Luxury Irish Castles & Hotels Tour (7 night)

Travelling the coastal route, you will first arrive at Powerscourt House & Gardens. Surrounding this 18th Century Palladian House in the foothills of the Wicklow Mountains, you will find a sublime blend of formal gardens, sweeping terraces, statuary and ornamental lakes together with secret hollows, rambling walks and over 200 varieties of trees and shrubs. Shortly after this, you will arrive at the ancient monastic settlement at Glendalough. The monastic settlement has been a centre for pilgrims and visitors since its foundation by St. Kevin in the 6th century. Continue on to Avoca where you will find the Avoca Handweavers factory, famed worldwide for the quality of its woven fabrics. On to the Dunbrody Famine ship in New Ross before the final leg to Waterford City and the Waterford Crystal Interpretive centre.

You will have quite a long journey today from Waterford to Kenmare. The following route includes visits to Midleton, Youghal & Cobh. Youghal is famous for its point lace (point d'Irlande) which is distinguished by its vivid patterns as well as the fact that the film ‘Moby Dick’ starring Gregory Peck was filmed here in 1956. After Youghal, you will travel to the village of Cobh. Cobh, situated on one of the world’s largest natural harbours, was the last port of call for the ill-fated Titanic in 1912 and was the closest port to the site of the sinking of the Lusitania in 1915. The heritage centre sympathetically recounts these events and tells the story of emigration from Ireland to the United States and Australia from the time of the famine in 1847 up to the 1950s. A stop to climb to the Blarney Castle ramparts to ‘Kiss the Blarney Stone’, said to bestow the gift of eloquence, and is a must for those who dare. Across the village green you will find the Blarney Woolen Mills store, a one stop shop for Irish knitwear, crystal, linen and much more. From here you will travel to Kenmare. Kenmare is an excellent location from which to tour the Ring of Kerry or indeed the less travelled but unspoilt Beara Peninsula to the south of Kenmare.

Kenmare is the perfect base for you to tour the famous Ring of Kerry, which is a journey through some of Ireland’s most outstanding scenery around the Iveragh Peninsula. Stunning mountain and coastal scenery combined with colourful towns and villages will make this journey one of the highlights of your vacation. For those who wish to take a rest from driving we can pre-arrange a coach tour through this route from Killarney. Muckross House is a stop on your route that you are sure to visit. Muckross House is a wonderful Victorian manor built in 1843 for Henry Arthur Herbert. The location of the House is impressive, close to the eastern shore of Muckross Lake and set below the impressive backdrop of the Torc and Mangerton Mountains. As a substitute to the Ring of Kerry tour you may prefer to take a wonderful tour by pony and trap that takes you through the Black Valley in the Gap of Dunloe and after a snack at Lord Brandon’s Cottage, you can return to Killarney by boat via the beautiful Lakes of Killarney. This evening you will spend another fabulous overnight stay in the luxury Kenmare Park Hotel, perhaps tonight enjoying a sumptuous dinner in the George Bernard Shaw restaurant. Named after the Irish playwright who famously said ‘there is no sincerer love than the love of food. 

Today your journey brings you to Co. Clare to Dromoland Castle. From Kenmare travel to Killarney and onwards the village of Adare in County Limerick. Adare is regarded by many a seasoned traveller as Ireland’s prettiest village with its charming thatched cottages, manicured public park and ancient church. After leaving Adare travel along the N20 towards Limerick City of ‘Angelas Ashes’ fame and home to King Johns Castle. From here continue to Bunratty where you can visit Bunratty Castle. Built in 1425, this majestic castle was restored in 1954 to its former medieval splendour. Within the grounds of the Castle is Bunratty Folk Park where 19th century Irish life is vividly recreated. Continue from here to Newmarket-On-Fergus where the Castle is located. Dromoland Castle, one of finest castle hotels in Ireland, offers guests the experience of living like landed gentry, surrounded by luxury, beauty and service. The castle, a magnificent Renaissance structure built in the 16th Century, was once the royal seat of the O'Brien Clan. Refurbished and transformed into a luxury castle hotel in 1962, it retains priceless reminders of the castle's historic past

While Belfast in a fascinating city, as you travel in that direction from Dublin, you will be passing through some of the most history laden areas of Ireland. Amongst the sightseeing opportunities today will be the megalithic tombs at Newgrange, the Hill of Tara and Trim Castle. One of the great wonders of the ancient world, Newgrange is older than Stonehenge, Mycenae or even the Pyramids of Egypt. Newgrange is a 5,200 year old passage tomb located in the Boyne Valley in Ireland's Ancient East. Not far from here is Trim Castle. The castle, on the shores of the Boyne, has an area of 30,000 m². It is the remains of the largest Norman castle in Europe, and Ireland's largest castle. Just north of here lies The Hill of Tara. Located near the River Boyne, this ancient contains a number of ancient monuments, and, according to tradition, was the seat of the High Kings of Ireland. On to Belfast. The world's largest dry dock is here, testament to the building of the Titanic here. Take one of the cities famed Black Cab Tours and let your experienced, impartial and friendly driver acquaint you with the history & culture of Belfast. Tours include The Titanic and Cathedral Quarter and other areas of the city including visiting some of the famous murals that represent both sides of the political divide.

While Belfast in a fascinating city, as you travel in that direction from Dublin, you will be passing through some of the most history laden areas of Ireland. Amongst the sightseeing opportunities today will be the megalithic tombs at Newgrange, the Hill of Tara and Trim Castle. One of the great wonders of the ancient world, Newgrange is older than Stonehenge, Mycenae or even the Pyramids of Egypt. Newgrange is a 5,200 year old passage tomb located in the Boyne Valley in Ireland's Ancient East. Not far from here is Trim Castle. The castle, on the shores of the Boyne, has an area of 30,000 m². It is the remains of the largest Norman castle in Europe, and Ireland's largest castle. Just north of here lies The Hill of Tara. Located near the River Boyne, this ancient contains a number of ancient monuments, and, according to tradition, was the seat of the High Kings of Ireland. On to Belfast. The world's largest dry dock is here, testament to the building of the Titanic here. Take one of the cities famed Black Cab Tours and let your experienced, impartial and friendly driver acquaint you with the history & culture of Belfast. Tours include The Titanic and Cathedral Quarter and other areas of the city including visiting some of the famous murals that represent both sides of the political divide.

While Belfast in a fascinating city, as you travel in that direction from Dublin, you will be passing through some of the most history laden areas of Ireland. Amongst the sightseeing opportunities today will be the megalithic tombs at Newgrange, the Hill of Tara and Trim Castle. One of the great wonders of the ancient world, Newgrange is older than Stonehenge, Mycenae or even the Pyramids of Egypt. Newgrange is a 5,200 year old passage tomb located in the Boyne Valley in Ireland's Ancient East. Not far from here is Trim Castle. The castle, on the shores of the Boyne, has an area of 30,000 m². It is the remains of the largest Norman castle in Europe, and Ireland's largest castle. Just north of here lies The Hill of Tara. Located near the River Boyne, this ancient contains a number of ancient monuments, and, according to tradition, was the seat of the High Kings of Ireland. On to Belfast. The world's largest dry dock is here, testament to the building of the Titanic here. Take one of the cities famed Black Cab Tours and let your experienced, impartial and friendly driver acquaint you with the history & culture of Belfast. Tours include The Titanic and Cathedral Quarter and other areas of the city including visiting some of the famous murals that represent both sides of the political divide.