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Best of Scotland (Winter 2023 24, 7 Days)

• Fully Guided
• Coach / Bus

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Places You’ll See

• Introduction
• Day 1 Welcome to Edinburgh
• Day 2 Discover Enchanting Edinburgh
• Day 3 Venture into the Scottish Highlands
• Day 4 Explore Culloden, Loch Ness and the Isle of Skye
• Day 5 Journey to Thriving Glasgow
• Day 6 Walk the Walls of Stirling Castle Connect with Locals Dive Into Culture
• Day 7 Farewell Glasgow

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What's Included

• Accommodation
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Where You'll Stay

Operated by brendan vacations.

As the premier Celtic experts, no one knows Ireland & Scotland like we do. As Jameson is to whiskey, and Waterford is to crystal, so are we to Ireland and Scotland. It’s who we are. It’s what we do. From our Travel House in Los Angeles, California to our team behind the blue door in Dublin, we work together to provide you with the ultimate Celtic experience and a view through the eyes of the locals, seen by few. Experience authentic Ireland and Scotland vacations created and conducted by locals for over 40 years. Brendan Vacations takes the hassle out of vacation planning by giving you access to all the sights and attractions while offering you plenty of time for independent exploring.

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Customer Reviews

• Overall Rating Excellent 4.5
• Itinerary Excellent 4.5
• Guide Excellent 5.0
• Transport Excellent 5.0
• Accommodation Good 4.0
• Food Good 3.5
• Tour Operator Brendan Vacations 4.2
• DR Dennis · 16th July 2023 The tour was awesome. The tour director was great with the commentary during the bus ride and what to expect at the next stop and the rest of the day. The bus driver was also great driving the very narrow roads to our destinations. Trip date: July 2023
• DB Deborah · 3rd January 2023 Kevin, you’re wonderful. So positive and knowledgeable. The overall tour was great. The most disappointing MEAL was served at the Scottish Engineer. Inedible! Almost 200$ for two. The show was okay. The weather did deter us from spending time on the... Show more Trip date: December 2022

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• For any tour departing before 2nd June 2024 a full payment is necessary. For tours departing after 2nd June 2024, a minimum payment of €200 is required to confirm your booking with Brendan Vacations. The final payment will be automatically charged to your credit card on the designated due date. The final payment of the remaining balance is required at least 65 days prior to the departure date of your tour. TourRadar never charges you a booking fee and will charge you in the stated currency.
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Best of Ireland and Scotland 2024

• : Explore Dublin, Londonderry, Belfast and Edinburgh with a Local Specialist
• : Discover Waterford, Adare, Galway and Glasgow
• : Visit the Irish National Stud in Kildare, the Waterford Crystal Showroom, Blarney Castle, Giant's Causeway, Titanic Experience in Belfast, a whisky distillery, Pitlochry and Edinburgh Castle
• : View Eilean Donan Castle, the battlefield of Culloden and the 18th green at St. Andrews
• : See St. Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin, Galway Cathedral and Loch Lomond

Cultural, Education / Learning, Small Ship Cruise

Wonders of Britain and Ireland

• : Explore Dublin and Edinburgh with a Local Specialist
• : Discover Bath, Cardiff, Chester, York and Oxford
• : Visit the ancient stone circle at Stonehenge, the Roman Baths in Bath, the Waterford Crystal Showroom, Blarney Castle to kiss the stone, the Rock of Cashel, Gretna Green, Edinburgh Castle, Alnwick, Shakespeare's Birthplace in Stratford-upon-Avon and one of the famous colleges of Oxford (when open)
• : View the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Alnwick Castle - the home to Harry Potter amp;amp; Hogwarts, York Minster, Anne Hathaway's thatched cottage and Sir Winston Churchill's grave at Bladon
• : See St. Patrick's Cathedral, the Georgian Squares in Dublin and the Lake District's magnificent scenery

Treasures of Ireland (Shannon)

• : Explore Dublin, Titanic Story in Cobh and Killarney National Park with a Local Specialist
• : Discover Waterford, Cork and Killarney
• : Visit Trinity College, Glendalough, Waterford Crystal, Blarney Castle, Torc Waterfall, Foynes Flying Boat Museum and the Cliffs of Moher
• : View St. Kevin's Cross in Glendalough and King John's Castle in Limerick
• : See Dublin's Georgian Squares

Cultural, Education / Learning

Why we love Brendan Vacations

They have a high level of personalized attention and curated itineraries for Ireland & Scotland.

