Relaxed Ireland, Scotland & England Tour for Seniors

With its enchanting voices and welcoming atmosphere, Shannon is a lovely introduction to this side of the world. This relaxed town is cast along a river, with colorful houses beneath a bulbous cathedral spire. Not that much happens in Shannon, but there is a real beauty to taking a stroll and exploring local streets as many of the houses are painted a single color that contrasts their neighbors. You can visit one of the small pubs, which are classic places for dancing and storytelling like they always have been. In Shannon, you really feel like you are in Ireland, and the locals will be quick to welcome you into the country. Nothing definitive is planned for today though, just an airport transfer and time to meet with your guide.

The Cliffs of Moher stand like giants, devilish protectors of the Atlantic Ocean. Wind will rush through your hair along with the sound of waves. It is Ireland’s most famous sight. There are many potential walks you can take and the guide will discuss their duration and distance. Likewise, later in the day when you are at The Burren, you will have the opportunity to see a lunar landscape of weather-carved boulders and monolithic Stone Age creations. You can explore the landscape from your vehicle, driving to different viewpoints, or chose to trek on foot, walking along many of the easy trails. This evening you will probably be back in one of the Shannon pubs, where Irish dancing occurs nearly every day.

Thatched roofs will create a harmony from the multihued houses of Adare, the most complete and best preserved of all Ireland’s early-medieval villages. A horse and carriage is the traditional way to get around, clip-clopping along cobbled streets as a dazzling array of colors greet your eye. This is just one stop on your private journey South to Killarney, a destination that is much bigger than Adare, but can be just as quaint. With private tours, the days can be customized, so you could visit the Dingle Peninsula if you seek to be more active today. A short orientation tour of Killarney will ensure you  will have seen the key attractions and will give you many options for dining this evening.

The Ring of Kerry is the epitome of the Irish experience in a single day. Think lush green fields leading to hidden lakes and granite-topped peaks, tiny villages of Gaelic accents and tiny cafes, and dramatic landscapes that are punctuated by castle ruins and allusions to much earlier civilizations. The complete loop can be a very long day and the guide will offer shorter options that will depend on your energy levels and experiences you are interested in. For example, some senior visitors love to get their hands dirty on a working farm, but many do not. This is not the only activity as there are many that you are able to select. You will then travel in the opposite direction to the tour buses, which will show you a surprisingly clear view of the Ring of Kerry that is free from the other tourists.

There is an elegance to Dublin’s streets. Grand Georgian architecture marks the center, and  townhouses tower above street musicians in a very fun and exciting city energy. Cathedral spires stand true, as St Patrick’s  tale covers many centuries. Trinity College is the unmissable attraction here, which was made famous by Oscar Wilde and is breathtaking in its detail. Within its walls you will find the Book of Kells, which is an illustrated manuscript that helped take Ireland out of the Dark Ages. You will spend the afternoon with a local guide as you explore these sites on a private tour. Then you will end at Temple Bar, a lively cluster of bars and restaurants that is most enjoyable because it welcomes all ages, from families with young children to seniors.

By spending two days in each destination you will have more time to relax. You can also customize the journey further to your interests. Today’s recommended destination is County Wicklow, the Garden of Ireland and a blissful place to spend the day. You will wander the lush spaces, check out a string of castles, and discover key Irish history along the way. You could also stay in Dublin, perhaps taking the James Joyce trail through the city’s backstreets. Or perhaps, you will head to the coast for some local fish and chips. Whatever you decide to do, Temple Bar remains extremely inviting , with lots of storytelling and dancing to complete your final evening in Ireland.

Fly directly to the Scottish Highlands and the remote city of Inverness, which is a place of thick stone walls and distant pre-medieval history. You will check into a boutique resort along the water and go exploring with a local guide, who will show you all of the  sights that are almost unrivaled anywhere on the British Isles. Inverness is a lovely place to spend two days, particularly the quiet waterside locations and pedestrianized central streets. You may also take a visit to Cawdor Castle, which is a fabulous 15th-century fortress fringed by sculpted gardens and completed by an impressive, artistic interior. The short drive will take you onto the wild Highlands as well, bringing endless views and plenty of places to stretch your legs.

The remote and windswept characteristics of the Isle of Skye seems to symbolize Scotland. Heathlands elegantly stretch red and gray across the landscape. Castles dot the water, some of them in ruins as remains of medieval quarrel. Rugged mountain scenery will take your breath away, especially when it leads to glens (narrow valleys) and lochs (lakes). You can cross cute stone bridges and take the ferry to the island, where you can explore villages and landscapes from a forgotten time. Not much has ever changed here and that is the attraction. Returning to Inverness, you will make a stop at Eilean Donan Castle. It is a long day so you may be glad reach the hotel’s restaurant with its hearty food and warming log fires.

