Celtic Homelands

Sitting along the banks of the Clyde River, Glasgow is one of Northern Europe’s most endearing and culturally vibrant cities, boasting a variety of art and museums, galleries, luxe restaurants, and pubs. The city’s Gaelic name, Glaschu, fittingly translates as “dear green place.” Glasgow boasts an incredible architectural heritage, ranging from medieval times to the Victorian and Art Nouveau eras, set within a city full of abundant parks and green spaces, making it ripe for exploration. Glasgow is also home to Scotland’s national opera, ballet, and theater companies and is a UNESCO City of Music, presenting a lively music scene. Defined by a strong sense of community and welcoming ambiance, the dynamic city shines for diversity, from the city’s artsy West End to historic East End, home to the 12th-century Gothic Glasgow Cathedral.

The Isle of Islay, often called the “Queen of the Hebrides,” is the southernmost of the Inner Hebrides islands. With unforgettable scenery, abundant wildlife, and a warm, welcoming community, the island is easily navigated, offering many hiking and biking opportunities. Port Ellen, a small town on the island of Islay known for once producing a now-coveted Scotch whisky, sits pretty in Leodamais Bay. Its previous name, Leòdamas, is derived from Old Norse meaning “Leòd’s Harbour.”

The small seaside resort town of Portrush (“Port Rois” in Old Irish) sits quietly on the north coast of County Antrim, Northern Ireland. Set on a peninsula that juts into the Atlantic, Portrush boasts stunning beaches, including East Strand, West Strand, and White Rocks, each awarded “Blue Flag” status for their pristine waters. During medieval times, Portrush was a strategic landing place for the castle and settlement at Dunluce, and today its Old Town pays homage to its historic past. Portrush is the gateway to Giant’s Causeway, a geologic wonder of interlocking basalt columns jutting from the sea at the foot of dramatic cliffs.

Northern Ireland’s thriving capital of Belfast offers historic landmarks and museums, including the Ulster Museum, the aluminum-clad Titanic Belfast, and the Metropolitan Arts Center (The MAC), located in Belfast’s Cathedral Quarter. Among shipbuilding and the production of rope and tobacco, the city paved the way in the world’s linen industry, and many of its linen houses still remain in the city’s historic Linen Quarter. Stroll the Botanic Gardens, designed in the 19th century by Sir Charles Lanyon. Named for the five caves along the Belfast cliffs, Cave Hill Country Park offers walking trails with incredible views dotted with ancient history, including the nineteenth-century Belfast Castle and the old stone McArt’s Fort, sitting 1,200 feet above sea level. Take in the city’s lively food scene, including St. George’s Market boasting local delicacies. As your gateway to Northern Ireland, Belfast is perfectly positioned for exploration of Giant’s Causeway, Game of Thrones filming locations, and bicycling beyond Belfast.

The quaint seaside town on the northwest coast of England boasts a glistening silica white-sand beach and is your gateway to the Lake District National Park, nestled in the Cumbrian Mountains. Boasting England’s tallest peak and largest lake, this idyllic spot is perfect for hiking, biking, kayaking, and paddleboarding.

The islands of Great Britain, Ireland, the Isle of Man, the Inner and Outer Hebrides, the Northern Isles of Orkney and Shetland—and thousands of smaller islands—collectively comprise the dreamy British Isles. Rugged cliffs, sandy beaches, and intimate yachting harbors and ports allow a view of island life you haven’t experienced unless you have approached these destinations by yacht. Yachting through the remote Isles of Scilly and castle-dotted, rural Isle of Man transport you to otherworldly locations.

The picturesque seaside town, perched on a beautiful inlet fringed by the Mourne and Cooley Mountains, boasts a charming promenade, sixteenth-century Narrow Water Castle, and scenic golf course, offering a challenging play for linksmen of all skill levels. Stroll the two-mile-long scenic walk around Lough Ree or hike the Mournes with sweeping views of the area’s summits and valleys.

Dublin, the capital of the Republic of Ireland, sits on Ireland’s east coast at the mouth of the Liffey River. The Vikings settled in Dublin from the 841 AD onward, and existing remnants of Viking history infuse the city. During their reign Dublin became the most important town in Ireland as well as a center for western Viking expansion and trade. As the second city of the British Empire in the 18th century, Dublin entered its architectural golden age and is famous for the Georgian architecture of this period. Historic buildings include the thirteenth-century Dublin Castle and imposing St Patrick’s Cathedral, founded in 1191. City parks include landscaped St. Stephen’s Green and strollable Phoenix Park. The National Museum of Ireland explores Irish heritage and culture. You’ll find just as much allure in Dublin’s parks and expansive green spaces as you will in the city’s lively quarters—from cycling through the quiet glens of Phoenix Park to meandering amid orchids inside the glasshouses at the National Botanic Gardens.