14 Day Scottish Highlands to the Emerald Isle Small Group Coach Tour

Your Plan for Edinburgh
Highlights

• Edinburgh Old Town and New Town
• Private guided walking tour
• Royal Mile
• Hidden closes and cobbled streets
• Welcome dinner

Welcome to Scotland! Your journey begins in Edinburgh, a captivating capital where medieval streets, royal history, and elegant Georgian architecture come together.

After settling into your accommodation, meet your private local guide for a fascinating walking tour through Edinburgh’s Old and New Towns. Wander along the historic Royal Mile, discover atmospheric closes and cobbled lanes, and hear stories about the city’s famous residents, royal connections, legends, and dramatic past.

The relaxed walking tour provides the perfect introduction to Edinburgh and helps you become familiar with the city before enjoying a welcome dinner with your fellow travellers.

Your Plan for St Andrews and Pitlochry
Highlights

• Firth of Forth
• Kingdom of Fife
• St Andrews
• The Old Course
• Pitlochry

Depart Edinburgh and travel across the Firth of Forth into the scenic Kingdom of Fife. Your main stop is the historic coastal town of St Andrews, known worldwide as the Home of Golf.

Enjoy time to explore its charming streets, independent shops, medieval ruins, prestigious university, and scenic coastline. Golf enthusiasts can take in views of the famous Old Course, while others can enjoy the town’s heritage, architecture, and relaxed seaside atmosphere.

Continue through the countryside to Pitlochry, a picturesque Victorian town surrounded by the forests, rivers, and mountain scenery of Highland Perthshire. Settle into your accommodation before enjoying dinner that evening.

Your Plan for Culloden and Inverness
Highlights

• Highland scenery
• Culloden Battlefield
• Culloden Visitor Centre
• Inverness
• Jacobite history

Travel north from Pitlochry through magnificent Highland landscapes towards Inverness, often described as the cultural capital of the Scottish Highlands.

Along the way, visit Culloden Battlefield, the site of the final battle of the Jacobite Rising in 1746. Explore the immersive visitor centre, discover the story from both the Jacobite and Government perspectives, and walk across the atmospheric battlefield.

The experience offers a powerful insight into the events that changed Highland culture and clan life forever. Afterwards, continue to Inverness for the first of two overnight stays.

Your Taste of the North Coast 500
Highlights

• Black Isle
• Easter Ross
• Dornoch
• Dornoch Cathedral
• Dunrobin Castle
• North Coast 500 scenery

Today, experience a beautiful section of Scotland’s celebrated North Coast 500 route.

Travel north through the Black Isle and Easter Ross, enjoying sweeping views across the firths, rolling farmland, and open Highland countryside. Stop in the picturesque town of Dornoch, where you can explore the historic centre, visit Dornoch Cathedral, and enjoy time for lunch.

Continue to Dunrobin Castle, one of the most impressive stately homes in the Scottish Highlands. Its fairytale turrets, elegant interiors, formal gardens, and coastal setting overlooking the Moray Firth make it one of the day’s most memorable highlights.

Return to Inverness through the landscapes of Easter Ross for your second evening in the Highland capital.

Your Plan for Loch Ness and Fort William
Highlights

• Loch Ness
• Loch Ness sightseeing cruise
• Fort Augustus
• Caledonian Canal
• Great Glen
• Fort William

Depart Inverness and travel south along the shores of legendary Loch Ness towards Fort Augustus, an attractive village located where the Caledonian Canal meets the southern end of the loch.

Board a sightseeing cruise and take to the mysterious waters of Loch Ness. Enjoy magnificent Highland views while hearing stories about the loch’s history, surrounding landscapes, and most famous resident, the legendary Loch Ness Monster.
After the cruise, spend time in Fort Augustus and see the impressive canal locks running through the village. Continue through the Great Glen, passing Loch Oich and Loch Lochy before arriving in Fort William beneath Ben Nevis, Britain’s highest mountain.

Your Plan for Glencoe, Loch Lomond and Glasgow
Highlights

• Glencoe
• Rannoch Moor
• Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park
• Luss
• Glasgow

Travel through some of the most dramatic scenery of the Scottish Highlands as you leave Fort William for Glasgow.

Journey through Glencoe, one of Scotland’s most famous and atmospheric glens. Towering mountains, cascading waterfalls, and sweeping valleys create an unforgettable landscape shaped by both nature and history.

Continue across the wild expanse of Rannoch Moor and into Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park. Stop in the conservation village of Luss, where pretty stone cottages and a peaceful shoreline provide beautiful views across Loch Lomond.

Your day concludes in Glasgow, Scotland’s largest city, for dinner and your final overnight stay in Scotland.

Your Journey from Scotland to Northern Ireland
Highlights

• Ayrshire countryside
• Cairnryan
• Irish Sea ferry crossing
• Belfast
• Evening in the city

Leave Glasgow and travel southwest through the countryside of Ayrshire towards the port of Cairnryan.

Board the ferry for your crossing of the Irish Sea from Scotland to Northern Ireland. Relax on board and enjoy the sea views before arriving in Belfast.

After disembarking, transfer to your accommodation and settle in for the evening. Enjoy dinner in the city and experience Belfast’s warm hospitality and welcoming atmosphere.

