| Overview |
 Download
Sample Itinerary |
| Cost
Estimate: |
$4500 (Based
on a minimum of 10 people traveling) |
| Deposit: |
$500 |
| Includes: |
- Travel in Scotland and Ireland by luxury air ventilated
coach with adjustable seats.
- MEAL PLAN:
- 1 Welcome reception in Edinburgh
- 12 nights at local
Bed and Breakfast/Hotels
- Lunches on your own
- 1 closing dinner in Ireland
- SIGHTSEEING & VISITS:
- Edinburgh, castle, royal mile,
St. Giles
- Yorkshire Moors and Whitby
- James Herriot Museum
- Durham, cathedral and town
- Holy Island, Lindesfairne
Priory
- Alnwick castle
- Hadrian's Wall
- Berwick's Castle
- Belfast
- Dublin, trinity college, book of Kells
- Newgrange
- Glendalough
- Kildare
- ClonMacnoise
- Whithorn
- Aran Islands
- SUPERIOR TOURIST CLASS HOTELS/B&B’S:
- Twin-bedded
rooms with en-suite facilities; all service charges,
baggage handling max 2 bags per person, and VAT included.
|
| Excludes: |
- Gratuities
- All items of a personal nature
|
|
Sample
Itinerary one
Pilgrims on this trip will explore the ancient
sites of Celtic Christianity in Scotland and Ireland to gain
a better understanding of the Celtic roots at the heart of the
English speaking churches.
| Day 1 |
| |
- Transatlantic flight Minneapolis to arrive Glasgow International
Airport. Transfer by bus to Edinburgh.
|
| Day
2 |
| |
- Arrive this morning into Glasgow International Airport
where you will be met and transferred to Edinburgh. On
arrival check into the centrally located Roxburghe hotel.
This afternoon time will be allowed for some rest and
relaxation, or perhaps some independent sightseeing.
- Return to your hotel early evening where a welcome reception
will be served followed by dinner and tour briefing in
your hotel.
|
| Day
3 |
| |
- This morning enjoy a tour of the beautiful city of Edinburgh,
which will include a visit to Edinburgh Castle via the
Royal Mile. The Castle dominates the skyline and gives
stunning views of the city and countryside and houses
the Scottish Crown jewels, the Stone of destiny and Mons
Meg. Next you will visit St Giles, the High Kirk
of Scotland which dates from the 12th century and is
central to Scotland’s turbulent history.
- The balance
of the day will be yours to spend at leisure in Edinburgh.
Dinner this evening will be by independent arrangement.
|
| Day 4 |
| |
- Leave Edinburgh behind this morning as you head south
towards Durham. On arrival in Durham you will receive
a special tour of the glorious Norman cathedral here,
a World Heritage Site and burial place of the Venerable
Bede and St. Cuthbert. The tour will include the Treasury
Museum, which represents 900 years of history from the
time of St. Cuthbert to the present day.
- Late afternoon
an opportunity for those who wish to attend choral evensong,
before returning to your hotel.
- Early evening transfer
to Ramside Hall hotel, your base for the next 2 nights.
- Dinner arrangements this evening will be made independently.
|
| Day
5 |
| |
- Enjoy a visit to Bede’s world in Jarrow this morning,
where you can learn about the life and times of this
great scholar and visit the monastery where he died.
- After time for an independent lunch you will then be
transferred to Auckland Castle, which has been the principal
country residence of Bishops of Durham since Norman times
and is now the official residence of the present day
Bishop. Parts of the building date back to 12th century
and an exhibition in the medieval kitchens explores the
life of St Cuthbert.
- Return to your hotel in Durham this
evening where on arrival dinner will be served.
|
| Day
6 |
| |
- Board your coach this morning for
an excursion to Holy Island to view Lindesfarne Priory.
This site was one of the most important early centres of
Christianity, established when Bishop Aidan was sent from
Iona to spread Christianity through northern England. These
evocative ruins, with the decorated rainbow arch curving
dramatically across the nave of the church, still attract
pilgrims today.
