Hyman's Irish & Scottish Adventure
Saturday 21st September – Tuesday 1st October 2024
Number of Travellers: 2
Duration: 11 Days / 10 Nights
Hyman’s Irish & Scottish Adventure
Saturday 21st September – Tuesday 1st October 2024
Saturday 21st September – Tuesday 1st October 2024
Arriving in Ireland today, a private transfer will pick you up from the airport and whisk you to your 5 star hotel in the city centre. Check-in is at 3pm however feel free to leave your bags, freshen up, or have a bite to eat. Head out in the afternoon 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 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.
Overnight: Dublin | The Merrion
Room Type: x1 superior king
Meals Included: None
Your guide will meet you this morning in the lobby of your hotel and after a few introduction’s it’s time to head to the capital of Ireland’s west, Galway! Known as the ‘town of the tribes’ the small centre of cobblestone streets and colourful store fronts is vibrant, fun and cosmopolitan. What better way to spend an afternoon here than a delectable food tour? Tantalise your taste buds with a delightful journey through Galway’s culinary scene. From artisanal cheeses, craft beers, to handcrafted chocolate, this will be a true feast for the senses. From Galway it is 1h30 further into Connemara, a Gaeltacht (Gaelic-speaking region) known for its windswept landscapes of mountains, beach and bog. Before settling in for the evening, you will have some time for a stroll along the wooded trails of your next hotel, Ballynahinch Castle. For dinner we’ll make you reservations at the property’s historic Fisherman’s Pub, a lively place where guests and local mingle. Your guide will join you to chat about the adventure to come.
Overnight: Connemara | Ballynahinch Castle
Room Type: x1 luxury room
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch
This morning it’s a 45-minute drive through the windswept Twelve Bens Mountain Range to Killary, Ireland’s only fjord. This morning you will 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. After a delicious lunch, enjoy a tour of the stunningly beautiful Kylemore Abbey and Victorian Walled Gardens. With a history spanning six centuries, Kylemore Abbey is the oldest Irish Benedictine abbey. The abbey has endured through wars, national conflict and migration and today is both a wonderful immersive visitor attraction and the community and home to a group of Benedictine nuns. You will have some free time to enjoy the estate this afternoon – go fly fishing, walk around the gardens, or simply kick back with a book by the river. This evening we would recommend dinner at Ballynahinch’s Owenmore Restaurant, which overlooks the salmon river and the wooded estate.
Overnight: Connemara | Ballynahinch Castle
Room Type: x1 luxury room
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch
Leaving the wild and rugged Connemara behind, you’ll make your way further south this morning. Be sure not to fill up too much at breakfast today, as your first activity today involves meeting with local farmers on a tour of the craggy, alien landscapes of The Burren, a place said to be J.R.R. Tolkien’s inspiration for Middle Earth in Lord of the Rings. End the tour with a picnic sampling of the farm’s delicacies as your guides regale you with stories and lessons taken from the unique methods of farming demanded by The Burren’s unique landscape. Afterward, it’s a short drive to your 18th century manor house, Gregan’s Castle, a former retreat for poets and authors like 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: The Burren | Gregan's Castle
Room Type: x1 superior double
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch
This morning you will transfer 30 minutes to the Cliffs of Moher, one of Ireland’s most impressive natural sites. We recommend a walk following the coastal route along the cliffs, passing through dramatic hinterland with inspiring views offshore to the Aran Islands. The area is teeming with wildlife and 20 different species of birds, including puffins, make this area their home. Stop by the visitors centre before having a browse in the village of Doolin, famous for its traditional music scene. You will stop for a fish n’ chips lunch in a historic stone cottage before making your way to the Doolin Cave – home to the largest stalactite in Europe (23 ft)! This evening, your guide will join you for a farewell dinner.
Overnight: The Burren | Gregan's Castle
Room Type: x1 superior double
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
This morning, your guide will drop you to the airport in time for your flight to Edinburgh. Your private transfer will meet you on arrival and whisk you to your city centre hotel, where you can refresh and relax before your afternoon explorations.
Depending on your arrival time, spend the afternoon immersing yourselves in the winding cobbled streets of historic Old Town Edinburgh. Enjoy a group walking tour with an expert local guide. 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. Your guide will leave you here so that you can spend as much time in the castle as you wish.
Overnight: Edinburgh | The Balmoral Hotel
Room Type: x1 Executive Old Town Room
Meals Included: Breakfast
Today you will meet your private guide/driver and together make your way into the heart of the Scottish Highlands. Your first stop en-route is the historic Stirling Castle, perched atop a craggy hill, this magnificent fortress is steeped in history. As you explore this incredible place, enjoying views over the city of Stirling, you will learn about its role in pivotal conflicts and as a royal residence.
Bid farewell to the city as you make your way northwards to the stunning scenery of Glencoe. These dramatic mountains and ridges have featured as the backdrop in many films. You will have the chance to stop and explore some of this famous valley with your guide, there are plenty of short walks and viewpoints that allow you to enjoy the best of this stunning place.
Overnight: Glencoe Village | Glencoe Inn & Gathering
Room Type: x1 Loch View Feature Suite
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch
Today you’ll travel along the stunning Road to the Isles. This is frequently listed as one of the most beautiful drives in the world and it is easy to see why. You may wish to stop at the historic the Glenfinnan Viaduct, which you may well recognise from the Harry Potter films. Hear the tales of the Glenfinnan Monument and see if you can spot the Jacobite Steam Train puffing its way over the graceful arches of the viaduct. Later, admire the silver sand beaches of Arisaig as you stroll along and soak in the views of the Small Isles before continuing your journey, boarding the ferry to the iconic ‘Misty Isle’.
Overnight: Portree | Marmalade Hotel
Room Type: x1 Superior Double
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch
You will set out to explore Skye today, visiting the nearby Dunvegan Castle, seat of the Clan McCleod and the only Highland fortress that has been occupied by the same family for 800 years. Discover the history as you explore the corridors.
This afternoon visit a local tannery where they still make luxurious sheep skin rugs using the traditional methods, a fascinating insight into local life. Perhaps enjoy a coffee stop in a local traditional yurt overlooking the bay. Later this evening join your guide for a delightful experience, tasing an array of Scottish Whisky , which will be your favourite?
Overnight: Portree | Marmalade Hotel
Room Type: x1 Superior Double
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch
Returning to the mainland this morning, by way of the graceful Skye bridge, it is not long before you see one of the prettiest castles in Scotland. Eilean Donan occupies an island at the confluence of three sea lochs and stands in defiance of the towering peaks surrounding it. Take your time here to enjoy the iconic view before continuing onwards through mountain glens and to the moody waters of Loch Ness.
Perched on the edge of Loch Ness are the dramatic ruins of Urquhart Castle, make a stop here to explore the centuries of Scottish history and forklore. As you make your way with your guide to the capital of the Highlands you can choose to make a stop at the iconic Culloden Battlefield, the site of the last battle of the Jacobite rising in 1746, before heading to your hotel for the evening.
Overnight: Inverness | Kingsmills Hotel
Room Type: x1 Patio Room
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch
A private transfer will collect you from your accommodation and take you to the airport to make your onward connections. Waving farewell for now but taking with you special memories and wonderful stories of your explorations.
Meals Included: Breakfast
For Ireland:
For Scotland:
Pricing:
The GROSS price for the above itinerary, based on 2 clients, including a £12 per person conservation contribution,
For Ireland – €8,785 EUR per person.
For Scotland – £6,622 GBP per person.
Please see our booking terms here.
Saturday 21st September – Tuesday 1st October 2024