Relaxed Ireland, Scotland & England Tour for Seniors

What to expect on this itinerary
This 17-day tour is handcrafted for senior travelers, with two-night stays in eight unique destinations. It is a journey through Irish coastline, thatched villages, Georgian splendor, Scottish Highlands and islands, beautiful capitals, medieval outposts, and Shakespearean tales. Ireland, Scotland, and England love to showcase their differences from each other. These are three countries distinguished by their cultural nuances, unique histories, and once in a lifetime experiences.
Customizable Itinerary
Shannon – A Relaxed Welcome in Limerick
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.
What's Included:
Shannon – Dramatic Coastal Cliffs and Irish Dance
Adare to Killarney – A Thatched Village and a Traditional City
Killarney – The Best of the Ring of Kerry
Dublin – Flying to the Elegant Georgian Capital
Dublin – Customizable Day Around Dublin
Inverness – A Beautiful Castle and Glimpse of the Highlands
Inverness – Full Day Trip to the Isle of Skye
Loch Ness to Edinburgh – So Many Famous Scottish Experiences
Edinburgh – Highlights of the Scottish Capital
York – Britain’s Most Complete Medieval City
Stratford-Upon-Avon – More Than Just Shakespeare
Stratford-Upon-Avon – A Beautiful Place to Relax and Watch the Theater
London – Classic Sightseeing Around Central London
London – Two Free Days To Discover Your Version of London
London – Departure
Trip Highlights
- Experience an outdoor theater performance in the town of Shakespeare’s birth
- Explore the dramatic Irish coastline, including the Cliffs of Moher and Burren
- Absorb in the iconic Scottish style with two days in Inverness, including the Scottish Highlands and the Isle of Skye
- End the tour with three days in London with enough time enough to see parts of the capital that you are most interested in
- Marvel at the Georgian architecture in Dublin and take a day trip to Ireland’s garden county
- Check out Edinburgh Castle, then walk the Royal Mile through an old city
- Immerse yourself in the mazy lanes of York, which is Britain’s best-preserved medieval city
- Discover the Ring of Kerry and take a carriage ride through the thatched village of Adare
- Experience Irish dancing, English breakfasts, Scottish whisky, and many other famous cultural staples
- Search for the Loch Ness monster, explore fabulous Gaelic castles, and go off the beaten track with local guides
Detailed Description
Ireland, England and Scotland are three very different countries. You can witness this in the photos and through the traditions that you will experience. Irish dancing and the Cliffs of Moher is a million miles from Central London, yet you must travel to both to experience the magnitude of their differences. The cultures are distinct, along with their versions of history. Landscapes change enormously, as do the local attractions. Think of Scottish whisky, Irish storytelling and English breakfasts, or even comparing castles in the three countries. These three nations love to showcase their inimitability, especially in comparison to their neighbors, and also when entertaining international visitors.
Such contrasts make this private handcrafted tour feel like three vacations in one. Throughout the 17 days you will explore a full range of highlights, while still traveling at a relaxed and easy-going pace. Rather than hopping quickly between destinations, you will spend two nights in most of them (one in York and three in London). There is plenty of time to really settle in and absorb the local atmosphere. Day trips will show you more of the country and you always return to a comfortable base. In addition, two local flights are used to minimize driving time and maximize your experience on the ground. Traveling through England is best on high-speed trains, and your route is tailored to the best transport connections.
You will start with six days in Ireland where you will land in the quiet outpost of Shannon and listen to some Irish singing and storytelling. You may also check out the famous Cliffs of Moher and the Burren on day two before an even more traditional evening entertainment. Adare and Killarney fill day three, and then day four explores the Ring of Kerry, where villages meet lakeside landscapes and working farms. You will then fly to Dublin and have two nights in the capital city. That is plenty of time for a day of city sightseeing, plus a day trip to County Wicklow, the serene Garden of Ireland.
Next, you will fly straight into Inverness and your Scottish experience will begin with Highlands and castles. There are whisky distilleries and other local icons around this area as well. You will explore the Scottish Highlands, visit old battlefields, take a day trip to the Isle of Skye, and see the lake where Nessie the monster is rumored to hide. Journey South by road to Edinburgh, which is a lovely old capital that is always well received by senior travelers. Two nights means that you can get around all the key sights, especially since your hotel is located on the Royal Mile.
From here onwards, you will travel by train. First, you will zoom to York and see how the atmosphere changes South of the border. Then, you will discover the well-preserved medieval city as you walk through its markets and tiny alleyways. You will only need one day in York and it will not be rushed. Next, you will travel to Stratford-upon-Avon, the birthplace of Shakespeare and a rural town you will not want to leave. After seeing the sights, you will have plenty of time to relax amid rural settings, as well as an opportunity to watch the outdoor theater. You will end your private tour with three nights in London. One day will be guided and incorporates the key, major attractions. The other two days are left free, as London is a city that has so many attractions that you can easily find your own angle and allure.
