Saturday 8th February – Wednesday 19th February 2025
This morning, your private guide will meet you at Dublin Airport and after some short introductions together you will head North towards the city of Belfast. This is your arrival day and we want you to have as much rest as you may need, so today will be spent adjusting to the time difference and relaxing. You’ll check in to your hotel to enjoy some downtime and perhaps a quick nap before your guide joins you for a welcome dinner.
Overnight: Belfast | The Merchant Hotel
Room Type: x2 Deluxe Art Deco
Meals Included: Dinner
This morning, join a local guide and explore Belfast from the comfort of a black cab. Today you’ll unpack the complicated history of The Troubles, see the city’s murals and peace walls, hear stories of life in Belfast at the height of the conflict, and check out historical photographs with narration from a local man who lived through it. After lunch, you’ll visit Belfast’s Titanic Experience with your guide. Built-in Belfast’s Harland & Wolff shipyards, the ill-fated Titanic and Belfast’s history are linked forever. Your private tour takes you through the 10 galleries, the story of the ship, and her final hours. You’ll also step onto the decks of the last remaining White Star Line vessel – the SS Nomadic. This evening is for you to rest and relax, or wander around this lively city one last time.
Overnight: Belfast | The Merchant Hotel
Room Type: x2 Deluxe Art Deco
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch
Leaving Belfast this morning, your guide will lead you on explorations through the stunning northern coast where you’ll be treated to magnificent views of rugged cliffs, pristine beaches, and charming villages. Your first stop is Gobbins Cliff Path, which takes you along a narrow path, and across spectacular bridges amid the swirling waves below. Traverse hidden tunnels under the Irish Sea, climb rugged staircases carved into the cliff face and duck into caves, once home to smugglers and privateers. Afterwards, follow a stunning coastal route known as the “secret” way to travel along the Causeway Coast! The grand finale is at the awe-inspiring Giant’s Causeway, a geological wonder that attracts visitors from around the world. You’ll meet a local guide and take your first steps onto the spectacular Causeway. Sitting on the basalt columns, you’ll enjoy a “Whiskey on the Rocks” tasting experience with Bushmills world-famous whiskey, distilled only a couple of miles away.
Overnight: Portrush | Dunluce Lodge
Room Type: x2 Courtyard Suite
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch
This morning you’ll visit Dunluce Castle, one of the most picturesque and romantic of Irish Castles. With evidence of settlement from the first millennium, the present castle ruins date mainly from the 16th and 17th centuries. You’ll make your way to a traditional working sheep farm in one of the most idyllic areas of the North Coast. Meet a local family who has been living in the area and farming sheep and cattle for over 70 years. Step into the farming world and about a sheepdog’s relationship with the shepherd and sheep and admire the speed, agility and intelligence involved with gathering the flock. The lambing season runs from mid-March until mid-April, so you may get lucky enough to meet a brand-new baby lamb!
Overnight: Portrush | Dunluce Lodge
Room Type: x2 Courtyard Suite
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch
Leaving Portrush behind, your first stop this morning is with a local guide who will take you on a fascinating Emigrants Walk, following in the footsteps of Irish emigrants as they escape the horrors of the Great Hunger and make their way to the new world. The walk is about 6km (3.7 miles) through the countryside which remains unchanged since famine times. You’ll stop for lunch at what was once an original soup kitchen. At the height of the famine in August of 1847, about 3 million people were getting their meals from these types of kitchens. You’ll check into your country house in the late afternoon where you can relax before joining your guide for a farewell dinner.
Overnight: Antrim | Ard Tara Country House
Room Type: x2 Superior Rooms
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
This morning, your guide will drop you at Belfast Airport, only a 45-minute drive away. Say farewell before you board the plane to Glasgow. We hope your time in Ireland was memorable!
Welcome to Scotland! Your guide (who will also be your driver during your time in Scotland), will meet you at the airport and transfer you to the stunning West Coast. En-route you will venture through Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park, where you can stop to stretch your legs and take in the views over this tranquil Loch and dramatic scenery. Arriving at your luxury hotel, situated on its own private island, you are free to settle in and relax or perhaps head out to explore your island home for the next few nights – keep your eyes out for the family of otters that live on the island!
