Final Information - Trufflepig - Highlights of Scotland and Ireland

Day 1 - Saturday 21^st September - Welcome to Scotland

Private transfer drivers will collect you from the airport as your flights and transfer you to your boutique hotel in the heart of the city.  Once everyone has arrived and you have freshened up, you can either just relax at the hotel for the evening or head out into the city to sample some of the wonderful delicacies.

Please note that the rooms are not guaranteed to be ready until 1500.  The hotel can store your luggage and you are welcome to have some breakfast in their dining room (served until 10:20am) on arrival should you wish – please pay locally for this.

Overnight: Edinburgh | The Bonham
Room Type: 2 x Deluxe King Rooms
Meals Included: None

Day 2 - Sunday 22^nd September - Exploring the Old Town and Edinburgh Castle

Your expert city guide will meet you in the lobby of your hotel this morning and you will set out to explore this ancient city.  Learn the difference between the Old and New Towns, see the iconic sites that sit next to the hidden gems that are only known to the locals and hear the stories about how Edinburgh was envisioned as the “Athens of the North” back in the 19th Century.

You’ll end the morning at Edinburgh castle which stands high above the city as a protector to this ancient city.  Spend time exploring this incredible landmark with your guide, from the Scottish Crown Jewels to St Margarets Chapel and the Stone of Destiny. Your guide will leave you here so you can spend as much or as little time as you like here.

The rest of the day is yours to continue exploring or perhaps enjoy a coffee in Princes Street Gardens where the sounds of bagpipes may drift across the air.

Overnight: Edinburgh | The Bonham
Room Type: 2 x Deluxe King Rooms
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 3 - Monday 23^rd September - Rosslyn Chapel and the Royal Yacht Britannia

Your main guide who is also your driver will meet you in the lobby of your hotel this morning and you will head out of the city to visit one of the most remarkable landmarks in this part of Scotland, the enigma that is Rosslyn Chapel, made famous by The Da Vinci Code. Dan Brown called this chapel “the most mysterious and magical chapel on earth” and there are certainly lots of unanswered questions about this unique building. Originally founded in 1446, the chapel features intricate carvings and decorations which have prompted many different theories connected with the Knights Templar and the Freemasons amongst others.

This afternoon, you’ll head to Leith where you’ll enjoy a fascinating afternoon exploring the floating palace that is permanently moored here after her decommission in 1997.  This was the only one of the late Queen’s homes that she furnished herself so you can see why this was her favourite place to be as the Royal Family travelled the world.

Overnight: Edinburgh | The Bonham
Room Type: 2 x Deluxe King Rooms
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 4 - Tuesday 24^th September - Arthurs Seat and continued explorations

After a busy few days you can have a slightly more lesiurely start this morning should you wish before meeting up with your guide and enjoying a hike up Arthurs Seat – an extinct volcano which was described by Robert Louis Stevenson as “a hill for magnitude, a mountain in virtue of its bold design”. Reach the summit and drink in the far reaching views across the sprawling city and across the water to the Kingdom of Fife as your guide points out the places of interest below.

When you are ready, head back down and enjoy lunch as a reward for your effort.  Sated and satisfied, you can spend the rest of the day exploring Dean Village, a haven of tranquility where the Water of Leith meanders through the streets on it’s way out to the Firth of Forth.  See the pretty houses and enjoy a walk along the river, that feels a world away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

Your guide will arrange a meeting time with you the night before.

Overnight: Edinburgh | The Bonham
Room Type: 2 x Deluxe King Rooms
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 5 - Wednesday 25^th September - To The West

After a hearty breakfast, it is time to head West and your base for the next 3 nights.  Leaving Edinburgh you will head towards Loch Lomond where you can stop off to enjoy a short hike into the glen with just the sound of birdsong for company.  Continuing on, the road winds through the epic scenery of Glencoe where the mountains rise up from the valley floor and eagles soar high in the sky above your head.  If time allows, you could enjoy a short hike here too, perhaps to where legend has it, the signal was given to start one of the bloodies battles in the country’s history.  Your final destination is the former home of Lord Strathcona where you will stay in a decadent 2 bedroom suite and enjoy a private dining experience in the comfort of your own room.

Your guide will arrange a meeting time with you the night before.

Overnight: Glencoe | Glencoe House
Room Type: 1 x Two Bedroom Suite
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 6 - Thursday 26^th September - Hiking in the Nevis Range

Ben Nevis – the jewel in the UK’s mountain crown.  Revered by people to be THE mountain to climb it is by no means an easy feat.  Setting out early, you will climb up through the dramatic landscape and alongside the lochs before reaching the top and celebrating with a warming drink.  Arriving back down from the summit in the late afternoon, settle down with a wee dram at a local walkers tavern to get lost in tales from days gone by with a local storyteller.  Let their words wash over you as you are transported to a place of magic, myths and legends while the fire crackles in the grate and the golden liquid warms your body.  The perfect end to an iconic day.

Your guide will arrange a meeting time with you the night before.

Overnight: Glencoe | Glencoe House
Room Type: 1 x Two Bedroom Suite
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 7 - Friday 27^th September - Over the Sea to Skye

After a leisurely breakfast, head west to the Isle of Skye along the famous Road to the Isles.  As the road meanders from mountains to the sea, keep your eyes peeled for a glimpse of the steam train thundering over the famous viaduct.  You’ll catch the late morning ferry across to Skye and once on the Misty Isle will head north to the pretty town of Portree with its iconic colourful harbour. Spend the afternoon browsing the shops or grabbing a coffee and watching the world go by after a busy for days before settling into your accommodation this evening and falling asleep to the sound of the sea.

