Glens of Antrim:

A beautiful coastal drive is the perfect way to start your day. 

The Glens of Antrim known locally as simply The Glens, is a region of Co Antrim. It comprises nine glens (valleys), that radiate from the Antrim Plateau to the coast. The Glens are an area of outstanding natural beauty and are a major tourist attraction in north Antrim.

The main towns and villages in the Glens are  Ballycastle, Cushendun, Cushendall, Waterfoot, CFarnlough, and Glenarm.

Giants Causeway:

The Giant's Causeway is an area of about 40,000 interlocking basalt Columns, the result of an ancient volcanic fissure eruption. It is located in Co Antrim on the north coast of N. Ireland about three miles (4.8 km) northeast of the town of Bushmills

It was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1986 and a national nature reserve.

Bushmills Distillery:

GRANTED A LICENSE TO DISTILL IN 1608, BUSHMILLS IS THE OLDEST LICENSED WHISKEY DISTILLERY IN THE WORLD.

Along the north coast of Ireland, where arctic storms rage against the jagged cliffs and where the crisp waters of the River Bush cut through volcanic rock, generations have passed down an ancient distilling tradition.

For over 400 years, we've carried on an ancient whiskey tradition. Generations have passed down a handcrafted art, triple-distilling our “smooth and mellow” whiskeys.

Friars Bush Graveyard.

This graveyard is said to be the oldest Christian burial ground established by St Patrick himself. There is evidence of a medieval Church on the grounds. There is also a 2' standing stone with a whole in the top thought to be a  Holy water font inscribed in 485 AD. This is a nighttime visit so if you choose to do an investigation here it's up to you.

Activity Level: Low/Moderate

The itinerary may be subject to slight change depending on weather and other conditions.

Carrickfergus Castle:

 is a  Norman Castle in N Ireland, situated in the town of Carrickfergus in Co Antrim,  on the northern shore of Belfast Lough. Besieged in turn by the Scottish,, native Irish, English, and French, the castle played an important military role until 1928 and remains one of the best-preserved medieval structures in Northern Ireland. It was strategically useful, with 3/4 of the castle perimeter surrounded by water (although in modern times only 1/3 is surrounded by water due to land reclamation.

Belfast Shopping:

We bring you back to the city so you can stroll around and do some shopping if you wish.

Activity Level: Low

The itinerary may have slight changes depending on weather and other conditions out of our control.

We will take a trip over to Scotland today either by plane or boat, TBD.

Edinburgh Castle:

Set upon its mighty rock, Edinburgh Castle’s strategic advantage is clear. Seeing the site’s military potential, Iron Age people built a hill fort on the rock. Early medieval poetry tells of a war band that feasted here for a year before riding to their deaths in battle.

As well as guarding great moments in history, the castle has suffered many sieges. During the Wars of Independence, it changed hands many times. In 1314, the Scots retook the castle from the English in a daring night raid led by Thomas Randolph, nephew of Robert the Bruce.

The castle defenses have evolved over hundreds of years. Mons Meg, one of the greatest medieval cannons ever made, was given to King James II in 1457. The Half Moon Battery, built in the aftermath of the Lang Siege of 1573, was armed for 200 years by bronze guns known as the Seven Sisters. Six more guns defend the Argyle Battery, with its open outlook to the north.

Greyfriars Kirkyard:

Situated in the heart of Edinburgh’s Old Town, Greyfriars Kirk was founded in 1620. It is the first church to be built in post-Reformation Scotland.. Greyfriars was built on the site of a pre-Reformation Franciscan monastery, which explains how the name of the Kirk came to be (so-called after the robes that the friars wore). However, following the Scottish Reformation of 1560, the grounds of the Franciscan monastery (which was then on the outskirts of the city) passed into the possession of Mary Queen of Scots, who subsequently granted it to the town council, for use as a burial ground, later bordered by the famous Flodden Wall.

Mary KIngs Close:

Meet the Residents 

The Guides bring the history of the close to life.

Meet the residents… Your experience at The Real Mary King’s Close will be brought to life by one of our costumed character tour guides. Each of them characterizes a former resident who really lived, worked and died on the closes of Old Town Edinburgh.

