Aonghus Youth (2023-24) - 8 Days

Welcome to London! On arrival to the airport, we will be waiting to transfer you to the hotel. Later, our guide will give an overview of the tour or you can check the informative panels in the hotel reception area.

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS: Visit London. Changing of the Guard. Evening transfer to Soho.
Get to know LONDON on a locally guided tour featuring style, culture and history. See the Houses of Parliament, the River Thames, the Tower of London and Buckingham Palace, where we will be able to watch the famous “Changing of the Guard” (depending on the season). Afternoon at leisure. In the evening, take a walk-through Leicester Square, China Town and Soho, with a lively atmosphere, theatres and entertainment. Sit down for dinner at your preferred restaurant. Return to the hotel.

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHT: Picturesque countryside with hills and woods.
We start the day leaving London towards northern England. Our first stop is CAMBRIDGE to admire its beautiful residential colleges. After lunch, we will continue to YORK where its cathedral, Roman walls and lively shopping streets will create a charming memory, some free time to stroll around. Afterwards, we will continue north to DURHAM. Explore this charming medieval town full of life which has a wonderful cathedral right in front of the castle.

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHT: Cross into Scotland. Castles, views over the sea. Sightseeing of Edinburgh.
Today we will travel to Scotland, stopping in ALNWICK, a picturesque town with lovely gardens and a large medieval castle which was used in the Harry Potter films. We will continue to EDINBURGH, arriving at noon. This is Scotland’s capital city and one of the most active cities in Northern Europe. Its monumental centre has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its castle overlooks the city’s steep streets and parks. We will enjoy a sightseeing tour with a local guide.

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS: Magnificent countryside of high mountains and lakes. Boat trip. Loch Ness.
We continue to enjoy the stunning landscapes of the Scottish Highlands with a coffee and stroll in PITLOCHRY, a charming little village. We will continue and pass by INVERNESS in the north of Scotland, a city located very near the mysterious Loch Ness. After lunch we visit (entrance included) the URQUHART medieval castle, from here we will take a boat trip on the dark waters of the lake. Afterwards, we will pass through FORT AUGUST with its sluice gate system and FORT WILLIAM, the tourist centre at the foot of Ben Nevis (the highest summit in the United Kingdom). We will return south through the high plateaus where it is possible to glimpse the snow before visiting Loch Lomond, one of the most popular lakes in Scotland. We arrive in GLASGOW at the end of the day. Short stroll around the city centre and accommodation.

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHT: Ferryboat to Ireland.
Today we will leave Glasgow heading towards southern Scotland. We will board a ferry in Cairnryan. Our journey takes us towards Northern Ireland, arriving in BELFAST, Northern Ireland’s capital city. This monumental city is overcoming its religious conflicts. We will resume our journey to EIRE in Ireland. Last stop will be DUBLIN, arriving at the end of the day.

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHT: Sightseeing tour of Dublin.
We start the day with a sightseeing tour of DUBLIN, Ireland’s peaceful capital city. We will enjoy a stroll on the banks of River Liffey, visiting its parks, old university and its lively downtown streets. We will stroll around Trinity College (depending on the duration of sunlight, this visit may take place the afternoon before, upon arrival in Dublin). Afternoon at leisure.

After breakfast, end of our services.