Best Castles of Britain and Ireland Tour
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DAY 1 - FRI
Board your flight from your home country to London, England. Air fare
independently arranged.
DAY 2 - SAT LONDON, ENGLAND
Meals Included: Welcome Drink and Dinner
Upon arrival meet a tour director and waiting motor coach. The rest of the day
is free for you to rest or start exploring the lively British capital. Uniform
hosts help you make the most of your stay.
DAY 3 - SUN LONDON
Meals Included: Continental Breakfast
Morning sightseeing with a professional London guide includes all the famous
landmarks: Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Palace and the area's splendid museums,
Knightsbridge with Harrods, the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben beside the
River Thames, and Westminster Abbey. Drive by St. Paul's Cathedral - no inside
visit possible due to services on Sunday - and see the Changing of the Guard at
Buckingham Palace, if held. Afternoon, tour the TOWER OF LONDON & CROWN
JEWELS, inside visit.
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“There is a wonderful diversity of
castles of different styles and periods. Local guides enhanced the
experience by providing historic background and interesting stories of
those who lived there.”
John from Virginia Buckingham Palace |
DAY 4 - MON LONDON
Meals Included: Continental Breakfast
Depart this morning for a drive southeast into Kent, the "Garden of
England", for a visit to CANTERBURY CATHEDRAL, England's
Mother Church, where you hear about Thomas a Becket and the Black Prince. Then,
at nearby mighty, moated LEEDS CASTLE, inside visit, which Lord
Conway describes as "the loveliest castle in the world," there's
plenty of time to admire the lavish state apartments, which have hosted
international summit meetings, and to take a leisurely stroll in the magnificent
gardens, zoo and maze. Rest of evening free.
DAY 5 - TUE LONDON - STRATFORD
Meals Included: Continental Breakfast and Dinner
Depart London for a visit to the Royal WINDSOR CASTLE, inside
visit, the largest inhabited castle in the world, the Queen's favorite
residence. Continue to Oxford, one of the country's oldest seats of learning and
stroll to see the colleges where Britain's elite receives its outstanding
education. Afternoon arrival in Stratford-upon-Avon, Shakespeare's birthplace
and stop for pictures of Anne Hathaway's Cottage. Time to explore this fine
example of an Elizabethan town. Overnight in Stratford.
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“We loved the castles and countryside. Great job.” Jim and Pam from Colorado Windsor Castle |
DAY 6 - WED STRATFORD - RUTHIN,
WALES
Meals Included: Full Breakfast and Dinner
A morning drive to WARWICK CASTLE, inside visit with local guide,
a splendid medieval fortress, which is also one of the country's finest stately
homes. The original Norman castle was built in the 14th century. Continue our
day to Chester, the ancient Roman county town on the River Dee. If possible, we
will spend the night in Ruthin Castle. Overnight in Wales.
DAY 7 - THU RUTHIN
Meals Included: Full Breakfast and Dinner
Wales is rich in romantic medieval castles. In the morning, we will have a day
excursion to visit CONWAY CASTLE, inside visit, it is fortified
with 21 towers and three gateways, the walls form an almost unbroken shield
around the old town. Afternoon excursion to BEAUMARIS CASTLE,
inside visit, which was the last of Edward I's Welsh castles, this perfectly
symmetrical, concentric design was intended to combine impregnable defense with
comfort. Invaders should face many obstacles before reaching the inner ward.
Enjoy the authentic flavor of a Welsh Medieval Banquet at RUTHIN CASTLE.
If possible, we will spend the night in Ruthin Castle. Overnight in Wales.
DAY 8 - FRI RUTHIN - DUBLIN,
IRELAND
Meals Included: Full Breakfast and Dinner
Early start to travel through incomparable landscapes. We will visit CAERNARVON
CASTLE; inside visit, with its polygonal towers, was built as a seat of
government for North Wales. Continue to Britannia Bridge to board your ferry for
the Irish Sea crossing to Dun Laoghaire and into Dublin.
