Best of Ireland & Scotland - Small Group

Departures & Pricing

Cabin grades, balcony upgrades and pre-cruise hotel options are quoted on enquiry — call 1300 414 198.

Itinerary

1. 1

   Welcome to Dublin

   Relax at your hotel before joining your Travel Director for a warm and friendly dinner with your small group, an opportunity to get to know your fellow travellers.

2. 2

   In Dublin’s Fair City

   Join your Travel Director for an orientation of Dublin, following the River Liffey past the Custom House, a defining building of the city’s late-18th-century commercial expansion. Continue through the city streets to pass St Patrick’s Cathedral, built on a site long linked with Ireland’s patron saint and rebuilt in stone from the 13th century. Then enjoy a visit to Trinity College Library, home to the 9th-century Book of Kells - an illuminated manuscript created by Celtic monks. The rest of the day is at leisure; perhaps explore the lanes around Temple Bar, visit one of the capital’s museums or galleries or spend longer around Grafton Street and its surrounding squares.

3. 3

   Kildare and Cork

   Get a rare look behind the scenes at the Irish National Stud, where you’ll hear how world-class racehorses are bred and trained. Then wander the Japanese Gardens, created by Tassa and Minoru Eida, whose design traces the journey of life through quiet paths and sculpted planting. Afterwards, you’ll travel on to Cork, a lively city shaped by the River Lee. Travel along Grand Parade to see City Hall, the Opera House and the mix of architecture that tells Cork’s story in a single sweep.

4. 4

   Blarney Castle and Killarney

   Visit Blarney Castle, built in the 15th century by the McCarthy dynasty, with the Blarney Stone set into the battlements high above the ground below. Long tied to the ‘gift of the gab’, it remains one of Ireland’s most enduring legends. Later, continue to Killarney for a short orientation before taking a traditional horse-drawn jaunting car ride, a local form of transport that has been part of life here since the 19th century.

5. 5

   Ring of Kerry

   In the morning, enjoy a trip around the Ring of Kerry, one of the world’s most scenic journeys. See towering cliffs, lush lakelands, remote villages, Ireland’s highest mountain range and the three peaceful Lakes of Killarney. Spend your evening in Killarney at leisure.

6. 6

   The Cliffs of Moher

   Start the morning with a short ferry ride across the Shannon Estuary, giving you wide views of the Clare coastline as you travel towards the Cliffs of Moher. At the visitor centre, you’ll stand before the 214-metre cliffs and feel the scale of the Atlantic as it hits the rock below. Continue to your hotel along the Wild Atlantic Way, then join your Travel Director in Galway for a walk through the city’s layered history — the Lynch Memorial, St Nicholas’ Church, the Spanish Arch and lively Eyre Square, dedicated to the late U.S. President, John F. Kennedy.

7. 7

   Glorious Galway to Derry/Londonderry

   Leave the City of Tribes behind and travel through Connemara, taking in the region’s striking landscapes as you continue north. Stop in Sligo for an orientation, where you’ll get a feel for this historic town and its literary links to W.B. Yeats, before enjoying free time to explore or find a spot for lunch. Later, cross into Northern Ireland and continue to Londonderry, where you’ll check into your hotel. This evening, savour local flavours over dinner.

8. 8

   Walk in the Giant’s Steps

   Start your day with a walking tour with Ronan, one of the region’s leading storytellers. Follow the original 17th-century city walls, complete with cannons, and make your way down Shipquay Street, lined with Georgian townhouses. Pause outside the red sandstone Guildhall, a prominent example of neo-Gothic architecture. Later, visit the UNESCO-listed Giant’s Causeway, where over 40,000 basalt columns were formed by ancient volcanic activity. Continue along the scenic Antrim Coast to your hotel overlooking Ballygally Bay.

9. 9

   Irish Sea by ferry to Glasgow

   Depart Ballygally this morning and cross the Irish Sea by ferry to reach Scotland. This route has long connected the islands of Ireland and Britain, with centuries of migration, trade and cultural exchange shaping both shores. On a clear day, spot Ailsa Craig rising from the sea—a striking volcanic plug that has supplied granite for curling stones worldwide since the 19th century. After disembarking, stop at Craufurdland Castle to meet the 29th Laird and Lady for a tour of their home, and enjoy a traditional afternoon tea featuring classic British fare. Arrive in Scotland and continue to Glasgow, a city shaped by its 19th-century shipyards and the clean, modern lines of Charles Rennie Mackintosh.

10. 10

    Glencoe and Loch Ness

    Travel the Bonnie Banks of Loch Lomond before the landscape tightens into the dramatic pass of Glencoe, a place remembered for the story of the clans who lived — and fell — here. You’ll stop at the Commando Memorial for a wide view of Ben Nevis, Britain’s highest peak, then continue through the Great Glen to Loch Ness. A cruise on the loch lets you take in its quiet stretches, scattered ruins and the folklore that keeps Nessie’s legend alive.

11. 11

    A Highlands Experience

    Start the morning with a look around Inverness before heading to Culloden Moor, where the Visitor Centre brings the final Jacobite battle to life through voices, maps and personal stories. Then enjoy a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience at Uile-bheist, a forward-thinking distillery reinventing age-old craft. You’ll taste a ‘wee dram’, hear tales of whisky smugglers and learn how their sustainable approach shapes each single malt and beer. It’s a chance to explore tradition while supporting a new chapter in Highland distilling.

12. 12

    St. Andrews and Edinburgh

    Travel through the Grampian Mountains, passing Blair Castle before crossing the River Tay into St Andrews. As you arrive, you’ll spot the Old Course — a landmark for golfers since the 1400s. Enjoy free time to explore the town your way. Wander through St Andrews University, known for the love story of Prince William and Kate Middleton, or follow the path to West Sands Beach, where Chariots of Fire filmed its iconic opening scene. Continue across the Forth Road Bridge into Edinburgh. On select departures, you can attend the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo this evening.

13. 13

    Scotland’s Capital of Culture

    Join a Local Expert to explore Edinburgh’s key sights, traveling along Princes Street to the Scott Monument and through the Georgian streets of the New Town. In the Old Town, see the Palace of Holyroodhouse before following the Royal Mile to Edinburgh Castle, home to Mons Meg and Scotland’s Crown Jewels. Then discover more of Scotland's heritage by creating an Islander Harris Tweed® handbag in a hands-on workshop. The afternoon is at leisure for independent exploration or shopping before dinner with your group, featuring modern Scottish flavours paired with wine.

14. 14

    Farewell Edinburgh

    Your 14 days in Ireland and Scotland come to an end after breakfast with transfers arriving at Edinburgh airport.

Accommodation

Book this rail journey

Send us an enquiry and a consultant will be in touch, or call 1300 414 198 for personal help choosing a departure.

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