The Emerald Isle

Where better to begin our 12-day adventure through legendary battle sites, candy-coloured fishing villages and windswept coastlines than Dublin? Say dia duit to your Tour Leader before settling down for a welcome meal where you'll have the chance to connect with your small group. Why not savour your first sip of velvety Guinness and say sláinte to the journey ahead?

Today, we’ll wave goodbye to Dublin and venture north for a day full of historical intrigue. Our first stop? The Battle of the Boyne Visitor Centre where we’ll uncover the fascinating facts and iconic figures behind one of Ireland’s most famous – and largest – military events.  

After strolling in the footsteps of Jacobite and Williamite troops on the battlefield, we’ll hop back in our comfy minicoach and continue our journey – crossing over the border into Northern Ireland. Belfast is our final stop of the day. A city shaped by years of political unrest; it’s now emerging from the ashes as a bustling cosmopolitan gem.  

Before you enjoy some free time to soak up Belfast’s modern allures, we’ll delve into the soul-stirring personal stories of survival and sorrow at the Titanic Museum. This evening, you’ll find plenty of options for dinner near the hotel – including cosy city pubs serving wholesome stews which you can mop up with thick slices of homemade soda bread. Yum!

After a hearty Irish breakfast at your hotel, it’ll be time to immerse ourselves in Belfast's more recent history on a guided driving tour. Hop in a local cab with a few of your fellow travellers and keep your eyes peeled for vibrant street art and political murals daubed along the city’s most iconic streets.

Your Tour Leader’s sure to have some recommendations for where to grab a bite for lunch (and find the best Irish whiskey!). Then, we’ll hop in for our minicoach and continue our journey north – stopping off at various viewpoints along the way. Feast your eyes on the dramatic basalt columns of the Giant’s Causeway. Legend has it, these 60-million-year-old stones were created by a furious giant named Finn MacCool as a path to reach his nemesis in nearby Scotland.

Camera rolls full of inspiring images and minds full of thrilling tales, we’ll continue winding our way along the coast and cross back into Ireland. After settling into our next hotel and admiring even more sweeping vistas across the Lough Foyle, we’ll dig into some scrumptious seasonal dishes during our group dinner.

Did you know that Derry is the oldest continuously inhabited city in Ireland? This morning, we’ll be exploring its old city walls – which are remarkably still intact – with a friendly local guide. History seeps from every stone and we’ll encounter plenty of fascinating narratives as we stroll. 

The rest of the day will be spent discovering even more of the spectacular North Irish Coast. We'll meander our way along the Wild Atlantic Way towards the Isle of Doagh, passing through Mamore Gap – a narrow yet picturesque road that cuts through miles of awe-inspiring alpine scenery. When we reach Doagh, prepare to uncover tales of hardship and strife at the fascinating Famine Village and Visitor Centre. Inhale salty sea air during a fishing demonstration, step foot inside a preserved 19th-century thatched cottage and learn how to make your very own batch of heady poitín (Irish moonshine). Later, the evening is ours to relax and reflect on the day's stories. 

Our historical pilgrimage across the North Coast continues, beginning with a stop at the Ulster American Folk Park. Nestled within the rolling hills of County Tyrone, this open-air museum features over 30 charming heritage buildings – from rustic farmhouses and pioneers’ cabins to a replica of the Brig Union passenger ship – all of which paint a vivid story of the brave people who emigrated to North America in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Feeling crafty? We’ll be moving on to the Belleek Pottery Centre for a lesson in traditional Irish pottery techniques. Watch expert local craftspeople at work before tracing your fingers over exquisite Belleek China in the showroom. There will be time to grab a bite in the tearoom before we venture onwards to County Roscommon and our next enchanting hotel: Kilronan Castle!

