Final Information - Hiking The Dingle Way & Self Drive West Cork Escape- O'Hagan

Day 1 - Wednesday 17^th April - Welcome to Dublin

Arriving in Ireland today, jump into a handy airport taxi to take you the short distance to the city centre where you hotel awaits.

Check in may not be ready for you till later this afternoon however you are free to drop your bags, freshen up, grab a bite to eat and head out into the city to start exploring.

Here are some of our suggestions for you for tours and experiences that we recommend in Dublin

Kilmainham Gaol
Inchicore Road,
Kilmainham, Dublin 8
DO8 RK28,

Phone: (01) 453 5984

WEB: https://kilmainhamgaolmuseum.ie/

EPIC
The CHQ Building,
Customs House Quay,
North Dock,
Dublin 1

Phone: (01) 906 0861

WEB: https://epicchq.com/

Book of Kells
The University of Dublin Trinity College,
College Green,
Dublin

Phone: (01) 896 2320

WEB: https://www.tcd.ie/visitors/book-of-kells/

14 Henrietta Street
14 Henrietta street,
Dublin,
D01 HH34,

Phone: +353 1 524 0383

WEB: https://14henriettastreet.ie/

Overnight: Dublin | The Alex Hotel
Room Type: Classic King
Meals Included: None

Day 2 - Thursday 18^th April - Dublin to Tralee

Take a taxi to Dublin Heuston Station and board a train to Tralee Casement Station, a journey taking 4 hours. Your train will take you to Cork Kent Station where you will disembark on platform 1 before switching trains to platform 3 and going on to Tralee.

( please confirm platforms at the time of booking)
Once in Tralee, your hotel is a 500M or a 5 minute walk away.

Overnight: Tralee | The Ash Hotel
Room Type: Double
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 3 - Friday 19^th April - A day in Tralee

Spend your day relaxing and enjoying some of the sights of Tralee, a small town with a population of under 24,000. Take a tour of the Kerry County Museum, housed in the Ashe Memorial Hall in the centre of town, the award-winning museum covers Kerry history from the bronze age to the present day. One of the best exhibits is the duelling pistols used by 19th-century politician Daniel O’Connell, also known by the rather cool nickname ‘The Liberator’.

Situated just off Denny Street and known locally as ‘The Green’, Tralee Town Park covers 35 acres and is one of Ireland’s largest urban parks. A great spot for a stroll at any time of year, it also contains the famous rose garden and a bunch of interesting statues and monuments to notable locals. If you’re visitng Kerry County Museum, make sure you check in here too as it’s just next door.

Or head to the outskirts to Tralee Bay Wetlands Eco & Activity Park where you can explore the flora and fauna of the area on a boat tour, a boardwalk or from the 20-metre high viewing tower.

Overnight: Tralee | The Ashe Hotel
Room Type: Double
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 4 - Saturday 20^th April - Welcome to the Dingle Peninsula

Meeting your guide Denis Beaky and the rest of the group in Tralee, we’ll enjoy our first lunch together before trading the city hubbub for the wind-rustled landscapes of the Dingle Peninsula. A short yet breathtaking scenic stroll to stretch our legs will introduce us to the wonders of Dingle before a delicious seaside dinner together.

Your Hiking the Dingle way joining instructions will have been previously sent to you. Let me know if you did not receive them.

Overnight: Dingle | Cill Bhreac House
Room Type: Double
Meals Included: Lunch and Dinner
Walk Details: 3 km / 2 miles

Day 5 - Sunday 21^st April - Minard Castle to Dingle Town

Our trail starts at the ruins of the impressive 16th century Minard Castle overlooking a salt-sprayed sandy cove. Hear stories of Cromwell’s struggle to drive the stubborn Gaelic clans from this castle as we marvel at the views of Dingle Bay and the mountains of the Iveragh Peninsula. Traversing sweeping landscapes and country lanes, we finish our hike amidst the colourful lanes of Dingle town, renowned for its cheery pubs, traditional Irish music, local artisans, and its fabulous seafood cuisine. Tonight, we’ll join the locals in one of the pubs to experience some real ‘craic agus ceoil’ (‘fun and music’).

Overnight: Dingle | Cill Bhreac House
Room Type: Double
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Walk Details: 29 km / 18 miles

Day 6 - Monday 22^nd April - Mount Eagle to Slea Head, Ireland's Westerly Point

Uninterrupted Atlantic views are the reward for traversing a short uphill section over the saddle of Mount Eagle. The Dingle Peninsula hosts some of the richest collection of archaeological sites in Europe – we’ll come across standing stones and prehistoric monuments, as well as clochains or beehive huts, which may be as much as 2,000 years old. Today’s hike veers a little off of the Dingle Way to include some of the peninsula’s most impressive trails and coastal walking.

Overnight: Dingle | An Portan Guesthouse
Room Type: Double
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Walk Details: 19 km / 12 miles

Day 7 - Tuesday 23^rd April - Smerwick Harbour & Wine Strand

Over the years, numerous artists have been lured to the beauty of the Dingle Peninsula, finding inspiration in Dingle’s wild crashing shores, glittering coves and rolling mountains. It’s easy to see why as we follow the quiet north shores of Dingle, a remote corner of the peninsula that is visited by few others. Our hike follows the white sand shores of Smerwick Harbour and Wine Strand, with the iconic Three Sisters hills behind us and brilliant turquoise waters below. For the perfect end of the day, visit a microbrewery for a tour and tasting to quench the day’s thirst. Meet Ireland’s first female microbrewer and see how locally-sourced resources such as water from an on-site well are combined to produce seasonal beers

Overnight: Dingle | Dingle Benners Hotel
Room Type: Double
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Walk Details: 19 km / 12 miles

Day 8 - Wednesday 24^th April - Hiking Mount Brandon

Up for a challenge? Today we make our way through the wildest part of Dingle, following a rough trail along the shoulder of Mount Brandon, a route often used by pilgrims to climb the holy mountain. According to legend, St Brendan had a vision of a “promised land” while seated at the mountain’s summit. He consequently set sail for his promised land and supposedly disembarked in 535 AD (900 years before Columbus) on American soil. Passing pre-historic Ogham stones and panoramic ocean views, the trail climbs over Mt Brandon’s saddle before descending into Brandon Bay and the teacup-sized Brandon Village.

