Grand Tour of Ireland & Britain
For SINGLE TRAVELLERS 45 Years & Over
Friday 5 to Friday 26 August 2011 (22 days)
Itinerary
Fellow Passengers
Book this trip, knowing that you'll be sharing the tour with other single/solo travellers.
There are 25 places on this trip reserved for the arendezvous community. Subject to demand, these places may increase or decrease. This tour has received high enquiry levels; we expect high demand...please book early to ensure your tour place is available.
Room Mate Match Requests
Requests to be room mate matched (for a twin share room booking) are subject to availability. Unfortunately, as we have sold out of single rooms, if a match is not available it means that a tour place cannot be offered.
PLEASE book early for a room mate match request.
Tour Operator
This tour is operated by Trafalgar Tours.
Trafalgar is a world's favourite provider of great value escorted tours to worldwide destinations. With unrivalled travel expertise since 1947 and the best Tour Directors in the industry, with a Trafalgar tour you will enjoy the perfect, hassle-free holiday.
Trafalgar's London Reception Centre is the departure point for the tour and is nearby to the group hotel used for your pre-tour night in London. Full details are provided with tour documents.
The total coach capacity is 48 travellers (including our group of single travellers). We have included pre and post tour stays in London for our group.
First Class Travel Highlights
- First Class hotel accommodation includes twin-bedded rooms with private facilities, all hotel service charges and tips, baggage handling fees and local taxes.
- Touring by luxury air-conditioned coach with reclining seats and a washroom onboard.
- The services of one of Trafalgar's top professional Tour Directors.
- The services of a Trafalgar Representative if you stay at Trafalgar's recommended London hotel.
- A qualified local city guide in Londonderry/Derry, Belfast, Dublin and Edinburgh.
- Tickets are included for the world-famous Tattoo during the Edinburgh Festival.
- Ferry across the Irish Sea from Wales to Ireland and return.
- A stylish wallet, tour documents and a Welcome on Tour book.
PRE/POST TOUR HOTEL, LONDON Most flights from Australia arrive in the morning to London between 5:30 to 7:30am. A transfer from the airport to the group hotel is included in your tour price. (continental breakfast, 2 standard drinks) Day 1 - 6AUG 2011 London - Stonehenge - Plymouth (2 nights) Day 2 - 7 AUG 2011 Cornish Excursion Day 3 - 8 AUG 2011 Plymouth - Bath - Cardiff Day 4 - 9 AUG 2011 Cardiff - Waterford Day 5 - 10 AUG 2011 Waterford - Blarney - Kenmare (2 nights) Day 6 - 11 AUG 2011 Ring of Kerry excursion Day 7 - 12 AUG 2011 Kenmare - Limerick - Galway Day 8 - 13 AUG 2011 Galway - Sligo Day 9 - 14 AUG 2011 Sligo - Londonderry - Giants Causeway - Belfast Day 10 - 15 AUG 2011 Belfast sightseeing - Dublin (2 nights) Day 11 - 16 AUG 2011 Dublin sightseeing and at leisure Day 12 - 17 AUG 2011 Dublin - Liverpool Day 13 - 18 AUG 2011 Liverpool - Lake District Day 14 - 19 AUG 2011 Lake District - Glasgow Day 15 - 20 AUG 2011 Glasgow - Isle of Skye Day 16 - 21 AUG 2011 Isle of Skye - Loch Ness - Scottish Highlands (Aviemore) Day 17 - 22 AUG 2011 Scottish Highlands - St. Andrews - Edinburgh (2 nights) Day 18 - 23 AUG 2011 Edinburgh sightseeing and at leisure Day 19 - 24 AUG 2011 Edinburgh - York Day 20 - 25 AUG 2011 York - Coventry - Stratford - London
Pre tour - London 5 August 2011
Arrive to London at your leisure. A pre tour night at the group hotel is included with your tour price.
Park Plaza County Hall London
1 Addington Street, London SE1 7RY, United Kingdom
Visit hotel website
Hotel check-in is 2pm. If you arrive before this time check-in prior to this time is not guaranteed. For a guaranteed check-in a booking for the night prior would be required.
The day is at your leisure; rest after your long flight or take in some of the sights of London.
The arendezvous group will be staying at the group hotel, Park Plaza Country Hall, a superior first class hotel. This evening at 5:30pm at the hotel, join your group for some hosted Welcome Drinks with a Trafalgar representative.