This majestic castle sits within the emerald countryside of County Roscommon, with the shores of the shimmering Lough Meelagh just a stone's throw away. The rest of today is yours to indulge. Follow hidden trails through sun-dappled glades in the castle’s ancient woodland or glide through the deliciously warm waters of the spa’s heated 15-metre pool. Tonight, we’ll dine like royalty together in the castle’s exquisite award-winning restaurant. An chuid is fearr de as the locals say!

What could be better than waking up in a castle? Tucking into a hearty full Irish breakfast in its wood-panelled dining room, of course! Once our bellies are full of crispy rashers, rich black pudding and eggs, we’ll take one last lingering look at Kilronan as we glide slowly back up the driveway in our minicoach.

Not to fear, though – our next overnight destination is equally as captivating. But first: a brief stop at the idyllic seaside town of Westport. Hear the Carrowbeg River babble as you wander across the cobblestone Doris Brothers’ Bridge and discover why the town’s Art Deco clock is nicknamed ‘The Four Faced Liar’...

Next, we’ll uncover the joys of Connemara at the homestead of Dan O’Hara: a 19th-century tenant farmer. Step back in time to prefamine life in the Irish countryside as told through the eyes of a man who forms the subject of one of the country’s most iconic traditional ballads.

And our final stop of the day? The gorgeous harbour city of Galway – where brightly coloured pubs lie on every corner, and the streets flow freely with the echoes of flutes and fiddles. Our modern hotel is right in the heart of it all – plus your Tour Leader is sure to have a few dinner recommendations up their sleeve!

Succulent seafood, streetside singalongs, shops selling shiny Claddagh rings – Galway’s allures are as eclectic as they come! This morning, you'll get a little taste of this bohemian city on an orientation walk. Stroll beneath the Spanish Arch – one of the last remaining sections of the medieval stone walls – and marvel the many architectural influences of Galway Cathedral. 

Then, it’s up to you where your journey takes you. Saunter down Salthill Promenade in search of a plate of Galway’s famous Atlantic oysters. Snag a table outside a colourful pub on Quay Street and treat your ears to some of Ireland’s finest street tunes. Your path may even lead you to the plunging cliffs, windswept pastures and ancient stone settlements of the Aran Islands. All three are accessible via a guided tour from Doolin Harbour – just ask your Tour Leader to help you arrange it in advance.

Toes still tapping to yesterday’s Galway melodies, we’ll hop back in our luxury minicoach this morning and set our sights on the Burren National Park. You’d be forgiven for thinking we’d landed on the moon in this rocky karst landscape that’s been shaped by thousands of years of coastal and glacial erosion.  

We’ve got a second natural wonder in our sights this afternoon: the iconic Cliffs of Moher. These jagged – and entirely vertical – series of coastal cliffs will take your breath away. Stand near the edge (but not too close!) and feel the boom of the waves crashing against the rocks below. There’ll be more chances to admire this region’s captivating scenery as we trace our way down the coast, hopping across the Shannon Estuary on the local ferry.  

Soaking up all that natural beauty is hungry work, so we’ll no doubt be ravenous for our group dinner at our hotel in Dingle. Afterwards, the town’s welcoming local pubs beckon if you fancy rounding off the day with a whiskey nightcap.

Is it an upturned boat or is it a chapel? We’ll play a game of guess-who this morning at the Gallarus Oratory – which is, in fact, a centuries-old stone place of worship with mysterious origins. Feel the temperature dip as you step inside its tiny chamber and take a moment to soak up the oratory’s enchanting rural backdrop which is crisscrossed with ancient dry-stone walls. 

Humbled by Ireland’s beauty and mystery, we’ll continue to revel in our surroundings as we meander along the Dingle Peninsula – pausing at the Blasket Centre to uncover the secrets of the most westerly isles in Europe. Get lost in unbelievable tales of the Blasket Islands’ fishing heritage and traditions, all of which inspired a whole generation of writers and poets in the early 20th century. 

Our path back to Dingle will take us along the Slea Head Drive – perhaps Ireland’s most photogenic coastal route where the road clings to plummeting cliffs, and there’s views of cragged rock formations and hidden coves at every turn. If all that sea air has you working up an appetite, you’ll be spoilt for choice by local eateries along Dingle’s quaint harbourside.