Irish Highlights (Summer)

• Wicklow: Traditional Irish fare with an Italian twist is served up at Glenealy House near Dublin with the charming Fulvio family on hand to share their story.
• Waterford: Learn how crystal is crafted at the House of Waterford Crystal during a workshop tour.
• New Ross: Explore the tragic history of Ireland's famine emigration at the Dunbrody Famine Ship Experience, a replica of one of the original ships used in the 1800s.
• Dublin: A Local Specialist will show you Dublin's elegant Georgian squares, O'Connell Street and the Custom House.
• Bunratty: Visit the impeccably-preserved Bunratty Castle and Folk Park.

Iconic Ireland and Ashford Castle (Winter)

• Connemara: Visit the Connemara Celtic Crystal Factory and witness master craftsmen bring these intricate crystal designs to life.
• Blarney: It is said that those who kiss the Blarney Stone are bestowed with the power to persuade, flatter and coax. But to do so, you must dangle from the ramparts! Visit Blarney Castle and see the famous Stone of Eloquence.
• Ring of Kerry: Admire Ireland's enduring scenic beauty on one of the most beautiful drives in the world.
• Lahinch: Help preserve the Cliffs of Moher for generations to come and learn about its extraordinary geology, history and the species that find sanctuary in its nooks and crannies.

Best of Scotland (Summer)

• Kinlochard: Join the Wood family at their 15th-century farm on the shores of Loch Ard for a home-cooked Scottish Be My Guest dinner, tales of Rob Roy and a few foot-tapping ceilidh tunes.
• Glasgow: Visit Glengoyne, known as Scotland's most beautiful whisky distillery, for a tour and a tasting of their unique Highland single malt whisky.
• Edinburgh: Explore the city with your Local Specialist as you travel along Princes Street to see the Scott Memorial, the neoclassical Adam facades of New Town and the official Scottish residence of the King, Palace of Holyroodhouse.
• St. Andrews: Visit the university town where the famous beach scene from 'Chariots of Fire' was filmed and see the golf course where the sport was created.
• Scottish Highlands: Admire picturesque lochs and glens as you travel through the Scottish Highlands.

Enchanting Ireland

• : Explore Dublin, Killarney National Park and Westport with a Local Specialist
• : Discover Galway and Killarney
• : Visit Trinity College and EPIC - The Irish Emigration Museum in Dublin, the National Irish Famine Museum at Strokestown Park, Kylemore Abbey, Cliffs of Moher and Blarney Castle
• : View the mountains of the Connemara and Torc Waterfall
• : See St. Patrick's Cathedral and the Georgian Squares in Dublin and Galway Cathedral

Highland Trail Inspired By Outlander

• : Explore Edinburgh with a Local Specialist
• : Discover Dundee, Orkney Islands, Glasgow and Stirling
• : Visit Edinburgh Castle, filming locations for: Fort William, 18th-century Cranesmuir, 1940s Inverness and Wentworth Prison, the 18th green at St. Andrews, Highland Folk Museum, Newtonmore, the Culloden Battlefield, John O'Groats, Skara Brae, Ullapool, Isle of Skye, Glencoe, a whisky distillery in Pitlochry, Stirling Castle, St. Mungo's Cathedral and Linlithgow Palace
• : View Inverness Castle and Eilean Donan Castle
• : See Ben Nevis and the Battlefield at Bannockburn

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Ireland CIE vs Brendan Tours - Ireland Forum

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We are comparing two tours for Sept 3023.

Reviews comparing the 2 are few.

Anyone have any experience with these tours or a comparison of both? Husband is retiring as a mail carrier and war veteran. Wonderful man who never asks for anything so I want to make his dream of Ireland come true & give him the best trip possible.

7 replies to this topic

Must say that the travel agent sounds useless, I would ditch him/her now.

These tours may not provide the best trip possible for your husband and yourself. They often try to appeal to travellers by packing a lot in, which is fine if you enjoy spending hours in a vehicle, early starts, being given limited time at sites and attractions or just driving past an interesting place. In short it can all feel very rushed indeed.

I am the sort of traveller who likes a relaxed pace. My wife is the same and we also both like making our own decisions rather than being told what we should do and see. If you are anything like us then please consider independent travel.

If you are nothing like us then a your could work for you, but much will depend on the actual itinerary.

The plusses, its overall more relaxed and slightly longer, youve 2x nights in Dublin and Killarney in relatively central hotels so it might be that bit more relaxed to not be packig and unpacking at EVERY place you stop. Youve a night in Ashford castle (might explain the higer cost aside from the 2 extra nights) which is a fantastic 5star hotel in stunning surrroundings and a good base for the next day . You also get an night in Cork city, an underrated place that is FAR less touristy than Killarney/ Kilkenny / Dublin and is comparible to Galway for being vibrant but has more going for it in general. Its funny they dont mention the nearby Shandon bells (hotel is right by them) or give a tour of Cork city, but you can do that yourself anyhow if youve the energy for it.

