Hiss & Weber Family Adventure

Day 1 - Thursday 17^th April - Welcome to Scotland

On arrival at the airport you will be met by private drivers who will transfer you to your city centre hotel where you will be met by your host guides. Depending on your arrival time you can choose to relax at the hotel or head out to start exploring this unique city.

Overnight: Edinburgh | The Balmoral Hotel
Room Type: 1 x Deluxe Room & 1 x interconnecting Executive Room (Twin) for each family (4 rooms in total)
Meals Included: None

Day 2 - Friday 18^th April - Exploring Edinburgh

This morning immerse yourselves in the winding cobbled streets of historic Old Town Edinburgh as you enjoy a private walking tour with your expert host guides. Discover the highlights of this unique capital city from the Palace of Holyroodhouse all the way up the ‘Royal Mile’ to the mighty ancient fortress which is Edinburgh Castle itself. Walk the ramparts atop castle rock and hear the tales of the One O’Clock gun and the stories of locals of times past.

After lunch you will head to 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.

Overnight: Edinburgh | The Balmoral Hotel
Room Type: 1 x Deluxe Room & 1 x interconnecting Executive Room (Twin) for each family (4 rooms in total)
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 3 - Saturday 19^th April - Transfer to Gleneagles via Stirling Castle & Whisky Tasting

Head North to the iconic Gleneagles Hotel today.  On the way you will stop at Stirling Castle, one of the grandest Castles in Scotland with an imposing location and incredible history.  Hear about how the castle has served as a royal residence, military fortress, and was the site of numerous battles.

As you continue your journey, enjoy a visit to Deanston Distillery. This building started life as a cotton mill in 1785 but is now a flourishing whisky distillery and more recently become known as a filming location for the hit TV series Outlander.

Arriving at Gleneagles, your evening is free to settle in, rest and relax or perhaps head out to explore the lovely grounds.

Overnight: Auchterarder | Gleneagles Hotel
Room Type: 1 x Manor House Double interconnected with 1 x Manor House Twin for each family (4 rooms in total)
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 4 - Sunday 20^th April - Gleneagles Experiences and free afternoon

You have a choice today, perhaps see the heather-clad mountains from a different perspective as you enjoy a relaxed horse ride in the beautiful Perthshire countryside.  Or perhaps you would like to learn about gun dogs and how they are used in the field, their history and abilities.  You will get the chance to take control of your ‘own’ gun dog and learn the skills from basic obedience to retrieves.

Your afternoon is free, perhaps delight in pampering yourself in the world class spa or just enjoy a warming dram or cocktail in one of the luxurious bars.

*no activities are included*

Overnight: Auchterarder | Gleneagles Hotel
Room Type: 1 x Manor House Double interconnected with 1 x Manor House Twin for each family (4 rooms in total)
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 5 - Monday 21^st April - Transfer to Ireland

A private transfer will collect you from your accommodation and take you to the airport to make your onward connections to beautiful Ireland. Waving farewell to Scotland for now but taking with you special memories and wonderful stories of your explorations.

Arriving in Dublin this afternoon, your private guide will meet you at arrivals and after some short introductions you will make your way west towards the wilds of Connemara. If you wish, take the time to walk along the banks of the River Shannon, a waterway that divides the East from the West and eventually empties into the Atlantic Ocean. Hear about the drowned goddess who gave the river its name, visit a monastic monument, and learn about Viking raids. This evening, check into Ballynahinch Castle Hotel, once owned by an Indian Raj, this traditional hunting lodge has seen presidents and dignitaries grace its halls and rooms for generations. Today, surrounded by thousands of acres of estate land and forests, Ballynahinch boasts fine dining, a traditional pub, on-site fly fishing and a remote escape in the wilds of Connemara.

Overnight: Connemmara | Ballynahinch Castle Hotel
Room Type: x4 classic rooms
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 6 - Tuesday 22^nd April - Exploring Connemara

Together with your guide today, you will delve into the heart of Connemara. Described by Oscar Wilde as a “savage beauty” as you travel, the landscape opens up to wild mountainscapes and heather-clad valleys. You will enjoy a hike along the shores of Killary Fjord to the remains of an abandoned famine-era village. As you walk you will hear about the impact of this era in history on this region. Later, visit a family-run shellfish farm where you can head out onto the fjord, lift a string of mussels for hauling and harvesting, and understand the lifecycle of these wonderful shellfish. Enjoy a deliciously fresh shellfish lunch and the opportunity to gain some insight into life on Ireland’s west coast.

Overnight: Connemmara | Ballynahinch Castle Hotel
Room Type: x4 classic rooms
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 7 - Wednesday 23^rd April - Fly Fishing at Ballynahinch Castle & Heading South

Renowned as one of the finest fisheries in Ireland, the Ballynahinch Catchment drains an area of 68 square miles and is a diverse system of interconnected loughs and rivers, drained by the Ballynahinch River and offering the very best of fly fishing in Ireland. This majestic river, with fishing rights owned exclusively by the Ballynahinch Estate, winds its way underneath the Castle for three kilometres until it reaches the wild Atlantic Ocean. Later, you’ll leave Galway behind and make your way south to enter Co Clare, home to the UNESCO world heritage site of The Burren. Your home for the next two nights is Gregan’s Castle, a former retreat for poets and authors such as J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis. You’ll be back in time for a cool pint of Guinness by the fire before dinner at its award-winning restaurant.

Overnight: Ballyvaughan | Gregans Castle
Room Type: x2 Superior Doubles, x2 Classic Twins
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 8 - Thursday 24^th April - Hiking in The Burren

This morning, you’ll set off for a walk in the nearby Slieve Carran Nature Reserve. Its unique, striated limestone landscape was shaped by ancient seas and is famous for its Mediterranean and alpine wildflowers. The region is steeped in history as well, with over 2,500 historical monuments to be explored. Lunch will be held at a local tearoom with an option to visit to the adjoining Burren Perfumery where only natural and organic ingredients are used in production. It’s the oldest working perfumery in Ireland! If time allows, pay a visit to the Cliffs of Moher this evening after the crowds have departed. One of Ireland’s most impressive natural sites, this is the ultimate stop for a photo opportunity and a chance to breathe in the crisp, Atlantic sea air. You will be joined by your guide for a farewell dinner tonight.

Overnight: Ballyvaughan | Gregans Castle
Room Type: x2 Superior Doubles, x2 Classic Twins
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 9 - Friday 25^th April - Ireland's Fair City

This morning, your guide will drop you off at your centrally located hotel in Dublin City and you will say farewell. Dublin has been described as a ‘city with a village feel’; as you explore its cobbled streets and historical monuments, it will be easy to see why. Check-in before heading out to enjoy a walking tour with a local private guide through this vibrant capital city, 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, Dublin Castle and 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.

Overnight: Dublin | The Westbury Hotel
Room Type: x2 Westbury Kings, x2 Classic Twins
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 10 - Saturday 26^th April - Depart

This morning, a private transfer will meet you in the lobby of your hotel and transfer you to Dublin Airport in time for your flight home. We hope your time in Ireland & Scotland has been memorable and we look forward to welcoming you to our shores once again.

Meals Included: Breakfast