Brendan Vacations has unveiled its 2027 collection, adding two Small Group Tours and four sample itineraries for Private Driver and Rail Vacations in Ireland and Scotland.
The expanded program also includes new hotels and bookable experiences, ranging from thermal wellness in Dublin and ancestry research in Edinburgh to an overnight rail connection between Scotland and London.
“Nearly 60 years in Ireland and Scotland have given us an incredible depth of experience, from the people and places we know to the relationships we’ve built,” said Whitney Ramirez, SVP Sales, Brendan Vacations North America.
“In 2027, we’re putting that expertise to work for travel advisors through more intimate Small Group Tours and new itinerary inspiration for Private Driver and Rail Vacations, giving them even more ways to create meaningful, personalized Celtic vacations for their clients.”
Two New Small Group Tours
Both of Brendan Vacations’ new Small Group Tours will accommodate a maximum of 18 guests and have definite departure status across all dates.
The 12-day Extraordinary Ireland itinerary travels from the Cliffs of Moher and Ring of Kerry to Galway, with experiences including a walk along the Giant’s Causeway with local expert Mark Rodgers, a visit to Derry/Londonderry’s 17th-century walls and a food walk in Westport.
The eight-day Scotland at Leisure tour begins and ends in Edinburgh and includes Iona, Glencoe, Fort Augustus and the Isle of Skye. Guests will also visit Edinburgh Castle and Culloden and take part in a Harris Tweed handbag-making experience.
The two programs join the company’s existing Timeless Ireland & Ashford Castle, Ireland at Leisure and Wild Scotland & Isle of Skye Small Group Tours. Select departures can be combined for travellers looking to visit both Ireland and Scotland. Departures are primarily offered between April and October, with some winter options.
More Options for Custom Vacations
Brendan Vacations has also introduced four sample itineraries designed to be customized around a traveller’s schedule, interests and preferred pace.
Two use the company’s Private Driver format. The eight-day Ireland Wellness Adventure combines yoga and Dublin’s Bask Thermal Spa with the Stairway to Heaven hike in County Fermanagh. The 10-day Scotland’s Lochs & Whiskey itinerary includes whisky-focused experiences at Johnnie Walker, Talisker and Glengoyne, along with an Isle of Rona cruise.
For clients interested in travelling by train, the 10-day Ireland’s Cities, Coasts & Legends includes a Howth coastal hike, the Giant’s Causeway and Ring of Kerry. The nine-day Scotland’s Castles, Coastlines & Cities, travelling from Edinburgh to Glasgow, features Royal Deeside, Dunnottar Castle, Loch Ness, an Outlander-themed day tour and a guided walk along Edinburgh’s Royal Mile.
Wellness, Heritage and Rail Added to the Mix
New experiences available across Custom and Guided Vacations include Bask Thermal Spa at Dublin’s Davenport Hotel and Cushendale Woollen Mills, where travellers can learn about more than 250 years of Irish textile production.
In Scotland, new options include a Caithness tour along the northern coast, visiting Dunnet Beach, the Castle of Mey, John O’Groats and Duncansby Head. Another excursion combines Dunnottar Castle, Braemar and Cairngorms National Park.
The Scotland Shop Clan and Ancestry Experience gives travellers an opportunity to research family connections and explore more than 500 tartans, while the Caledonian Sleeper provides an overnight rail option between Scotland and London.
Brendan Vacations is also adding several properties for 2027. In Scotland, they include W Edinburgh in the St James Quarter, Glencruitten House in Oban and Glenapp Castle in Ayrshire.
New Ireland accommodations include The Grace, a five-star property on the Westport Estate, and The Hawthorn in Galway, located along Galway Bay.
Canadians Booking Longer Celtic Trips
According to Brendan Vacations, early Canadian bookings for 2027 are showing interest in longer and more flexible trips.
Among Guided Vacations, Best of Ireland and Scotland and Best of Ireland are generating early interest, while Wild Scotland and the Isle of Skye is attracting Small Group Tour bookings. Ireland’s Sights and Sounds is among the rail itineraries drawing Canadian interest.
The company says Canadian guests are currently planning trips averaging 11 days, with May, August and September among the more popular departure months.
Brendan Vacations’ 2027 brochure is available online and can also be ordered by mail through the company’s Canadian website.
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