Your guide will arrange a meeting time with you the night before.

Overnight: Isle of Skye | Cuillin Hills Hotel
Room Type: 1 x Premier Room with Sea View for Double Occupancy and 1 x Turret Deluxe Room for single occupnacy
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 8 - Saturday 28^th September - Exploring the Misty Isle

Spend the day exploring the incredible landscape of the island and the history that is woven into the very fabric of life here.  Heading west you will enjoy a hike out to Neist Point – one of the best places on the island to spot marine life such as whales, dolphins and porpoises.  If you’re lucky you may even see some Orca’s breaching the surface as the pods move through the waters.  Your guide will also know other hidden gems where you can see some of the local wildlife and perhaps even drop in on a local weaver on your way home and watch how they create beautiful fabrics with the use of pedal power!!

Your guide will arrange a meeting time with you the night before.

Overnight: Isle of Skye | Cuillin Hills Hotel
Room Type: 1 x Premier Room with Sea View for Double Occupancy and 1 x Turret Deluxe Room for single occupnacy
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 9 - Sunday 29^th September - Fly to Dublin

This morning, a private transfer will take you to Glasgow airport for your flight to Dublin where the next part of your adventure will start.

A private transfer will pick you up from the airport and whisk you into the city to your 5 star hotel in the city centre. You should arrive into the city just in time for dinner to get first-hand experience of the capital city’s ever-expanding foodie scene.

Overnight: Dublin | The Fitzwilliam
Room Type: 2x Signature Rooms (1 for single occupancy)
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 10 - Monday 30^th September - Explore Dublin

Dublin is yours to explore today, solo and at your own pace. First, however, we have arranged a private walking tour with a local guide through Dublin’s vibrant streets, with its mix of 1,000 years of architecture from the mediaeval to Georgian to modern. See the Georgian style Merrion Square, lush St. Stephen’s Green and Fitzwilliam Square, as well as O’Connell Street, the site of the ‘1916 Uprising’ that led to Ireland’s independence in 1922. Your guide is also a historian who will bring the city to life with colourful tales of life in the city in times gone by.

After lunch, we recommend taking a deeper dive into life in Ireland. Due to renovations, The Little Museum is closed, however, we are delighted to invite you to visit “The History Factory” where visitors have a host of exclusive, memorable experiences that celebrate the essence of Dublin’s history, hospitality and humour. Enjoy a backstage tour of our new History Factory and pop-up shop at 33, Pembroke Street, just a five-minute walk from the Little Museum (currently closed for renovations). The History Factory is where magic is made every day, seven days a week.

There is a cafe just next to the museum which is perfect for lunch, and after your visit you can enjoy the live music ever amplifying the alleys of Grafton Street and St. Stephens Green. Be sure to stop into STABLE, where we can arrange for the owners to give you an in-depth introduction to their fine traditional Irish knitwear.

Overnight: Dublin | The Fitzwilliam
Room Type: 2x Signature Rooms (1 for single occupancy)
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 11 - Tuesday 1^st October - Ballyfin and Sheep Farm

Leaving urban Dublin this morning, a private luxury transfer will collect you in the lobby of The Merrion to drive you into the Irish countryside. We recommend an early start to make it in time for lunch and avail of the full board stay we have arranged for you at your next destination, Ballyfin Demesne.

En route to Ballyfin, you will stop at a Palladian Manor house in the heart of west Wicklow where you will experience the thrill of seeing some resident sheepdogs in action as they demonstrate how they masterfully herd the sheep. Following your demo, enjoy a private guided tour of the Manor House, built in the mid-1700s to display the great art assembled by the 1st Earl of Milltown before continuing to Ballyfin.

Overnight: Ballyfin | Ballyfin Demesne
Room Type: 2x Deluxe King Rooms (1 for single occupancy)
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 12 - Wednesday 2^nd October - Onsite at Ballyfin Demesne

You are encouraged to relax and enjoy the grounds and surroundings at Ballyfin today with the onsite amenities available. Should you wish to have a more active day, you can try your hand at clay pigeon shooting or archery, or meet the local birds of prey in a falconry demonstration amid the beautiful estate grounds. The Vitality Pool and Sauna with treatment rooms offer you the chance to pamper yourself or perhaps an art and architectural tour of the house and grounds.

Please let us know if you would like us to book any experiences in for you, and we will be happy to do so.

Overnight: Ballyfin | Ballyfin Demesne
Room Type: 2x Deluxe King Rooms (1 for single occupancy)
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 13 - Thursday 3^rd October - Return to Dublin

Take your time this morning to enjoy a relaxing breakfast at Ballyfin – perhaps taking one more chance to wander the estate’s grounds –  before leaving the countryside to return to Dublin. You are booked into the 5-star Fitzwilliam Hotel again, and will have the day to continue exploring Dublin at your own pace.

Overnight: Dublin | The Fitzwilliam
Room Type: 2x Signature Rooms (1 for single occupancy)
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 14 - Friday 4^th October - Departure from Dublin

A private driver will take you directly to Dublin Airport this morning with plenty of time ahead of your departure flight home. We do hope your time in Ireland has been memorable and we once again have the opportunity to welcome to our shores.

Meals Included: Breakfast