Wilkinson’s Ancient East Adventure - Final infomation

Saturday 14^th June – Saturday 21^st June 2025

Number of Travellers: 2

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 the island of Ireland’s famous and off-the-beaten-track sites of natural, cultural and political 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.

Final Information

Itinerary at a Glance

Day 1 | Saturday 14^th June | Culinary Delight in Cork | Overnight: Ballymaloe

Day 2 | Sunday 15^th June | Ballycotton Cliff Walk | Overnight: Cork

Day 3 | Monday 16^th June | Visit Charles Fort and Discover Kinsale | Overnight: Cork

Day 4 | Tuesday 17^th June | Medieval Kilkenny | Overnight: Kilkenny

Day 5 | Wednesday 18^th June | Castles and Glendalough Monastic Site | Overnight: Powerscourt

Day 6 | Thursday 19^th June | Wicklow Mountains National Park | Overnight: Powerscourt

Day 7 | Friday 20^th June | Wicklow to Dublin | Overnight: Dublin

Day 8 | Saturday 21^st June | Depart

Day by Day

Day 1 - Saturday 14^th June - Culinary Delight in Cork

Arrive in Cork today and make your way towards the renowned Ballymaloe House for a delicious afternoon of touring the grounds, gardens and beautiful estate. As the warm, homely smell wafts into the air, enjoy chatting about Ireland’s food heritage. This evening, dine in Ballymaloe House, your wonderful accommodation.

Ballymaloe House Reservation Number: BK008245/1

Overnight: Ballymaloe | Ballymaloe House
Room Type: Classic House Room
Meals Included: Lunch and Dinner

Day 1 - Car Rental Pick Up Details Read More +

Car Rental Company: Enterprise
Booking Reference: 1580129107
Pick Up Location: Cork City Airport, Cork Airport Ground Floor Terminal Building Cork Airport Cork, Ireland T12 A48X
Phone: (01) 844 5848

Pick up your rental car at Cork City Airport upon arrival. Voucher attached.

Day 1 - Cork Airport to Ballymaloe Read More +

Cork Airport to Ballymaloe- Driving Directions

Day 1 - Activities at Ballymaloe Read More +

Ballymaloe Grainstore Exhibitions– Explore East Cork in a brilliant new light through Niall McCarthy’s stunning artworks. Niall has been painting on canvas and more recently, aluminum composite panels for over twenty years and professionally for a decade.

Ballymaloe Shop & Cafe- The Ballymaloe Shop & Café, located on the grounds of Ballymaloe House Hotel, is a charming spot to browse for Irish-made gifts, crafts, knitwear, and kitchenware.

More Ballymaloe Activities can be found- here.

Day 1 - Lunch Details Read More +

We recommend grabbing a light lunch at Ballymaloe today in the conservatory.

Day 1 - Dinner Details Read More +

Restaurant: Ballymaloe House | Location: Shanagarry Midleton Co. Cork P25 Y070 Ireland
Reservation Time: 19:00
Phone: +353 (0)21 465 2531 | Website: https://www.ballymaloe.ie

We have reserved you dinner in Ballymaloe house. Please note this is at your own expense.

Day 2 - Sunday 15^th June - Ballycotton Cliff Walk

After a leisurely breakfast at Ballymaloe, you’ll set off for Ballycotton, a charming coastal village just a short drive away. Once there, you’ll have the chance to experience the stunning Ballycotton Cliff Walk, where rugged cliffs meet the sea, offering breathtaking views of the coastline and lush countryside. After, you’ll continue your journey to Hayfield Manor, your luxurious 5-star accommodation. There, you can unwind in the elegance and comfort of one of Cork’s most renowned hotels.

Overnight: Cork | Hayfield Manor
Room Type: Manor King
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 2 - Ballymaloe House to Ballycotton Cliff Walk Entrance Read More +

Ballymaloe House to Ballycotton Cliff Walk Entrance- Driving Directions

Day 2 - Bally Cotton Cliff Walk Loop Read More +

Activity: Bally Cotton Cliff Walk Loop
Start Location: Ballycotton Cliff Walk Car Park
Website: https://www.outdooractive.com/en/route/hiking-trail/southwest-ireland/ballycotton-cliffwalk-loop/146940536/

Ballycotton Cliff Walk Loop is 9.2km in total. Please feel free to turn back at any time.

Day 2 - Lunch Details Read More +

We recommend lunch in the town of Ballycotton in Blackbird Bar or make your way to Hayfield Manor for lunch.