Overnight: Benderloch | Isle of Eriska
Room Type: x2 Deluxe Doubles
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch
Today is free for you to spend as you wish. Perhaps you would like to make the most of your island hotel retreat, relaxing in the beautiful grounds taking a short stroll or reading a good book. Your guide will be available should you wish to do some souvenir shopping in the nearby coastal town of Oban.
If you have some energy you can take the short ferry ride over to Kerrera island for a relaxed scenic hike. As you make your way round the headland, a beautiful castle ruin comes in to view. Take some time to explore the ruins with incredible views out to sea as your hear stories of its history from your guide. Making your way back to the ferry, stop in the charming tea room for a well-earned treat before returning to the mainland. If the timings work out then maybe take a tour of Oban Distillery this afternoon, it prides itself on being older than the town itself!
Overnight: Benderloch | Isle of Eriska
Room Type: x2 Deluxe Doubles
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch
Today you will make your way into the very heart of the Cairngorm National Park. As you make your way through some of the most spectacular scenery Scotland has to offer, there are a couple of hiking options on the way. Perhaps you would like to explore Glencoe, the valley of myths and legends, where you can feel the true essence of Scotland seeping from the well trodden trails and drifting down the towering peaks. Or perhaps you would prefer to explore the atmospheric Glen Nevis at the foot of the tallest mountain in Scotland, where you can walk along the dramatic gorge to reach the secluded but impressive Steall Falls. Your guide will be able to discuss the options with you and help you decide the best one to suit your preferences.
Arrive at your boutique farmhouse nestled in the forests of Glen Feshie to relax for the evening.
Overnight: By Kingussie | Killiehuntly Farmhouse
Room Type: x1 Hayloft, x1 The Alder
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
As you make your way over the hills to the other side of the Cairngorms, you will stop en-route to enjoy an incredible and unique experience. Spend the day in the private, remote kitchen of the charismatic writer, broadcaster and ‘food anthropologist’ Ghillie Basan. Set in an idyllic location you will discover a colourful and well stocked kitchen with inspiring views over the local hills. Ghillie will guide you in cooking a delicious feast and tasting some wonderful local whiskies.
Overnight: Ballater | Darroch Learg
Room Type: x2 Superior Rooms
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch
Join your guide this morning for a walk through the intriguing and beautiful landscape of the Highlands, again you can choose where you would like to explore. Hike along the banks of the River Dee, which rises from a spring on the Braeriach plateau in the Cairngorms and empties into the dark waters of the North Sea. Stop to admire Linn O’Dee, where the river cascades through a narrow chasm, overlooked by an old stone bridge. Visit the waterfall further up the glen, winding your way through old pinewoods that tang with sunshine and resin. Or perhaps head to the sparkling waters of Loch Muick in the Balmoral Estate where the mountains of the Cairngorms rise up from the loch shores. This beautiful location has a long standing association with the British Royal family and a pretty hunting lodge built for Queen Victoria sits on the northern shore.
This evening return to your accommodation and relax after an invigorating day spent in the fresh air.
Overnight: Ballater | Darroch Learg
Room Type: x2 Superior Doubles
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch
Head south to the historic city of Edinburgh today with a stop en route to visit Stirling Castle. One of the grandest Castles in Scotland, with an imposing location overlooking the city of Stirling, you will hear stories of how it played a crucial role in the nations history, including its role as the coronation place of several Scottish Kings and Queens.
Your guide will bid farewell today making sure you are settled in to your hotel before departing. Your evening is free to relax or explore this wonderful city.
Overnight: Edinburgh | The Bonham
Room Type: x2 Superior Kings
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch
Your trip ends today, with a final toast to Ireland and Scotland, you leave with hearts full of memories, grateful for the beauty, history, and warmth you have found in these magical lands. Sláinte agus slàn leat! – to health and goodbye, until we meet again.
Self arranged conference begins.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Saturday 8th February – Wednesday 19th February 2025