The Grand Tour of Scotland, England and Ireland

Your chauffeur will meet you inside the arrivals hall at Heathrow Airport, assist with luggage and escort you to the vehicle. Come and explore Windsor Castle with your guide and discover the story of the Kings and Queens of England. 

For almost 1000 years, this vast castle has been home to 40 monarchs and Royal families. From conquering Kings to Royal princesses sheltering from enemy bombs to imperial Queens, the stylistic evolution of this castle dramatically reflects the personalities, ticks, and ambitions of these royal creators. Approach this intimidating fortress, with its substantial stone battlements and forbidding towers and you might feel a little nervous. Follow your guide into the castle's heart, and you will discover behind this hostile facade is a palace with interiors of the utmost elegance and luxury. Its fortified walls and dominating towers are Windsor’s armour, protecting the treasures within, and of course, the most valuable jewel in the land was the monarch. 

Today the exotic, extravagant and enticing treasures are from the Royal collection and are not to be missed.

Head to a riverside pub for lunch before reaching London. Your hotel room will be ready for you to flop into, relax and sleep before dinner. You will feel ready to continue your Town and Country tour tomorrow. 

Recommended Hotel Bath: The Royal Crescent Hotel.

Older than the Pyramids of Egypt, Stonehenge, Europe's most famous prehistoric monument, is around 5,000 years old.  A temple to the sun, moon and stars, this mystical and magical site holds within its stones the key to understanding the cultures and rituals of the Neolithic people that built it. Your private guide will reveal the mystery around this world-famous stone circle, explaining how experts have exposed the secrets of this enigmatic site. The interactive experience doesn't stop at the stone circle. Your guide can also take you to meet a 5,500-year-old man and discover the tools and domestic artefacts handled by these people who lived thousands of years ago.

The last stop is one of Britain's most magnificent cathedrals and one of the world's most excellent examples of early English Gothic architecture. Salisbury was built over 38 years from 1220. Its spire boasts 404 feet and maybe the tallest medieval structure in the world. Salisbury Cathedral commemorated its 800th birthday in 2020 and has seen some things. Plague and royal feuds ravaged the city, and secret WW2  operations occurred. Come and discover all this and more with your guide. See the Magna Carta and a beautifully preserved stone frieze depicting scenes from the Old Testament.

Recommended Hotel Bath: The Royal Crescent Hotel.

Oxford is home to the oldest university in England, home to C.S Lewis, JRR Tolkien and the birthplace of Stephen Hawking. Twenty-six British Prime Ministers were all educated at Oxford University and many famous individuals, such as Tim Berners Lee, computer scientist and inventor of the World Wide Web. Enjoy a walking tour with your guide and visit Christ Church College with its vaulted staircase and elegant Tudor dining hall, which inspire locations in the Harry Potter films.

One of England’s ‘Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty’ with picturesque towns and villages made of honey-coloured limestone, the Cotswolds are a delight to explore. Once a wealthy wool-producing area, this region is now a filmmaker’s dream. Home to the Duke of Marlborough and the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill, Blenheim Palace is a grand aristocratic home befitting the high status of a Dukedom. One way to arrive at the Palace is to drive through the victory gate into Capability Brown’s world-famous landscaped grounds.

Time permitting, tour the magnificent staterooms. Stroll around the formal gardens and stroll through the collection of Italian, secret, rose and pleasure gardens and the water terraces.

Overnight: The Cotswolds - Recommended Luxury Village Spa Hotel: The Lygon Arms Hotel.

After breakfast, head north, stopping for morning tea before arriving in York at lunchtime. Check into the Grand Hotel and stop for lunch at The Star Inn the City.

York started life as a military town in the Roman period. Became a Viking stronghold and then a medieval gem. York once held the title of Britain's second city and became famous for manufacturing chocolate and confectionery.  

Your guide will take you on a 2,000-year journey through the snickets and backstreets before exploring the huge Minster, one of the largest gothic buildings in the world. Spend the afternoon shopping or visiting the various museums and galleries. 

Overnight: The Grand, York.

To the Dales and Fountains Abbey.

We head into the lush green Yorkshire Dales, cruising on "B" roads, passing miles upon miles of stone walls and glacial carved hills dotted with millions of sheep. See the geological wonders of the Butter Tubs, Gordale Scar and the impressive waterfall of Hardraw Force.  

We stop for lunch at Fountains Abbey before seeing this magnificent UNESCO World Heritage visitor attraction. The site is a ruined ancient Cistercian abbey and an 18th-century green water garden. King Henry VIII dissolved Britain's monastic institutions in the 1530s, and over 100 "romantic" ruins litter the countryside. Fountains must surely be the most beautiful of them all, with the addition of green water gardens made of moon-shaped pools of dark water reflecting the trees growing on the craggy boundaries.

