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Britain & Ireland Grandeur
Britain & Ireland ISLE OF SKYE ISLE OF SKYE 1 Glencoe Loch Ness St Andrews Pitlochry Falkirk Culloden SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS1 GLASGOW GLASGOW 1 2 EDINBURGH EDINBURGH Grandeur CO. DONEGAL CO. DONEGAL N.IRE Derry~ Londonderry Giant’s Causeway Sligo 1 1 BELFAST BELFAST Gretna Green Alnwick LAKE DISTRICT LAKE DISTRICT1 YORK YORK1 GALWAY GALWAY 1 DUBLIN DUBLIN 2 1
LIVERPOOL LIVERPOOL
There’s more to most UK and Ireland trips than the iconic sights. On this journey, you’ll trace the footsteps of giants and feel the salty spray of the Cliffs of Moher, smell the mossy walls of medieval castles and enjoy a toe-tapping, heart-stirring Gaelic song along the way.
Cli s of Moher
Ring of Kerry 2
IRELAND
Limerick
1
KILLARNEY KILLARNEY WATERFORD WATERFORD
WALES
Chester
ENGLAND
Stratford-upon-Avon
Blarney
CARDIFF CARDIFF 1
Bath 2 1
Stonehenge
LONDON
Looe 2
Polperro
PLYMOUTH
YOUR MUST-SEE HIGHLIGHTS
EXPLORE London, Derry~Londonderry, Belfast, Dublin and Edinburgh with Local Specialists. DISCOVER Plymouth, Bath, Cardiff, Limerick, Galway, Sligo, Chester, Glasgow and York. VISIT the ancient stone circle at Stonehenge, the Roman Baths in Bath, Waterford Crystal Showroom, Blarney Castle to kiss the stone, the Cliffs of Moher, the Giant’s Causeway, the Guinness Storehouse the Falkirk Wheel, the Isle of Skye, Edinburgh Castle, Alnwick and Shakespeare’s Birthplace in Stratford-upon-Avon. VIEW the Mayflower Steps in Plymouth, the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, St, Mary’s Cathedral and King John’s Castle in Limerick, the scenic Lake District, the 18th hole at St Andrews, Eilean Donan Castle, Culloden Battlefield and York Minster. SEE Galway Cathedral. SCENIC DRIVES of the Ring of Kerry and the Cornish Peninsula.
INCLUDED EXTRAS
Tickets to the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo are included on departures that coincide with performance dates.
Your Itinerary
DAY 1 | WELCOME TO LONDON
The cosmopolitan capital that is London is yours to explore today. Relax in a Royal Park, amble along the Thames or visit one of the city’s many museums. Hotel: Hilton Kensington
DAY 2 | EXPLORE THE SIGHTS OF LONDON
Today, join a Local Specialist for a memorable encounter with a number of London’s iconic sights. See Big Ben, The Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey. (B)
DAY 3 | JOURNEY TO STONEHENGE & ON TO PLYMOUTH
Meet your Travel Director today before journeying west to the Salisbury Plain. Our first stop is at the prehistoric, mystical monoliths of Stonehenge before traveling to the historic naval port of Plymouth in Devon. (B,WR) Hotel: Copthorne
DAY 4 | DISCOVER THE CORNISH PENINSULA
Embark on an orientation tour and see the Royal Citadel and Mayflower Steps. Explore the Cornish Peninsula and visit the seaside villages of Looe and Polperro. (B)
DAY 5 | SOAK UP BATH & ON TO CARDIFF
Admire Bath’s elegant Georgian façades before continuing to Cardiff.
(B) Hotel: Park Inn by Radisson City Centre/Holiday Inn City Centre DAY 7 | ONWARDS TO BLARNEY & KILLARNEY
Our first stop today is at the House of Waterford Crystal where we will Dive Into Culture during a demonstration with master craftsmen. You’ll have the chance to kiss the Blarney Stone, before arriving later in Killarney. (B) Hotel: Hotel Killarney/Innisfallen
DAY 8 | A DAY ON THE RING OF KERRY
Ireland’s enduring natural beauty is our welcome companion today as we circle the enchanting Ring of Kerry, whose landscapes have inspired writers, poets and artists for centuries. (B,D)
DAY 9 | OFF TO LIMERICK, THE MAJESTIC CLIFFS OF MOHER & GALWAY
We stop in Limerick to view St. Mary’s Cathedral, the Treaty Stone and King John’s Castle. Next up is a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience at the Cliffs of Moher, then on to Galway. (B)
Hotel: Connacht
DAY 10 | VENTURE INTO COUNTY DONEGAL
This morning, admire Galway Cathedral and stroll through Eyre Square. Later, enjoy an orientation in Sligo on your way to Donegal to see its 15th-century castle. (B,D) Hotel: Central
DAY 11 | EXPLORE DERRY~LONDONDERRY, THE GIANT’S CAUSEWAY & BELFAST
We join a Local Specialist in Derry~Londonderry for a walk atop the city walls, then visit the Giant’s Causeway for a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience that will help to conserve this iconic natural landmark. We proceed to Belfast where we’ll enjoy an orientation tour. (B)
Hotel: Radisson Blu/Stormont
DAY 12 | ON THE ROAD TO DUBLIN
A Local Specialist ‘Cabbie’ takes us on a journey through the recent history of Belfast in their taxi. In Dublin, we join a Local Specialist to see St. Patrick’s Cathedral and other iconic sights.