The negative, it costs a little more than the first option, and might be a bigger group

If the cost gets a little too saucy, maybe consider fly drive seriously, or do train to Galway/ Cork/ Killarney and take coach day tours to any countryside attractions. Theres no end of day tour options from the main tourist towns - possibly more so now seeing as car rental prices have gone ballistic.

Thank you to everyone who took the time to share info & ideas regarding my questions of tours & CIE vs Brendan.

my first trip over 20 years ago was a CIE tour.....the upside for me then was I didn't have to do any planning, but of course I don't feel that way now...the driver/guides were friendly and funny.....

the downside was, very early starts, limited luggage, too little time at some locations, too much at others, too much time on the bus, and very little free time to explore on my own...

whatever you decide, enjoy yourselves to the max.....

Thank you for asking this question. I have the exact same one. No one really explained the difference between the two tour operators or considered you might not want to drive on the other side of the road? Which tour company did you decide to go with?

We chose CIE. We are happy with the decision, particularity because we decided it was worth a bit extra to pay for the smaller "group"size tour. It has a maximum of 26 people and the reviews state how much more relaxed, even flexible it is with a smaller group. And you still have the larger bus, therefore more window choices.

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Why Europe’s Cooler Weather Countries Could Be Hot This Summer

Five destinations worth considering to get out of the heat.

With airfares increasing and lodging rapidly getting booked, now is the time to book your summer travels to Europe. But where in Europe? After record-breaking heat the past few summers in southern Europe, with one location reaching an astounding 119.8 degrees, many travelers are looking to destinations in northern Europe such as Scandinavia, Scotland and Iceland rather than the figurative and literal “hot spots” of Italy, Spain, and Greece.

“We’ve seen an over 20 percent increase in bookings on European trips above the 50th parallel [of latitude] in 2024,” said Scott Abbott, director of product at Wilderness Travel, in an email to AARP. “Destinations like Norway, Greenland, Scotland, Ireland and the Faroe Islands have been especially popular this year.” Given that Wilderness Travel’s primary clients are above the age of 50, “having confidence that you’ll be comfortable while exploring these places and be able to enjoy your vacation is a very understandable consideration.”

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Extreme weather and climate change probably will have a major impact on travel decisions now and into the future. “Forget chasing the sun. Future travelers will instead be seeking shade as destinations which are popular today will be rendered inhospitable by rising temperatures,” according to a Future Laboratory study sponsored by tour operator Intrepid Travel. There is already a “chasing the shade” trend with “a shift away from beach vacations to cooler destinations in summer months, with parts of Scandinavia and the Baltic … predicted to emerge as top options for those looking to avoid the high summer heat,” said Matt Berna, Intrepid Travel’s president of the Americas, in an emailed statement.

Travelers may even want to consider the Arctic Circle as a potential summer destination. “We are seeing substantial interest in northern destinations as a way for travelers to escape the heat and crowds that have become synonymous with Europe in the summer,” said Stefanie Schmudde, senior vice president, global product strategy for luxury tour operator Abercrombie & Kent, in an email to AARP. “Many [travelers] are shifting their focus away from traditional European destinations and heading to cooler places, like Norway and even the Arctic.”

The increased demand toward the north is reaching travel advisers as well. The Virtuoso travel network reports they “are seeing increased demand for cooler weather destinations like Scandinavia, where Virtuoso bookings for this summer have climbed by 77 percent compared to 2023.” 

“I have had a few clients shift [destination] due to temps getting unbearable, and I’ve been advising many to do so,” Jessica Parker, founder of the Trip Whisperer Agency, tells AARP. Kaleigh Kirkpatrick, travel adviser and founder of The Shameless Tourist, shares that she has clients “headed to Scandinavia and Scotland, noting that they were averse to the [southern European] temps.”

For those travelers potentially interested in chasing more moderate temperatures to northern Europe this summer and beyond, here are five cool destinations that may be worth exploring.

Akureyri, Iceland

Iceland has become a very popular destination in recent years, but many visitors just visit the easily accessible capital city of Reykjavík and nearby attractions like the famed Blue Lagoon hot springs. Icelandair offers free stopovers in Reykjavík to passengers on its transatlantic flights, an easy way to get a taste of this cool location. 

Travelers looking for more of an immersion into Icelandic history, culture, and nature may enjoy a road trip around the country, with Akureyri, a town on the northern coast of the island, as a featured destination. Intrepid Travel said its most booked tour in the summer of 2023 by American travelers was its Icelandic Discovery itinerary along this route. 

