Remarkable Journeys- Ireland Fam Trip

Day 1 - Saturday 5^th October - Arrival In Ireland

Arrival in Ireland this morning , pick up your rental at the airport for convenience and make your way into the city to your central hotel.
Check in is not usually available till later in the afternoon however you are free to leave your bags, freshen up and grab a bite to eat.

Suggested hotel site visits 

The Alex & potentially other O’Callaghan Properties ( Mont, Davenport & Green)
Brooks Hotel
The Merrion Hotel
The Wesbury Hotel

Later this afternoon,  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 colourful tales of life in the city in times gone by.
Catch the last Guinness Storehouse Tour of the day before going for dinner.

Please see attached Restaurant and Pub recommendations for Dublin

Overnight: Dublin 2 | The Alex Hotel
Room Type: Standard Double
Meals Included: None

Day 2 - Sunday 6^th October - Dublin to Kinsale

Depart Dublin and begin to make your way south. Stop at the medieval town of Kilkenny a quick look around/ tour of the 11th-century Kilkenny Castle – a centre for Norman rule that has survived centuries of invasion and turmoil. This can be arranged as a private tour for clients.
Drive time Dublin to Kilkenny: 2 hours

Continue onto Ballymaloe House for a site visit and a spot of lunch.
Drive time Kilkenny to Ballymaloe House : 2 hours

Continue on to Kinsale, drive past/ quick stop at Charles Star Shaped Fort before checkin at Actons Hotel. Explore Kinsale’s colourful streets, pubs and restaurants this evening. We recommend dinner at Man Friday or Fishy Fishy.

Overnight: Kinsale | Actons Hotel
Room Type: Standard Double
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 3 - Monday 7^th October - Cobh, Midelton & Cork's English Market

This morning make your way to Cobh, the last stop the Titanic made before she set sail for America. Here you will meet a local guide, author and historian Michaael for a fascinating guided walking tour, which will bring you through the streets and environs of Cobh, revealing location and incidents directly connected to the Titanic and many other aspects of Cork Harbour History & Irish Heritage.

Leaving Cobh, stop at the nearby Midelton for a tour of the famed distillery, home to Ireland’s finest and best loved Whiskey brands such as Jameson, Redbreast, Midleton Very Rare, Powers, Spot Whiskeys and more.

This afternoon grab lunch on the go at Cork’s English Market as you stroll the aisle’s and stalls before a few hotel site visits.

Suggested Hotel Site visits
Hayfield Manor
The Imperial Hotel

Overnight: Kinsale | Actons Hotel
Room Type: Double
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 4 - Tuesday 8^th October - Buffalo Cows, Edible Garden Tour & Traditional Cottage Experience

A quick morning site visit to Perryville Hotel right on the harbours edge before departing Kinsale and making your way west to Kerry.
We have two wonderful local experiences for you to explore today with taster sessions in each.

First up a stop at a working Buffalo dairy farm for an immersive tour and tasting and get up close and personal with a herd of Irish Buffalo! Meet the herd, chat about all things agriculture with John, and finish with a spectacular tasting session of some fine Irish cheese, made right there on the farm. From here we deviate a little south for a stop at an immersive garden experience. Meet Kloe, who along with her husband offers wonderful food and foraging experiences from their edible garden experience and Irish rainforest in the heart of West Cork.

One final stop at Molly Gallivans Visitor Centre for a chat over some of the experiences on offer to visitors before check in at brook Lane this evening.
Dine onsite and relax for the evening or take a walk up the town for a pint in a quaint local pub.

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

Day 5 - Wednesday 9^th October - Seaweed Foragaing & Iveragh Peninsula

Meeting your Wilderness Ireland guide today your next couple of days will be a taster for what your clients can expect on a fully guided trip.

Start your day on the southern shores of the Iveragh Peninsula where you will meet one of our favourite local characters. A fisherman, foraging expert, storyteller and a true Irish gent, John will take you on a wander along the shoreline learning about life on Ireland’s west coast all the while regaling you with tales of characters from the region. Together, learn how seaweed earned its reputation as a super-food. Enjoy a few nibbles yourself, including the flavoursome variety, Duilleasc, which sustained the monks on Skellig Island, or Nori, the famous Sushi roll wrapping. Afterwards, your guide will take you to some of the best-known spots along the Ring of Kerry, a route which covers the perimeter of the Iveragh Peninsula’s stunning coastline, beaches, mountains, and hidden lakes. See the highlights but also the hidden gems that make this scenic route truly unforgettable.

Suggested Hotel site Visit 
The Park Kenmare
Lansdowne Hotel

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

Day 6 - Thursday 10^th October - Killarney National Park

Explore Killarney National Park with your guide today. Meet Dux and take his boat across the lakes of Killarney with bikes onboard. Alighting on the other side at Lord Brandons Cottage where you start your cycle, around the lakes stopping at Kate Kearney’s Cottage for lunch and finishing back a Ross Castle. Continue on to check in in Dingle this evening.