Somewhere in a loch lies a monster,or so they say. You are not going to find the Loch Ness Monster, but it is a beautiful boat cruise, as the landscape unfolding beneath moody skies and glassy lake surface shimmer with secrets. Loch Ness is one stop on today’s drive South. There are two whisky distilleries you can visit as well. It will take about three hours to reach Edinburgh, and the journey is the experience, because you will cross wonderfully wild landscapes of heather and flowering purple. You can also stop at farms and villages en route. Once again, having a private tour means stopping at the places that most interest you, as well as tailoring the day to your energy levels. Check into Edinburgh and you are in the thick of Old Town, where you will spend two nights at a hotel on the Royal Mile.

The New Town is 200 years old and it is packed with famous people. It is a home to famous scientists, novelists, and inventors. The Old Town comes from many centuries earlier, with pubs and low-lying medieval buildings slung along narrow, cobbled lanes. Take a guided tour around both, where you will explore the architectural designs and back alleys. Then you will take a drive uphill to Edinburgh Castle and spend your afternoon here. This evening you will dine on another regal leftover, which is an experience of culinary tradition and entertainment on the Royal Yacht Britannia.

You will take the high-speed train and you will reach York in 2 ½ hours. It is a journey across wild farmlands, where dry stone walls keep the sheep in, and each village is a mere speck of rain-buffeted rock. Out of nowhere, Durham Cathedral appears from the window. It only appears for a brief second as you cross North Yorkshire, and the landscape turns to hills and meandering ridge lines. You will disembark in the York city center, and a guide will greet you. Your hotel will be deep within England’s finest medieval town between small tea rooms and markets. Betties is the famous place to get an English brew (tea served with an indulgent snack such as a scone), which will energize you for a guided walk through the streets of countless stories. One day is plenty to get around York at a slow pace and you will find the city to be even more enchanting after dark.

You must change trains in Birmingham to travel from York to Stratford-upon-Avon, but it is the most relaxing and efficient mode of travel. The landscape will change once more, as rugged hills flattening into an urban industrial belt then transform back to greenery and you travel through the classic English countryside. The area around Stratford-upon-Avon is just like old oil paintings, dominated by soft hues and blurred horizons.  Cottages with exposed wooden beams remain common here, along with Tudor-style townhouses and churches of thick-slabbed stone. A guide will take you on a private tour to Shakespeare’s Birthplace, Anne Hathaway’s Cottage, the Church of the Holy Trinity and some very impressive old streets. You will find that this cute little place is so much more than Shakespearean fancy.

Aromas will guide you into classic tea rooms, where the scones will be served with jam and clotted cream. Small pubs will bring different smells, as do the fields of freshly cut grass or clusters of trees after rain. Stratford-upon-Avon is a lovely place to relax, especially before traveling to London. With two days, you can also watch two theater performances, including one tonight at an outdoor venue. It is a Shakespeare play that is performed by the Royal Shakespeare Company. All those funny old English phrases make more sense when heard out here with the pastoral backdrop and the rustic outdoor theater. It is a timeless English experience that has been enjoyed by visitors for centuries.

Now to London where the atmosphere changes rapidly as you arrive in the capital. Red double decker buses and black Hackney cabs will fill the streets. Tower blocks and contemporary skyscrapers are juxtaposed with old Victorian and Georgian streets. The city is a mishmash of styles, especially when you travel outside Zone 1 of the Underground. The center is compact and stuffed with famous sights that you will visit with the supervision of a guide that will show you around the city. Some of the sights include Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, in addition to the famous squares known to so many across the world: Trafalgar, Piccadilly, and Oxford Circus. These places are also surprisingly close to each other, so it’s very possible to visit a dozen famous places in one afternoon.

London is too big of a city to fully prescribe an itinerary, especially when it is the last two days of a long vacation. These two days are deliberately left free, which will give you time to experience the part of London that most excites your imagination. This could be high tea in a regal hotel, quirky neighborhoods to the east, or the grandeur of West London. Activities and tours can be booked locally and you will be provided with an Oyster transport card for easy Underground travel around London. buses are also included but it is usually much quicker going by Underground. Two days will roll by quickly in Central London and the city’s highlight has always been how much there is to discover.

You will take a private transfer to the airport after breakfast, as your intimate journey through Ireland, Scotland and England comes to a close.