DAY 9 - SAT DUBLIN
Meals Included: Full Breakfast
Orientation drive in the Irish capital includes statue-lined O'Connell street,
elegant Georgian squares, Phoenix Park and St. Patrick's Cathedral. Then visit
Oscar Wilde's TRINITY COLLEGE, famous for the 1,200-year-old Book
of Kells and the magnificent Old Library. Early afternoon visit to DUBLIN
CASTLE, inside visit, which stands in the heart of old Dublin, St.
Patrick's Hall is part of the suite of luxury State Apartments housed on the
upper floors on the south side of the castle. Afternoon free to explore Dublin
or for shopping. Overnight at Dublin.
DAY 10 - SUN DUBLIN -
BALLYGALLY AREA
Meals Included: Full Breakfast and Dinner
Visit MONASTERBOICE, inside visit, founded in the 5th. Century it is the
most famous religious site in Ireland. The ruins of the medieval monastery are
enclosed within a graveyard in a lovely secluded spot. The site includes a
roofless round tower and two churches, but Monasterboice's greatest treasures
are its 10th. Century High Crosses. Afternoon visit to CARRICKFERGUS CASTLE,
inside visit, the finest and best-preserved Norman Castle in Ireland, it even
has its original portcullis from the 12 century. If possible, we will spend the
night in Ballygally Castle.
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“I really enjoyed the trip. We had
a really good group. I enjoyed sharing with everyone. I appreciated all
the time and effort that Castles of the World contributed. All the hard
work made this tour a great success”
Pam from Philadelphia |
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DAY 11 - MON BALLYGALLY AREA -
GLASGOW
Meals Included: Full Breakfast and Dinner
Spectacular Antrim coastal scenery on the way to Belfast to board your ferry for
the crossing of the North Channel to the west coast of Scotland. On the way,
visit CULZEAN CASTLE, inside visit, standing on a cliff's edge in
an extensive parkland estate. The 16th. Century keep was remodeled in the 18th.
Century. Orientation tour of Glasgow. Overnight in Glasgow.
DAY 12 - TUE GLASGOW - OBAN
Meals Included: Full Breakfast and Dinner
Follow the road known as "Rest and be Thankful" to visit INVERARAY
CASTLE, inside visit, this multi-turreted mock Gothic palace is the
family home of the powerful clan Campbell, who have been the Dukes of Argyl
since 1701. The allied troops trained here during World War II. Afternoon visit
to the ruins of KILCHURN CASTLE, inside visit, on the shore of
Loch Awe, one of the longest freshwater lochs in Scotland. Overnight in Oban.
DAY 13 - WED OBAN - INVERNESS
Meals Included: Full Breakfast and Dinner
A day full of Scottish splendor, Loch Ness with its mysterious monster. The road
will take us today to the romantic EILEAN DONAN CASTLE, inside visit, it
is actually on an island linked by land by a stone bridge; and its magnificent
setting on the sea-loch has made it Scotland's most photographed building. In
the Highlands, all roads lead to the region's capital, Inverness. Photo stop at
Inverness Castle, a Victorian building of red sandstone, now used as the
courthouse. Overnight in Inverness.
DAY 14 - THU INVERNESS -
EDINBURGH
Meals Included: Full Breakfast
Historic splendor this morning at GLAMIS CASTLE, inside visit, the
childhood home of the Queen Mother and birthplace of Princess Margaret. Drive to
St. ANDREWS CASTLE, inside visit, which was built for the town's bishop
in the year 1200. St. Andrew's golf course, founded in 1754, has given us the
rules of golfing. Continue for overnight in Edinburgh.
 Edinburgh Castle |
 Glamis Castle |
 Holyrood Palace |
DAY 15 - FRI EDINBURGH
Meals Included: Full Breakfast and Dinner
A full day to enjoy this "Prince of Cities." Morning sightseeing with
a local expert includes an orientation drive along Princes Street and the Royal
Mile, and tours of mighty EDINBURGH CASTLE, inside visit, and the
Queen's HOLYROOD PALACE. Afternoon free. Overnight in Edinburgh
and farewell dinner.
DAY 16 - SAT EDINBURGH -
GLASGOW airport
Meals Included: Full Breakfast
Group transfer to the airport of Glasgow (45 minute drive) to meet return flight
home.