- There will also be an opportunity to visit
Lindisfarne Castle, which was built in 1550 to protect
Holy Island harbour from attack. Late afternoon
board your coach as you are transferred to Carlisle,
pausing en-route to visit Hadrian’s wall. On arrival
in Carlisle check into the Cumbria Park hotel your base
overnight. Lunch and dinner today are to be spent
on your own.
|
| Day
7 |
| |
- Today will be spent visiting Whithorn Priory, originally
founded as ‘Candida Casa’ the “Shining
White Place” which now houses the
shrine of St. Ninian. This is the site of the earliest
recorded Christian Mission to Scotland, founded by St
Ninian who came to Whithorn while it was still a province
of the Roman Empire.
- This evening continue your journey
to Stranraer, where on arrival you will check into the
North West Castle hotel, your base this evening. Dinner
arrangements will be made independently tonight.
|
| Day
8 |
| |
- This morning take the ferry from Stranraer to Larne
in Northern Ireland. On arrival board your coach once
more as you are transferred via Belfast to Armaugh, where
St. Patrick founded his first church. Here you can trace
the history of the city from pre-Christian times, to
the arrival of St. Patrick and the Celtic Church.
- This
afternoon there will also be the opportunity to enjoy
a tour of the glorious Patrick Museum and the two magnificent
cathedrals. Overnight this evening will be spent in Dublin. Lunch
and dinner arrangements will be made independently today.
|
| Day
9 |
| |
- Join your guide and coach for a tour of this
Celtic City. On completion the balance of the day will
be yours to spend at leisure on independent activities, perhaps
to enjoy some shopping or sightseeing. Return to your hotel
in Dublin this evening for overnight. Lunch and dinner will
be on your own.
|
| Day 10 |
| |
- Board your coach, as you are transferred
to Dublin’s University at Trinity College. This
working College houses the prestigious Book of Kells. Written
in 800 AD, it is one of the most beautiful illuminated manuscripts
in the world. It was given to Trinity College in the
17th Century as a gift, and has been on display in the great
library since the 19th Century. There will also be
some time here to enjoy one of the themed exhibitions on
display.
- This afternoon there will be time for an independent
lunch before a visit to the Old Jameson Distillery. There
will be a chance hear to view how this traditional whisky
is distilled, followed by time afterwards for a “wee
dram” before spending the balance of the day in Dublin.
- Dinner arrangements this evening are to be made independently. Overnight
to spent in Dublin.
|
| Day 11 |
| |
- Enjoy an excursion to the Boyne Valley today. Subject
to confirmation there will be a visit to either the Tomb
at Newgrange (circa 2500 BC) or alternatively the lesser
known Tomb at Knowth. Time for an independent lunch before
continuing to Mellifont Abbey the first Cistercian Abbey
in Ireland.
- Late afternoon board your coach for the
transfer to the early Christian site of Monasterboice, famous
for its high crosses.
- Dinner arrangements this evening
will be made independently.
- Overnight Dublin.
|
| Day 12 |
| |
- Visit Clonmacnoise, founded by St. Ciaran
in 548 AD and one of Irelands most celebrated Holy Places.
Here there are numerous Celtic artefacts, including the Clonmacnoise
cross, and gravestone.
- Lunch and dinner today are
on your own.
|
| Day 13 |
| |
- Board your coach as you transfer by ferry
to the Aran Islands also known in Gaelic as Arana Naomph. These
magical islands of the coast of Galway have many historic
landmarks including the ruins of ancient fortifications,
churches and monasteries constructed in the early Christian
era.
- On arrival in Inishmore you will be met by your bus
for a mini tour of the island. Here there
will also be a visit to the majestic Iron Fort at Dun Aonghas
before spending the rest of the day at leisure.
- This
evening return to mainland Eire, where on arrival you will
check into your hotel in Galway.
- Dinner arrangements
tonight will be made independently.
|
| Day 14 |
| |
- Join your guide and coach today for a full
day your of Connemara. A magnificent wilderness populated
by sheep and dotted with hundreds of small lakes. The
stone walls, tiny farms, and isolated thatched cottages are
surrounded by coastline. Here also visit Kylemore Abbey,
once a former private house, and now home to the Benedictine
nuns the newly restored Gothic Church is the jewel in the
crown.
- Lunch arrangements today will be by independent
arrangements.
- On your return to your hotel in Galway
a farewell dinner will be served to commemorate the end of
this special tour.
|
| Day 15 |
| |
- Board your motorcoach this morning for the
transfer to Shannon Airport in time for your return flight
to the United States at 5:55PM
|
Top of Page |