(B) Hotel: Mespil/Clayton Cardiff Lane
Edinburgh Castle
On this grand adventure filled with historical highlights, there’s an opportunity to explore Edinburgh’s most famous fortress. Marvel at the spectacular views over the city as you explore ancient parapets, walls and chambers that have hidden royalty, soldiers, pirates and prisoners!
VACATION PLANNER
23 DAYS | 30 MEALS
START: London END: London CODE: BIGT
2023 Departures Mar 30 ✚ Apr 06 ✚ ,13,20,27 May 04,11,18,25 Jun 01,08,15,22,29 Jul 06,13,13,20 ● ,21● ,27● ,28 ● Aug 03 ●◆ ,04 ● ,10◆ ,17●◆ ,24 ●◆ ,31 Sep 07,14,21,28
● Edinburgh Tattoo 4-26 August 2023: We’ve included Tattoo tickets when you’re in Edinburgh during these dates. See the
Edinburgh Military Tattoo panel on page 102 for further details. ◆ Reversed Itinerary: The departure marked will operate in reverse and may stay in alternative hotels to those listed.
All sightseeing and inclusions will remain as described. ✚ Special Rate Solo Rooming: These departures includes a 20–100% discount on our standard single supplement.
WANT TO TRAVEL IN 2024?
If you’re looking even further ahead, this trip departs every Thursday from April to October 2024. Visit our website for dates and prices.
The Mall, London
DAY 13 | SEE THE SIGHTS OF DUBLIN
Dive Into Culture and gain entry to the Guinness Storehouse before general admission, allowing you to get fully acquainted with the famous brew. The rest of the day is free. (B)
DAY 14 | FERRY ACROSS TO HISTORIC CHESTER & LIVERPOOL
Cross the Irish Sea to Wales. Continue to the ancient town of Chester, where your orientation tour will take you past its Roman walls and famous half-timbered Tudor Rows. Later, we head to the haunt of the ‘Fab Four’, edgy Liverpool, where we’ll spend the night. (B) Hotel: Mercure Liverpool Atlantic Tower/Jurys Inn Liverpool
DAY 15 | CONTINUE TO THE BEAUTIFUL LAKE DISTRICT
Heading north to the idyllic Lake District, we see Lake Windermere and admire its spectacular scenery. (B,D) Hotel: North Lakes/Castle Green
DAY 16 | JOURNEY NORTH TO GLASGOW
Stop in the runaway wedding capital of Gretna Green before arriving in Glasgow. Dive Into Culture at the Falkirk Wheel and experience the world’s only rotating boat elevator. (B) Hotel: Hilton Garden Inn City Centre
DAY 17 | OVER THE SEA TO SKYE
Journey past the site of the tragic 1692 massacre at Glencoe and see Britain’s highest mountain – Ben Nevis. View Eilean Donan Castle before traveling to the Isle of Skye. (B,D) Hotel: Dunollie/Kings Arms Please Note: Hotels on the Isle of Skye are generally simpler establishments typical of the region and may be substituted with accommodations on the mainland. All sightseeing will remain as per the itinerary.
DAY 18 | THE SIGHTS OF LOCH NESS & CULLODEN IN THE SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS
Travel through the scenic Scottish Highlands via Glen Shiel and along the banks of Loch Ness. View the site of the bloody Battle of Culloden. (B,D) Hotel: Highlander Please Note: Hotels in the Scottish Highlands are generally simpler establishments typical of the region.
DAY 19 | ONWARDS TO EDINBURGH
Stop in Pitlochry before traveling to St Andrews and then continuing to Edinburgh. Tickets to see the spectacular Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo are included on departures that coincide with performance dates. (B) Hotel: Holiday Inn Edinburgh
DAY 20 | EXPLORE ELEGANT EDINBURGH
Join a Local Specialist for a sightseeing tour that includes a visit to Edinburgh Castle, perched atop Castle Rock. See the Royal Mile, the Palace of Holyroodhouse and the new Scottish Parliament building. (B)
DAY 21 | UNCOVER YORK’S TREASURES
Visit the medieval market town of Alnwick before stopping in York for an orientation walk along the Shambles to York Minster. This evening we Connect With Locals over dinner at a Be My Guest experience in Yorkshire. (B,BMG) Hotel: Novotel York Centre
DAY 22 | JOURNEY TO STRATFORD-UPON-AVON & ON TO LONDON
Travel to Stratford-upon-Avon to view Anne Hathaway’s thatched cottage and visit Shakespeare’s Birthplace and Visitor Centre before returning to London this afternoon.