Overnight: Dingle | Dingle Benners Hotel
Room Type: Double
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Walk Details: 13 km / 8 miles

Day 9 - Thursday 25^th April - The Maharees & Woodworker Studio

After yesterday’s climb, our beach walk along the length of Ireland’s longest white sand beach comes as a relief. Stretching out along a spit of undulating sand dunes known as the Maharees, the waves here are popular with wind and kite surfers. The sand dunes create a unique ecosystem, home to the rare Natterjack toad, Whooper swan and the Bewick’s mute swan. We’ll also visit a woodworking studio where a charismatic furniture maker and storyteller will show us some traditional carving techniques. We’ll enjoy a final dinner together in Dingle town where we toast our accomplishments hiking the Dingle Way

Overnight: Dingle | Dingle Benners Hotel
Room Type: Double
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Walk Details: 16 km / 10 miles

Day 10 - Friday 26^th April - End of your Dingle Way Hiking trip, Start Self Drive

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast in the morning before saying goodbye to the wilds of the Dingle Peninsula. Head back to the town of Tralee where Denis will drop you off and you will pick up your rental car, set of to explore farther south, to Kenmare on The Iveragh Peninsula, or more well known as The Ring of Kerry.

Your driving route will take you through Killarney National Park where we recommend stopping to explore some of its highlights including Muckross House, Torc Waterfall, Ladies View and the bustling town centre before continuing on The Ring of Kerry.

Overnight: Kenmare | Brook Lane Hotel
Room Type: Double
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 11 - Saturday 27^th April - The Beara Peninsula

Today you are free to explore The Beara Peninsula. In this breathtaking region, there are plenty of options for short walks, taking in some quiet coastal landscapes or the widening expanses of the Caha Mountains with views to Kerry’s Iveragh Peninsula and beyond. Spend time in the wee coastal village of Bantry where the spectacular views and the 17th century Bantry House are worth a visit. Perhaps you might take the ferry out past the seal colony to the exotic, paradisal gardens of Garnish Island where world-renowned garden design fuses with native West Cork plants.

Overnight: Baltimore | Caseys of Baltimore
Room Type: Double
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 12 - Sunday 28^th April - Hiking the Sheep's Head Way

The meandering emerald landscape in which you are staying is so impressive it has been named a European Destination of Excellence in the development of sustainable tourism. West Cork’s Sheep’s Head Way is a community undertaking allowing access to some of the most beautiful and unspoilt landscapes in Ireland. Today you will meet with a local guide, who will tailor the day’s walking on the Sheep’s Head Way according to your ability and preferences. The Atlantic is never far away and options include ridge and shoreline walking along borreens, empty beaches or windswept heathery uplands.

Overnight: Baltimore | Caseys of Baltimore
Room Type: Double
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 13 - Monday 29^th April - Cork and Kinsale

Cork, Ireland’s second city, has a vibrant centre and is a fun place to wander around. Ireland may once have been known for spuds and cabbage, but this little island has come a long way. The English Market, one of Europe’s oldest food markets, is a perfect place to discover fresh, local delicacies, from farmhouse cheeses and fresh seafood for which West Cork is world-famous, to locally-blended spices, and everything in between. Or hop in the car and head straight to the wee colourful town of Kinsale on the sea to breathe in the salty air. Relax to the crash of waves while enjoying a seaside lunch overlooking Kinsale’s marina before driving the coast road to your accommodation.

Overnight: Baltimore | Caseys of Baltimore
Room Type: Double
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 14 - Tuesday 30^th April - Cork to Dublin

Heading back to Dublin, take your time travelling through Ireland’s hidden heartlands. Stop and visit the Rock of Cashel, one of Ireland’s most iconic collections of medieval buildings. Perched on a precipice of limestone in the Golden Vale, it offers over 1,000 years of fascinating history and folklore.
Kilkenny Castle with its medieval castle is another fantastic stop on route to Dublin.

Overnight: Dublin | TBC
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 15 - Wednesday 1^st May - A free day in Dublin or beyond

Spend the day in Dublin with plenty of sights to explore. There may be some places you missed when you first got here that you would like to cicle back to or, as you have the car at your disposal, you may want to explore a little further afield.

An hours drive out of the city will take you to the Heritage site of Brú na Bóinne Visitors Centre. Brú na Bóinne is famous for the spectacular prehistoric passage tombs of Knowth, Newgrange and Dowth which were built circa 3200BC. These ceremonial structures are among the most important Neolithic sites in the world and contain the largest collection of megalithic art in Western Europe.

Alternatively, travel an hour and a half south to Glendalough Monastic City. In a stunning glaciated valley in County Wicklow, in the sixth century, one of Ireland’s most revered saints founded a monastery. The foundation of St Kevin at Glendalough became one of the most famous religious centres in Europe. The remains of this ‘Monastic City’, which are dotted across the glen, include a superb round tower, numerous medieval stone churches and some decorated crosses.

Overnight: Dublin | TBC

Day 16 - Thursday 2^nd May - Return to Dublin

Dropping your rental back to Dublin airport check in to your onwards flights to Scotland where your adventure continues.  We do hope your time in Ireland has been memorable and we once again have the opportunity to welcome to our shores.