Starting Price
$9,700 per person (excluding international flights)
Your Zicasso trip is fully customizable, and this sample itinerary is a starting place for your travel plans. Actual costs are dynamic, and your selection of accommodations and activities, your season of travel, and other such variables will bring this budget guideline up or down. Throughout your planning experience with your Zicasso specialist, your itinerary is designed around your budget. You can book your trip when you are satisfied with every detail. Planning your trip with a Zicasso travel specialist is a free service.
What's Included
- Accommodations
- In-country transportation
- Some or all activities and tours
- Expert trip planning
- 24x7 support during your trip
Your final trip cost will vary based on your selected accommodations, activities, meals, and other trip elements that you opt to include.
Verified Traveler Reviews
Based on 67 reviews
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The travel company's contact was helpful and responsive.
I provided a detailed review for them and I am copying you on it.
In regard to our Dublin hotel:First, our cab driver from the airport had NO IDEA, never heard of this property, we had no address and neither did he and was annoyed. We finally found it but it was difficult. Putting the address of all properties on the final itinerary would be very helpful!!That said the staff was very friendly, we arrived at 11a.m, they served us tea and then had our room ready by 12:30.They were very helpful, made a dinner reservation at a restaurant which was excellent. The chef/women who prepared the breakfast was very friendly and the food was excellent!! everything, the tea from tea leaves, the homemade brown bread, all of it.The first thing of note negatively was the cleanliness of the property from the lobby on. The floors were not swept, and the overall feel was definitely not up to standard. We were in the back building and it was dark hall to our first floor room and the hall steps and area out side our room, where there are 2 chairs and large table had not been swept, cleaned in awhile. The bed for comfortable, good pillows but again not real clean and we had a leak in the ceiling from a problem shower on the second floor. Fortunately it leaked down in the entrance just inside the door to the room. The apologized profusely and thought they had fixed the leak. It was then found to be from another location and we had not more problems. I have notes at home on the rest of the trip that I do want to share but this is as you requested, specific to this property.
Hi again,I am curious what your other clients complained about in regard to their stay at the hotel in Dublin?That said the rest of my review:Dublin:We like the Pig's Ear for dinner very goodNever used tickets for Kilmainham Gaol, timing was not good to get there and back to get ready for dinner. Just didn't work for us. In fact we never used any reservation you made for us for the whole trip. Timing and where we were just never synced up. Did buy a Dublin tour and enjoyed a short tour but then bought a tram pass for a ride.Visited Trinity and the Book of Kells which we really enjoyed and lines were not that long.Ate at a restaurant night 2 on the recommendation of the hotel and it was excellent and we could walk there. Picked up by our driver at 9 AM on Sunday. He had a difficult time locating the hotel but everyone helped him get there!Headed to CORKEnjoy the Kilkenny Castle tour.Did go to Rock of Cashel, disappointed other that the view. We definitely could have skipped that other than a brief stop at the local pub!The hotel in Cork was a nice hotel although tough to walk anywhere due to the location. We ate there first night and it was very good. View was greatBreakfast was good but powdered eggs! Good buffet choices otherwise.Went to downtown Cork for dinner the second headed in a taxi to a cafe when the driver told us it was an ALL VEGAN restaurant and the chef was well known but my husband was NO WAY and we needed to get a recommendation from the driver and then chose one of his restaurants in the area which was good. Off to Kenmare:Loved the hotel--room was really nice, big comfortable. Would go there again. Great breakfast and could order from the menu. Very accomodating. Walked to everything. Nothing opens early!Did not kiss the Blarney stone my husband didn't want to waitDid not tour Muckross but took in the beauty and took photos of both places.Drive thru Killarney and walked aroundWent back to Kenmare. Ate at hotel first night and then a restaurant the next night which was very good. Enjoyed some Irish music in one of the pubs in Kenmare. Nice town much quieter than Killarney. Loved the Beara Peninsula, stopped in Castletownbere and shopped. Left for Galway;Cliffs of Moher beautiful but after 35 years so different and commercialized. The hotel in Galway nice good location. Room very small and the shower did not work properly only had boiling hot water. No maintenance on site to repair and after a bit of a struggle they moved us to a suite on the 5th floor, so hot, windows don't open wide. Would have been great if they did not have a heat wave. Breakfast was very good. Ate at a restaurant on the Corner which was very good. Next nigh at a local place. Local pub was nice to stop in and get a drink. Went to Croagh Patrick and walked just up to the statue. Beautiful views. Westport is very nice.We loved Connemara. Stopped in Cong so my husband could see John Wayne, and the site of the Quiet Man filming. He loved this. Beautiful area.Stopped at Kylemore again beautiful. Would go back to this area.Never used the boat tour tickets. We wanted to head back and the tour was not for another 1.5 hrs and we were done!We ate breakfast and headed toward Malahide and we would have had to hang around to go to the Monastery so we just drove past and did not use these tickets either. Malahide. Like the hotel BUT in a front room and all we heard were buses pulling up to the front door off and on at night and music so loud from the down the street until 1:30 AM! We could sing along that is how clear the words were thru our window. Easy drive to the airport, pretty town, nice shops and we ate in a local pub NOT the tourist pub because the hotel staff recommend another place that is more local and not so crowded. So it was a good trip and the hotels were good, all the tickets were a waste, and while we stayed 2 nights everywhere ( which worked very well) I still think my husband got tired with the driving a couple of the days. We even cut off 70 miles by paying to take the ferry across the Shannon. The driver was good, informative and the car was comfortable.I hope this helps you improve the experience for others. Regards, Pat
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This travel agent arranged a six day trip of Ireland for my husband and myself, and it was just wonderful. I provided her with some loose parameters and a general travel route, and she put together a great trip, We began in Dublin with a walking tour and plenty of free time, as requested, and then travelled southwest to Cork where we stayed in Kinsale and Killarney. We ended on the west coast near Shannon where we stayed in the fantastic Dromoland Castle. Our accommodations were exactly what we had hoped for, a mix of guest houses and fine hotels. Our agent arranged for a private driver/guide who made great suggestions and adjusted the sights we visited based on the weather. He was a friendly and fantastic host, and I would highly recommend this form of touring. Our agent was quick to respond to all phone calls and messages, and provided us with a packet of informative travel materials at our first hotel. Every detail was handled and we had a worry free trip. Our agent provided friendly, excellent service and we would recommend her highly.
