The Best of Ireland and Scotland
(16 Reviews)
100% Recommended
Patrick McGill
Jamestown, NC
Europe and United Kingdom Travel Specialist
Welcome! I'm Patrick McGill, your dedicated travel expert specializing in custom-crafted journeys across Europe and the United Kingdom. My unwavering passion for exploration and deep appreciation for the rich and diverse cultures of these magnific...
Welcome! I'm Patrick McGill, your dedicated travel expert specializing in custom-crafted journeys across Europe and the United Kingdom. My unwavering passion for exploration and deep appreciation for the rich and diverse cultures of these magnificent destinations ensure that your travel dreams become reality.
My Mission:
My mission is to craft bespoke journeys that allow discerning adventurers to truly connect with the heart and soul of Europe. I believe travel is a transformative experience, and my role is to unlock the hidden wonders that ignite the passion and curiosity of each individual traveler.
My Vision:
I strive to be best known for curating life-enriching explorations across the UK and the Continent. By seamlessly blending guided experiences with independent discovery, I aspire to deliver unforgettable memories that foster lasting bonds between you and your immersive experiences in the historic, scenic, artistic and cultural aspects of Europe.
My Values:
- Personalization: I see each traveler as a unique individual, and meticulously tailor every element of the journey to align with their distinct interests, desires, and aspirations. No two trips are identical.
- Discovery: Travel is an opportunity to venture beyond the obvious, to learn new things and broaden our perspective.
- Connection: My role is to facilitate profound encounters - whether with places, people, or one's inner self - that cultivate a deeper understanding and appreciation of the world.
- Integrity: Honesty, transparency, and a steadfast commitment to excellence guide every interaction, ensuring my clients can entrust me with crafting their most cherished travel memories.
- Passion: I approach my work with an unwavering enthusiasm, driven by a genuine love for travel and a desire to share its transformative power with each and every guest.
My Services:
- Tailored Itineraries: Each journey is expertly designed to suit your unique interests and desires. I invest time in understanding what inspires you, ensuring your travel itinerary is a true reflection of your aspirations—from tranquil countryside escapes to vibrant city adventures.
- Cultural Immersion Experiences: I provide access to hidden gems, rare historical sites, and unique cultural activities. There's nothing quite like a cooking class in Tuscany or a private tour of a Scottish castle to enhance your appreciation of a destination's history and traditions.
- Personal Connections and Insights: I focus on Europe and the United Kingdom because of my extensive time living, working and traveling through this part of the world, and I am happy to share my experiences with you.
- Seamless Travel Planning: From the moment you dream of departure to the day you return home, I manage every facet of your travel experience. This includes bookings, transportation, and accommodation, ensuring your journey is as smooth and carefree as possible. Your peace of mind is my top priority.
- Supportive Travel Partner: My commitment doesn't end the moment you book your trip. I see to it that you have ongoing support while you are traveling.
A Unique Perspective on European Travel:
Traveling to Europe is not merely about "getting away"— it's about "getting in touch" with the world and the people around us. Connecting with different cultures helps us better understand ourselves and enriches our lives. This is the true essence of European travel: making meaningful connections that leave a lasting impact.
The Where and Why will determine the "How":
I believe that what you want to experience will have a large impact on how you travel. So whether your travel plans include a river cruise, ocean cruise, escorted tour, or a custom independent travel, I will create the itinerary that best meets your needs and desires.
Let’s Make Your Travel Dreams a Reality:
My goal is to help you make meaningful connections and ensure your European adventure is everything you've imagined and more. Let’s create priceless memories and enrich your life through extraordinary travel experiences.
Can Be Reached At
1-336-681-2970
Ireland's Cliffs of Moher
A Coach Tour of Ireland and Scotland made a lot of sense. First, I had never taken a motorcoach escorted tour, so I wanted to experience it firsthand. Second, we wanted to go to Ireland, having never been there, but we were concerned about the narrow roads and left-hand driving. And, we love Scotland and wanted a mix of old and new experiences there. So, after doing some research, we settled on Insight Vacation's "Best of Ireland and Scotland" tour. This tour was enticing for several reasons. First, it covered the major sights in Ireland. Second, it is a smaller group. We had a full-size coach, but only 28 guests, so essentially everyone could have a seat to themselves.
This trip did a great job. We arrived a day early in Dublin, and explored on our own, visiting St. Patrick's Cathedral, Christchurch, Temple Bar and St Stephen's Green. While we had the chance, we also stopped in at the Irish Whiskey Museum and enjoyed a sample of the local drink. On the first day of the tour, we visited Trinity College in Dublin, and saw the Book of Kells. In the afternoon, we visited Glendalough and the monastery ruins there.
The next day, we visited the Irish National Stud Farm in Kildare. The horses at the Stud Farm are impressive, as are the Japanese Gardens there. In the afternoon, we stopped in Kilkenny before returning to Dublin.
The next day we started our road trip, with a stop in Cobh (pronounced "cove"), the starting point for many ships going to the US, including the Titanic. In the afternoon, we visited Blarney Castle before continuing on to our overnight stop in Killarney. While in Killarney, we were treated to an evening of traditional Irish music and dancing.
The next day we spent the morning exploring Killarney before heading out to drive the Ring of Kerry. The landscapes in this area were beautiful.
One of the highlights of this trip was the next day at the Cliffs of Moher. We were blessed with excellent weather and the views were beautiful. That evening, we went on to Galway.
The next day, after tour of Galway, we moved on to the town of Cong. Cong's claim to fame is that it was used as the setting for a John Wayne movie called "The Quiet Man". But, there is much more to it, including Ashford Castle, which is now a luxury hotel. After spending the morning in Cong, we moved on to Connemara, Sligo Bay, and the town of Leenaun.
After a night in Leenaun, we moved on to Northern Ireland and the city of Derry/Londonderry. We were given a tour of the more infamous spots of the city, related to "The Troubles" of the 70's, by a resident of the city. It was remarkable to see how the city has moved past those turbulent times.
That afternoon, we went to another one of my favorite places - the Giant's Causeway. The geometric rock structures in this location are amazing.
That night, we stayed in a neat little town called Ballygally, on the northern coast. The sunsets that night were incredible.
The next day, we started with a ferry ride across the North Channel of the Irish Sea to Scotland and the town of Largs. This was a personal treat for me, because I have traced my ancestors back to this area. We stopped for Tea at Ardgowan Estate, where the current generation of the Stewart family is restoring it.
After a night stopover in Glasgow, we traveled the next day through the Highlands, stopping at Loch Lomond and Loch Ness. We then continued on to Inverness, where we were able to visit Culloden Battlefield, again, memorable to me because of my ancestry.
The next day, we continued on to Blair Castle, a 700 year old castle belonging to the Atholl family. Afterward, we went to St Andrews, where we spent the afternoon before moving on to Edinburgh for our last stop.
Our first stop was at Edinburgh Castle. As we had been to Edinburgh before, Dell and I took advantage of this time to explore on our own. This included visiting the "Real Mary Kings Close", that gives you an idea of what life was like there in the 1600's. The rest of the tour went on to visit Holyrood Palace.
The next treat from this trip was, since we were there in August, that we were able to go to the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo. If you are in Edinburgh in August, you cannot miss this.
Reading through this, you can see that we covered a lot of ground in a very short amount of time (2 weeks). But to me, this is what is intended from a motorcoach tour: You get a broad overview so that you can identify the places you want to revisit in more depth. And we got to do this with a great group of people.