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CIE Tours
OFFER ID 1499761
Travel back in time with us
This fast-paced Scotland and Ireland tour focuses on their rich history, with plenty of castle tours and museums to help bring the past to life. It's the perfect trip for those interested in exploring Scottish and Irish heritage.
Trip Highlights:
• Edinburgh Castle
• Cliffs of Moher
• Isle of Skye
• Glenveagh Castle
• Giant’s Causeway
• Crosskeys Inn Irish Night – CIE Tours Exclusive
• Stirling Castle
• Titanic Belfast
• Arigna Mining Experience
Hotels:
• Dalmahoy Hotel and Country Club
• Columba Hotel
• Muthu Newton Hotel
• DoubleTree by Hilton Dunblane Hydro
• Europa Hotel
• Station House Hotel - Letterkenny
• Kilronan Castle
• Temple Gate Hotel
10 nights from $3,645 per person
Special Promotion: Save 15% on Last-Minute Departures For Travel October 13, 2024 - January 20, 2025
Valid for new bookings deposited now – December 2024 for travel from October 13, 2024 - January 20, 2025. Please confirm with your travel advisor which trips are applicable for discount.
*Promotion may not be combinable with any other offers, promotions, or discounts, and is subject to availability and airline booking guidelines. Other restrictions may apply.
CIE Tours: 2024 - 11 Day The Scots Irish Tour
Day 1 Edinburgh | Scotch Whisky Experience*
Your tour departs from your hotel at 2:00 PM. Head out to The Scotch Whisky Experience on the famed Royal Mile. Learn about the art and aromas of whisky production, taste a dram of single malt or blended whisky, and view the world’s largest collection of Scotch whisky. For dinner you’ll hear colorful tales of Scottish history and culture while tasting a range of flavorful whiskies paired with local dishes. (August 4 – 20 departures will visit the Scotch Whisky Experience but will dine independently.) (D*)
Day 2 Edinburgh Panoramic Tour | Edinburgh Castle | Independent Sightseeing
See the highlights of central Edinburgh including the bustling Princes Street and the 200-year-old Georgian “New Town.” Walk along part of the Royal Mile and visit Edinburgh Castle to see the Scottish Crown Jewels. The remainder of the day is free to relax or explore. Dine independently this evening. (The August 4 – 20 departures attend the spectacular Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo on the Castle Esplanade.) (B)
Day 3 Chocolate Tasting | Blair Castle & Highlands
Travel through the scenic countryside of Perthshire to visit Iain Burnett Highland Chocolatier for a tasting of award-winning chocolates with an expert chocolatier. All the chocolates are made on-site with sustainable ingredients, including local heather honey and berries, and fresh cream from local herds of Scottish Friesians. In Pitlochry, spend free time exploring and have lunch independently. Next, visit Blair Castle; this citadel, with its romantic turrets and towers, dates back to the 13th century. Continue through majestic Highland scenery to your hotel in Nairn (Tuesday and some Sunday departures) or Inverness (remaining Sunday departures). (B, D)
Day 4 Loch Ness | Isle of Skye | Armadale Castle
Travel alongside Loch Ness, passing the picturesque Eilean Donan Castle. Cross to the Isle of Skye by bridge and visit Armadale Castle, returning by ferry. Take the “Road to the Isles” past lochs, lush woodlands, and heather-covered moors of the majestic Highlands, stopping for photos around scenic Glencoe. Continue through The Trossachs to your hotel in Dunblane. (B, D)
Day 5 Stirling Castle | Ferry to Belfast
Tour Stirling Castle, perched on volcanic rock above the town, and explore the richness of this 16th-century palace that was once home to Mary Queen of Scots. Drive on through southwestern Scotland to Cairnryan and board the ferry to Belfast, where you’ll dine in your hotel this evening. (B, D)
Day 6 Ards Peninsula, Titanic Belfast | Crosskeys Inn
Discover the Ulster-Scots history and heritage of the scenic Ards Peninsula on a drive with a local guide. This area was where Scottish colonizers landed in the 1600s; some of their descendants would move to America and become known as the “Scots-Irish”. Then visit Titanic Belfast to delve into the history of the doomed ocean liner. Spend time exploring Belfast as you wish in the afternoon. Visit Crosskeys Inn for dinner and entertainment in a CIE Tours Exclusive. (B, D)
Day 7 Nine Glens of Antrim | Giant’s Causeway | Derry Walking Tour
Enjoy ocean and mountain scenery as you travel the Nine Glens of Antrim. Discover the Giant’s Causeway, enormous hexagonal columns rising out of the sea, and pause for photos at the Dunluce Castle ruins. Head to Derry for a walking tour with a local guide to see how this city, with its painful history, has been transformed into a thriving cultural hub. Proceed on to your hotel in Letterkenny. (B, D)
Day 8 Glenveagh National Park | Donegal | Belleek Pottery | Kilronan Castle
Visit Glenveagh National Park where Captain Adair built Glenveagh Castle in 1870. Enjoy a guided tour and stroll the extensive gardens. Continue to Donegal town for a visit to CIE Tours preferred shopping partner Triona Design and free time to explore. Next, watch skilled craftspeople create delicate ceramic pieces at Belleek Pottery. Travel to luxurious Kilronan Castle with time to relax before dinner in the castle’s fine restaurant. (B, D)
Day 9 Arigna Mining | Lough Key Forest
