So here is a summary of my recent trip, it's quite long being 20 days but hope you all enjoy
Day 1 - London-Stonehenge-Salisbury-Plymouth (2 nights)
Departed London (Cumberland Hotel) for Stonehenge then on to Salisbury for lunch and a visit to Salisbury Cathedral. On route to Plymouth we stopped for dinner at the Rose & Crown before arriving at our hotel.
Day 2 - Cornish ExcursionStarted the day with a cruise around Plymouth Harbour viewing the Mayflower Steps. Meet the coach at Saltash where we headed to St Ives for lunch and time to explore. Then a photo stop at St Michael's Mount before returning to Plymouth where
we then departed
for Dartmoor National Park and dinner at the Dartmoor Inn with a local guide.
Day 3 - Plymouth-Bath-CardiffFirst stop of the day was Glastonbury for morning tea then onto Bath arriving around lunch time. Visited the Roman Baths then had free time to explore the city. Viewed the Royal Crescent, The Circus and Pulteney Bridge on a tour of the city before heading off to Cardiff. Our stop for the night was Cardiff and dinner was a Welsh Show and Dinner at the Millennium Centre.
Day 4 - Cardiff-Waterford
Had a guided tour of Cardiff Castle in the morning. It was then off to catch the ferry from Pembroke, Wales to Rosslare, Ireland which was a 4 hour crossing. Arrived at our hotel in Waterford at 8.15pm and had a late dinner at the hotel.
Day 5 - Waterford-Blarney-KenmareFirst stop was Waterford Crystal where we had a small group tour. Then it was off to Blarney Castle for a lunch stop and to kiss the Blarney Stone. Arrived in Kenmare and dinner that night was at Beara Peninsula which included a scenic coastal
drive along Kenmare Bay.
Day 6 - Kenmare
Today was the Ring of Kerry trip. First stop was in Killarney for a jaunting cart ride with a local guide. We then carried on around the Ring of Kerry, through Moll's gap and viewed Dingle Peninsula. Lunch was at the Red Fox Inn and visited the "Bog Museum" where peat bricks were made. Afternoon break at Sneem before returning to Kenmare for dinner at the hotel.
Day 7 - Kenmare-Limerick-Cliffs of Moher-GalwayStopped at Adare village for morning tea then on to Limerick where we saw St Mary's Cathedral, King John's Castle and the Treaty Stone. Lunch was at the Cliffs of Moher where we had time to walk some of the cliff paths. Arrived in Galway where we had time to explore Eyre Square and some of the surrounding streets. Dinner that night was at the hotel.
Day 8 - Galway-Donegal
Had a city tour of Galway in the morning and stopped to kick the wall at Galway Bay. Had a brief stop in Knock then on to Sligo for lunch and time to explore the city. Next stop was the Tobernalt Hedgerow Church then on to Drumcliffe to view William Yeates grave, carried on to Mullaghmore to view Lord Mountbatten's home. Arrived in Donegal and took a tour of Donegal Castle. Dinner was at the hotel.
Day 9 - Donegal-Londonderry-Giant's Causeway-Belfast
First stop was Londonderry where we had a walking tour with a local guide of the city walls. Arrived at the Giant's Causeway for lunch and an opportunity to explore the stepping stones. On arrival in Belfast we did a tour with the Black Cabs who took us through the history of the troubles. Dinner that night was at a local restaurant.
Day 10 - Belfast-Dublin (2 nights)
Those who wanted to could visit the Titantic Exhibition or alternatively you could explore Belfast city on your own. Arrived in Dublin early afternoon where we went on a city tour with a local specialist. Dinner was an Irish Cabaret.
Day 11 - Dublin
First up in the morning was a guided tour of the Guinness Storehouse. This was followed by a guided tour of Glendalough for those who wanted to. The afternoon was free time to explore the city. Dinner was yours to do as you chose.
Day 12 - Dublin-Chester-LiverpoolEarly ferry crossing from Ireland to Holyhead, Wales. Due to rough weather we had to take the larger ferry which took 4 hours. First stop was in Chester where we were welcomed by the Town Crier and had time to explore and walk the city walls. Late arrival in Liverpool to our hotel and dinner was on your own.
Day 13 - Liverpool-Quarry Bank Mill-Lake DistrictTo start the day we had a guided city tour and all the famous Beatles spots. Arrived at Quarry Bank Mill which is a fully working cotton mill for a tour of the mill with time to explore the gardens and lunch. Carried on into the Lake District for a cruise on Lake Windermere. Then it was off to our hotel in Penrith. Dinner was at the hotel.
Day 14 - Lake District-Gretna Green-Glasgow
Left Penrith for Gretna Green and along the way stopped for photo's at Hadrian's Wall then on to Lanercost Abbey for morning tea and photos. Arrived in Gretna Green for lunch then carried on to Glasgow. We had a city tour of Glasgow and free time to explore the city and shops before meeting in George Square for dinner.
Day 15 - Glasgow-Glenoce-Isle of Skye
For those who wanted to the first stop of the day was a cruise on Loch Lomond. Then it was into the Scottish Highlands. Lunch was at Fort William where some of the group visited the museum. We stopped at The Commando Memorial for photos then carried on through the Scottish Highlands to the Isle of Skye where we had dinner at our hotel.
Day 16 - Isle of Skye-Loch Ness-Culloden-Scottish Highlands
Started the day with a tour of the Isle of Skye with a local specialist. Then headed to Eilean Donan Castle for our lunch stop. The next stop was a photo stop at Loch Ness and then on to Culloden for a walk around the battle field and the visitor centre. Dinner that night was at the hotel in Newtonmore in the highlands.
Day 17 - Scottish Highlands-Pitlochry-St Andrews-Edinburgh (2 nights)
First stop was the village of Pitlochry and then on to St Andrew's for our lunch stop. Those who wanted to could visit the golf course or have a wander around the town viewing the university and castle. It was then on to Edinburgh for the next 2 nights. Before dinner in a local restaurant we went on a walking tour of Greyfriar's Kirkyard and visited the statue of Greyfriar's Bobby.
Day 18 - Edinburgh
Started the day with a city tour with a local specialist. Then it was on to a tour of Edinburgh Castle with the local specialist. Those who wanted could then visit Rosslyn Chapel for a tour. Following this those of us who wanted to could be dropped off at the Royal Mile for some free time to explore the city. Dinner that night was a Scottish show with dinner at Preston-fields complete with a haggis ceremony and tasting.
Day 19 - Edinburgh-Alnwick-York
On leaving Edinburgh we viewed Alnwick Castle and then stopped in Alnwick village for morning tea/lunch. Had a quick photo stop at the Angel of the North on the outskirts of Newcastle. On arrival in York we had a walking tour of the town centre, the Shambles and the York Minster. The rest of the afternoon was free. Dinner that night was our "Be My Guest Dinner" in a local privately owned manor.
Day 20 - York-Straford Upon Avon- LondonWe left York and stopped to view Anne Hathaway's thatched cottage and our group photo. Next stop was to visit Shakespeare's birthplace and we had free time to have lunch and explore Stratford-Upon-Avon. Arrived in London late afternoon for our drop off.