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From the first line of communication to boarding our plane in Dublin, our travel agency's perfection in planning made our vacation a perfect dream.
I found this agency through Zicasso, and after filling out our wish list, our agent emailed me back with the PERFECT itinerary. I didn’t have to make one change, and she nailed all areas I wanted to see, and offered several options for dining, excursions, sites, and must-see and do things. (They were also extremely patient, as it took us about 3 months to actually book due to busy schedules!)
The agency did not book flights but was helpful in helping us find flights and then worked with our flight schedule to finalize our itinerary. When we arrived in Dublin, we were met by our representative who was truly wonderful in making us feel welcome. He was friendly and chatted with us about things to do and see in Ireland, and made us feel very comfortable and relaxed, especially after traveling for about 25 hours. He advised us on the best way to get out of Dublin when we got our rental later in the week and pointed out places of interest on our drive to the hotel.
Upon arriving at the hotel (AMAZING), we were met by friendly staff, and since it was 9am, our room was not yet ready, so they sat us down so we could relax and enjoy breakfast. They provided us with a place to store our luggage and freshen up so we could explore Dublin a little while our room was being readied. Our stay at the hotel was simply outstanding, and made even better by a welcome gift from our travel agency, a chilled bottle of Sparkling wine, handwritten welcome card, and a scented candle!
Our rental car was delivered as promised (wonderful) and the process was simple and easy. From Dublin, we headed to Galway for a two-day stay (stayed at a modern and posh hotel with a spa and edgy and fun décor), had dinner at an Inn, which was spectacular and then spent an evening out in Galway City Center with the locals. An amazing place with tons of fun pubs and live music. We then headed to Killarney (stayed at a 5 stars, and luxurious resort again with a spa). In Killarney, we went to the Ring of Kerry and explored St MAry's Cathedral and Ross Castle. The town is beautiful, and the Muckross was in the Killarney National Forest-Absolutely beautiful.
After Killarney was Kinsale, where we stayed at a seaside boutique hotel and just gorgeous. On our first night, we stumbled into a restaurantand pub, great food, neat ambiance. We were also able to find laundry services as we were beginning to run low, and the town was easy to explore on foot. In Kinsale, our agent arranged dinner at a restaurant that was by far some of the best we had (and that’s pretty good, considering all the food in Ireland was fresh, locally sourced, and simply outstanding).
After Kinsale, we headed to Kilkenny for our last night. My only regret was not adding one more night to fully explore Kilkenny. It is a beautiful medieval town with some pretty amazing scenery, and we just didn't have enough time to see it all. We stayed at a very luxurious and nice hotel, and our last dinner at was delicious. I had fish and chips, and can still taste them!
All of our wishes, desires, and hopes were fulfilled during our trip. Our agent and the travel company team somehow knew exactly who we were and what we wanted, and then delivered perfectly. I would absolutely recommend this company for all of your booking needs. Thank you Zicasso for connecting us with them, and thank you to the team at our travel company for the vacation of a lifetime!
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We were extremely pleased with this Ireland travel company and the agent we worked with. This trip was two years in the planning due to multiple delays due to Covid and Julie worked with us every step of the way. The communication between us and her was always prompt and helped make sure we were able to do everything we wanted to do. The trip itself was wonderful. This was our first trip to Ireland and the specific itinerary, along with the suggestions made by Julie, we were able to get a flavor of both "Wild Ireland" and the City of Dublin during the eight days we were there.
The hotels booked by Julie were impeccable! The accommodations and service in Galway and Limerick were truly 5 stars and possibly beyond. The hotel in Killarney, has amazing service and is less updated, but still very comfortable and in a fabulous location in the town.
My wife and I strongly recommend Ireland to anyone who has never been and using this travel company for the booking of that trip.
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