Day 2 - Afternoon Suggestions Read More +

Cork City Gaol– Cork City Gaol, is a magnificent castle-like building which once housed 19th century prisoners.

Butter Museum– The Butter Museum is a unique institution, celebrating one of the great success stories of Ireland, the butter trade.

Shandon Bells– St. Anne’s is the oldest church still in continuous use in Cork City with weekly church services and an active worshipping congregation since 1722!

Day 2 - Dinner Details Read More +

We recommend Orchids Restaurant at your hotel, Gallaghers or Greenes Restaurant in Cork City.

For pubs we recommend Sin é, Mutton Lane Inn, Dan Lowrey’s Bar, Franciscan Well Brewery (Great Pizza here too!)

Day 3 - Monday 16^th June - Visit Charles Fort and Discover Kinsale

After breakfast, head south and meander through the bright coastal town of Kinsale. Historically a medieval fishing port, its spectacular waterfront setting and candy-coloured houses, shops and restaurants, make it a glorious blend of old and the new. A walk to the historic Charles Fort – a 17th-century military fortress which stretches across the cliffs and down to the seashore. Learn about the turbulent years of the Williamite War and hear the haunting tale of the White Lady. This afternoon, join a local for a delicious food tour, discovering Kinsale’s culinary delights. Return to your hotel this evening, perhaps sitting in the blooming courtyard garden to enjoy a cocktail before dinner.

Overnight: Cork | Hayfield Manor
Room Type: Manor King
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 3 - Hayfield Manor to Charles Fort Read More +

Hayfield Manor to Charles Fort- Driving Directions

Day 3 - Charles Fort Guided Tour Read More +

Activity: Charles Fort Guided Tour
Start Location: Summer Cove, Kinsale Co. Cork P17 AY18 Ireland | Start Time: 11:00
Website: https://heritageireland.ie/visit/places-to-visit/charles-fort-military-fortress/

Guided tour of Charles Fort. Tickets will be attached closer to departure.

Day 3 - Charles Fort to Kinsale Tourist Office Read More +

Walking Route– This is a hilly route, please check the elevation if you choose this route.

Driving Route

Day 3 - Bonner Travel - Private Food Tour Read More +

Activity: Bonner Travel - Private Food Tour
Start Location: Kinsale Tourist Office | Start Time: 14:00
Phone: +353 (0)87 706 8391 | Website: https://www.fabfoodtrails.ie

Your guide will meet you in town. You can either choose to walk or drive from Charles Fort into town. (It is a hilly walk).

Day 3 - Suggested Stops Read More +

Lusitania Museum & Old Head Signal Tower– The Old Head Signal Tower is just over 200 years old. It was built during the Napoleonic wars in response to the threat of a French invasion. There were 81 such towers with line-of-sight visibility from one to the next.

English Market– Cork’s iconic English market has been trading since 1788. One of the oldest and certainly the best covered market in Europe, it has survived famine, flood, war, fires, and multiple recessions to remain a strong part of Cork’s retail environment.

Day 3 - Kinsale Tourist Office to Hayfield Manor Read More +

Kinsale Tourist Office to Hayfield Manor- Driving Directions

Day 3 - Dinner Details Read More +

We recommend Perrott’s, Market Lane, The Glass Curtain.

*We are happy to make a concierge booking on your behalf.

Day 4 - Tuesday 17^th June - Medieval Kilkenny

The medieval town of Kilkenny is certainly one of our best-kept secrets. An artsy, colourful town, Kilkenny is home to local artists such as ceramics and other hand-made crafts found in the craft village. As the hometown of Smithwick’s beer, you’ll certainly have to enjoy some of the local brews.

Overnight: Kilkenny | Lyrath Estate
Room Type: Manor House Suite
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 4 - Hayfield Manor to Lyrath Estate Read More +

Hayfield Manor to Lyrath Estate- Driving Directions

Day 4 - Lunch Details Read More +

We recommend dining at your accommodation for lunch.

Day 4 - Transfer Details Read More +

Supplier: Local taxi
Pick Up Location: Lyrath Estate
Phone: +353 087 764 1144

You can use the above number to book a taxi, or the reception at Lyrath will also book you a taxi on your behalf.

