The Herd Family's Irish Adventure V3

Anna, Jason, Caleb & Britt

Saturday 21st June – Saturday 28th June 2025

Duration: 8 Days / 7 Nights

Overview

Picturesque coastal towns and villages, green pastoral fields, soaring cliffs, wild barren landscapes, the crash of the ocean, the laugh of a local. Ireland is romantic, and authentic, a home away from home where both old and modern seem to cohabit seamlessly on a small island in the middle of the sea. Packed with history and tradition your days are spent exploring Ireland’s famous and off-the-beaten-track sites of natural, cultural, and ancient interest. A world-renowned food scene means your evenings are spent dining in style and with the promise of a pub just around the corner, music and laughter are never far away. Your trip to Ireland will surprise and delight you but the people of Ireland will stay with you, long after your journey has taken you home.

Itinerary at a Glance

Day 1 | Saturday 21st June | Céad míle fáilte - The Burren | Overnight: Ballyvaughan

Day 2 | Sunday 22nd June | The Cliffs of Moher | Overnight: Ballyvaughan

Day 3 | Monday 23rd June | Seaweed Foraging on the Sligo Coast | Overnight: Donegal

Day 4 | Tuesday 24th June | Rock Climbing the Wild Atlantic Way | Overnight: Donegal

Day 5 | Wednesday 25th June | Hiking the Slieve League Cliffs | Overnight: Donegal

Day 6 | Thursday 26th June | Gaelic Games | Overnight: Dublin

Day 7 | Friday 27th June | Exploring Dublin | Overnight: Dublin

Day 8 | Saturday 28th June | Depart

Day by Day

Day 1 - Saturday 21st June - Céad míle fáilte - The Burren

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 Shannon Airport and transfer you to the Burren – a rugged, limestone escarpment that comes alive in the spring and summer with wildflowers. Lunch will be held at a local tearoom with an option to visit to the adjoining Burren Perfumery where only natural and organic ingredients are used in production. It’s the oldest working perfumery in Ireland! Afterwards, set off for a walk in the nearby Slieve Carran Nature Reserve. Its unique, striated limestone landscape was shaped by ancient seas and is famous for its Mediterranean and alpine wildflowers. The region is steeped in history as well, with over 2,500 historical monuments to be explored.  Later, it’s a short drive to your first hotel, Gregan’s Castle, a former retreat for poets and authors such as J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis. You’ll be back in time for a cool pint of Guinness by the fire before a hosted dinner at its award-winning restaurant.

Overnight: Ballyvaughan | Gregans Castle
Room Type: x1 Superior Twin, x1 Superior Double
Meals Included: Lunch and Dinner
Walk Details: 6 km / 4 miles

Day 2 - Sunday 22nd June - The Cliffs of Moher

This morning transfer around 30 minutes to the Cliffs of Moher, one of Ireland’s most impressive natural sites. Today’s walk follows a coastal route along the cliffs, passing through a dramatic hinterland with inspiring views offshore to the Aran Islands. The area is teeming with wildlife and 20 different species of birds, including puffins, make this area their home. You’ll finish in the village of Doolin, famous for its traditional music scene. Stop for a fish n’ chips lunch in a historic stone cottage and a chance to browse the quaint shops, before returning to Gregans’ Castle via Black Head, a mesmerizing stretch of the Wild Atlantic Way. There will be plenty of opportunities to stop for photos en route. Later, head into the village of Ballyvaughan to a great little restaurant on the pier for dinner.

Overnight: Ballyvaughan | Gregans Castle
Room Type: x1 Superior Twin, x1 Superior Double
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch
Walk Details: 11 km / 7 miles

Day 3 - Monday 23rd June - Seaweed Foraging on the Sligo Coast

After breakfast, it’s time to make your way further north towards Donegal. You’ll stop halfway at Streedagh Beach in Sligo, where you will meet our expert for an afternoon of foraging and cookery on the Sligo Coast. In addition to its reputation amongst archaeologists (the coast is littered with sunken ships from the Spanish Armada), the shoreline here offers some of the best conditions for seaweed foraging in Ireland. You will learn all about the medicinal and nutritional attributes of Irish seaweed (of which there are roughly 570 varieties!), and how they are also used for cosmetic purposes. You will also sample some of your finds along the way. The experience culminates back in the home kitchen of our host, with a hands-on cookery experience featuring a bounty of wild foods and recipes from her cookbook. Afterward, you’ll hit the road again for a 1-hour drive to your castle hotel, located on the shimmering shores of Lough Eske.

