Ten Dot Travel - The Baltzell's Scottish and Irish Adventure

Sunday 11th August – Thursday 22nd August 2024

Duration: 12 Days / 11 Nights

Day by Day

Day 1 - Sunday 11th August - Welcome to Dublin

Arriving in Ireland today, Platinum Services will greet you off your aircraft and take you through passport control and bag retrieval as quickly and smoothly as possible, before you are handed over to your private driver for the short spin into the city. Take some time to settle in before you make your way to Trinity College and Book of Kells. Your guided Trinity tour will take you around the campus, discovering some of the secrets and famous pupils who graced its halls and quads before making your way to the Old Library for an audio tour of the Book of Kells with its new immersive digital experience. Later this evening, enjoy some free time, before dining in the hotel’s restaurant or in one of the many delightful eateries that pepper the streets of this vibrant, capital city.

Overnight: Dublin | The Westbury Hotel
Room Type: x1 Westbury King
Meals Included: None

Day 2 - Monday 12th August - Irish National Stud & Adare Manor

After breakfast this morning, your private guide will meet you in the lobby of your hotel, and after a few introductions, you’ll make your way West to the bustling village of Adare. En route, you’ll visit the Irish National Stud, home of some of Ireland’s most famous breeding racehorses, for a private tour. Continue on to Adare, which has been voted Ireland’s prettiest town, and with its traditional thatched roofed cottages, quaint tea rooms, and inviting craft shops it is easy to see why. Your stay for the next two nights is in the Gothic splendor of Adare Manor, situated on 840 acres of pristine parkland with a Michelin-starred restaurant, golf course, and spa among some of the on-site activities. At your hotel, enjoy a curated whiskey tasting, including some of the hotel’s private casks before your delicious dinner this evening.

Overnight: Adare | Adare Manor Hotel
Room Type: x1 Deluxe King
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 3 - Tuesday 13th August - The Burren & The Cliffs of Moher

This morning, you’ll make your way north and enter Co Clare where you will visit the UNESCO world heritage site of The Burren. As you enter the Burren landscape, you’ll quickly notice its otherworldly attributes. With endless lines of karst limestone rock dominating fields and covering hillsides, the area is said to have been an inspiration for JRR Tolkien’s world-famous Lord of the Rings trilogy. Visit a beef farm in the Burren and learn a little about the traditional farming methods that help shape and conserve this unique landscape. Explore the original farmhouse and see how the Irish people used to live, survey the pre-famine settlement where inhabitants lived on rockier ground, and visit an ancient ring fort designed for defensive purposes enabling the Chieftain to guard his sheep. Enjoy a picnic lunch filled with local produce before you make your way to your next destination, the famous Cliffs of Moher, only a short drive away from here, where you will be able to take in the immaculate views of the 700-foot tall cliffs from high up.

Overnight: Adare | Adare Manor Hotel
Room Type: x1 Deluxe King
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 4 - Wednesday 14th August - Killarney National Park By Land & By Water

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. Alighting back on solid land, we leave the lakes behind and head to The Ring of Kerry where Sheen Falls Estate awaits.

Overnight: Kenmare | Sheen Falls Lodge
Room Type: x1 Falls Master Suite
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 5 - Thursday 15th August - Forage, Feast & Paddle

This morning, you will make your way south into Co. Cork for a fully immersive experience in the sights, sounds, smells & taste of a rare temperate rainforest valley & bay on the Wild Atlantic Way. Start your adventure in the Caha mountains with a guided foraging walk & two-course campfire feast. After a short 5-minute drive through the temperate rainforest of Glengarriff Woods Nature Reserve arrives at the water’s edge of Glengarriff Harbour for a guided kayaking tour around the bay. Paddle past deserted islands and basking seals, savouring the peace and tranquillity of gliding around the bay with a view of the mountains & ancient oak woodlands beyond. Tonight, back at Sheen Falls your guide will join you for a farewell dinner.

Overnight: Kenmare | Sheen Falls Lodge
Room Type: x1 Falls Master Suite
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 6 - Friday 16th August - To Scotland

You’ll transfer to the airport today for the next part of your adventure.  A short hop takes you across the Irish Sea to the capital of Scotland where the VIP team will be waiting to escort you through the formalities and out to your awaiting driver who will also be your guide for your Scottish Adventure.

Head north away from the bright lights of the city and into the heart of the largest National Park in the UK and your luxurious hotel base for the next couple of nights.  Depending on your arrival time, there may be time to enjoy a warm up hike under the towering Scot’s Pines with your guide or enjoy some spa treatments on arrival after your travel day.

Overnight: Braemar | The Fife Arms
Room Type: Scottish Culture
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 7 - Saturday 17th August - History and Culture

Head out for the day with your guide today, enjoying time away from the hustle and bustle of life and taking time to step off the beaten path to explore some of the most beautiful scenery in Scotland.  From shimmering lochs to towering peaks, this part of the National Park offers it all.  Your guide will tell you stories of life here, how the Highlanders lived and the battles and bloodshed that changed the history of Scotland.

This afternoon you can head back to your hotel to enjoy some spa treatments, perhaps relax with a book in one of the lounges or take a tour of the hotel’s incredible art collection.  Another option would be to enjoy a round of golf of the local course – the highest in the UK – which offers some more impressive views (and a strong cross wind sometimes as well!)