Day 4 - Smithwick's Experience Kilkenny - Public tour Read More +

Activity: Smithwick's Experience Kilkenny - Public tour
Start Location: Smithwicks | Start Time: 16:00 | Approx Duration: 1 hrs
Phone: 353 (0)56 7786377 | Website: https://www.smithwicksexperience.com

Please give your name when you arrive. Booked under Tony Wilkinson.

Day 4 - Suggested Stops in Kilkenny Read More +

St. Canice’s Cathedral– St Canice’s Cathedral is a hidden gem on Kilkenny’s Medieval Mile. Kilkenny is even named after this magnificent Cathedral, which has been a site of Christian worship since the 6th century and was known as the last stronghold of the druids before that. Each stone of this 12th century gothic cathedral tells a story.

Medieval Mile Kilkenny– Located in the heart of Kilkenny, on the site of 13th-century St Mary’s church and graveyard, the Medieval Mile Museum represents an immense treasure trove of artefacts encompassing more than 800 years of history.

Day 4 - Dinner Details Read More +

We recommend dining at the main restaurant at Lyrath Estate or in town at Butcher’s Restaurant.

Day 5 - Wednesday 18^th June - Castles and Glendalough Monastic Site

Probably the most impressive sight in town is Kilkenny Castle. One of the most fascinating castles in Ireland, learn about the massive restoration process behind the castle in a rare private guided tour, following clues back through the years to restore the castle to its former glory.

Glendalough Monastery is one of the oldest and most significant monastic and pilgrimage sites in Ireland. Founded by St Kevin in the 7th century as a respite from the world, it eventually grew into an important centre of learning, its scholars producing astonishing illuminated manuscripts as well as astronomical and mathematical texts. Not only is Glendalough’s history intriguing, its setting in the lush wooded valley of two lakes is stunning. Also, perhaps make the time to visit local potter Nicolas Mosse’s studio or learn about the age-old tradition of handweaving at a 300-year-old family-run establishment.

Overnight: Powerscourt | Powerscourt Hotel
Room Type: Superior Room
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 5 - Lyrath Estate to Kilkenny Castle Read More +

Lyrath Estate to Kilkenny Castle- Driving Directions

Day 5 - Private Guided Tour of Kilkenny Castle Read More +

Activity: Private Guided Tour of Kilkenny Castle
Start Location: Kilkenny Castle | Start Time: 09:15 | Approx Duration: 2 hrs

You will meet a private guide for a tour of the castle and grounds. Tickets to be attached approximately 1 month before activity.

Day 5 - Kilkenny To Glendalough Visitor Centre Read More +

Kilkenny To Glendalough Visitor Centre- Driving Directions

Day 5 - Lunch Details Read More +

We recommend the Wicklow Heather Restaurant.

Day 5 - Suggested Stops for the Afternoon Read More +

Glendalough Visitor Centre– Glendalough, located in County Wicklow, Ireland, is renowned for its early medieval monastic settlement founded in the 6th century by St. Kevin, and is home to one of Ireland’s most iconic round towers.

Powerscourt Activities– Experience one of Ireland’s top tourist attractions and a destination like no other. Beyond the entrance gates to the Estate you enter a world full of beauty with 47 acres of gardens to explore, a magnificent House to dine and shop in.

Day 5 - Glendalough Visitor Centre to Powerscourt Hotel Read More +

Glendalough Visitor Centre to Powerscourt Hotel- Driving Directions

Day 5 - Dinner Details Read More +

Restaurant: Sika Restaurant | Location: Powerscourt Hotel
Reservation Time: 19:45

You are booked into Sika restaurant this evening.

Day 6 - Thursday 19^th June - Wicklow Mountains National Park

One of Ireland’s six national parks, the Wicklow Mountains are the epitome of Irish countryside. With your guide, pull on your hiking boots to trundle through the heather-topped Wicklow Mountains, following trails once traversed by pilgrims and monks. On your way, bask in panoramas of patchwork fields dotted with white fluffy sheep, each lined with hedgerows and old stone walls. With a few different options through the Wicklow Mountains, work with your guide to find the best one for you and your group. In the evening, tuck into a cosy pub for a satisfying end-of-trip pint.

