Bee Kalt Travel - Irish Adventure

Day 1 - Thursday 9^th January - Welcome to Belfast

Arriving at Belfast Airport this morning, pick up your rental car and make your way into the city centre. Today is your arrival day and we want you to have as much time as you need to check in, relax and get acquainted so the day is free for you to explore independently. Stroll through the lively streets adorned with colourful murals that tell tales of the city’s resilience and transformation. Soak up the inviting atmosphere before grabbing dinner and perhaps a drink.

We recommend taking the 11.45 am flight from Edinburgh. *

Overnight: Belfast | The Grand Central Hotel
Room Type: x1 Deluxe Double
Meals Included: None

Day 2 - Friday 10^th January - The Troubles

This morning, join a local guide and unpack the complicated history of The Troubles, learn of the partition of Ireland, hear stories of life in Belfast at the height of the conflict, and view the city’s murals and peace walls. Your guide is an award-winning author and historian who was a combatant during the ‘Troubles’ and also a political advisor during the post-ceasefires and Good Friday Agreement periods. You’ll visit both sides of the Peace Line with the men and women who have served time in the prisons of Northern Ireland for standing up for their beliefs. Ex-combatants who are either ex-prisoners or ex-soldiers from both sides will share their own personal stories and the effects on their communities and explain the murals that tell the local history and culture of the area. This evening is for you to rest and relax, or wander around this lively city one last time.

Overnight: Belfast | The Grand Central Hotel
Room Type: x1 Deluxe Double
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 3 - Saturday 11^th January - The Causeway Coast

Leaving Belfast this morning, you’ll journey along the Causeway Coastal Route, possibly one of the world’s greatest road trips, featuring castles, temples, cliff-top walks, caves, Game of Thrones filming sites, remote islands and its most famous attraction, The Giant’s Causeway. Your first stop is the Gobbins Cliff Path, which is a spectacular cliff walk that offers breathtaking views of the Irish Sea. As you embark on the cliff walk, you will be able to witness the sheer natural beauty of the area, including stunning waterfalls, diverse birdlife, and rugged cliffs. The grand finale is at the spectacular Giant’s Causeway – octagonal columns of rocks created by feuding giants or volcanic activity – myth or science, you decide! Your guesthouse tonight offers breathtaking views as it overlooks the stunning Atlantic Ocean.

• Today’s attractions include the Dark Hedges

Overnight: Portrush | Blackrock House B&B
Room Type: x1 Seaview King
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 4 - Sunday 12^th January - The Royal Portrush Golf Club

Situated in the Causeway Coast & Glens area of outstanding natural beauty, Royal Portrush Golf Club is nestled in a triangle of giant sandhills which present magnificent views in all directions — the hills of Donegal in the west, the Isle of Islay and Southern Hebrides in the north, with the iconic Giant’s Causeway and the Skerries in the east. The courses are overlooked by the ruins of the 13th-century, Dunluce Castle and this gives its name to Royal Portrush’s famous Dunluce Links, one of the most challenging golf courses in the world.

Overnight: Portrush | Blackrock House B&B
Room Type: x1 Seaview King
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 5 - Monday 13^th January - Derry City

Leaving the Northern Coast behind this morning, you’ll begin your journey south. Your first stop is Derry City, the only remaining completely walled city in Ireland and one of the finest examples of Walled Cities in Europe. Built in the 17th century, the walls, approximately 1.5km in circumference, form a walkway around the inner city and provide a unique promenade with which to view the layout of the original town. Your private tour guide will incorporate the tragic events of Jan 30th 1972 when a peaceful protest turned violent leading to the killing of 14 unarmed men and boys along with the injury of many others in an event known as Bloody Sunday. Hop back in the car and make your way to Sligo, where you will stay for the night to break up the drive. Check in and head out for a stroll along the river before enjoying dinner in town. We recommend a pint in what was voted Ireland’s best pub in 2023 to end the day.

Overnight: Sligo | The Address
Room Type: x1 Club King
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 6 - Tuesday 14^th January - Drive to Cork

You have a 4-hour drive ahead of you this morning, but there are plenty of options to break up your journey and stretch your legs. If you fancy a short detour, Galway City is a great place to stop for lunch and a coffee. In the late afternoon, we have booked tickets for Blarney Castle & Gardens where you will visit the castle and (optional!) kiss the Blarney Stone. The building is actually a tower house, a type of fortification built by Gaelic lords and the Anglo-Irish between the 15th and 17th centuries. There are 60 acres of garden surrounding and you’ll have lots of time to explore. Continue to Hayfield Manor, your home for the next three nights nestled in a walled garden.

Overnight: Cork | Hayfield Manor
Room Type: x1 Superior King
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 7 - Wednesday 15^th January - Old Head Golf Links

This morning, make the short journey to Kinsale, home to one of the most spectacular world-class golf courses in Ireland. Old Head Golf Links is built on a 220-acre diamond of land jutting out over two miles into the Atlantic Ocean. The promontory is almost an island with numerous caves running beneath your feet as you play the course. The links and practice area occupy 180 acres and the remaining 40 acres of unspoilt cliff frame the course. After your tee time, we recommend wandering around Kinsale, a visit to the 17th-century star-shaped Charles Fort or a stroll along a waterside walkway is a perfect end to your day’s touring.

Overnight: Cork | Hayfield Manor
Room Type: x1 Superior King
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 8 - Thursday 16^th January - Buffalo Farm Tour & Cheese Tasting

This morning your journey takes you across rolling farmlands with stunning pastoral scenes. 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.  Back in the city later on, we recommend a visit to Cork’s iconic English market has been trading since 1788.  One of the oldest and certainly the best-covered markets in Europe, it has survived famine, flood, war, fires, and multiple recessions to remain a strong part of Cork’s fabric. Spend some time browsing the stalls and offerings, sampling delicious treats or picking up a gift for those at home.

Overnight: Cork | Hayfield Manor
Room Type: x1 Superior King
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 9 - Friday 17^th January - The Rock of Cashel & Dublin

Leaving Cork early this morning, you’ll make your way to Ireland’s capital, Dublin. En route, you’ll stop at the little town of Cashel, in County Tipperary. Historic in significance, this medieval hilltop complex features a ruined Gothic cathedral and a 15th-century castle with sweeping views over the town and county below. Checking into your hotel in Dublin, head out and explore before heading to the Jameson Distillery on Bow Street for a tasting experience. The perfect ending to your time in Ireland!

Overnight: Dublin 2 | The Alex Hotel
Room Type: x1 Classic King
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 10 - Saturday 18^th January - Depart

Make your way to Dublin Airport this morning, drop off your rental car and its time to hop on your flight home. We hope your time in Ireland has been memorable and we look forward to welcoming you to our shores once again.

Meals Included: Breakfast