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SOUTHERN SCOTLAND & NORTHERN IRELAND
The Scots-Irish Link
4 days / 3 nights - Saturday to Tuesday

You could also most throw a pebble across from Scotland's lower west coast to Ireland's northern one. So their proximity has not only led to a lot of shared history and inter country immigration, but also to our ability to design this super 4-day tour where you can explore both regions. And when combined with the following Borders tour really does offer an unbeatable seven-day experience.

History covering thousands of years, prehistoric sites, castles, churches and chapels, film locations, walled cities, museums, quaint villages, combine with nature at her best in amazing coastline, rolling countryside and stunning mountains.

DEPARTURE DATES & PRICES FOR 2008

Tour Code	Depart Glasgow	Return Glasgow
SULT	Saturday	Tuesday
SULT 01	03 May	06 May
SULT 02	17 May	20 May
SULT 03	31 May	03 Jun
SULT 04	14 Jun	17 Jun
SULT 05	28 Jun	01 Jul
SULT 06	12 Jul	15 Jul
SULT 07	26 Jul	29 Jul
SULT 08	09 Aug	12 Aug
SULT 09	23 Aug	26 Aug
SULT 10	06 Sep	09 Sep
SULT 11	20 Sep	23 Sep
SULT 12	04 Oct	07 Oct

Cost: $989 USD per person in a twin share room. Single $1039 USD single occupancy

What your tour price includes: Your accommodation for 3 nights while on the tour including both full breakfasts and dinners. Your price also includes all entrance fees to attractions, transportation, services of driver/guide-companion and all taxes and tips other than those you may wish to give your guide.

Airport transfers and accommodation pre and post tour is not included but can be reserved at a specially discounted price.

TENTATIVE ITINERARY

DAY ONE - SATURDAY

You board our tour at 08.00 in central Glasgow (on occasions, it may be an earlier departure if we have to catch the ferry from Cairnryan). Our road takes us south through the pretty lowland countryside and Killmarmock to the seaside town of Troon where we board our ferry to Northern Ireland. The crossing is a short and scenic one to Larne. (Ferry P&O Express 1hr 50mins Troon to Larne departs 10.05 or, alternatively, a similar time from Cairnryan).

We by pass Belfast today in favour of a drive alongside Lough Neagh to the religious capital of Ireland, Armagh. Tradition has it that St Patrick chose Armagh as the centre of his mission in Ireland. It is certainly regarded as the spiritual capital of Ireland and with a range of interesting secular and religious sites. Our visit options include two cathedrals, the nearby Dan Winter's Cottage (the longest thatched cottage in Ireland!), the Genealogical Centre, Armagh county museum, the museum of the Royal Irish Fusiliers. http://www.armagh.gov.uk/history

Our next stop of the day being at Dungannon, the location for the seat of government of the famous O'Neill clan. The homestead of Ulysses Simpson Grant, 18th U.S. President, is located in the town.

Finally, we drive through gentle, rolling country to our splendid overnight base near Omagh.

NIGHTSTOP: Omagh

DAY TWO - SUNDAY

We take the winding back-roads (some might call them lanes!) through the Sperrins to the northern coast. En route we’ll be seeing small interior towns and villages such as the 17th century Plantation town of Cookstown. Our next visit will be either to the Wellbrook Beetling Centre, an interesting relic of the old Ulster linen industry, or to the prehistoric stone circles at Beaghmore in the foothills of the Sperrins. The famed Bushmills distillery is a visit option before we continue on to the world heritage site of the Giants Causeway. Following lunch, we continue with our coastal drive, taking a run through the Glens of Antrim before returning to our base in Omagh in time for one of their sumptuous farmhouse dinners.
http://www.northantrim.com/giantscauseway.htm

NIGHTSTOP: Omagh

DAY THREE - MONDAY

The touring road begins with a choice, dictated by the group’s interests, between the Ulster American Folk museum, or the historically broader Ulster History Park. The road then takes us through Strabane, where the National Trust Georgian property of Gray's printing shop harks back to Strabane's past as a printing hub and Sion Mills. This unique village is a heritage area. The features of its linen industry are perfectly preserved, with the mill encircled by tiny cottages used by the mill workers. A quick diversion down a backroads to Castleberg rewards us with megalithic tombs, Todd's Cairn and the Druid's Altar. The Druid's Altar tomb includes stone panels with Ogham carvings. Incidentally, Alamo hero Davy Crockett and Sam Houston were sons of Castleberg. Finally, to Londonderry/Derry. Here you’ll enjoy a walk along the city walls, hearing about the siege of Derry and seeing the painful reminders of Ulster’s age old conflict. www.folkpark.com

We return to our accommodation near Omagh.

NIGHTSTOP: Omagh

DAY FOUR - TUESDAY

We depart Omagh, by 08.30, taking the short drive to Northern Ireland's capital. Belfast is a city with much to recommend it, including fine, restored Victorian architecture, impressive civic buildings, a newly restored 'docklands' and some good shopping! A highlight of our panoramic tour will be the drive up the two roads that defined Ulster's sectarian 'troubles' of nearly 40 years. The political graffiti that adorns the side of houses and shops along the Falls and Shankill roads is one of the most amazing sights you'll see.

We board our lunchtime ferry (P&O Larne to Cairnryan 13.30 / arrive 14.30), enjoying lunch aboard. Just an hour later we dock at Stranraer in Southern Ayreshire. What a treat we have in store for this final afternoon drive! We follow the Robbie Burns trail north, stopping at Burns own cottage, Brigadoon and the city of Dumfries. The splendid scenery of the Galloway Forest Park adds to our enjoyment.

We'll arrive back in Glasgow by 18.30. Your accommodation tonight is not included in your tour price but may be reserved for a specially discounted rate.

Those wishing to continue with us for a further three days and combine this tour with our Borders Explorer will not return to Glasgow but will stay in New Lanark. The New Lanark Mill Hotel is a unique opportunity to stay in the heart of the World Heritage Site, on the banks of the River Clyde.

This tour is operated by Back-Roads Touring Co Ltd