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Celtic Corners (Aug 31- Sept 11)
Scroll down for itinerary, pricing, hotel information and a special booking offer.
Northern Ireland - Scotland - Wales. Three countries - home of the last survivors of the ancient Celtic people who once ruled all of Europe. This is a unique opportunity to meet these people - these tribes - who have such a fascinating past and hopeful future as they expand with a new sense of purpose into the 21st century.
Giant's Causeway, North Coast of Ireland
For the first time since 2002 we’re going back to journey through Celtic Corners. Join us as we drop in on the people who claim thelrs was the language spoken in the Garden of Eden. And ancient race that at one point ruled most of Europe and the Middle East and is now confined to the fringes of Western Europe.
Conwy Castle, Wales
Discover the language, the stories, the music and the richenss of the Celtic World. Discover the land and the rich heritage of your ancestors and that unique family importance that caused the Highland Clans to recite their geneology before the Battle of Culloden and that makes one’s name so important to the Celts.
Hotels: Early night Park Plaza Belfast airport; Bayview, nr Bushmills, (2 nights); Hilton, Belfast (2 nights); Moffat House, Scotland (3 nights); Castle Hotel, Conwy, Wales (3 nights); Last night at Radisson, Manchester Airport.
Begins from Belfast International Airport, departs Manchester.
Prices: $4,495 Cdn per person sharing. Single Supplement: $475
$4,225 US per person sharing. Single Supplement: $450
Book now and receive an early night (August 30) at our airport hotel (approx value $250-$350), as well as a reduction of $100 per person from the cost of the tour.
To book a $500 non-refundable deposit is required at time of booking with the balance due 60 days prior to the departure of the tour. (July 2, 2010)
Payment by cheque, mastercard or Visa.
Please read our details and fine print page regarding cancellation penalties which apply. We strongly suggest you protect your investment and take out insurance at the time of booking.
ITINERARY
AUG 31 - SEPT 11
This tour begins at the Belfast Park Plaza Airport Hotel and ends at the Radisson Airport Hotel in Manchester.
August 30 - Park Plaza Airport Hotel, Belfast - If you wish an early night it's a great way to prepare for the tour. After your flight, put your feet up and rest up for the exciting journey to come. Dinner is on your own tonight either in the hotel dining room, the lounge or wherever you wish.
August 31-September 1 - Bayview Hotel - Port Ballintrae, Northern Ireland. Our hotel overlooks the Ocean on the North Coast. During our two days here we’ll check out the Gian’ts Causeway (where the legendary Fin MacCool would journey to Scotland to take fighting lessons from a fairy warrior Princess); and take in the clifftop ruins of Dunluce Castle. We'll stop for a dram at Bushmills Distillery before journeying down the ruggedly beautiful Antrim Coast, home of the ancient Celts. We’ll dine both nights in this remarkable hotel.
Sept 2-3 Hilton Hotel, Belfast - After travelling down to this ancient Celtic Capital, now one of Europe’s fastest growing cities we will discover the richness - and diversity - of the city and her people who are now working together to make life better. You will have a guided city tour with plenty of time to explore on your own all the history (this is where the Titanic was built) and the great shopping of this bustling city. And from our hotel you can wander the newly develped waterfront park and walk area alongside the Lagan River. First night in we’ll dine in the hotel and for the second night you are free to try out one of the many fine restaurants in the city. (You will also have Hop-on, Hop-off tour bus tickets so you could also use this to get into the heart of the city although it is only a five minute walk.)
Sept 4-5-6 Moffat House Hotel, Moffat, Scotland - After a short ferry ride from Belfast to Stranraer in Scotland we cross the gently rolling landscape of Dumfries and Galloway to the strinkingly attractive town of Moffat. While here we will discover the Scottish side of the Celts along with some great visits and scenery including battlefields where Robert the Bruce fought the English in the early 14th century, the notorious Devil’s Beef Tub in Moffat and the John Buchan Museum in Broughton. (Buchan is famous for his writing including The 39 Steps and 100 more as well as being a Governor General of Canada). We’ll also discover some standing stones and much, much more. First two nights dinner in the hotel with a free night to explore the charming restaurants of Moffat. Incidentally, our hotel is a wonderful Georgian mansion house dating to 1767.
Sept 7-8-9 Castle Hotel, Conwy, Wales - ‘Croeso a Cymru’ Welcome to Wales. A motorway drive through Cumbria and Middle England then a right turn into a land that is so very different from England. Our hotel is on the main street of the tiny town of Conwy shadowed by the massive Conwy Castle and surrounded by Welsh Hills. While here we’ll explore not only Conwy, but the rugged mountains of Snowdonia, Caernarfon and its Castle and the achingly lovely valleys of Wales. This is the Celtic country that has done the best to preserve their ancient ways and language. Welsh is thriving at the moment with a Televsion station and a thriving book publishing business. Wales is a great way to wind up our journey to the Celtic Corners. Two nights dinner in the award winning restaurant of or four star hotel and a free night to explore Conwys culinary corners.
Sept 10 - Radisson Hotel, Manchester - This is not just a drive to our airport hotel, but a drive through history as we leave Wales before a lunch stop in the border city of Chester. This walled city, which is partly in Wales, partly in England, is one of the highlights of the United Kingdom. With lots of time, we’ll park up, give you a bit of walk into the heart then set you free to explore and lunch before we head off to the Radisson Hotel at Manchester Airport for our last dinner together.
Sept 11 - Departure Day. The hotel is at the terminal so there is plenty of time to check out the last of the shops and duty free before you head for home.
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