Hotel: Park Plaza County Hall
We head west for Salisbury to view the cathedral, then to Stonehenge, before continuing to Plymouth. Here we see the Mayflower steps, point of departure for the Pilgrim Fathers, and later we enjoy a Welcome Drink and dinner with our Tour Director and fellow travellers. (Dinner)
Hotel: Copthorne
First to Penzance to view St. Michael's Mount, then to St. Ives, popular artists' haunt. Later we enjoy a traditional cream tea before returning to Plymouth. (Full breakfast)
We visit the abbey ruins at Glastonbury and see the legendary site of King Arthur's tomb. Then through Wells to Georgian Bath where we visit the Roman Baths. Today our Tour Director will reveal to us the first Hidden Treasure of our tour! Later we cross the Severn Bridge to Cardiff. (Full breakfast)
Hotel: Radisson Blu
A morning orientation tour of Cardiff gives us a chance to view the mighty castle. Then later, we drive through South Wales to the port of Pembroke where we board our ferry to sail to Rosslare in Ireland. (Full breakfast / Dinner)
Hotel: The Belfry
First we visit the Waterford Crystal Showroom before enjoying a scenic drive via Dungarvan and the fishing village of Youghal to Cork where we see St. Anne's Shandon Church. Then to Blarney Castle where there's a chance to acquire the ‘gift of the gab' by kissing the Blarney Stone. (Full breakfast / Dinner)
Hotel: Kenmare Bay
Our highlight drive around the Ring of Kerry shows us plunging cliffs, lakeland, mountains and sandy beaches. We also see Dingle Bay, and the South Kerry Mountains before we head back to Kenmare. (Full breakfast)
This morning we travel via the prettiest village in Ireland, Adare, on our way to Limerick on the River Shannon. Here an orientation shows us King John's Castle, St. Mary's Cathedral and the treaty stone. Next to Galway via the spectacular Cliffs of Moher. (Full breakfast)
Hotel: Carlton Hotel
We enjoy an orientation drive in Galway city, then into the lakes and mountains of Connemara stopping first to view the Abbey at Kylemore which is renowned for the beauty and tranquility of its surroundings and gardens. We continue through Yeats' country to Sligo. (Full breakfast / Dinner)
Hotel: Sligo Park
We cross the border into Northern Ireland to Londonderry to enjoy a tour showing us the city walls. Next we visit the Giants Causeway, and continue along the Antrim Coast Road through Ballycastle to Belfast. (Full breakfast / Dinner)
Hotel: Europa
Our tour highlights the City Hall, Queen's University and Stormont. Then we drive past Newry and Dundalk, crossing over the River Boyne at Drogheda and on to Dublin's ‘fair city'. (Full breakfast)
Hotel: Maldron Cardiff Lane
After breakfast our sightseeing tour with a local guide includes a visit of Trinity College to see the Book of Kells, Phoenix Park, St. Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin Castle and more. Then time at leisure to perhaps shop or relax. (Full breakfast)
We take the ferry back to Holyhead and drive to see the magnificent scenery of Snowdonia before viewing Conwy Castle. Then to Chester where our walking tour includes the famous ‘Rows' and another Hidden Treasure. Finally to our hotel in Liverpool and a local restaurant Highlight Dinner tonight. (Full breakfast / Highlight dinner)
Hotel: Jurys Inn
We drive into the beautiful scenery of the English Lake District to our hotel. (Full breakfast / Dinner)
Hotel: North Lakes / Hydro
We stop at Gretna Green on the Scottish border, renowned for eloping couples, then on to Glasgow where our tour shows us the cathedral, George Square and the River Clyde before time at leisure. (Full breakfast)
Hotel: Radisson SAS
We follow the banks of Loch Lomond to Glencoe, Vale of the Weeping. Then, past Fort William, in the shadow of Ben Nevis, before we travel the famous road to the isles for the ferry to our hotel on the Isle of Skye. (Full breakfast / Dinner)
Hotel: Kings Arms
Explore the island before returning to the mainland through Glen Shiel and along the banks of Loch Ness where we look out for the monster! Then to Culloden, site of the famous battle before arriving at our hotel in the Scottish Highlands. (Full breakfast / Dinner)
Hotel: Macdonald Highland Resort
We drive to Pitlochry, famous for excellent salmon fishing, before continuing to St. Andrews. Then on to Edinburgh via the splendid Forth Bridge. During the Edinburgh Festival, Edinburgh Tattoo tickets are included* (Full breakfast)
Hotel: Holiday Inn
* Edinburgh Tattoo tickets are subject to final confirmation once 2011 show dates are released.
Our guided tour includes the elegant New Town, Princes Street, the Royal Mile, views of Holyrood House and Arthur's Seat and enjoys a guided visit of the apartments at Edinburgh Castle. Later, perhaps enjoy an optional night out with a haggis dinner, bagpipes and Scottish dancing. (Full breakfast)
We travel through the Scottish Borderlands past ruined Jedburgh Abbey and back into England stopping at Hadrian's Wall. Then to Viking York where we will walk along the narrow cobbled street, known as the Shambles, and view the maginificent Minster. Tonight we join our Tour Director and travelling companions for a special Farewell Dinner together at the end of our tour. (Full breakfast / Farewell dinner)
Hotel: Hotel 53
We pass Sherwood Forest, of Robin Hood fame, en route to Coventry, home of Lady Godiva, where we see its two cathedrals. We see Anne Hathaway's Cottage in the village of Shottery before reaching Stratford-upon-Avon where we visit Shakespeare's birthplace before finally returning to London. (Full breakfast)
Post Tour - London 26 August 2011
Enjoy a continental breakfast at the group hotel before checking out this morning for your onward journey. A hotel to airport shuttle transfer is included with your tour price. (Continental breakfast)
Hotel: Park Plaza County Hall
GRATUITIES
If you have been satisfied with the services of your Tour Director and Driver, you may wish to express your satisfaction with a gratuity, as is customary on escorted tours throughout the world. As this is a matter of a private and individual nature your gratuity should be sealed in an envelope and given to each one separately at the end of the tour. We would suggest that an average gratuity for your Tour Director would be £3.00 per person per day and for your Driver £2.00 per person per day. This is a guide only and subject to change.
© arendezvous travel & leisure
2012