Overnight: Donegal | Lough Eske Castle
Room Type: x1 Deluxe Twin, x1 Deluxe Double (interconnecting)
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 4 - Tuesday 24th June - Rock Climbing the Wild Atlantic Way

The county of Donegal contains more climbable rock than the rest of Ireland, boasting two major Irish mountain ranges, over a thousand kilometres of coastline, one hundred sea stacks, and many diverse climbing locations. Donegal currently plays host to several lifetimes worth of world-class rock climbing in some of the most beautiful and unspoiled places in Ireland. This morning, you will meet an expert climbing guide who will tailor the day of climbing specifically to you. You’ll have the opportunity to visit and climb in places of outstanding natural beauty where solitude and a truly great outdoor experience are guaranteed. After your adrenaline-filled day, you have time this evening to relax onsite at Lough Eske before dinner.

Overnight: Donegal | Lough Eske Castle
Room Type: x1 Deluxe Twin, x1 Deluxe Double (interconnecting)
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 5 - Wednesday 25th June - Hiking the Slieve League Cliffs

Spend some time today exploring South Donegal with your guide. A morning hike on the highest sea cliffs in Europe, three times higher than the Cliffs of Moher, is the perfect way to work up an appetite for some traditional fish and chips, al fresco, straight off the boat in a little harbour town. Your hike takes you on the little-travelled Pilgrim’s Path, a route used for Christian pilgrimages for centuries. You’ll get the chance to do something few visitors get to do: stand atop the edge of the Slieve League Cliffs. There are terrific views of the cliffs, the Atlantic Ocean, the mountains of Sligo, and Donegal Bay. Later, head into town with your guide to enjoy a delicious farewell dinner in a local restaurant.

Overnight: Donegal | Lough Eske Castle
Room Type: x1 Deluxe Twin, x1 Deluxe Double (interconnecting)
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Walk Details: 8 km / 5 miles

Day 6 - Thursday 26th June - Gaelic Games

After enjoying a relaxing morning at Lough Eske Castle, it is time to leave the west coast and return to Dublin. The drive time is about 3.5 hours, and just before reaching the city, you’ll dare to be a Celtic Warrior! Take a journey of discovery deep into Irish culture, where our sports and language meet. From hurling, one of the oldest field sports in the world, to Gaelic football you will experience an enthralling energy packed introduction to our National Games that will literally take your breath away and leave you with memories to last a lifetime. Your guide will then drop you at your centrally located hotel and say goodbye. Finish the day in one of the many award-winning restaurants that pepper the streets of Ireland’s “Fair City”.

Overnight: Dublin | The Westbury Hotel
Room Type: x1 Classic Twin, x1 Classic King
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 7 - Friday 27th June - Exploring 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.  The city is best explored on foot or using public transport such as the LUAS, our light rail system. 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. Soak up the atmosphere walking down Grafton Street where musicians and buskers entertain with modern and traditional music, or stroll through St. Stephen’s Green, an oasis in the heart of the city.

Overnight: Dublin | The Westbury Hotel
Room Type: x1 Classic Twin, x1 Classic King
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 8 - Saturday 28th June - Depart

This morning, you’ll check out of your hotel and a private transfer will take you to Dublin Airport for your flight home. We hope your time in Ireland has been memorable and we look forward to welcoming you to our shores once again.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Trip Details

Inclusions Read More
  • All accommodation from Day 1 to Day 8
  • Most meals as indicated above, breakfast each morning, 6 lunch, 2 dinner
  • Services of an experienced and knowledgeable qualified guide from Day 1 to Day 6
  • Ground transportation from Day 1 to Day 6
  • All guided hikes and activities mentioned in the itinerary, specifically;
  • Private Seaweed Foraging Experience
  • Private Rock Climbing Experience
  • Private Gaelic Games Experience
  • Private Departure Airport Transfer
  • Tips for Activity Providers and Included Meals
  • Personalised trip design and delivery
  • Snacks throughout the trip
  • 24 hour in-country support from the Wilderness Team
Exclusions Read More
  • Flights
  • Travel insurance
  • Meals not mentioned in the inclusions
  • Activities and entrance fees not mentioned in the inclusions
  • Gratuities for the main driver guide
Notes Read More
  • All suggested accommodations and services are subject to availability at the time of booking
  • A 20% deposit is required before any accommodation and services will be confirmed
  • This quote is valid for 14 days from the date quoted, after this time pricing may be subject to revision
Pricing Read More

The price of this trip is €6,750 per person and is based on availability at the time of booking.

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Virtuoso

The Herd Family’s Irish Adventure V3

Saturday 21st June – Saturday 28th June 2025