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Legends of the Southwest
Laura Maestrelli and Family
Saturday 6th July – Friday 12th July 2024
Saturday 6th July – Friday 12th July 2024
Duration: 7 Days / 6 Nights
Explore legendary peninsulas, villages, islands and coastlines as you learn about the wildlife, pirates, smugglers, monks (even Jedi!) who’ve called this place home.
On this exciting family tour of southwest Ireland, discover the legends of the rugged southwest landscapes, taste local cuisine in Ireland’s gourmet region and enjoy comfortable, family-friendly accommodation in West Cork and Kerry. Your personal guide on your family tour of southwest Ireland will help you make the most of your journey by interpreting the landscape, sharing local myths and legends, introducing you to local characters, and showing you an authentic, off-the-beaten-track southwest Ireland.
Our first stop on our family adventure is the historical fishing town of Kinsale. Famous as the gourmet capital of Ireland, this colourful town is brimming with activity from art galleries to elegant yachts. Our accommodation is in a central location overlooking the sea. This evening, we’ll have a unique introduction to the town via a ghost tour led by local actors. You’ll learn about Kinsale’s vibrant history while meeting the colourful characters of Kinsale’s past as they come alive during an entertaining evening stroll through Kinsale.
Overnight: Kinsale | Actons Hotel
Room Type: 1x Open Plan Family Room and 1x Superior Harbour View Single
Meals Included: Lunch and Dinner
This morning, while listening to tales of conquests, wine smugglers and the town’s exotic local characters, we’ll head out along the coast with our guide. Set on the water’s edge, Charles Fort is one of the best-preserved examples of a 17th-century star-shaped fort and is associated with some of the most momentous events in Irish history. There are plenty of lookouts to climb to and tunnels to explore. We’ll all enjoy lunch in an award-winning local Irish pub.
Overnight: Kinsale | Actons Hotel
Room Type: 1x Open Plan Family Room and 1x Superior Harbour View Single
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch
Kinsale was often visited by pirates over the centuries and today we’ll kayak along the seashore to where the pirates once landed. With the water lapping quietly at the side of our kayaks, and the seabed slowly passing by underneath the surface, enjoy this wonderfully relaxing way to travel. Your expert guide will provide guidance to everyone and set the standard of the trip to best suit your family. Weather permitting, we will all enjoy a picnic on the seashore.
Overnight: Kinsale | Actons Hotel
Room Type: 1x Open Plan Family Room and 1x Superior Harbour View Single
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch
This morning, we transfer to the Kingdom of Kerry, stopping en route at the Toy Soldier Factory. The whole family will have the opportunity to make and paint their own figures, be it a model soldier, fairy, chess piece, animal or dozens of other choices. This is a great activity to get the whole family involved and come away with your very own creation. Afterwards, we’ll continue onto the famous Ring of Kerry to enjoy its panoramic vistas, arriving at our next accommodation overlooking the glittering Kenmare Bay.
Overnight: Parknasilla | Parknasilla Resort & Spa
Room Type: 1x Family Room and 1x Parkland View Single
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch
Get the legs stretched well this morning, as a hike through the forests and mountains of Killarney National Park is in store for today! Starting at Muckross House, a gorgeous 19th-century mansion in the national park, follow the trail past fields of grazing cattle and glittering lakes towards Torc Mountain. Enveloped under a dense green canopy of trees is the stunning Torc Waterfall, one of Killarney’s most iconic gems. Up the mountain through the magical woodland, enjoy tantalising glimpses of the view through the trees before descending into the valley and along the shores of Muckross Lake along the Old Kenmare Road, an ancient cobbled path from bygone times.
Overnight: Parknasilla | Parknasilla Resort & Spa
Room Type: 1x Family Room and 1x Parkland View Single
Meals Included: Breakfast
Today, we shall follow Kerry’s rugged coast to the tip of the Iveragh Peninsula where we’ll catch a boat on the Atlantic Ocean. Rising dramatically out of the crashing Atlantic are the jagged pinnacles of the Skellig Islands.* In ancient times, Skellig Michael was home to monks seeking solitude. At the island’s summit 714 ft (218m) above sea level, a remarkably well-preserved 6th-century monastic settlement clings to the steep slopes. However, today they are more well-known as part of a galaxy far, far away; this was the filming location for Star Wars Episodes VII and VIII. Get up close to these islands to encounter both the diverse island wildlife as well as the ancient historical sites. We’ll enjoy a celebratory final dinner together tonight.
Overnight: Parknasilla | Parknasilla Resort & Spa
Room Type: 1x Family Room and 1x Parkland View Single
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch
This morning we shall say goodbye to the wild, rugged coasts of West Cork and Kerry and transfer to your hotel in Dublin. Your guide will say farewell from here and leave to explore the bustling streets of Dublin on your own. Please let us know if you would like any recommendations for sights or dinners!
Meals Included: Breakfast
This trip includes all accommodation, guiding and travel, as well as most meals. It does not include drinks or gratuity for your Wilderness Guide.
Please see our booking terms here.