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Akureyri, a scenic town of around 19,000 inhabitants just south of the Arctic Circle, boasts a relaxed atmosphere far from the hustle and bustle of the capital. The walkable city features a history museum highlighting the region’s past and present, nearby hiking and waterfalls, whale-watching tours, and even a botanic garden. 

Potential visitors to Iceland should keep their eyes on the latest news regarding volcanic activity. While the recent eruptions to the southwest of Reykjavík do not affect Akureyri to the north, smoke from previous eruptions has impacted airport operations at times.

Bodø, Norway

If you’re looking to head north in Europe this summer, you can’t get too much farther than Bodø, Norway, inside the Arctic Circle. “Regarding cool places to visit in Norway this summer, Bodø is definitely a must,” says Innovation Norway’s PR manager Harald Hansen.

This colorful city of about 50,000 is a European Capital of Culture for 2024, with an extensive series of festivals, events, art exhibitions and concerts to entertain and educate visitors throughout the year. And you’ll have plenty of time each day to enjoy the city in the summer as the midnight sun is in full effect, with sunlight 24 hours a day in Bodø from approximately May 31 through July 12.

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Touring Bodø’s museums, design-forward boutiques and restaurants can fill a summer day in town, while outside the city limits boat tours and hiking opportunities abound, including excursions to clamber over Svartisen, one of Europe’s largest glaciers — definitely a cool summer activity.

Faroe Islands

This archipelago of 18 islands located about halfway between Scotland and Iceland boasts cool summer temperatures (with highs in the mid 50s), spectacular scenery of sea cliffs, waterfalls and lush farmlands, unique local cuisine, and its own unique Nordic culture and history. It’s a special destination for those willing to travel off the beaten track.

The Faroe Islands will become more accessible in 2024 with direct flights from New York via national airline Atlantic Airways this September to October. Regular connecting flights on SAS (Scandinavian Airlines) run through Copenhagen throughout the summer.

The Faroe Islands in summer feature multiple music and cultural festivals, great hikes, farm visits, tours of museums and art galleries. And you can saunter by the brightly painted buildings of the capital city of Tórshavn (Thor’s Harbor).

Göteborg, Sweden

“The phenomenon of ‘coolcation’ … is definitely a hot topic here,” says Visit Sweden media representative Victoria Sallmann, referring to the trend of vacationing in cooler destinations. “The diversity of cool water options [in Sweden], whether it’s the extensive coastlines, lakes, or archipelagos, is increasingly appealing to international visitors.”

A good place to experience such a coolcation is in and around the city of Göteborg, on the west coast of Sweden. According to Visit Sweden, American guest visits there increased more than 53 percent from 2022 to 2023, showing the city’s increasing popularity. 

Göteborg is a great place to visit in summer not just for the history and culture of this strategic port town dating to the 17th century, but for a trip to the nearby archipelago. These islands are evocative of the U.S. northeast, with hardy fisherfolk still earning a living on trawlers mixing with summer visitors who come to enjoy the cool ocean breezes, fresh fish fries and even a few sandy beaches. On the nearby island of Vrångö, Håkan Karlsten, owner of the Kajkanten boutique hotel, notes a trend change with guests “saying that they choose a Swedish/Nordic vacation instead of a Mediterranean one, both due to climate changes and costs.”

One notable benefit of visiting a northern destination in summer is sharing in the joy of the locals who have been cooped up all winter. Visit Göteborg in summer, and you’ll see the parks, outdoor cafes and patio bars full of smiling people leaning back and slowly rotating their faces to soak in the sweet — and not too hot — summer sunlight.

Orkney Islands, Scotland

Scotland’s famously inclement weather “isn’t a key motivator for visiting,” says public relations representative Jessica Barnes of VisitScotland. But the saying “it’s possible to experience four seasons in one day,” as Barnes notes, may become a selling point to visit the country during these summers of extreme heat.

Visitation is increasing to Scotland with “record demand … added from the U.S. over the last year,” including a 70 percent increase in spending compared with pre-pandemic numbers, Barnes says. And it will be easy to reach Scotland this summer, with flights from six U.S. cities: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, New York, Orlando and Washington, D.C. JetBlue will be adding to the mix, launching a new Scotland route into Edinburgh from New York starting in May.

For a cool, off-the-beaten-track summer destination in Scotland, head to the country’s “Wild North.” “[We] definitely have seen a strong interest in places like the Orkney Islands,” says Wilderness Travel’s Abbott, regarding the island chain located off Scotland’s northern coast. With the islands’ great hikes and famed neolithic monuments, tours there “have been especially popular” recently, according to Wilderness Travel.

Bill Fink is an award-winning travel writer covering global adventures for BBC , Lonely Planet , Thrillist and many other outlets. Follow him @finktravels.

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