Compare Scottish Castles & Manor Houses by Great Value Vacations vs Taste of Scotland & Ireland by Travel for All
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| Trip |
4 | Great
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5 | Excellent
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| Duration | 8 days | 10 days |
| Price From | $ 2,249 | $ 4,423 |
| Price Per Day | $ 281 | $ 442 |
| Highlights |
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| Trip Style | Self-guided tour | Self-guided tour |
| Lodging Level | Standard | Premium |
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| Flights & Transport | NA | Ground transport included |
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| Meals Included | N/A | N/A |
| Description |
Arrive in Edinburgh and pick up the rental car that will be yours for the duration of your trip. Begin your Scottish tour in the capital city and see your first castle - Edinburgh Castle. From there, drive to three diverse places: Aberdeen, Inverness, and Argyll. Visit the lake where the fabled Loch Ness monster lives and explore Scottish castles that sit atop cliffs overlooking lochs and ocean. Stroll through Aberdeen's glittering city (buildings were built with locally quarried grey granite, which can sparkle like silver) and buy an argyle sweater in its birthplace of Argyll. For the duration of your trip, use the Scottish Heritage Pass which gives you access to over 120 of Scotland’s top visitor attractions. |
A taste of Scotland & Ireland will loop you from one beautiful country to another. You'll enjoy 4* accommodations and transportation with a private driver! |
Day 1 Welcome to Edinburgh!
After collecting your baggage, pick up your rental car and let your adventure begin! Your visit starts in Edinburgh; on the drive from the airport to your hotel, see the elegant Charlotte Square and the tree-lined crescents of the 18th century Georgian New Town – both fine architectural examples of the period. Leave your car at the hotel and visit Princes Street – the city’s main thoroughfare with many shops and peaceful gardens. Travel through the Old Town, steeped in history with its cobbled streets. High Street was the center of all activity in the city in centuries gone by. Pass St. Giles Cathedral, the City Chambers and John Knox House as you wander along the Royal Mile, which extends from Edinburgh Castle to the Palace of Holyrood House. Due to seasonality, the Heritage Pass is provided to those traveling between April and October. The Explorer Pass is provided November through March. Both passes are valid for 7 days.
Day 2 Edinburgh - Perth - Royal Deeside
Depart Edinburgh and cross the Forth Estuary via the impressive suspension bridge on M90 to Perth. The city of Perth is the former capital of Scotland and is situated at the head of the River Tay - famous for its salmon. Near Perth is Scone Palace, the private home of the Earl and Countess of Mansfield. The Palace has been a private home for over 400 years. As the former crowning place of Scottish Kings, the Palace boasts a magnificent collection of antiques - in particular ivories, porcelain and tapestries. Continue on the A93 north via Blairgowrie, the Devil's Elbow and Spittal of Glenshee to Braemar. See Crathie Church, where the Royal Family attends Sunday service when vacationing at nearby Balmoral Castle. An alternate route may be used on this day, which will stop for a visit in St. Andrews.
Day 3 Royal Deeside - Inverness
Traveling through the Cairngorm Mountains you will leave the area on the A941 to Dufftown and the Spey Valley. Many of the famous malt whiskeys are produced in this region - Cardhu, Glenlivet, Glenfiddich, and Tamdhu to name but a few. Later in the day, you will reach Elgin, an elegant city with the ruins of a magnificent medieval cathedral. Elgin is also well known for its cashmere, with its visitor center and restored old mills. Later in the day, you will reach Elgin, an elegant city with the ruins of a magnificent medieval cathedral (included in HP and EP). Elgin is also well known for its cashmere with its visitor center and restored old mills. In nearby Forres, you can stop to visit Brodie Castle (included in HP), before continuing to your overnight accommodation in the Inverness area.