Dinner: On your own in York. The city is famous for having a pub for everyday of the year; there are 365 and around 150 restaurants within the city walls. We will recommend and book restaurants when required. 

Overnight: The Grand, York.

Bamburgh Castle is another piece of Northumberland Coastal history. Bamburgh has guarded the northeast shoreline for 1,400 years. Nine acres of walls, turrets and barbicans sit on its rocky plateau. Incidentally, Bamburgh Castle is one of the largest homes in the country. Northumbria was just one of several Kingdoms, but the largest within England and Bamburgh was the royal capital.

A short drive from Bamburgh is a rather majestic old fort, Dunstanburgh Castle. Its battered remains are a testament to its exciting existence as a castle under siege on many occasions. The Earl of Lancaster built the castle between 1313 and 1322. The Crown upgraded the defences due to worrying threats from Scotland. 

During the famous royal family feud, the Wars of the Roses, the castle changed hands from the House of Lancaster to the House of York several times, much like a series of the Game of Thrones. Ultimately, troops left the site in ruins, so now battle-scarred Dunstanburgh is a romantic old fort on the beautiful Northumberland Coast - Head north to Edinburgh.

Overnight: Edinburgh - Recommended Five Star Hotel: The Caledonian Hotel.
Overnight: Edinburgh - Recommended Luxury Townhouse Hotel: Kimpton Charlotte Square.

Scotland’s capital is bursting with character and charm. Edinburgh is a tale of two cities, the hilltop settlement with alleys, snickets, old churches and The Castle, and the NEW City, of 18th-century origin. Speculators constructed a new town on the back of new money and investment following the Union with England in 1707. 

Tour the official residence of HRH King Charles, the Palace of Holyrood House. The Palace was once home to Mary, Queen of Scots and the setting for many dramatic episodes in her short life. Enjoy a walking tour up the famous Royal Mile with your guide – cobbled streets, tiny shops, mysteries and the stories of Scotland’s significant figures of literature. 

Tour Edinburgh Castle, which dominates Edinburgh’s skyline and gives stunning views across the city and countryside. Home to the Scottish Crown Jewels, the legendary Stone of Destiny and Mons Meg – a giant cannon. Tour the New Town and visit the Georgian house, built in the late 18th century and furnished as it would have been in 1796, presenting a fascinating insight into the past. Get off the beaten path with your guide and see a side of Edinburgh not typically seen. 

Overnight: Edinburgh - Recommended Five Star Hotel: The Caledonian Hotel.
Overnight: Edinburgh - Recommended Luxury Townhouse Hotel: Kimpton Charlotte Square.

Our day begins with the military key to Scotland, Stirling Castle. The strategically located fortification is at the junction of the River Forth and Teith, perfect for launching attacks into the Highlands and surrounding settlements. 

Stop for a photo stop at Stirling Castle or go inside. Perched high and proud on impressive cliffs, Stirling Castle has played a crucial role in Scottish history; namely, the Battles of Stirling Bridge and Bannockburn took place within its shadow. The controversial Mary Queen of Scots lived here as a child. The Queen was the focus of a Roman Catholic succession to the English and Scottish thrones, encouraged by the great Catholic powers of Europe. Queen Mary plotted the assassination of Queen Elizabeth I, and ultimately she lost her head. 

Made up of mountains, forests, rivers and lochs, the Trossachs National Park is a miniature version of the Highlands with historical connections to Rob Roy. The Corbetts mountains are between 2,500 and 3,000 feet and erratically break the horizon. 

Inveraray Castle featured in an episode of Downton Abbey, which will interest Downton fans. Within the town is Inveraray Jail, a 19th-century prison with three-foot thick walls. The jail holds 4345 former prisoner records, so there are many tales to be told by the costumed characters walking around the prison.

Overnight: Western Highlands - Recommended Manor House Hotel: The Isle of Eriska Hotel.
Overnight: Western Highlands - Recommended Restaurant with Rooms Hotel: The Airds Hotel.

The western coast of Scotland is genuinely wonderful; the best way to explore is by car and boat.

Enjoy a Wildlife Boat Trip and see some of Scotland’s treasured wildlife. Expect to see dolphins, basking sharks and porpoises not to mention sea eagles, puffins and otters. The boat will circle the rocks allowing you to see the heart-warming seals lazing around. The Corryvreckan natural whirlpool is one of the most impressive in the world and feeling its pull on the vessel is a strange but enjoyable experience. Stop for a light lunch on the coast and enjoy afternoon tea at the hotel.

