Grand Tour Britain & Ireland
 
24 Days
London, Salisbury, Stonehenge, Plymouth, Cornwall, Bath, Cardiff, Waterford, Cork, Killarney, Ring of Kerry, Galway, Sligo, Northern Ireland, Dublin, Chester, Lake District, Glasgow, Isle of Skye, Scottish Highlands, Edinburgh, York, Coventry, Stratford

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Day 1  Depart USA - Overnight flight to London.

Day 2  Arrive London (2nights) - After checking into your Trafalgar hotel, the rest of the day is at leisure.

Day 3  London sightseeing - Many major sights are included on today's morning sightseeing tour. (Continental breakfast)

Day 4  London - Plymouth (2nights) - Greetings as we drive across Salisbury Plain, to view the Cathedral at Salisbury, before visiting ancient Stonehenge. Next on to Plymouth, port of departure for the Pilgrim Fathers. Tonight, enjoy a welcome drink with our Tour Director. (Continental breakfast/ Dinner)

Day 5  Cornish Excursion - Today we enjoy stunning coastal views on a scenic drive to Penzance to view St. Michael's Mount before returning via the fishing village of St. Ives back to Plymouth. (Full breakfast)

Day 6  Plymouth - Cardiff - We head to King Arthur's Glastonbury to see the Abbey ruins. Then on through Wells with its majestic Cathedral to historic Bath where orientation includes a visit to the Roman Baths. Later, across the Severn Bridge into Wales and its capital, Cardiff for the night. This evening, why not join in at a medieval banquet at Cardiff's splendid castle? (Full breakfast)

Day 7  Cardiff - Waterford - Morning orientation of Cardiff gives us a chance to explore the Castle. Then later, we drive through South Wales to the port of Pembroke, where we board our ferry and sail to Rosslare in Ireland. We pass Wexford before arriving in Waterford. (Full breakfast/ Dinner)

Day 8  Waterford - Killarney (2nights) - This morning we stop at the renowned Waterford Crystal showrooms. Then a scenic drive via Dungarvan and Youghal brings us to Cork where we view the St. Anne's Shandon Church. Next a visit to Blarney Castle gives you the chance to acquire the 'gift of the gab' en route to Killarney for two nights. (Full breakfast/ Dinner)

Day 9  Ring of Kerry Excursion - Today's highlight is our drive around the 'Ring of Kerry'. Plunging cliffs, lush lakeland, granite mountains, and sandy beaches all forming part of this photgraphers' delight. We also see Dingle Bay, the South Kerry Mountains and Ladies View before we head back to Killarney. (Full breakfast)

Day 10  Killarney - Galway Bay - Today via lovely Adare with its thatched cottages to Limerick. Here orientation shows us King John's Castle, St. Mary's Cathedral and the treaty stone. Next we drive via the spectacular Cliffs of Moher, towering above the Atlantic on our way to our hotel on Galway Bay. (Full breakfast/ Dinner)

Day 11  Galway Bay - Sligo - This morning after breakfast we enjoy an orientation drive in Galway city, then into the lakes and mountains of Connemara stopping first to view the Abbey at Kylemore. We continue through Yeats' Country to Sligo. (Full breakfast/ Dinner)

Day 12  Sligo - Belfast - Today we drive through County Donegal before crossing the border into Northern Ireland and on to Londonderry. On arrival our sightseeing highlights the city walls, some of the best preserved in Europe. Next we visit the Giant's Causeway, huge basalt columns rising from the sea. Then along the Antrim Coast Road through Ballycastle and Glenarm to Belfast. (Full breakfast/ Dinner)

Day 13  Belfast - Dublin (2nights) Sightseeing - this morning shows us the highlights of Northern Ireland's capital including the City Hall, Queen's University and Stormont. Then we drive past Newry and Dundalk, crossing the River Boyne at Drogheda and on to Dublin's 'fair city'. (Full breakfast)

Day 14  Dublin sightseeing - Morning sightseeing views Trinity College, Phoenix Park, St. Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin Castle and more. Then there's time on your own to perhaps shop in O'Connell or Henry Streets where Molly Malone sold cockles and mussels. (Full breakfast)

Day 15  Dublin - Manchester - We cross the Irish Sea to Holyhead on Anglesey island. We stop to view Conwy Castle before continuing on toward the magnificent mountain passes of Snowdonia on our way through North Wales into England. Here we stop in Roman Chester where we admire its Tudor architecture and galleried 'Rows'. Finally, on to our hotel in Bolton. (Full breakfast/ Dinner)

Day 16  Manchester - Lake District - Today we head north to the beautiful scenery of the English Lake District, inspiration for Wordsworth's poetry. Then on to our hotel in Grasmere. (Full breakfast/ Dinner)

Day 17  Lake District - Glasgow - Today over the border into Scotland, stopping at Gretna Green, renowned for allowing eloping couples to marry against their parents' wishes. On to Glasgow where we enjoy an orientation tour, before free time. Tonight, why not join your Tour Director for a traditional Burn's night? (Full breakfast)

Day 18  Glasgow – Isle of Skye - Today we drive along the banks of Loch Lomond to Glencoe. Then, past Fort William, in the shadow of Ben Nevis. More spectacular scenery as we travel the famous Road to the Isles for our ferry from Mallaig 'over the sea to Skye'and our hotel. (Full breakfast/ Dinner)

Day 19  Isle of Skye – Scottish Highlands - Time this morning to explore the island before we return to the mainland through Glen Shiel and along the banks of Loch Ness to Culloden, site of the famous battle. Finally, we arrive at our hotel situated in the Scottish Highlands. (Full breakfast/ Dinner)

Day 20  Scottish Highlands - Edinburgh (2nights) We drive past Blair Atholl to Pitlochry and on through Perth to the famous golf course at St. Andrews. Later, we reach Edinburgh, Scotland's elegant capital, over the splendid Forth Bridge. During the Festival, we include tickets to the spectacular Edinburgh Tattoo. (Full breakfast)

Day 21  Edinburgh sightseeing - Our morning sightseeing visits the Castle and views Holyrood House. At leisure, why not shop for tartans and stroll along the Royal Mile? Later, perhaps enjoy an optional night out with a haggis dinner, bagpipes and Scottish dancing. (Full breakfast)

Day 22  Edinburgh - York - Today we travel through the Scottish Borderlands past ruined Jedburgh Abbey and back into England stopping for a photo at Hadrian's Wall. On to York where orientation takes us to view the gothic Minster and for a walk through the 'Shambles'. Enjoy some free time before dinner at our hotel. (Full breakfast/ Dinner)

Day 23  York - Stratford-upon-Avon - London - We drive through the Midlands to Coventry to see its two Cathedrals. Then on past Anne Hathaway's cottage into Stratford-upon-Avon for a visit to the house where Shakespeare was born. Later , we drive through the scenic Cotswolds, dotted with the golden sandstone of thatched cottages en route back to London. (Full breakfast)

Day 24  London - USA - Time to bid farewell on our return flight to America. (Continental breakfast)