Relaxed Ireland and Scotland Tour for Seniors

Connemara National Park feels like Ireland from the postcards. Moors and bogs tumble along, beneath the rock-studded frame of mountains. Tiny villages dot the outskirts, some with thatched roofs, most with a freshly painted white facade. You spot stone walls and separate fields of cows while an ancient abbey stands on the edge of a lake. In this national park, you can drive and admire the views. You can walk and inhale the salty air. You can take photos from viewpoints and disappear into valleys where nobody else is around. Of course, you can stop in the villages for a cup of tea and a slice cake, as well as driving onto the coast where Ireland’s only fjord provides another unique attraction today.

You stop and admire the heart of Ireland. Green colors stretch in every direction, and you’re tempted to go searching for a four-leaved clover. The setting is iconic, and the atmosphere is otherworldly, County Clare making it feel like you’ve journeyed into the Ireland of yesteryear. Local culture is alive here, and there are many local people and places to meet. The cuisine is traditional, and each night you have a hearty dinner of food from the area. You can go exploring today or relax around the castle grounds, where there is everything from golf to fishing to horseback riding and falconry.

The stories can be ancient all across Ireland, none older than the circular megalithic tombs of Newgrange. Predating the pyramids and Stonehenge, these peculiar World Heritage structures appear to have come from a sci-fi movie. How they were made and why they are here are questions that anthropologists can only guess at; your guide will provide an in-depth narrative. Newgrange is a natural stop on the drive to Dublin, where you have time for a short city orientation before an evening of entertainment. A traditional storyteller spins his yarn, music, and dancing help you experience tradition, and the cuisine continues to be nothing but Irish.

Dublin can be many cities in one and it’s good to have a lens from which to explore the attractions ranging from St. Patrick’s Cathedral, the Book of Kells at Trinity College, and the infamous gaol. No story is more powerful than one from James Joyce or Oscar Wilde, authors who created legendary works about Georgian Dublin. On a private tour of Dublin, the guide can adjust everything to your interests, whether that is the Old Jameson Distillery and Guinness Storehouse, the preserved architecture around St. Stephen’s Green, or the collection of old Catholic churches across the city.

County Wicklow is the Irish garden, a smorgasbord of green colors made from rolling farmland and verdant hills. Monasteries and lakes dot the landscape, along with old stone mills and royal legacies. Visit Powerscourt House and sip on a tea while overlooking the gardens, then choose whether to continue to Glendalough, an old glacial valley that looks like many an Irish postcard. Back in Dublin, there are good restaurants within walking distance of the the hotel, including those for traditional Irish cuisine. If you’ve had enough potatoes, there are many international fine-dining restaurants as well.

Fly to Edinburgh and the Royal Mile is a wonderful place to explore at leisure. You’re staying on one of the quiet back alleys next to all the monuments and famous buildings, yet far enough away from the bustle and noise. Just walk out, and there are countless options for dining and exploring within a quarter-mile. The guide greets you at the airport and gives you an overview of the old town, another of the World Heritage Sites visited on this vacation. Tomorrow you’ll get to know the monuments in more depth. Today is nice and relaxed, so you can make your own first impressions of Scotland and its capital.

Experience the best of Edinburgh through a serene journey through countless centuries. Start with a drive up to Edinburgh Castle, the majestic compass point that looks down on the city. Check out the Scottish crown jewels and other extravagant gems, before following the Royal Mile through the city. Each of the narrow closes has a story to tell, from wool and tweed shops to ornate embellishments and secrets from the city’s past. Continue to the Palace of Holyroodhouse, and you’ve completed the journey through the oldest part of Edinburgh. The Royal Botanic Garden and the National Gallery are one option for the afternoon. You can hike an extinct volcano for inspiring views, or head down to the waterside for a spot of fish and chips.

This day is left flexible so you can choose which way to turn, dependent on your interests and energy levels. Often you only find out about the best parts of a country once you are there, especially when insider guides are full of ideas to take you away from the standard trail. One option for today is Glasgow, an alternative city with a long history and a superb art scene; it is vastly different from Edinburgh. Another option is the Scottish Borders area, rolling fields of heather punctuated by castles and the lonely sheep-strewn road towards Hadrian’s Wall and England. You may want to spend the day in Edinburgh or even go much further afield to Loch Lomond or even one of the Scottish islands.

Stirling delights the imagination; it is an expertly preserved old city great for taking a very slow walk through history. When you emerge from the alleys and closes you look upon Stirling Castle, perhaps the grandest of all the castles in Scotland and Ireland. Half a day in Stirling is part of the journey as you continue into Perthshire, where rolling hills and distant mountain peaks look down upon your estate. It’s one of Scotland’s most peaceful and luxurious places to stay, your accommodation bordering rugged and wildlands to one side, and world-famous golf courses to the other. Check-in, check out the tranquility and plan the next two days with your private guide.

From your hotel base, you’re within reach of so many Scottish icons. Travel further north, going deeper into the Scottish Highlands, where lochs stand lonely in glens. Make a tour of old-world whiskey distilleries, this region well known for its single malts. Travel further afield to Ben Nevis and the famous Loch Ness, where a private boat ride shows that there’s more to the area than a fictional monster. A couple of superb national parks are within 45 minutes by car, places to go hiking in nature, appreciate silence, and wonder as to how Scotland has such contrasting colors to Ireland. This is a country known for its landscapes and a stay in Perthshire places you center stage for many rural pleasures.

There’s nothing planned for this day, and you’ll find many ways to keep yourself occupied around the resort. Tee off times can be booked for one of the golf courses, including the one that hosts the Ryder Cup and Johnnie Walker Championship. You could spend the day in nearby St. Andrews, a quaint town along the seaside. Falconry and horseback riding are options, along with fishing and biking on the huge resort grounds. Today is another chance to do or see the Scotland of your imagination, the private guide can be on hand to tailor and enhance your journey.

A short jaunt back to Edinburgh completes the vacation, a private transfer that gets you at the airport in plenty of time before the departure flight. With a late departure, there’s an option to stop somewhere on the way, perhaps Rosslyn Abbey, the medieval wonder made famous by The Da Vinci Code.