Overnight: Powerscourt | Powerscourt Hotel
Room Type: Superior Room
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 6 - Powerscourt Hotel to Hike Meeting Point Read More +

Powerscourt Hotel to Hike Meeting Point- Driving Directions

Day 6 - Guided walk in Wicklow Mountains Read More +

Activity: Guided walk in Wicklow Mountains
Maria O'Laughlin: Wilderness Guide
Start Location: J B Malone Car Park, Wicklow Way, Ballinastoe, Co. Wicklow | Start Time: 10:30 | Approx Duration: 2 hrs
Phone: +353 83 3499591 | Website: https://www.wildernessireland.com

Meet your Wilderness Ireland guide for a 5km loop in the heart of the Wicklow Mountains with stunning views of the historic Guinness estate and surrounding peaks such as Luggala.

Day 6 - Lunch Details Read More +

Lunch recommendations will be provided by your guide today. Let their expertise be your guide!

Day 6 - Dinner Details Read More +

We recommend dining on site of your accommodation again, or if you feel up for it, head into the town of Bray, with options like Platform Pizza Bar.

Day 7 - Friday 20^th June - Wicklow to Dublin

Awaking in the Wicklow Mountains, it’s time to trade the quiet lakes and sun-dappled hills of Wicklow for the bustle and liveliness of Dublin.

Your drive time is fairly short at just under an hour, so we recommend making the most of your morning on site at Powerscourt Hotel, perhaps with a dip in the pool or a relaxing treatment or a stroll around their famed gardens. Be sure to visit the Powerscourt Waterfall before leaving.

Your afternoon is free to enjoy some of Dublin’s local sights once you return your rental car and your hotel is perfectly situated for easy strolling. This evening, check into the fantastic Westbury Hotel in the heart of Dublin city.

Overnight: Dublin | The Davenport Hotel
Room Type: Junior Suite
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 7 - Powerscourt Hotel to Dublin City Centre Enterprise Read More +

Powerscourt Hotel to Dublin City Centre Enterprise- Driving Directions

Day 7 - Car Rental Drop Off Details Read More +

Car Rental Company: Enterprise
Booking Reference: 1580129107
Drop Off Location: Dublin City Centre, St Stephens Green Shopping Ctr Ground Floor Dublin, Ireland D02AY81 | Drop Off Time: 12:00
Phone: +353 (01) 844 5848

Drop off your rental car in St. Stephen’s Green.

*Please note it is a 15 minute taxi to your hotel. Uber is readily available in Dublin.

Day 7 - Lunch Details Read More +

We recommend lunch in your hotel today.

Day 7 - Suggested Stops Read More +

National Gallery of Ireland At the corner of Merrion Square West and Clare Street, the recently renovated National Gallery is a treasure trove of permanent and temporary art exhibitions. Highlights include Ireland’s National Portrait Collection, the Yeats Archive and stained glass by Harry Clarke.

St. Patrick’s Cathedral As the largest cathedral and one of the most important pilgrimage sites in Ireland, Saint Patrick’s has been at the heart of Dublin and Ireland’s history and culture for over 800 years.

Dublin Castle Constructed in the early thirteenth century on the site of a Viking settlement, Dublin Castle served for centuries as the headquarters of the English, and later British, administration in Ireland.

Please check the opening hours for the dates you’ll be visiting.

Day 7 - Dinner Details Read More +

We recommend The Winding Stair, Sole Seafood & Grill or The Boxty House (a modern take on traditional Irish food).

For pubs, we recommend Doheny & Nesbitt’s, The Hairy Lemon or No Name.

Day 8 - Saturday 21^st June - Depart

Take a private airport transfer this morning to take you to Dublin Airport and your departing flights. We hope your time in Ireland has been memorable.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 8 - Transfer Details Read More +

Supplier: Dublin Chauffeurs
Pick Up Location: Davenport | Pick Up Time: 14:30
Phone: +353 (0)87 233 8396

Finish location: Dublin Airport

Wilkinson’s Ancient East Adventure - Final infomation

Overview

Itinerary at a Glance

Day 1 | Saturday 14th June | Culinary Delight in Cork | Overnight: Ballymaloe

Day 2 | Sunday 15th June | Ballycotton Cliff Walk | Overnight: Cork

Day 3 | Monday 16th June | Visit Charles Fort and Discover Kinsale | Overnight: Cork

Day 4 | Tuesday 17th June | Medieval Kilkenny | Overnight: Kilkenny

Day 5 | Wednesday 18th June | Castles and Glendalough Monastic Site | Overnight: Powerscourt

Day 6 | Thursday 19th June | Wicklow Mountains National Park | Overnight: Powerscourt

Day 7 | Friday 20th June | Wicklow to Dublin | Overnight: Dublin

Day 8 | Saturday 21st June | Depart