If time allows there are a lot of fantastic hotel sin Killarney for hotel site visit’s but I particularly recommend
Cahernane House Hotel
Great Southern
Old Weir Lodge

Overnight: Dingle | Pax House
Room Type: Double
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 7 - Friday 11^th October - Dingle Peninsula

Spend the day exploring the best of Dingle, one of our favourite spots in Kerry with your guide. Dingle is the perfect mix of locals and visitors that add’s to the atmosphere not to mention some breathtaking hiking trails.

You have some fantastic cultural experiences to choose from today including a sea safari, visit to The Blasket Islands but we recommend grabbing some lunch and snacks and spending the day with your guide hiking the Dingle Peninsula.

Your guide will say farewell to you this evening as tomorrow you continue north into Clare.

Suggested Hotel Visits
Heatons
Dingle Benners
Castlewood House

Overnight: Dingle | Pax House
Room Type: Double
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 8 - Saturday 12^th October - Cliffs of Moher

Leaving Kerry, take the ferry across the River Shannon and make your way to Ireland’s Iconic Cliffs of Moher. You have options to simply explore the visitors centre and viewing points or to hike. The official trail car park in Doolin is at the Russel Community Centre in the Northern end of the Village. From there it is a 10 minute walk through the village to the start of the cliff side trail. Doolin to the Cliffs of Moher Visitor Centre ​- 8km (​2.5 to 3 hours​). Where you can catch a bus or taxi back to Doolin.

Hotel Site Visits
Gregans Hotel
Monks
Maybe Armada Hotel ?

Overnight: Doolin | Doolin Inn
Room Type: Double
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 9 - Sunday 13^th October - Aran 4x4 Experience

It’s hard to resist the allure of one of the many islands that dot the Irish coastline and today, take to the water and ferry to The Aran Islands. The history of these islands goes back millennia and today Gaelic is still the daily spoken language of the inhabitants. The Aran islands seem to defy their size by all they have to offer: breathtaking scenery, mediaeval castles, cliffs and prehistoric forts are all to be found on this little group of islands.

Inis Mór, the largest of the three islands, is your destination today where you will join up with two brothers for an exciting 4×4 adventure on the island. Explore hidden parts of the island, learn the history and culture from the locals and see the native flora and fauna, the blue flag beach and natural landmarks.

Overnight: Doolin | Doolin Inn
Room Type: Double
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 10 - Monday 14^th October - Burren Sheepdog Demo & Galway Food Tour

After breakfast, head into the heart of the lesser-known Burren National Park, and the jewel in the crown of West Ireland. The otherworldly exposed limestone landscape contains a fascinating mix of wildflowers, wildlife, geology, and ancient tombs. Visit to a local farmer and enjoy a public viewing of their sheepdog experience, an exhilarating demonstration of absolutely adorable and keenly intelligent dogs.

Afterward, visit Poulnabrone Dolmen, just down the road. Dating back over 5,000 years, this Neolithic portal tomb is one of the most iconic and well-preserved megalithic monuments in Ireland.

Moving onto  the capital of Ireland’s west, Galway! Known as the ‘town of the tribes’ the small centre of cobblestone streets and colourful storefronts is vibrant, fun, and cosmopolitan. What better way to spend an afternoon here than a delectable food tour? Stop off in the city and tantalise your taste buds with a delightful journey through Galway’s culinary scene. From artisanal cheeses, craft beers, to handcrafted chocolate, this will be a true feast for the senses. Spend some time wandering around the city before continuing into Connemara, your home for the next two nights.

Overnight: Clifden | The Ardragh Hotel & Restaurant
Room Type: Double
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 11 - Tuesday 15^th October - Connemara National Park

Today will be busy covering as much ground as you can in Connemara National Park. This morning, grab a ferry to explore the ancient mysteries of Connemara’s remote Inishbofin Island with a local archeologist who will bring the landscape, traditions and mythology of the region alive. Your guide is a member of Institute of Archaeologists of Ireland with over thirty years experience, with stories of surveys and excavations all over Ireland’s west coast.
This afternoon, drive The Sky Road, visit Kylemore Abbey, pop up for a look at Diamond Hill and visit Killary Fjord.
Check into Ballynahinch Castle Hotel this even for a night.

Suggested Hotel Site visits
Cashel Palace Hotel
Delphi Lodge
Rossleague Manor

Overnight: Connemmara | Ballynahinch Castle Hotel
Room Type: Double
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 12 - Wednesday 16^th October - Falconry at Ashford

Hotel site visit at Ballynahinch before departure with garden walk.

Drive from Ballynahinch to Ashford Castle for a private Hawk Walk Experience and castle site tour. Enjoy lunch on site at Ashford
Drive time Ballynahinch to Ashford : 1 Hour

Leaving Ashford castle, drive to Westport, with a drive out to Achill Island along the Greenway, a cycling route suitable for families.
Enjoy the rest of your evening in Westport.
Ashford Castle to Westport: 1 Hour
Westport to Achill Island: 1 Hour each way

Overnight: Westport | Wyatt Hotel
Room Type: Double
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 13 - Thursday 17^th October - Depart Mayo for Dublin

Departing Westport for Dublin, drop off your rental and catch departing flights home.

Meals Included: Breakfast