14 Days
Why select either Scotland or Ireland for your next holiday when this gorgeous trip effortlessly combines both countries? With strong historical and cultural ties, these two Celtic nations both boast incredible expanses of green scenery, beautiful rugged coastlines, ancient archaeological sites, and famously friendly locals.
Beginning in the vibrant capital city of Edinburgh and taking you on a wonderful journey through picturesque Perthshire, admire some truly spectacular scenery and gain an intimate insight into local life and customs.
Afterwards, venture across the Irish Sea to the verdant countryside of Co. Mayo. Here, unique and ethereal landscapes combine with privately guided walks to give you a real understanding of the cultural heritage of the Emerald Isle. Your travels will then conclude in Ireland’s famed capital, Dublin, a colourful city with an equally vivacious history that will be brought to life by a variety of fascinating tours and exclusive private visits.
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Dream Escape’s recommended programme could include the following experiences:
Your accommodation choice will be handpicked especially for you from the Dream Escape Accommodation Collection
Check out our Accommodation Collection for more details.
Set off from the marina and relax on the upper deck with a glass of champagne in hand.
Step through several themed galleries with a private tour guide who will give you a unique insight into the compelling story of how Irish emigrants and their descendants helped to influence and shape the world. Hear stories of triumph and tragedy, great success and even greater loss. Learn how emigration helped shape the destiny of a nation and leave with a deeper understanding of Irish people and culture. The museum is incredibly interactive, making it fun and engaging for every member of the family. Without question, it will provide a great introduction to the people of Ireland.
Edinburgh Castle, perched on ancient volcanic rock, has stood guard over the city for 900 years and is brimming with tales, from it near destruction on the order of King of Scots, Robert the Bruce to its role as a garrisoned fortress through the Glorious Revolution and the Jacobite Risings.
Nestled at the foothills of the Highlands, Glenturret is Scotland’s oldest working distillery.
The Burren is a karst landscape made up of an extraordinarily rich geological, botanical and archaeological heritage, and is of international significance with parts of the region classed as a National Park. This limestone plateau resembles a lunar landscape; in the spring and summer months, great colour abounds against the stark landscape. It will be brought to life by a local walking guide, sharing both knowledge and passion.
The wide boulevard of O’Connell Street, passing the General Post Office, scene of the 1916 Easter Rising and birthplace of the Irish Nation.
Scotland’s historic capital city. Edinburgh, sometimes referred to as the “Athens of the North”, is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. It has two distinct areas: the Old Town, dominated by a medieval fortress; and the neo- classical New Town, dating from the 18th The harmonious connection of these two contrasting historic areas, each with many important buildings, is what gives the city its unique character and saw it awarded World Heritage Site status by UNESCO in 1995.
The Royal Mile, which lies at the heart of the Old Town is arguably one of the most famous streets in the world. Today, it is peppered with stores selling cashmere goods and hand crafted silver jewellery. However, in centuries gone by it was a different story: delving into the Old Town is like leafing through the pages of a dusty historical novel, as each era unfolds with its own legends and characters.
Dublin is steeped in history, with Viking, medieval and Georgian influences all having left their marks. Since the time of the Vikings, Dublin has been the principal gateway to the Emerald Isle. The medieval city, with its intimate knots of small alleys and broad streets south of the river, was developed in Norman times around St Patrick’s Cathedral and Dublin Castle, and later came to symbolise British rule in Ireland. The 18th century was the “Age of Elegance”, a time of relative prosperity when the Irish gentry set about remodelling the city into one of elegance, replete with graceful terraces, wrought-iron balconies and fanlight doorways. The city became Ireland’s capital with the establishment of the Republic of Ireland in 1937, and today is regarded as one of the liveliest and most atmospheric in Europe.
Selected as one of the Signature Experiences of the Wild Atlantic Way, the Cliffs of Moher are a breath-taking Discovery Point. They are the crowning glory of the Co. Clare coastline. Like a viewing platform for prehistoric giants who wish to peer over the edge of Europe, they provide an unrivalled view across the vast boiling wildness of the Atlantic Ocean
St Andrews is the undisputed home of golf. It has seven magnificent courses, including the world-renowned Old Course, which remains essentially unchanged from the days of Old Tom Morris in the mid-to-late 19th century. To play the hallowed grounds of the Old Course is often viewed as the pinnacle in any golfers’ history.