Activity Level: Low/Moderate

The itinerary may have slight changes depending on weather and other conditions out of our control.

Craigmiller Castle:

Craigmillar Castle is a ruined medieval castle in Edinburgh, Scotland. It is three miles southeast of the city center, on a low hill to the south of the modern suburb of Craigmillar. The Preston family of Craigmillar, the local feudal barons, began building the castle in the late 14th century and building works continued through the 15th and 16th centuries. In 1660, the castle was sold to Sir John Gilmour, Lord President of the Court of Session, who breathed new life into the aging castle.

Roslyn Chapel:

Rosslyn Chapel, formerly known as the Collegiate Chapel of St Matthew, is a 15th-century chapel located in the village of Roslin, Midlothian, Scotland. Rosslyn Chapel was founded on a small hill above Roslin Glen as a Catholic collegiate church in the mid-15th century. The chapel was founded by William Sinclair, 1st Earl of Caithness of the Scoto-Norman Sinclair family. Rosslyn Chapel is the third Sinclair place of worship at Roslin, the first being in Roslin Castle and the second in what is now Roslin Cemetery.

Gilmerton Cove:

Gilmerton Cove is a series of underground passageways and chambers hand-carved from sandstone located beneath the streets of Gilmerton, an ex-mining village, now a southeastern suburb of Edinburgh, Scotland. There has been much speculation about the origins of the Cove and its purpose.

Activity Level: Low

The itinerary may have slight changes depending on weather and other conditions out of our control.

Blackness Castle:

Blackness Castle is a 15th-century fortress, near the village of Blackness, Scotland, on the south shore of the Firth of Forth. It was built, probably on the site of an earlier fort, by Sir George Crichton in the 1440s. At this time, Blackness was the main port serving the Royal Burgh of Linlithgow, one of the main residences of the Scottish monarch. The castle, together with the Crichton lands, passed to James II of Scotland in 1453, and the castle has been crown property ever since.

Linlithgow Castle:

The ruins of Linlithgow Palace are located in the town of Linlithgow, West Lothian, Scotland, 15 miles west of Edinburgh. The palace was one of the principal residences of the monarchs of Scotland in the 15th and 16th centuries. Although maintained after Scotland's monarchs left for England in 1603, the palace was little used and was burned out in 1746.

Bannockburn House:

Nestled in beautiful woodland and gardens, you’ll find Bannockburn House – a magnificent 17th-century mansion with a rich, colorful past.

Once home to the first baronet of Bannockburn and now owned by the local community, the House is steeped in history.

Step back in time on one of our guided tours and see where Bonnie Prince Charlie once slept,

Experience life in the servants’ quarters, learn about our connection to tartan, and admire the beautiful, ornate architecture.

Return to hotel for card readings by Vanessa after evening meal.

Activity Level: Low

The itinerary may have slight changes depending on weather and other conditions out of our control.

Heading North today to the Highlands:

Blackwater Castle:

The history of Blackwater Castle extends back some thousands of years and there are clear indications that the site was first occupied during the early Mesolithic period (circa 10,000 years ago). There is also evidence of occupation of the site during the Iron Age (c. 500 BC and possibly even the late Bronze Age) when the fort of Dún Cruadha was established on the current site of Blackwater Castle.  

Scottish Crannogs:

Crannogs are found across Scotland and Ireland. They are houses built on artificial islands over water, usually with a bridge or causeway joining them to the shore. At the Scottish Crannog Centre, we are interested in the first Crannogs in Scotland, those built in the Early Iron Age, 2500 years ago.

Crannogs are incredible buildings not only for the skills and technologies required to build and maintain them but also for the way they preserve information about the past. As underwater sites, they protect valuable information about our ancestors and often reveal unprecedented levels of preservation that allow us to get a rare glimpse of prehistoric life.

Dilwinnie Distillery:

Dalwhinnie Distillery is home to a famous Highland Single Malt Whisky renowned for its gentle flavors accentuated with notes of heather honey, citrus, vanilla, and sweet malt.