We might be bidding a fond farewell to the Dingle Peninsula this morning – but the equally as breathtaking County Cork awaits. En route, we’ll stop off in Killarney and fill our lungs with the sweet perfume of spring azaleas and summer lilies while we stretch our legs in Muckross Gardens.   

Then, it’s time to meet a true Irish icon – the legendary Blarney Stone. This unassuming block of limestone lodged inside the battlements of Blarney Castle supposedly gives those who kiss it the ‘gift of the gab’. So, if spinning wonderful words of wit and wisdom like James Joyce or Samuel Beckett has always been a dream of yours, it’s time to pucker up! Why not test out your newfound eloquence over tonight’s group dinner? We’ll be tucking into some seasonal delights at our next hotel – a family-run country house enveloped by County Cork’s dramatic Glanmire Peaks.

You’ll think you're seeing in technicolour at our next stop! Kinsale is famed for its rainbow-hued buildings – many of them hosting some of the best culinary treats in the region.  

Ready to get a closer look at this picture-perfect port town? Delve deeper into the town during a one-hour walking tour through its storybook streets, stopping off at the Tourist Office to pick up a map of the region which you can personalise with all the stops along our tour. It’s the perfect souvenir! Afterwards, you'll have some free time to wander – including seeking out a melt-in-your-mouth lobster roll or a silky seafood bisque for lunch. You are in the ‘seafood capital of Ireland’, after all. 

This afternoon, we’ll try another Irish delicacy – a glass or two of whiskey at the Jameson Distillery. Close your eyes and savour its sweet and smooth notes as its slips easily down your throat. Feeling a little merry, we’ll make our way back to our hotel for a little downtime. Why not head out onto the terrace and swap stories of the day with your group while the sky turns pink and purple above the tumbling Glashaboy River?  

Today marks the penultimate chapter of our tour – and it’s destined to be full of thrilling plotlines and unique characters. First up: we’ll hop back in time to the early 1800s at Swiss Cottage and learn about its eclectic array of visitors. The traditional cottage orné – which looks just like an alpine lodge – was once a famous retreat and it’s easy to picture guests lounging around on picnic blankets on its lush lawns or attending soirees in its stylishly decorated music room. 

Then, we’ll swap Regency fancies for medieval masterpieces in the nearby town of Cahir. It’s home to an immense 12th-century castle – which you could choose to explore during our lunch break. Or why not grab a picnic lunch from one of the town’s many bakeries and wander alongside the serene waters of the River Suir?  

Finally, we come to our third – and last – stop of the day. Kilkenny has gained a reputation for being Ireland's ‘most perfect’ medieval city and your Tour Leader will show you exactly why during a leisurely walk around its narrow twisting lanes lined with dramatic grey buildings made from a mix of local limestone and crushed seashells. Afterwards, our final group feast will undoubtedly be bittersweet – and bursting with tales of everything from lucky stones to late-running clocks.

Our Irish story may be drawing to a close – but you’ll leave with plenty of mesmerising memories to take home in your suitcase. To quote Oscar Wilde: It’s beauty that captures your attention and personality which captures your heart. Ireland is a place that has plenty of both in droves.  

Soak up every last drop of Kilkenny’s charm – from its fairytale castle to its treasure-packed Medieval Mile – this morning before we board the minicoach for Ballykilcavan Farm and Brewery. During a guided tour, you'll learn all about this 13-generation-run family farm and the ales, lagers and stouts they currently brew. Then, it’s onwards to Dublin.   

We’ll arrive in the afternoon, but we recommend you book a few extra nights to experience the Irish capital’s infectious energy and rich history before heading home. Before you go, bid your new friends a fond goodbye and don’t forget to whisper slán go fóill to the Emerald Isle. Its meaning? Goodbye – for now.