Wendy Perrin-Ann Wilkinson Ireland

Day 1 - Saturday 26^th April - Céad míle fáilte

Céad míle fáilte! One hundred thousand welcomes to Ireland’s ‘Wild West’, a region of immense beauty, ancient history, and Irish tradition. This morning, your guide will meet you at Dublin or Shannon Airport and transfer you to Connemara, once described as “a savage beauty” by author Oscar Wilde. Check into Ballynahinch Castle Hotel, once owned by an Indian Raj, this traditional hunting lodge has seen presidents and dignitaries grace its halls and rooms for generations. Today, surrounded by thousands of acres of estate land and forests, Ballynahinch boasts fine dining, a traditional pub, on-site fly fishing and a remote escape in the wilds of Connemara.
You will enjoy a guided estate walk and boat trip this afternoon, the perfect introduction to Ireland.

Overnight: Connemmara | Ballynahinch Castle Hotel
Room Type: 2 x Superior Rooms
Meals Included: Lunch

Day 2 - Sunday 27^th April - Inislaken Island

This morning your guide will take you to Roundstone Harbour to meet local man Damien, a fourth-generation fisherman who has been around the sea all his life. As you explore Roundstone Bay by boat, look out for the resident seals, dolphins & Basking sharks! You’ll pass by the stunning beaches of Ervallagh, Gurteen & Dog’s Bay as you make your way to the deserted Island of Inishlacken. With its panoramic views, picturesque unspoilt beaches & pristine waters, this deserted island is the perfect place to stop off for a bespoke picnic lunch!  Inishlaken has long been a centre point for writers, poets & artists because of its unique setting. A once largely populated island with its own schoolhouse & lots of quaint cottages, the population dwindled & the last of the island’s residents left for the mainland. But where man has left, nature has flourished and the island is now home to a large variety of insects & birds, rabbits, resident goats, sheep & donkeys.

This evening, check out the local little town Clifden for some live traditional Irish music to enjoy.

Overnight: Connemmara | Ballynahinch Castle Hotel
Room Type: 2 x Superior Rooms
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 3 - Monday 28^th April - The Wilds of Connemara

This morning it’s a 45-minute drive through the windswept Twelve Bens Mountain Range to Killary, Ireland’s only fjord. Start the day with a visit to a local sheep farm for a private sheepdog demo in this wild and remote landscape. From there, walk an abandoned famine route along the southern shoreline of the fjord. After a pit stop at a local café for lunch, we have the option to visit Kylemore Abbey, a haven of history, beauty, and serenity and home to a Benedictine order of Nuns for the past 100 years or transfer you back to Ballynahinch Castle where you will have some free time to enjoy the estate this afternoon – go fly fishing, have a massage, or simply kick back with a book by the river.

Overnight: Connemmara | Ballynahinch Castle Hotel
Room Type: 2 x Superior Deluxe
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 4 - Tuesday 29^th April - Galway City Food Tour

After breakfast at Ballynahinch Castle, we make our way to bohemian Galway, home to poets and singers, artists and artisans.  Galway is a charming Medieval-era city with a thriving arts and food scene.

Joining a couple of locals we sample some of Galway’s hidden foodie gems from scones and jam to oysters and of course Guinness before continuing to Clare and our bespoke, family-run hotel in the heart of the Burren.

Overnight: Ballyvaughan | Gregans Castle
Room Type: 2 x Superior
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 5 - Wednesday 30^th April - Exploring The Aran Islands

Today, spend your time exploring the Aran Islands: three distinctive, wild and remote isles that once held a position of great trading power in ancient Ireland. Now a bastion of traditional language, culture and music, they are as interesting as they are beautiful. Inis Mór (the largest of the three) is home to a prehistoric semi-circular stone fort and is best explored by bicycle or horse and carriage. Enjoy a private tour of a goat farm and meet the inquisitive herd of goats who graze the windswept pastures. Come away laden with cheese, returning to the mainland just as the sky blushes pink against the blue silhouette of the Connemara mountains.

Overnight: Ballyvaughan | Gregans Castle
Room Type: 2 x Superior
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 6 - Thursday 1^st May - The Burren National Park and The Cliffs of Moher

This morning, head out to explore the fascinating Burren landscape – fissured plateaus of limestone and shale, vast in their captivating and barren beauty. Accompanied by your guide, wind your way over the stark rocky terrain, past prehistoric tombs and through wildflower grasslands. Later, visit the striking Cliffs of Moher, absorbing their majesty in a quiet, secluded spot away from the crowds. Home to thousands of seabirds, including razorbills, fulmars and puffins, the cliffs are alive with activity above the crashing waves far below. This evening, we join a local pub landlady and owner of the largest private collection of whiskey in Ireland for a tasting session by the fire.

Overnight: Ballyvaughan | Gregans Castle
Room Type: 2 x Superior
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 7 - Friday 2^nd May - Killarney National Park

This morning you will bid farewell to Co. Clare and make your way to “The Kingdom” of County Kerry, with your first destination being the county’s crown jewel. Killarney National Park is the most famous of Ireland’s national parks – and with good reason, as it is flourishing with breathtaking mountains, lakes and waterfalls. Historic manor houses and abbeys make for an interesting visit but Killarney is best explored via the water with a private boat trip across the lake with Kerryman, Dux. Afterwards, your guide will lead you through the grounds and gardens of Muckross House, a 19th-century mansion set upon the shores of the glistening lake. You’ll then head further south to Kenmare & The Park Hotel.

Overnight: Sheen Falls Lodge
Room Type: 2 x Superior
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 8 - Saturday 3^rd May - The Skellig Islands

Today, it’s a one-hour drive to the start of your boat excursion to the Skellig Islands. First, you’ll visit Skellig Michael, a World Heritage Site settled by Culdee hermits, and then it’s on to neighbouring Little Skellig, a protected wildlife reserve and nesting grounds for puffins, gannets and arctic terns.  You will disembark at Skellig Michael to visit the ancient oratory, graveyard and beehive huts and you’ll visit the bird colonies by boat. You’ll be among the lucky few, as only a limited number of visitors are permitted to visit each day.

Overnight: Kenmare | Park Hotel Kenmare
Room Type: 2 x Superior
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 9 - Sunday 4^th May - To Dublin

After a leisurely breakfast, you’ll bid farewell to Ireland’s west and your guide will take you to Ireland’s capital, Dublin. Dublin has been described as a ‘city with a village feel’; as you explore its cobbled streets and historical monuments, it will be easy to see why. Your private driver/ guide will leave you to discover Dublin unguided with the assistance of some expert local Dublin experiences and guides.

The afternoon is free for you to relax at your hotel or explore, many of Dublin’s highlights are within walking distance and indeed you will discover it is in the act of wandering from one to another where you will soak up Dublin’s authentic atmosphere. We recommend a walk down Grafton Street where musicians and buskers entertain with modern and traditional music.

Overnight: Dublin | The Merrion Hotel
Room Type: 2 x Deluxe
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 10 - Monday 5^th May - Depart

This morning, a private transfer meet you in the lobby of your hotel and take you to the airport for your flight home. We hope your time in Ireland has been memorable and we look forward to welcoming you to Ireland once again.

Meals Included: Breakfast