TCS - The Ijju Family trip to Scotland and Ireland

Day 1 - Saturday 1^st June - Welcome to Scotland

On arrival at the airport you will be met by the VIP team and whisked through security to your guide who will be waiting for you.  From here you will head north into the heart of Highland Perthshire.  Depending on the time of arrival you may have time to visit Scone Palace, the crowning place of former Kings and Queens of Scotland before arriving at your castle hotel for the next two nights.

Overnight: Perthshire | Fonab Castle
Room Type: 2 x Castle View Rooms (1 as a double and 1 as a twin)
Meals Included: Lunch

Day 2 - Sunday 2^nd June - Exploring Highland Perthshire

You will set out this morning with your guide to explore some of the beautiful countryside that surrounds your hotel.  Heading into the hills you will come across breathtaking views and awe inspiring landscapes which are rich in wildlife and local folklore.  Enjoy lunch in a remote bothy where you may spot the elusive red deer standing proudly on a ridge line or perhaps some birds of prey circling in the skies above your head.

As the light starts to change in the late afternoon, head back to your hotel to enjoy a wee dram while you sit back and let tales of days gone by wash over you as a local storyteller weaves their magic about the myths and legends that are embedded deep into the very fabric of life in this ancient land.

Overnight: Perthshire | Fonab Castle
Room Type: 2 x Castle View Rooms (1 as a double and 1 as a twin)
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 3 - Monday 3^rd June - To the West

Before you depart for your next destination you will spend the morning enjoying a cookery class learning how to make some famous Scottish dishes.  Get hands on as you compete for star pupil and enjoy the fruits of your labour with a fantastic view of the babbling River Tay.

You’ll then travel through the ever changing terrain to the jagged peaks of Glencoe where you can stop off to explore – perhaps take a hike to where (legend has it) the signal was given to start the Glencoe Massacre, or visit the Glencoe Visitor Centre to learn more about this wonderful area.

Overnight: Fort Augustus | The Lovat
Room Type: 2 x Master Bedrooms (1 as a double and 1 as a twin)
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 4 - Tuesday 4^th June - Tales of the Loch Ness Monster

Waking up to the sunlight glinting off the shimmering waters of the mysterious loch that your hotel overlooks this morning – enticing you to set forth on her mysterious waters to see what legends lie beneath.  Boarding a scenic cruise of the loch, keep your eyes peeled for the tell tale swish of a tale as the elusive monster dives down into the deep, dark depths of the loch.

Back on dry land you can head north along the shoreline to the most besieged castle in the country and let your guide bring this landscape to life with tales of the Jacobites.  Learn how this uprising changed the course of Scottish history and the sad tales that are still felt by many descendants to this day.

Overnight: Fort Augustus | The Lovat
Room Type: 2 x Master Bedrooms (1 as a double and 1 as a twin)
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 5 - Wednesday 5^th June - The Bonny Banks of Loch Lomond

Leaving the mythical waters of Loch Ness this morning it is time to head south to your final destination before you head across the waters to the Emerald Isle.  There will be plenty of options to stop off for a hike, perhaps in some of the surrounding woodland that is being regenerated for future generations or in the iconic Nevis Range that is home to many fantastic walks.  Your guide will discuss all options with you to make the most of your last day on Scottish soil.

Before arriving at your hotel for the evening, you will enjoy a tour of a local distillery and relish the final tasting of the famous Uisge Beatha in the shadow of the UK’s tallest mountain.

Your accommodation this evening is on the banks of Bonny Loch Lomond where you can enjoy dinner together as a family and raise a glass to your Scottish Adventure.

Overnight: Loch Lomond | Cameron House
Room Type: 2 x Loch View Rooms
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 6 - Thursday 6^th June - To Ireland- Kinsale Co Cork

A private transfer will take you to the airport this morning in time for your onwards connection to Ireland and the next part of your adventure.

On arrival at Cork airport, your guide will take you the short distance to Kinsale, a colourful seaside town where local fishing and pleasure vessels bob about in the sheltered idillic bay.
This afternoon, we explore the nearby Charles Fort, a well preserved, striking star shaped military fort of the late seventeenth century built during King Charles 11 reign to protect the town and harbour of Kinsale from attack.
If time allows, we recommend you also discover the interesting story of Ireland’s only restored Napoleonic Signal Tower and enjoy the panoramic views from the rooftop walkway. The Lusitania Museum and Old Head Signal Tower in Kinsale, County Cork, is the closest point of land to the final resting place of the tragic RMS Lusitania.