Dalwhinnie Distillery is home to a famous Highland Single Malt Whisky renowned for its gentle flavors accentuated with notes of heather honey, citrus, vanilla and sweet malt. The site of the distillery was chosen for its access to clear spring water and abundant peat from the surrounding bogs. Set in splendid mountain scenery at the heart of the Cairngorm National Park, Dalwhinnie is the highest distillery in Scotland at 1164 feet above sea level. The name Dalwhinnie is derived from the Gaelic language, meaning ‘meeting place’, referring to the meeting of ancient cattle drovers' routes through the mountains.

Activity Level: Low

The itinerary may have slight changes depending on weather and other conditions out of our control.

We take the day to explore Monsters/battles/ and Castles with expert local guides who will teach us all about the history of the Highlands. We stay in Inverness.

Activity Level: Low

The itinerary may have slight changes depending on weather and other conditions out of our control.

Urquhart Castle:

Urquhart Castle is a ruined castle that sits beside Loch Ness in the Highlands of Scotland. The castle is on the A82 road, 21 kilometers south-west of Inverness and 2 kilometers east of the village of Drumnadrochit. The present ruins date from the 13th to the 16th centuries, though built on the site of an early medieval fortification.

Fort Augustus:

Situated on the most southern tip of Loch Ness on the Great Glen Way, this historic and scenic hamlet is a popular tourist destination.

Lying on the impressive 60-mile-long Caledonian Canal, halfway between Inverness and Fort William. Fort Augustus offers spectacular views down Loch Ness and is a paradise for keen walkers and cyclists with many beautiful walks around the area, the most popular being the Great Glen Way.

Inverness Castle:

Perched atop a cliff with commanding views over the River Ness in Inverness, Scotland, Inverness Castle has a storied history. The site has been home to a series of castles dating back to 1057, with the current edifice erected in 1836. The castle holds the distinction of being a Category A listed building, contributing to the cultural heritage of the region.

This fortress, with roots extending back to the sixth century, has witnessed a multitude of historical events that shaped the destiny of Scotland. Let's go on a journey through time to discover the captivating history of Inverness Castle.

Activity Level: Low/Moderate

The itinerary may have slight changes depending on weather and other conditions out of our control.

Pitlochry Atholl Palace museum:

The Atholl Palace Museum, set in the old servant’s wing, charts the history of the Atholl Palace Hotel from when it first opened as a Hydropathic establishment in 1878 through to its reopening after World War II and beyond. There are tales of bankruptcy, colorful entrepreneurs, Victorian servants, unusual and torturous spa treatments, renovations, and wartime evacuees turning hotel to school. Audio dramas, a Minecraft educational resource, a short film, tactile room settings, games area and interpretation boards packed with insights and photographs will intrigue visitors of all ages.

St Andrews:

Explore the remains of Scotland’s largest and most magnificent medieval church. Even in its ruinous state, the cathedral remains a prominent landmark highly visible from the sea.

• Find out how the cathedral dominated Scottish religion until 1560, as headquarters of the medieval Scottish Church
• Marvel at its scale – the cathedral was the seat of Scotland’s leading bishops (and, from 1472, archbishops)
• Learn about the site used for worship since at least the 700s, when St Andrew’s relics are said to have been brought here
• Get up close to Scotland’s most complete and imposing enclosure walls, encircling the cathedral precinct
• View early and later medieval sculpture and other relics found on the site in the cathedral museum.

Return to Edinburgh for an early night because we are traveling back to Belfast early in the morning.

Activity Level: Low

The itinerary may have slight changes depending on weather and other conditions out of our control.

Belfast city center is a very vibrant place with plenty of places to see and shops to explore. Today you are free to do and see what you want. You could go to the Titanic museum or other places of interest. 

We will have a chat together in the hotel before we retire for the night where you can let us know about your experiences and if you had any special places that toughed you!

Itinerary may have slight changes depending on weather and other conditions out of our control.

We leave you back to the airport to catch your flight home. We wish you a safe flight and hope you come and join us on more adventures in the future.