Overnight: Braemar | The Fife Arms
Room Type: Scottish Culture
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 8 - Sunday 18th August - To Gleneagles

Leaving the mountains behind, you will head south to Perthshire and the Glorious Playground that is Gleneagles.  However, on the way you will enjoy a tour of Glamis Castle, the childhood holiday home of the late Queen Elizabeth and has thousands of years of history embedded in it’s walls.  Follow in the footsteps of Shakespeare’s Macbeth and imagine the young royals playing in the fabulous grounds before continuing onto Gleneagles in the afternoon.

Overnight: Auchterarder | Gleneagles Hotel
Room Type: Braid Estate Room
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 9 - Monday 19th August - Golf and Exploring Perthshire

Travel along the road less travelled this morning as you head along the narrow, windy roads to a hidden gem deep in the heart of the countryside.  Meet the Keeper of the Books at Scotland’s oldest lending library where you can enjoy browsing through some of their incredible first editions.  Hear the stories about the past and how this wonderful building came to be and understanding the history behind some of the fascinating books that call this place home.

After a wonderful morning, you will head back to Gleneagles this afternoon to enjoy a round of golf on one of their famous Championship courses before a delicious dinner in one of the many on site restaurants.

Overnight: Auchterarder | Gleneagles Hotel
Room Type: Braid Estate Room
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 10 - Tuesday 20th August - To Edinburgh

It is time to head to your final destination as you leave the rolling hills of Perthshire to go back to the bright lights of the city.  You can take your time today though, enjoying one last day exploring the country with perhaps a detour through the Kingdom of Fife where you can explore the quaint little fishing villages and pick up some souvenirs to take home.  Another option would be to visit Falkland Palace, home to the oldest Tennis Court in Britain and a fantastic example of spectacular Renaissance architecture.

You’ll arrive at your hotel in the heart of Edinburgh in the late afternoon where your guide will say goodbye and leave you to immerse yourselves in the buzz of the fringe festival for the next couple of days.

Overnight: Edinburgh | The Balmoral Hotel
Room Type: Deluxe Castle View
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 11 - Wednesday 21st August - The fringe festival

The streets of Edinburgh will be buzzing with energy due to the various festivals running this month and you will pass street performers and entertainment on every corner as you explore. Follow your curiosity through the twisting cobbled streets of the Old Town and enjoy the vibrant ambience. There will be a huge variety of different shows and concerts to choose from should you wish to partake in this famous event.

Tonight, you will head to the Castle Esplanade to enjoy a musical spectacle where members of the Military from around the world entertain you with precision choreography and storytelling.  The night will end with fireworks lighting up the night sky, the perfect way to end your time in Scotland.

Overnight: Edinburgh | The Balmoral Hotel
Room Type: Deluxe Castle View
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 12 - Thursday 22nd August - Depart

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.

Trip Details

Inclusions Read More
  • 11 nights accommodation, as stated in the itinerary above
  • Most meals, as stated in the itinerary above
  • The services of a qualified and experienced guide from Day 6 to Day 10 inclusive in Scotland
  • All transfers in a private vehicle driven by your guide on guided days
  • Private Airport Transfer on Arrival Day, includes Meet & Greet
  • Private Airport Transfer on Departure Day including VIP services at Edinburgh airport
  • All guided hikes mentioned in the itinerary
  • Entrance fees and activities mentioned in the itinerary, specifically:
    • Private tour of Glamis Castle
    • Private tour with the Keeper of the Books at Innerpeffray Library
    • Round of Golf at Gleneagles including clubs, shoes, trolley and 3 golf balls
    • Entry tickets to Falkland Palace
    • Day with an expert guide at the fringe festival
    • Tickets to the Royal Military Tattoo including a pre show meal at the Cannonball Restaurant
    • Platinum Services on arrival from Dublin airport
    • Entry to Trinty Colleg & Book of Kells
    • Private Tour of Irish National Stud
    • Private Whiskey Experience at Adare Manor
    • Private Burren Farm Tour
    • Entry to the Cliffs of Moher
    • Private Boat Tour in Killarney National Park
    • Private Foraging & Kayaking Experience
  • Personalised trip design and delivery
  • 24/7 In-Country Support from the Wilderness Team
Exclusions Read More
  • Flights
  • Travel insurance
  • Meals not mentioned in the inclusions
  • Activities and entrance fees not mentioned in the inclusions
  • Gratuities for the main driver guide
Notes Read More
  • All suggested accommodations and services are subject to availability at the time of booking.
  • A 20% deposit is required before any accommodation and services will be confirmed.
  • This quote is valid for 14 days from the date quoted, after this time pricing may be subject to revision.
  • Activities are only private if so specified
Optional Upgrades Read More
  • Room Upgrades are available in some locations, subject to availability. Pricing on request.
Pricing Read More

Scotland Pricing:

The NET price for this itinerary, based on 2 clients on a twin-share basis, and including a £12 per person conservation contribution is:

  • £9,865 GBP per person
  • €13,518 EUR per person

Conservation Contribution

This voluntary donation of £12 per person goes towards conservation projects in the locations we operate.  If you would like to opt out just let your trip designer know.

Click here for more information.

Terms & Conditions Read More

Please see our booking terms here.