Overnight: Western Highlands - Recommended Manor House Hotel: The Isle of Eriska Hotel.
Overnight: Western Highlands - Recommended Restaurant with Rooms Hotel: The Airds Hotel.

Drive along the Great Glen Fault, a colossal geological valley from the northeast to the southwest Highlands and beyond, skimming Ireland and into the Atlantic Ocean. 

Loch Ness is a massive body of water covering 22 square miles with depths of almost 800 ft. The Loch is famous for its monster mysteries. Reported sightings of giant aquatic lizards gained international interest in the 1930s. Is the creature of Scottish folk law real? Or a strange sea-serpent species? Now, it is your chance to see the beast of the deep.

Visit Edradour Distillery. The surviving farmhouse distillery opened in 1825 and is the smallest distillery in Scotland. The distillery only produces eighteen casks a week with everything made by hand. Let us tailor the afternoon and visit your favourite distillery on the Whisky Trail.

Overnight: Perthshire - Recommended Five Star Resort Hotel: Gleneagles.
Overnight: Perthshire - Recommended Boutique Castle Hotel: Fonab Castle.
Overnight: Stirling - Recommended Boutique Country Hotel: Cromlix.

Please get in touch with us for Golfing choices. There are ten authentic links courses in and around St Andrews, including the world-famous Old Course. St Andrews, the home of golf and real-life royal love stories. The sport was invented here, and the Scots have been playing it since around the 12th century. It was particularly popular with Mary, Queen of Scots, who was chastised in 1568 when she chose to 'tee off' straight after her husband's murder. These stories and more are shared and displayed at the British Golf Museum, which documents the game from the Middle Ages to the modern day. 

The seaside and university town is where Kate Middleton stole Prince William's heart, now the Duchess of Cambridge! The university is the oldest in Scotland, with over six centuries of teaching, and the surrounding milieu includes medieval cobbled streets, a 13th-century castle, and the haunting gothic ruin of St Andrews Cathedral.

Alternatively, Glamis Castle is a Category A listed building and haunted! It is arguably one of Scotland's most famous castles. Over 1000 years of history, the extensive estate covers over 14,000 acres (57 sq km). It was home to Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother who spent her childhood there and Princess Margaret's birthplace (sister to Queen Elizabeth II) in 1930. 

Glamis Castle is a classic aristocratic Scottish Castle surrounded by magnificent grounds and countryside. The property is within easy reach of Pitlochry and a day tour from Edinburgh.

Overnight: St Andrews - Recommended Hotel: The Old Course Hotel. 

The classic guided walking tour of Dublin (using taxis when required) – Customised for you

On your guided walking tour of Dublin discover the origins, history, music scene and fascinating tales of this thriving and energetic city.  

Have you been intrigued by TV and Movies about The Vikings? You may have picked up how widespread their settlements were, from North America to the Mediterranean, Ireland, and Dublin. From the late 12th century, Dublin became an Anglo-Norman trading port. The city has suffered many plagues, war, suppression, and unemployment, resulting in large-scale emigration. The Irish have returned to their beloved capital in large numbers now that prosperity has returned. Dublin is now bursting with life and ambition.  

On your tour Of this city of famous writers, see Oscar Wilde's birthplace and pass the National Gallery, supported by royalties from "Pygmalion," George Bernard Shaw's celebrated play. Head for the ancient city centre, where the Vikings first settled over 1,000 years ago, now with gracious public buildings and lively shopping areas.

Tour Dublin Castle, a symbol of English and British rule for seven centuries, now government offices. There are fascinating towers, apartments and chapels of every architectural period and style. Visit Trinity College's Old Library to view the 8th-century Book of Kells. The symbolism within the pages and the beautiful illustrations make it a world-famous book, the historical value is priceless.

We can tailor your tour to include architectural aspects of the city, art galleries, the National Museum of Ireland, the Guinness factory tour, and Christ Church Cathedral. 

Overnight: Dublin - No 1. Recommended Hotel: The Merrion.
Overnight: Dublin - No 2. Recommended Hotel: The Westin Dublin.

The gardens at Powerscourt are the finest in Ireland, admired for the architectural aspects, planting scheme and dramatic setting at the base of Great Sugar Loaf Mountain. Make your way through a world-class collection of conifers and take a mini hike to see Ireland's highest waterfall at 121 metres, situated in a delightful location at the foothills of the Wicklow Mountains. The gardens contain cascades, fountains, Italianate terraces, ponds and caves. 

Stop at the Wicklow Mountains and take in the sheer beauty of Ireland's heather-clad hills - it is hard to believe you are only an hour from the Dublin city limits. 