Your Plan for Dublin

Highlights

• Trinity College Dublin
• Book of Kells Experience
• Old Library
• Guinness Storehouse
• Gravity Bar
• Dublin city centre

Depart Belfast and travel south across the border to Dublin, Ireland’s lively and historic capital.

Begin at Trinity College, Ireland’s oldest university, before visiting the renowned Book of Kells Experience. Discover the history and artistry behind the magnificent manuscript and explore Trinity’s historic Old Library.

After time for lunch in Dublin city centre, continue to the Guinness Storehouse at St James’s Gate. Learn about the ingredients, brewing process, family history, and iconic advertising associated with Ireland’s most famous stout.

Complete the experience at the rooftop Gravity Bar, where you can enjoy a complimentary Guinness or soft drink accompanied by panoramic views across Dublin.

Your Plan for Blarney and Cork
Highlights

• Blarney Castle and Gardens
• Blarney Stone
• Blarney Woollen Mills
• Irish-made crafts and gifts
• Cork

Travel south from Dublin through the Irish countryside towards County Cork.

Visit Blarney Castle and Gardens, home of the legendary Blarney Stone. Those feeling adventurous may follow the centuries-old tradition of leaning backwards from the castle’s battlements to kiss the stone and receive the legendary gift of eloquence.

Enjoy time at Blarney Woollen Mills, one of Ireland’s best-known shopping destinations, where you can browse Irish knitwear, crafts, jewellery, gifts, and traditional souvenirs.

Settle into your accommodation near Blarney and Cork before enjoying dinner that evening.

Your Plan for Killarney and the Ring of Kerry
Highlights

• Killarney National Park
• Torc Waterfall
• Ring of Kerry
• Lakes and mountain scenery
• Scenic photography stops

Leave Cork and travel west into County Kerry, a region renowned for its lakes, mountains, coastal scenery, and traditional Irish character.

Enter Killarney National Park and visit Torc Waterfall, where water cascades through ancient woodland at the foot of Torc Mountain.

Continue along part of the celebrated Ring of Kerry, one of Ireland’s most famous scenic touring routes. Enjoy views across the Lakes of Killarney, mountain passes, rolling countryside, and the beautiful landscapes of the Iveragh Peninsula.

There will be time for scenic stops and photographs before arriving at your accommodation for the first of two nights in Killarney.

Your Plan for the Dingle Peninsula
Highlights

• Dingle Peninsula
• Dingle town
• Slea Head Drive
• Blasket Islands views
• Wild Atlantic Way scenery

Set out to explore the magnificent Dingle Peninsula, one of Ireland’s most scenic and culturally distinctive regions.

Travel through rugged mountains, rolling farmland, traditional villages, and sweeping Atlantic landscapes before arriving in the colourful harbour town of Dingle. Enjoy time to explore its waterfront, independent shops, cafés, and welcoming local atmosphere.

Continue along the breathtaking Slea Head Drive, part of Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way. Dramatic cliffs, golden beaches, ancient stone sites, Irish-speaking communities, and views towards the Blasket Islands make this one of the country’s most memorable coastal journeys.

Return to Killarney for dinner and your second overnight stay in County Kerry.

Your Plan for Clare and Galway
Highlights

• Shannon Estuary ferry
• Tarbert to Killimer crossing
• County Clare
• Cliffs of Moher
• Wild Atlantic Way
• Galway

Depart Kerry and travel north towards the Shannon Estuary. Board the ferry at Tarbert for the short crossing to Killimer in County Clare, enjoying views across the estuary along the way.

Your main visit is the magnificent Cliffs of Moher, one of Ireland’s most celebrated natural landmarks. Rising dramatically above the Atlantic Ocean, the cliffs offer far-reaching views towards the Aran Islands, Galway Bay, and the distant mountains of Connemara.

Explore the paved clifftop pathways and visitor centre before continuing through the beautiful landscapes of County Clare towards Galway.

Arrive in Galway for dinner and an overnight stay in the heart of one of Ireland’s most vibrant and welcoming cities.

Your Final Full Day
Highlights

• Athlone
• River Shannon
• Sean’s Bar
• Return to Dublin
• Farewell dinner

Leave Galway and travel east through the heart of Ireland towards Dublin.

Stop in the riverside town of Athlone, beautifully positioned along the banks of the River Shannon. Enjoy time for lunch and a relaxed stroll before visiting the famous Sean’s Bar.

Widely celebrated as one of Ireland’s oldest pubs, Sean’s Bar is filled with history, traditional character, and fascinating stories. Step inside and enjoy the atmosphere before continuing to Dublin.

That evening, come together for a special farewell dinner and reflect on the landscapes, experiences, and memories shared throughout your journey across Scotland and Ireland.

After breakfast, check out of your Dublin accommodation as your Scottish Highlands to the Emerald Isle Small Group Coach Tour comes to an end.

Leave with unforgettable memories of Edinburgh’s historic streets, the Scottish Highlands, Loch Ness, Glencoe, Dublin, Kerry’s coastal landscapes, the Cliffs of Moher, and the people and stories encountered throughout your journey.

Your final Dublin hotel stay concludes on Day 14.