Luxury Scotland & Ireland Group Tour Review: Edinburgh, Dunbar, Glencoe, Castle, Loch Lomond, Kinsale, Glengarriff, 2-Week Trip

Review by traveler

Brian W.

7.6.2023

General Info

Traveler Review

Which Country (Countries) did you visit on this trip?

Ireland

Scotland

Your overall comments on the trip and the travel company:

The 12 of us did not to drive but also did not want a big bus tour with a set itinerary. We did not want to 'follow an umbrella'. We wanted to build our own trip with expert assistance that allowed flexibility for us to do what we wanted as or whole group or in smaller sets. Alex at the travel agency was the perfect answer.
From cradle to grave, Alex was engaged, quick to respond, a font of knowledge and proactive. she allowed us the flexibility to develop our basic itinerary and provided expert guidance/recommendations/council on our path. Looking back, it was clear she steered us away from making ignorance choices. She took the time to understand our specific wants and helped craft a fabulous vacation. She remained engaged, offering assistance and advice all throughout the trip and even afterwards, is assisting us with a solitary problem (outside the travel agency).
We allotted a full 2 weeks for the trip and isolated on a limited number of sites so we could best enjoy our time vs. seeing the countryside through a windshield. We stayed at least 2 nights in each location so we could relax and see more of our chosen sites. Very glad we chose this path. We added 2 days up from to get over jet lag and are quite happy we did. Our group spend time together, in smaller groups and as couples throughout our stay often time crossing paths. Alex help build our trip so every day presented multiple options.

What were the most enjoyable or memorable parts of your trip?

Scotland.
Edinburgh was a very pleasant surprise. I expected an interesting and inviting city and that and much more. There was more to see and do than we expected and a fabulous walking city with a pleasant surprise around every corner.
An afternoon train trip to Dunbar (Alex's recommendation) with dinner at the Creel was a perfect compliment to 3 days in the big city.
Stirling Castle, fabulous. The guided tour was excellent; wish we had an extra hour or so afterwards to walk around.
Drive to and around Glencoe. Breathtaking. Our driver stopped often so we could get out and walk around. Not to be missed.
Loch Lomond. Needed 3 days, not 2. Facility and staff were simply perfect. Falconry is a must; far exceeded my expectorations. Golf was excellent with fabulous views on almost every hole. Challenging but not too hard.
Hotels: the hotels in Ediburgh and in Loch Lomond could not have been better; that is where I would stay going back.
Ireland.
Kinsale exceeded my expectations as well. The walking tour gives a perfect introduction to the city's storied past and serves to provide more options for the rest of the day that can possibly be done.
A stop at Old Head to walk around is well worth the short detour.
The stop at Glengarriff for lunch on our meandering drive to Kenmare was a great surprise. Quaint town with plenty of options for food. We took the short ferry ride to the Nature Reserve, beautiful and we got to see otters!
Kenmare was an excellent selection for a base from which to see either the Ring of Beara or Kerry. We did Kerry and found it met or exceeded all expectations. Starting early and going clockwise proved to make it almost a private trip. All stops were good ones; great day and we were back in time for croquet on the hotel lawn, happy hour and dinner.
The Literary Pub Crawl and the Celtic Nights Dance Show were two of the most entertaining events of our trip. We did not do too many 'touristy' venues but did these ones and I would turn around and do them both again tomorrow.
All three Hotels were excellent with superb staffs and rooms.

If you could take your trip again, what would you do differently?

Substitute Oban for another area. The folks that went to Iona enjoyed it but perhaps it could be reached from another port. The show at the View was less than we'd hoped. Our fault, we picked it.
Skip visiting Cork and stay in Kinsale. Although impressive, the open market is something one can find elsewhere. Kinsale is a uniquely interesting place and if you only have one full day, best to stay put.
Opted for another stop, more enroute to Dublin, over the Cliffs of Mohr. 14 tour buses and nothing else in the area.

Luxury Scotland & Ireland Group Tour Review: Edinburgh, Dunbar, Glencoe, Castle, Loch Lomond, Kinsale, Glengarriff, 2-Week Trip

General Info

Which Country (Countries) did you visit on this trip?

Your overall comments on the trip and the travel company:

What were the most enjoyable or memorable parts of your trip?

If you could take your trip again, what would you do differently?

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