Celts – Edinburgh to Dublin – Scotland & Ireland

Celts Highlights- Edinburgh to Dublin

SCOTLAND (STAGE 1)

• Edinburgh to Stirling – Castles, canals and the Wallace Monument.
• Into the Highlands – Lochs, standing stones and hidden villages.
• Cairngorms Ride – Wild landscapes and Highland trails.
• Culloden to Inverness – Battlefields and ancient cairns.
• Loch Ness and Glencoe – Iconic lochs and soaring mountains.
• Whisky and Coastlines – Scenic roads and Celtic spirit.

IRELAND (STAGE 2)

• Belfast to Ballymena – Castles, coastline and Celtic charm.
• Ballymena to Portstewart – Giants Causeway and rugged cliffs.
• Portstewart to Letterkenny – Crossing into Ireland and ancient forts.
• Donegal to Sligo – Wild landscapes and poetic coastlines.
• Castlebar to Galway – Connemara beauty and vibrant streets.
• Navan to Dublin – Brú na Bóinne and the road to the capital.

Celts Dates & Prices 2027

What’s Included?

• Accommodation in our carefully selected hotels
• Meals – hotel breakfasts, snacks en route and pre/post-ride nutrition, lunches including the famed Ride and Seek picnics, multi-course group dinners with a focus on the local cuisine.*NB we include occasional independent lunches & dinners to break up the week
• Ride and Seek Jersey, Socks and Neck Warmer
• Ride and Seek Bibs/Shorts (Epic Riders)
• Scicon Rain Bag (Daybag)
• Garmin 1030 with all routes preloaded
• Ride and Seek water bottle (s)
• Kit laundry service once a week and laundry bag
• Passionate, experienced and knowledgeable guides always on hand to help

Not Included

• Alcoholic beverages
• Bike hire
• Pre & post-tour accommodation

Supplements

• Single supplement – Our prices are based on twin/double occupancy. If you wish to have your own room then a supplement is applicable.

Deposit

• To reserve a place on a stage of this tour we ask for a deposit of €1000 (or your local currency equivalent). We also accept payment in US$, GB£ and AU$. The final invoice will include any applicable single supplements and bike hire costs.

Celts Food & Wine- Edinburgh to Dublin

Scottish and Irish cuisine offers a rich tapestry of flavours and traditions that perfectly reflect the Celtic heritage at the heart of our tour. Rooted deeply in the rugged landscapes and bountiful seas of both countries, the food and drink of Scotland and Ireland tell stories of resilience, community, and a profound connection to the land.

Throughout our Celts cycling journey, you’ll have the chance to experience iconic traditional dishes that have been enjoyed for centuries. In Scotland, this includes hearty fare like haggis — a savoury pudding made from sheep’s offal mixed with oats and spices — as well as Cullen skink, a creamy smoked haddock soup that perfectly showcases Scotland’s coastal bounty. In Ireland, dishes such as boxty (a type of potato pancake) and Irish stew offer comforting, flavour-packed meals that have sustained generations.

No exploration of Celtic food culture would be complete without mentioning the pubs — often the social heart of towns and villages. Here, over pints of Guinness or drams of single malt whisky, locals gather to share stories, music, and laughter. Whisky, in particular, holds a special place, with Scotland’s famous single malts and Ireland’s smooth pot still whiskies each offering distinct tastes shaped by centuries of craftsmanship.

For the more adventurous, local specialties such as black pudding (a type of blood sausage), sheep’s head broth, or drisheen — a spiced blood sausage from Cork — offer a unique glimpse into regional culinary traditions that have been preserved over time.

Throughout the tour, you’ll discover how food and drink are more than just sustenance here — they are a vital expression of Celtic identity, history, and hospitality. From rustic farmhouse kitchens to lively village pubs, every meal is a chance to connect with the land and the stories that have shaped these remarkable cultures.

Celts Ride Data- Edinburgh to Dublin

Celts Reading- Edinburgh to Dublin

Creating a reading list for our Celts tour is no easy task, so we turned to our trip specialists for help. We asked them to share their favourite books that capture the spirit of Ireland and Scotland — from ancient myths and oral traditions to modern reflections — offering a deeper sense of place for those joining us on this unforgettable journey through Celtic lands.

Travel in Scotland invites quiet discovery — where nature, history, and everyday life intertwine. Inspired by Kathleen Jamie’s Findings, this journey reveals the richness in small moments: a bird’s cry in the hills, shifting light on the sea, or ancient echoes on wind-swept shores. Here, wonder lies in the details.

Arthur Herman’s How the Scots Invented the Modern World explores how a small nation sparked a revolution in thought, politics, education, and economics. Through the Scottish Enlightenment, thinkers like Adam Smith and David Hume helped shape modern democracy, science, and individual liberty, leaving an outsized legacy across Europe and beyond.

In The Sea Kingdoms, Alistair Moffat traces the shared Celtic heritage across Scotland, Wales, Cornwall, Ireland, and the English coast. Blending myth, oral history, and dramatic storytelling, he reveals a deep, interconnected past that transcends borders — a vivid tapestry of ancient battles, legends, and enduring cultural identity.

In McCarthy’s Bar, Pete McCarthy journeys from Cork to Donegal, blending hilarious travelogue with heartfelt reflection on his Irish heritage. Guided by the rule “never pass a bar with your name on it,” he offers a witty, affectionate portrait of Ireland — its landscapes, its people, and its ever-evolving identity.

Frank Delaney’s Ireland tells the tale of a young boy, Ronan O’Mara, whose life is transformed by a wandering Seanchai — a master of Ireland’s ancient oral tradition. Set in 1950s rural Ireland, this lyrical novel celebrates storytelling, memory, and the enduring spirit of a land shaped by legend and history.

Celts History – Edinburgh to Dublin

They Wrote in Legends, Not in Stone: The Story of the Celts

The Celts were among the most influential and far-reaching cultures of the ancient world, leaving a legacy that still resonates across Western Europe today. Emerging around 1200 BC in Central Europe, Celtic tribes gradually spread across vast territories—from the rugged landscapes of Britain and Ireland to the rolling hills of France and even into the Iberian Peninsula. Though they never united into a single empire, they shared a distinctive language, intricate artistic styles, and a fierce spirit of independence that helped shape the cultural identity of the region.

Unlike many ancient civilisations, the Celts did not leave behind extensive written records. Instead, their rich history was preserved through oral tradition—songs, stories, and legends passed down through generations. Modern historians and archaeologists rely on these tales, along with Roman accounts and archaeological discoveries, to reconstruct the lives of a people who deeply revered nature, lived by codes of honour, and embraced the mysteries of the spiritual world.

Despite frequent clashes with expanding empires like Rome, the Celts were never fully conquered in Ireland and Scotland. Their customs and traditions adapted, enduring through the centuries and becoming woven into the fabric of the medieval kingdoms that followed. Today, the Celtic spirit lives on vibrantly in language, music, folklore, and cultural practices throughout these lands.

As we cycle through the territories they once called home, we are not just travelling across stunning landscapes—we are tracing the footsteps of a proud and resilient people. Each stone circle, misty glen, and ancient hill fort we encounter along the route echoes with the enduring spirit of the Celts, inviting us to connect with their extraordinary heritage and timeless influence.