Destinations Ireland & Beyond Suggested Itinerary
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Ireland's Luxury Castles & Manors Tour
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Stay at the finest Manor Houses and Castles on a self-drive or chauffeur-driven
tour of Ireland's favorite beauty spots. Whether you choose the independence of
self-drive touring or the relaxed worry-free experience of the services of a private
driver/guide, you will capture the mood of friendly people in a legendary land of
culture and conviviality.
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Days 1 & 2: Arrive Shannon / Limerick / Adare / Killarney / Ring of Kerry / Dingle
Meet your driver/guide or pick up your rental car on arrival. Visit Bunratty Castle
and continue to Limerick for brunch a tour of King John’s Castle. Drive south with
a stop in the picturesque village of Adare. Continue to Killarney for a 2-night
stay at Cahernane House. Relax after your journey. This evening take a horse and
carriage ride to Muckross House on the Killarney Lakes.
See the Gap of Dunloe and Kate Kearney's Cottage. Take a tour of the Dingle Peninsula
featuring some of Ireland's most spectacular coastal scenery, including Slea Head
and the Connor Pass. Dingle town is well known for hiking, fishing and sailing by
day and by night for a lively restaurants, pubs and a traditional music scene.
Tour the famous Ring of Kerry. For centuries artists and writers have celebrated
this beautiful landscape where the contrasting mountain, lake, and coastal scenery
is at its most spectacular. Options include a boat trip to the Skellig Islands,
which was a monastic settlement in early Christian times and was once raided by
the Vikings in 810AD, is now home to one of the largest sea gannet colonies in the
world.
(2-nights at Cahernane House)
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Days 3 & 4: Killarney / Kenmare / Bantry / Cork / Kinsale
This morning visit Kenmare and Bantry. Enjoy a boat trip to Garinish Island. Continue
to Cork and visit Blarney Castle to kiss the famous stone eloquence. Tour Cork City
and include a visit to the Shandon Bells, the gothic style University College, St
Finbarr's Cathedral, City Market and the Crawford Art Gallery.
Visit Cobh harbor, last port of call for Titanic. Then sample some Irish whiskey
at Middleton Distillery. Continue to the picturesque fishing town of Kinsale. Arrive
in time to enjoy lunch and a stroll through the narrow cobble stoned streets. (2-nights
at Hayfield Manor)
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Days 5 & 6: Cork / Kilkenny / Dublin City Sightseeing & Galleries
Depart Cork and visit the medieval city of Kilkenny, once the capital of Ireland
in the middle ages. Tour Kilkenny Castle and shop at Kilkenny Design. Continue north
to Dublin. Enjoy a visit to Dublin 's historic Georgian Squares or Walk through
the Temple Bar area, which has become Dublin's Left Bank!
Explore Dublin City. Highlights include Trinity College, Dublin Castle, and St.
Patrick's Cathedral. Stroll down Grafton Street, Dublin's premier shopping area.
Visit the Guinness Brewery at St. James' Gate and enjoy a taste the real thing at
source. This evening perhaps attend the theatre. (2-Nights Dylan Hotel)
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Days 7 & 8: Dublin / Galway City / Connemara / Mayo
Drive to Galway City, home to many artists and craftsmen where you will find a number
of excellent galleries exhibiting and selling their work. The city is buzzing with
street theatre, music, restaurants, great shops and pubs. Enroute visit the magnificent
monastic ruins at Clonmacnoise on the banks of the Shannon. Continue to Ballynahinch
Castle, your home for the next two nights.
Tour Connemara one of Ireland's gaeltacht (Irish speaking) regions. Here the moorland
landscape is dominated by the Twelve Bens Mountains and fringed by a deeply indented
coastline. Around Leenane and Cong 'The Quiet Man' movie was made starring John
Wayne and Maureen O'Hara. Visit Kylemore Abbey for tea and scones. You may wish
to take a cruise on Killary Harbor. (2-Nights Ballynahinch Castle)
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Day 9: Galway / Cliffs of Moher / The Burren
Drive south to County Clare to visit the Cliffs of Moher and enjoy a stop at Ailwee
Cave to see the underground river and waterfall with their dramatic stalagmites
and stalactites. Explore the lunar like landscape of the Burren region, famous for
its unique flora and fauna and views of the Aran Islands. This limestone landscape
is dotted with druidic altars, stone age fireplaces and 22 kinds of orchid. Enjoy
your final night at the lovely Gregans Castle. (1 night at Gregan's Castle)
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Day 10: Shannon
Transfer this morning to Shannon Airport for your departure flight home. Drop off
your rental car or say good bye to your driver/guide.
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