Visit Glendalough, also known as 'the valley of two lakes', one of Ireland's most atmospheric monastic sites, dating from the 6th century. Enjoy a walk on the banks of the lake and see the St Kevin monastery ruins. There is a fine example of a Round Tower, a place of refuge in times of attack. These distinctive protective turret-like structures have an ingenious series of levels accessible only by ladder, allowing a defender to remove a ladder after climbing to the top.  See the cathedral and the Priests' House, which are all part of the Glendalough experience – there is an excellent visitors centre with the story of the site represented.

Overnight: Wicklow Mountains - Recommended Hotel: Powerscourt Resort and Spa. 
Overnight: Kilkenny - Recommended Hotel: Mount Juliet Estate. 

Kilkenny is a historic town in southeast Ireland. This compact City becomes prominent in the middle ages and capital of Ireland. Any self-respecting settlement of the 12th Century has a castle, Kilkenny has a mighty edifice at its centre. Kilkenny Castle has been continuously lived in from the late 12th Century into the 1930's – taking care of such a large building became prohibitively expensive. The Castle's owners are now the town and can be visited. 

All old European capitals have important religious sites. Kilkenny has some particularly well-preserved examples, including the imposing St. Canice's Cathedral and the Black Abbey Dominican priory, both originated during the 13th Century. 

The City is also a crafts hub, with shops along its winding lanes selling pottery, paintings and jewellery. The City hosts Ireland's largest arts festival in August; we can carefully build this event into your itinerary if your dates match. There is a local brewery, too, for those who enjoy trying traditional local ales, tour and taste at the Smithwick's brewery.

Ireland's oldest City, Waterford, was founded by the Vikings in 914AD, the location chosen is ideal for a trading port. The prime situation on River Suir secured Waterford's economic future. From the 18th Century, excellent flint glass was produced, and the business was started in 1783 by the Penrose family. A stop at the Waterford Crystal factory is a must. Join one of the factory tours and see the world's largest display of Waterford Crystal.

Overnight: Kilkenny - Recommended Hotel: Mount Juliet Estate. 

Visit Blarney Castle, a six hundred years Tower House Castle. Blarney is a romantic ruin surrounded by stunning gardens, now one of Ireland's most significant landmarks.  See the Blarney Stone found at the top of the tower, with its legendary magical powers. Kissing the Blarney stone is an old tradition and could date from the Crusades. Once kissed, the Blarney Stone, a gift of eloquence and persuasiveness, is bestowed on the kisser. 

The River Lee surrounds Cork. As the river splits, it almost circumnavigates the town centre, creating the feeling of being on an island. The name Cork derives from the old Gaelic, which means marshy place. The origins of the settlement are old; St Finbarr founded a monastery here in the 7th Century. Cork is Ireland's second city, with a large student population; therefore, the City has a reputation for rebelliousness, and much of that spirit is reflected in the arts and music scene. 

Many of today's narrow back streets were waterways lined with warehouses and wealthy merchants' houses; pubs, restaurants, and cafes now cram these modern streets. This district is the best food-lover scene in Ireland.

Cobh is a charming waterfront town on a glittering estuary dotted with brightly coloured houses and overlooked by a splendid cathedral. Millions of families left for a better life during the famine years through the port. The Titanic made a port of call here before charging off across the Atlantic and sinking with significant loss of life - a poignant museum commemorates the fatal voyage's point of departure.

Overnight: Cork - Recommended Hotel: Hayfield Manor. 

Take in the very best of this magical landscape in a unique and unforgettable drive through the gems of the Killarney National Park, the lake district of Ireland.

Stop by Muckross House, a Victorian mansion with an Elizabethan-style interior. Visit the property's basement to see how the servants performed their daily tasks.  Since the early 20th Century, the three working farms on-site still have traditional methods. Your driver-guide will, if required, take you to the wildlife centre for an introduction to the flora and fauna of the National Park.

Overnight: Near Limerick - Recommended Hotel: Adare Manor.

Meet your driver-guide and head southeast to Tipperary, the drive is not as long as you may think.

Tour the Rock of Cashel - All Rocky high points in the past were valued, easier to defend, and impossible to undermine, and any building would stand proud and be a symbol of power. The message from this ancient site is clear: prime real estate for Irish rulers. It was a Royal stronghold of the Kings of Munster, masters of southern Ireland, handed to the church in the 12th century. It became a flourishing religious centre until a siege by a Cromwellian army in 1647. Much of the complex survives and is an enchanting place to tour. Cormac's Chapel is of particular interest. The interior carvings of mythical beasts are terrific to see and learn their meaning. This Romanesque wonder is a must-see site.

Fly home from Dublin airport - or stay another night in Dublin or the countryside.