Day 4 Inverness
Spend your day at leisure in the area - there are endless opportunities to explore! Do some sightseeing in the city of Inverness, the capital of the Highlands, which combines some rich and romantic history with the present. Travel further into the Highlands to Gairloch with its turquoise waters and sandy beaches along the west coast. Or, along the east coast to the stunning Dunrobin Castle. Special suggestion: Approximately 12 miles west of Inverness is the quiet village of Muir of Ord, near the western boundary of the Black Isle; in addition to the well-known Glen Ord Distillery it is home to Black Isle Brewing - a small, independent organic brewery producing some extraordinary beer - and offering daily tours Monday through Saturday year-round.
Day 5 Inverness - Loch Ness - Fort William - Argyll
From Inverness, follow the A82 south along Loch Ness, the most famous of all Scottish Lochs. It is approximately 800 feet deep and is famous for its monster, "Nessie." Loch Ness forms part of the Caledonian Canal which runs through the Great Glen. Continue via Invermoriston and to the next lochs in the canal - Loch Oich and Loch Lochy. You will arrive in Fort William situated at the foot of Ben Nevis, Britain's highest mountain at almost 4,500 feet. Continue the route along the coastal road A 828 into Argyll.
Day 6 Argyll & Surroundings
Today is free to discover this beautiful area. Perhaps pay a visit to Campbeltown, set on a deep bay sheltered by Davaar Island and the surrounding hills. Enjoy a guided tour and find out the secrets of whisky making in Kintyre at the Springbank Distillery, founded in 1828 by the Mitchell family - and still in their hands today. It retains the old distilling methods to make Longrow whisky, and welcomes visitors, provided you phone beforehand. Close by, Glenbarr Abbey is an 18th century Gothic mansion and visitor center, offering a fascinating glimpse of family life in years gone by. The Heritage Center is a treasure-trove of interesting information, artifacts and exhibits, with a comfortable tea room too. At the mouth of Campbeltown Loch is Davaar Island, reached by foot at low tide, with its cave paintings depicting the crucifixion. Far from ancient, they were painted in 1887 by Archibald MacKinnon, inspired by a dream.
Day 7 Argyll - Stirling - Edinburgh
You have the choice this morning to take the A85 or A83 towards Crianlarich. From here you can take a small detour to Killin to see the Falls of Dochart, the dramatic waterfalls rushing through the center of the picturesque village. Drive along Loch Lubnaig through the beautiful Strathyre Forest towards the charming market town of Callander where you may wish to stop. The city of Stirling is also worth a visit. The historic Royal Burgh stands on a bend on the River Forth and is known as the -Gateway to the Highlands' due to its strategic position. The imposing castle towers above the town on a 250 foot rock overlooking the nearby battlefield of Bannockburn. Around the town are various monuments commemorating famous Scottish patriots such as Robert the Bruce and William Wallace.
Day 8 Depart Scotland
It's time to bid Scotland farewell today; following breakfast (or depending on the time of your return flight), make your way back to the airport to return your rental car and begin your journey home.
Day 1: Arrive in Glasgow
Meet with your driver and transfer to the city, panoramic tour of Glasgow, Overnight Glasgow
Day 2: Scenic Scotland
Meet with your driver, scenic drive through Loch Lomond, Glencoe, followed by a Jacobite Loch Ness Cruise, Overnight Nairn.
Day 3: Edinburgh
Visit Blair Atholl Distillery, Pitlochry followed by a transfer to Edinburgh, private transfer to Scottish Evening, Overnight Edinburgh.
Day 4: Edinburgh
Day of sightseeing at leisure, visit Edinburgh Castle, Overnight Edinburgh.
Day 5: Dublin
Transfer to Cairn and board a ferry to Belfast, visit to Titanic Museum followed by a transfer to Dublin, Overnight Dublin.
Day 6: Dublin
Day at leisure followed by an evening canal cruise dinner, Overnight Dublin.
Day 7: Killarney
Visit Rock of Cashel, Blarney Castle, Overnight Killarney.
Day 8: Killarney
Day of sightseeing around Ring of Kerry, Overnight Killarney.
Day 9: Bunratty
Visit Cliffs of Moher followed by a Medieval castle banquet, Overnight Bunratty.
Day 10: Departure
Private transfer to Shannon Airport.
