL
Drive to the border town of Ludlow, with its half-timbered houses and ruined castle, rich in tragic royal history. Continue along the Wye Valley past romantic Tintern Abbey and over the soaring Severn Bridge to Bristol.
Hotel: Marriott City Centre. (B)
Day 20 - BRISTOL - BATH - PLYMOUTH
Travel the short distance to Bath, famous for its Georgian architecture. Visit the Roman Baths before moving on to Plymouth, taking in Glastonbury along the way. On arrival in Plymouth, enjoy a highlight cruise on the harbour.
Hotel: Duke of Cornwall. (B,D)
Day 21 - DARTMOOR & TINTAGEL EXCURSION
Stop in Princetown, in the heart of rugged Dartmoor before continuing to Tintagel, according to legend, the site of King Arthur's Castle. Return to Plymouth via Bodmin Moor. (B)
Day 22 - PLYMOUTH - STONEHENGE - LONDON
Visit mysterious Stonehenge before crossing Salisbury Plain to return to London, where you bid farewell to your Tour Director. (B) |
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