Your guide will join you for dinner this evening in Kinsale at a local award winning seafood restaurant where your introduction to gourmet Ireland begins.

Overnight: Kinsale | Perryville House
Room Type: Deluxe Double & Twin
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 7 - Friday 7^th June - Food Tour Kinsale

Kinsale has firmly established its place as a foodies mecca and with so many glorious venues on your doorstep, tourists and locals alike flock to Kinsale for their wonderful food. For a foodie fanatic, your walking tour today will take you to a selection of different eateries, meeting locals and sampling sweet and savoury treats as you go, not to mention some liquid fortification! During the tour, hear stories about the food and meet some of the fascinating characters who make it too.

Overnight: Kinsale | Perryville House
Room Type: Deluxe Double & Twin
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 8 - Saturday 8^th June - Farm Tour & Cheese Tasting

We love to offer our visitors the chance to partake in local and authentic experiences, meeting the people who call Ireland home and learning of our culture and history.

Today you will visit a farm in the lush green countryside where you will take a tour of the land, meet the herd, chat about all things agricultural with the farmer and partake in a special tasting experience using local produce and cheese made right there on the farm before containing on to your hotel. Situated in Kenmare, on The Ring of Kerry is a luxury hideaway. Nestled between a river, mountain, sea and sky you will find the spectacular Sheen Falls Hotel.

Overnight: Kenmare | Sheen Falls Hotel
Room Type: Deluxe Double & Twin
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 9 - Sunday 9^th June - Foraging Irelands Shores

Into the southern part of the Ring of Kerry, the landscape becomes wilder and more rugged. At a secluded bay, meet a local foodie whose passion is uncovering the Kerry Coast’s edible gems, such as various seaweeds and coastal plants. Together, spend the morning exploring Kerry’s quiet seashore, listening to stories, learning about life on Ireland’s west coasts and uncovering some of nature’s bounty in the tidepools and rocky crevices.
This afternoon, enjoy some of the estate activities such as golf, fishing, horse riding or the onsite spa. Your guide will be on hand for anyone who wishes to explore further afield.

Overnight: Kenmare | Sheen Falls Hotel
Room Type: Deluxe Double & Twin
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 10 - Monday 10^th June - Killarney National Park

In the southwest of County Kerry is an expanse of rugged, mountainous country that sweeps down to the world-famous Lakes of Killarney. Here, stretching across 10,000 hectares, lies Killarney National Park, with its unforgettable combination of mountains, lakes, woodland and waterfalls. Take a tour of the famed Killarney Lakes with Dux, your Kerryman skipper who has been sailing these lakes since he was a child with his family.
The park offers a lot to visitors from walks, hikes, waterfalls, horse drawn carriages, to Estate Manor homes and gardens. Your guide will help you discover it all.

Overnight: Kenmare | Sheen Falls Hotel
Room Type: Deluxe Double & Twin
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 11 - Tuesday 11^th June - Dromoland Castle

Moving north, we leave behind the hills and valleys of Kerry and head to Ireland’s most magical address, Dromoland Castle. The once ancestral home of the O’Briens of Dromoland, whose linage dates back 1,000 years to Brian Boru, one of the last High Kings of Ireland, Dromoland has nobility in its blood.

Experience the life of the gentry at the castle as you partake in some traditional country pursuits starting with an exhilarating Falconry & Hawk Walk. Enjoy the magnificent wildlife and ancient woodlands as you get up close and personal with mesmerising falcons, hawks and owls in the Castle grounds.
A favourite country pursuit of royalty, clay pigeon shooting offers you the chance to shoot flying targets in the air. Dromoland Castle’s leafy estate makes an atmospheric setting for this fun sport, which only requires a calm concentration, a keen eye and quick reactions.
Your final celebration dinner this evening will be in Dromolands flagship restaurant, the Earl of Thomand with a nine course Tasting Menu.

Overnight: Clare | Dromoland Castle
Room Type: Viscount Deluxe & Queen Anne Twin
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 12 - Wednesday 12^th June - Depart Ireland

After a delicious breakfast and perhaps a final walk around the grounds its time to depart Ireland today for your flights home.

We recommend Shannon Airport as the closet that will offer connections however we can also return you to Dublin Airport if preferred.

Meals Included: Breakfast