Visit the Arigna Mining Experience to discover local history and life as a coal miner in the Arigna Valley. Visit Lough Key Forest Park to explore how humans have shaped the landscape on this old estate over thousands of years. Walk through tunnels used by servants in the 19th century, see the sunken garden, and then walk along with the Tree Canopy Bridge for panoramic views of nature and the shimmering lake. Return to the charming village of Ballyfarnon and relax in your castle hotel before dinner. (B, D)
Day 10 Galway Walking Tour | Cliffs of Moher | Medieval Castle Banquet
In Galway, a local guide will take you on a walking tour through the narrow streets to see the medieval city walls and Lynch’s Castle. Travel through the Burren and see its limestone hills, often blooming with a vast array of wildflowers. Visit the Cliffs of Moher, soaring high above the Atlantic. This evening, enjoy a medieval-style banquet at a castle. (B, D)
Day 11 Tour ends in Shannon
11-day tour ends in Shannon. (B) B: Breakfast; L: Lunch; D: Dinner *Meal counts vary on Tattoo departures, as the Scottish Evening is replaced with the Tattoo and an independent dinner. >
Belfast: Cultural Belfast - 8 hours
Belfast may be a small city, but it has a wealth of culture and excitement on offer for you to discover! Firstly, visit the purpose-built iconic ‘Titanic Belfast’. With over nine galleries, the Titanic story is brought to life for you with exhibitions, rides, full-scale reconstructions and lots
of interactive fun.
After a hearty Irish lunch (payable locally) head into Belfast city where your guide unravels stories related to “the troubles” of Northern Ireland. You cannot miss the murals across Belfast that offer a fascinating history in pictures. Although huge strides have been made in the fight to combat sectarianism in the city, the marks of the past can still be witnessed across the city, adorning the sides of buildings and walls. A tour of Belfast wouldn’t be complete without enjoying a pint of Guinness at the famous Crown Bar in the city centre. This 19th-century bar is an experience that is unique to Northern Ireland. You are privately transferred back to board your cruise after your tour.
Highlights:
Belfast: Highlights of Belfast - 6 hours
Today you are met by your expert local guide for a sightseeing in Belfast and the surrounding area. Spend the morning on a panoramic tour of the city centre, where you see the impressive City Hall in Donegall Square, St. Anne’s Cathedral and the buildings of Queen’s University. During this tour, your guide talks to you about the sectarian divisions that have been so prominent in Belfast in recent years. You also visit the Titanic Quarter, so-called as it was here that the ill-fated liner was being constructed a century ago. Your guide shows you where the ship was constructed and the Thomson Dock where it had its final fit-out.
Highlights:
Belfast - Tour of Antrim Coast - Full Day Tour
Inverness: The Scottish Highlands - 8 hours
As you disembark your cruise you are welcomed to the Scottish Highlands by your local driver-guide, who is at your disposal for up to 8 hours today as you explore the lochs and mountains around Inverness.
Heading south discover Loch Ness, the famous loch long associated with ‘Nessie’, the mythical monster said to inhabit the depths. Try looking out for her as you wander through the ruins of Urquhart Castle, that dominate the central part of the loch. Loch Ness is drained in the north by the River Ness and the road follows this river to Inverness, the small but charming city considered the capital of the Highlands. One of the most important sites in Scotland’s history is located near Inverness – the battlefield of Culloden Moor, where Bonnie Prince Charlie was defeated in 1746 by government troops to mark the end of his attempt to regain the throne for the Stewart family. Time permitting, explore the battle fields and discover the events surrounding this battle that played such a pivotal role in the country’s history. After your tour, return to your cruise ship.
Highlights:
Edinburgh: Royal Edinburgh - 8 hours
Edinburgh: Introducing Edinburgh - 4 hours
The capital city of Scotland is undoubtedly one of the most dramatically-situated cities in Europe; this setting has had a profound effect on its historical development and today your expert local guide unravels these themes on a half-day sightseeing tour. The focal point of the city is Edinburgh Castle, a royal fortress that symbolises the Scottish nation and is home to the 'Honours of Scotland', the oldest set of Crown Jewels in the British Isles. From the impressive military installations there are stunning views of the city. The Royal Mile stretches down on from castle through the 'Old Town' of Edinburgh, at the heart of which is St. Giles Cathedral. This fascinating Gothic church is topped by a fine medieval spire in the shape of a crown. At the foot of the Royal Mile is Holyrood Palace, the Queen's Official Residence in Scotland*. The palace's neighbour is the much more recent Scottish Parliament Building; its striking contemporary designs are in eye-catching contrast to the classical style of the palace.
*Tour of palace staterooms is included if no member of the Royal Family is present at time of visit
Highlights:
All fares are quoted in US Dollars.
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