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Vacations By Rail · Escorted small-group tour

Premium Celtic Castles: Scotland & Ireland

Escorted 12-day castle tour through Scotland and Ireland by rail and coach

Illustration of Premium Celtic Castles: Scotland & Ireland

Vacations By Rail's Premium Celtic Castles tour is a 12-day escorted journey from Edinburgh, Scotland to Kildare, Ireland, designed for travelers seeking refined accommodation and curated cultural experiences. The tour stays at four castle hotels, from the five-star Caledonian in Edinburgh to Kilkea Castle in the Irish countryside, and includes First Class rail travel through the Scottish Highlands, a heritage steam train ride through the Cairngorms, and a flight to Belfast. Days blend active sightseeing with leisure time: you will attend a tartan-weaving workshop, take a private Highland safari, tour Glamis Castle and Blair Castle, enjoy a Guinness pouring masterclass, visit Kilkenny Castle, and meet Irish wolfhounds on the castle grounds. The Tour Manager accompanies the group throughout, and all guided excursions, meals (breakfast daily, 4 lunches, 11 dinners), and transportation are included. Maximum group size is 22. This tour suits history lovers, luxury travelers, food-and-wine enthusiasts, and those who prefer the comfort of an organized itinerary.

What to know before you look closer

  • The operator rates this tour as Mobility Rating 3, indicating it involves considerable walking and active participation; confirm you can manage castle tours and excursions before booking.
  • International flights to and from Edinburgh are not included; only internal flights (Edinburgh to Belfast) are covered in the package.
  • The group is capped at 22 travelers; final headcount may affect the intimacy of experiences.

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Edinburgh

    Arrival in Edinburgh, Scotland's romantic capital

    Arrive in Edinburgh and transfer to the five-star hotel, meeting the Tour Manager and group for drinks and a Scottish-inspired dinner.

  2. Day 2railovernight: Pitlochry

    An authentic tartan-weaving workshop and Fonab Castle

    First Class rail to Stirling for a tartan-weaving class and lunch, then on to Fonab Castle in Pitlochry for a four-night stay.

  3. Day 3overnight: Pitlochry

    A private Highland safari and whisky-blending masterclass

    A private off-road wildlife-spotting safari in the Highlands, followed by a tour and whisky tasting at Aberfeldy Distillery.

  4. Day 4overnight: Pitlochry

    An exclusive tour of Glamis Castle and a hands-on falconry experience

    A private tour of Glamis Castle, childhood home of the Queen Mother, followed by a falconry experience at Fonab Castle.

  5. Day 5railovernight: Pitlochry

    Strathspey Steam Railway, Blair Castle and a magnificent gala dinner

    A heritage steam train journey on the Strathspey Steam Railway through the Cairngorms, a tour of Blair Castle, and a gala dinner with bagpiper and tartan demonstration.

  6. Day 6overnight: Kingscourt

    Flying to Belfast and a private tour of Hillsborough Castle

    Flight to Belfast, lunch, then a private tour of Hillsborough Castle before continuing to Cabra Castle for a three-night stay.

  7. Day 7overnight: Kingscourt

    Discovering the Titanic and touring the city with a Belfast cabbie

    Visit the Titanic Slipways and museum in Belfast, then a private black cab tour of the city's murals and history of The Troubles.

  8. Day 8overnight: Kingscourt

    Morning at leisure on the castle grounds and a Guinness masterclass

    A free morning at Cabra Castle, then a private Guinness pouring masterclass in the Terrace Bar.

  9. Day 9overnight: Kildare

    The Oldbridge Estate and a royal dinner

    Visit the Oldbridge Estate and Battle of the Boyne museum, then on to Kilkea Castle in Kildare for a three-night stay and dinner at Restaurant 1180.

  10. Day 10overnight: Kildare

    A guided tour of Kilkenny Castle and a proper afternoon tea

    A guided tour of the 12th-century Kilkenny Castle, followed by afternoon tea at Butler House.

  11. Day 11overnight: Kildare

    Meeting Irish wolfhounds and a farewell dinner

    An Irish Wolfhound experience on the Kilkea Castle grounds, or an optional excursion to Kildare Village shopping, followed by a farewell dinner at Restaurant 1180.

  12. Day 12

    Traveling home

    Transfer to the airport for your flight home after breakfast, or continue your vacation in Ireland.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 2First Class rail journey from Edinburgh to Stirling and Pitlochry, with a tartan-weaving class and lunch in Stirling.
  • Day 3Private off-road wildlife safari in the Highlands followed by whisky tasting at Aberfeldy Distillery.
  • Day 4Private tour of Glamis Castle, childhood home of the Queen Mother, and a falconry experience at Fonab Castle.
  • Day 5Heritage steam train journey on the Strathspey Steam Railway through the Cairngorms, then a tour of Blair Castle and a gala dinner with bagpiper and tartan demonstration.
  • Day 10Guided tour of the 12th-century Kilkenny Castle followed by afternoon tea at Butler House.

Included

  • Expertise of a Tour Manager from start to finish
  • 11 nights' 4 & 5-Star hotel accommodation
  • First & Standard Class rail travel
  • All rail and coach travel throughout your tour
  • All internal flights
  • Breakfast each day, 4 lunches, 11 dinners
  • Small Group - max group size of 22
  • All guided tours and excursions

Not included

  • Cancellation & Travel Insurance
  • Flights (international/arrival flights; internal flights are included)

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included?
Yes. The package includes First and Standard Class rail travel, specifically a journey from Edinburgh to Stirling to Pitlochry, a ride on the heritage Strathspey Steam Railway through the Cairngorms, and all coach and internal flight travel.
Is this an escorted tour?
Yes. A Tour Manager from Vacations By Rail travels with the group from start to finish, and all guided tours and excursions are included.
What is the accommodation like?
You stay in four historic castle hotels: the five-star Caledonian in Edinburgh (1 night), Fonab Castle Hotel in Pitlochry (4 nights), Cabra Castle Hotel in Kingscourt (3 nights), and Kilkea Castle Hotel in Kildare (3 nights).
What meals are included?
Breakfast is included each day, plus 4 lunches and 11 dinners. Specific dining venues are named at some stops, such as Restaurant 1180 at Kilkea Castle.
What is not included in the price?
International flights to and from Edinburgh are not included. Cancellation and travel insurance are also separate. One optional excursion (Kildare Village shopping) replaces another activity but is not included in the base package.
How much walking and physical activity is involved?
The operator rates this tour Mobility Rating 3, reflecting castle tours, guided walks through cities, and active experiences like falconry and the Highland safari.

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