The Hobbs Family Irish Adventure V2

Day 1 - Tuesday 10^th December - Céad míle fáilte

Arriving in Dublin today, check in to your centrally located boutique hotel, get settled, and begin your pre-wedding plans.

*If you are flying into Dublin Airport, we are happy to add a private transfer to your hotel. 

Overnight: Dublin 2 | The Alex Hotel
Room Type: x1 classic twin, x1 classic king
Meals Included: None

Day 2 - Wednesday 11^th December - Historical Dublin

This morning, 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 mediaeval to Georgian to modern. See the Georgian-style Merrion Square, lush St. Stephen’s Green and Fitzwilliam Square, and 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. We’ll give you plenty of recommendations for an afternoon of exploring in Dublin.

Overnight: Dublin 2 | The Alex Hotel
Room Type: x1 classic twin, x1 classic king
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 3 - Thursday 12^th December - Wedding Celebrations

After lunch today, we have arranged a private transfer for you to Luttrellsstown Castle. Enjoy your wedding celebrations and tomorrow you will begin the guided portion of your Irish adventure!

Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 4 - Friday 13^th December - The Rock of Cashel

This morning, your private guide will meet you at Luttrellstown Castle and after some short introductions, you will begin your Irish adventure together. You’ll head straight for the wilds of West Cork – a remote haven where crafters, artists and artisan food producers have happily retreated over the years. The drive is 4 hours, but we’ve got some stops planned to break up the journey. You’ll visit the Rock of Cashel, a cluster of immaculately preserved medieval buildings including a Gothic cathedral, an abbey, and a fifteenth-century Tower House. You’ll stop for lunch before continuing to your accommodation, nestled on the beach overlooking the Atlantic. Your guide will join you for a welcome dinner tonight and a chance to chat about the week to come.

Overnight: Clonakilty | Inchydoney Island
Room Type: x1 Deluxe Balcony King, x1 Deluxe Balcony Twin
Meals Included: Lunch and Dinner

Day 5 - Saturday 14^th December - Cape Clear Island

Off the coast of Baltimore is Ireland’s southernmost inhabited island, traditionally the last glimpse of Europe for those who once sailed to North America by ship. Cape Clear is a Gaeltacht (Irish-speaking) island just 5 km long and 2 km wide. Hopping off the ferry, you’ll hike across the island, explore its ancient sites, spot the rich birdlife and visit a local goat farm.  On most days, the iconic silhouette of the dramatic Fastnet Rock Lighthouse can be seen to the northwest of the island. As you take in the stunning, coastal vistas that surround you, you’ll realise that this is authentic and untouched Ireland. Wrap up your day by enjoying a refreshing drink overlooking the harbour to the soundtrack of waves crashing and seagulls calling.

Overnight: Clonakilty | Inchydoney Island
Room Type: x1 Deluxe Balcony King, x1 Deluxe Balcony Twin
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch
Walk Details: 5 km / 3 miles

Day 6 - Sunday 15^th December - Farm Tour and Cheese Tasting

Enjoy a morning walk on the beach this morning before saying farewell to Cork today. You’ll head further north into Kerry, but not before stopping for a visit to a Buffalo farm in the lush green countryside where you will take a tour of the land, meet the herd, chat about the cheese-making process with Dorothy, and partake in a special tasting experience using local produce and cheese made right there on the farm. Afterwards, you’ll head north and check in to your accommodation, Sheen Falls, situated amidst the majestic landscapes of the Ring of Kerry. This afternoon we have organised an interactive falconry experience onsite for you.

Overnight: Kenmare | Sheen Falls Lodge
Room Type: x1 Deluxe Superior King, x1 Deluxe Superior Twin
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 7 - Monday 16^th December - The Skellig Islands

The Skelligs are two jagged rock pinnacles rising above battering Atlantic waves. It was on the UNESCO site Skellig Michael that the monks of yesteryears once lived and prayed in stone beehive huts which still cling to the island’s rocky slopes. Today your skipper will transport you out for a 3-hour landing on the big island, where you can follow in the footsteps of these 7th-century Irish monks to their dramatic island retreat. The small Skellig is equally renowned as a home to 27,000 pairs of gannets, the second-largest colony in the world. The islands have famously been used as a filming location for the 2015 and 2017 Star Wars movies.

Overnight: Kenmare | Sheen Falls Lodge
Room Type: x1 Deluxe Superior King, x1 Deluxe Superior Twin
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch
Walk Details: 3 km / 2 miles

Day 8 - Tuesday 17^th December - Killarney National Park

Killarney National Park is the most famous of Ireland’s national parks – and with good reason, as it is flourishing with breathtaking mountains, lakes and waterfalls. Embark on an enchanting cycle through the lush landscapes as you pedal through the oldest and most awe-inspiring national park in Ireland, every turn reveals a new facet of Killarney’s charm. Cycle along routes that offer uninterrupted views of emerald forests, tranquil lakes, and the untamed wilderness that defines Ireland’s rugged beauty. Back at Sheen Falls, we have arranged a whiskey tasting for Michael before dinner. Your guide will join you on your last night together.

Overnight: Kenmare | Sheen Falls Lodge
Room Type: x1 Deluxe Superior King, x1 Deluxe Superior Twin
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Walk Details: 12 km / 7 miles

Day 9 - Wednesday 18^th December - Heading Back East

This morning, you’ll bid farewell to Ireland’s South as your guide takes you back towards Dublin. En route, you’ll stop at the oldest market in Europe, trading since 1788. The English Market in Cork City has survived famine, flood, war, fires, and multiple recessions to remain a strong part of Cork’s fabric. This is a great place to pick up some souvenirs for your loved ones back home. Your guide will drop you at your hotel and you will say goodbye. Your hotel for your final night is an historic site, and home to one of Ireland’s most up-and-coming restaurants – a perfect way to end your trip before flying home.

Overnight: Kildare | Cliff at Lyons
Room Type: x1 Lily Pond King, x1 Lily Pond Twin
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 10 - Thursday 19^th December - Depart

This morning, a private transfer will pick you up in the lobby of your hotel and take you to Dublin Airport in time for your flight home. The drive is only 40 minutes, so it won’t take long! We hope your time in Ireland has been memorable and we look forward to welcoming you to our shores once again.

Meals Included: Breakfast