B&R- Jill Thomas - Final Information

Day 1 - Saturday 22^nd June - The Burren

This morning the Thomas’s will be my by Fionnuala at Shannon Airport and transferred  to the Burren via Dromoland Castle (where the Chevaillier’s and Swab’s will be collected), then meeting the Cooper’s at Gregan’s Castle.

Lunch will be held at a local tearoom followed by a 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 dinner at your leisure at its award-winning restaurant.

Enjoy a hosted dinner with drinks at the restaurant in Gregans Hotel. The setting in the hotel dining room is conducive to relaxed & welcoming with local Irish cuisine.

Overnight: The Burren | Gregans Castle Hotel
Room Type: Superior
Meals Included: Lunch and Dinner
Walk Details: 8 km / 5 miles

Day 2 - Sunday 23^rd 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 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 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 for a private Irish whiskey tasting followed by a great little pub on the pier nearby for dinner.

A table is booked at Monks Seafood, the pub-restaurant down by the sea. It makes for a perfect walking distance with the whiskey tasting at O’Lochlainns just a 2 minute walk up the road. Dinner to be paid directly.

Overnight: The Burren | Gregans Castle Hotel
Room Type: Superior
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch
Walk Details: 8 km / 5 miles

Day 3 - Monday 24^th June - Galway

After breakfast at Gregans’ Castle, you will be transferred around one hour to Galway, a charming Medieval-era city with a thriving arts scene.

A local expert will join you in Galway for a historical walking tour. After lunch, there will be some free time to explore, do some shopping or people watching at the city’s iconic Tigh Neachtain pub.

From Galway it is 1h30 further into Connemara, a Gaeltacht (Gaelic-speaking region) known for its windswept landscapes of mountains, beach and bog. Before settling in for the evening, you will have some time for a stroll (up to around 5km) along the wooded trails of your next hotel, Ballynahinch Castle.

For dinner we’ll make you reservations at the property’s historic Fisherman’s Pub, a lively place where guests and local mingle.

A table is booked at Fisherman’s Pub at hotel Ballynahinch which offers seafood and other dishes. Dinner to be paid directly

Overnight: Connemara | Ballynahinch Castle
Room Type: Superior
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch
Walk Details: 5 km / 3 miles

Day 4 - Tuesday 25^th June - Killary Fjord

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 sheep-herding demonstration at a local farm, and you’ll have the opportunity to cut peat from the bogs – a method that’s been used to harvest fuel in these parts for eons. 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’ll transfer you back to Ballynahinch Castle. 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.

This evening, head into the town of Clifden for dinner and traditional folk music.

A table has been booked at Guy’s Bar which is a good option for a more causal gastropub with a good local scene. Dinner to be paid directly.

Overnight: Connemara | Ballynahinch Castle
Room Type: Superior
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch
Walk Details: 10 km / 6 miles

Day 5 - Wednesday 26^th June - Inisbofin Island

After a hearty breakfast you’ll be transferred 30 minutes to the village of Cleegan to catch a ferry to Inishbofin. Keep your eyes peeled for dolphins and seals along the way!

Today you will be joined by a local archaeologist and longtime friend of B&R for a walk around this fascinating island. Highlights include rugged cliffs, blowholes, Bronze and Iron Age ruins and the crumbling Cromwellian fort where ‘Don Bosco’, the infamous Spanish pirate was stationed in the 16th century.

Enjoy a picnic lunch before heading back to Ballynahinch Castle for some down time.

Enjoy a final night with your guide and a hosted dinner and drinks at Ballynahinch’s Owenmore Restaurant, which overlooks the salmon river and the wooded estate.

Overnight: Connemara | Ballynahinch Castle
Room Type: Superior
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Walk Details: 8 km / 5 miles

Day 6 - Thursday 27^th June - Welcome to Dublin

After a leisurely breakfast overlooking the Owenmore river and majestic Twelve Bens mountains, bid farewell to Ireland’s west and your guide Fionnaula and make your way back to Dublin, arriving in time to explore the city in the afternoon. The drive time is around 3.5 hours.

Head out in the afternoon to enjoy a walking tour with a local private guide through this vibrant capital city, with its mix of 1,000 years of architecture from the medieval to Georgian to modern.

See the Georgian style Merrion Square, lush St. Stephen’s Green and Fitzwilliam Square, as well as O’Connell Street, the site of the ‘1916 Uprising’ that led to Ireland’s independence in 1922. Your guide is also a historian who will bring the city to life with colorful tales of life in the city in times gone by.

A table has been booked at The Winding Stair Restaurant which is a 15 minute walk from your hotel.

Overnight: Dublin | The Westbury
Room Type: Classic King
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 7 - Friday 28^th June - Explore Dublin

Today is at your leisure to explore Dublin independently.

We recommend you dine before the concert today at Balfes Restaurant in your hotel.

Considering the volume of people who will be attending the Taylor Swift concert, our recommendation would be an early dinner at your hotel or nearby.

The venue gates typically open from 5pm onwards, with support acts coming on about 7.00pm, then at 9.00pm(ish) the main event.

Should you require a taxi, you are recommended to book a taxi with the hotel concierge for travel to the concert. Pre-booking far in advance is typically not possible with the local cab firms.

The return is more challenging with everyone leaving at the same time however please bear in mind it is about a 30 minute walk from your hotel and given Dublin’s traffic it may be quicker to walk which is likely to be a good atmosphere with all the Swift fans

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

Day 8 - Saturday 29^th June - Farewell to Ireland

After a final Irish breakfast, you will be transferred to Dublin Airport in time for your departure flight home.

Meals Included: Breakfast