The Stinson's Irish Adventure

Day 1 - Tuesday 18^th March - Farm Tour & Cheese Tasting

Your private guide will meet you in the lobby of your hotel this morning and after some short introductions, together you will journey into Kerry, but not before stopping for a visit to a Buffalo farm in the lush green countryside where we 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, we check in to Sheen Falls, situated amidst the majestic landscapes of the Ring of Kerry. Later today, we board a vintage Buick for a tour of the grounds and Kenmare town.

*The Vintage Buick Tour is a complimentary Virtuoso amenity and we are happy to add it to your booking.

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

Day 2 - Wednesday 19^th March - Hike Beara Peninsula

Balanced on the edge of County Cork and County Kerry, the Beara Peninsula is the wildest of Kerry’s three peninsulas. This rugged corner of Ireland weaves a tapestry of wild mountains, pristine lakes, and meandering coastal and mountain roads. The Beara Peninsula is rich in local culture. Sparsely populated and rural, you can stumble across quiet villages and their warm and welcoming communities. Today we head out hiking the Beara Peninsula with our guide on a hike tailored to us. Award yourself with a tasty pint in one of their small, rural pubs where hopefully we can catch a bit of traditional music before we depart!

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

Day 3 - Thursday 20^th March - Relax & Unwind

Spend today enjoying the onsite facilities at Sheen Falls, whether you want relaxation or adventure, there is something for everyone. Choose a morning walk in nature, fly-fishing, archery, clay pigeon shooting, relax with a book in their library, or treat yourself to a treatment in their award-winning Easanna Spa. End your day with a cocktail on the terrace, soaking in the breathtaking scenery.

Overnight: Kenmare | Sheen Falls Lodge
Room Type: x1 Superior Deluxe
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 4 - Friday 21^st March - The Ring of Kerry

Today we travel to the southern shores of the Iveragh peninsula, also known as The Ring of Kerry, where we meet one of our favourite 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, from lonely monks to 18th century civil rights activists to mythical heroes. We take some time today to tour The Ring of Kerry stopping at picturesque bays and harbours and points of interest along the way before we return to our hotel in Kerry this evening.

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

Day 5 - Saturday 22^nd March - Killarney National Park

En route to Dinlge today, we take our time and stretch our legs. Nestled on Killarney’s doorstep is Ireland’s first national park, Killarney National Park. Delight in a hike through the verdant woodlands and along the lakeshores of Killarney, keeping an eye out for the park’s herd of red deer and taking in the gorgeous views that make this region special. Step back into the past with a visit to Muckross Traditional Farms, which showcases a very different Ireland – the Ireland of the 1930s and 1940s. Back then, a trip to the well was still a daily chore for the housewife and electricity had yet to be introduced to the countryside. In the late afternoon, we arrive in Dingle, this is Gaeltacht country where the Irish language is still widely spoken as a first language and culture and traditions remain strong. Check in to your accommodation and enjoy a cheese board in your room overlooking the ocean.

Overnight: Dingle | Pax House
Room Type: x1 Top Of The House Bedroom
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 6 - Sunday 23^rd March - The Dingle Peninsula

The county of Kerry is made up of four peninsulas, The Kerry Head, The Beara, The Iveragh and probably its most well-known, The Dingle Peninsula. Tour around the peninsula visiting a fascinating array of ancient sites including Iron Age forts, and beehive huts, related to those found on the Skellig Islands and featured in the Star Wars film, inscribed stones, and historical churches. The Peninsula culminates at the dramatic Slea Head—Europe’s most western point. We return to Dingle town this evening for a delicious locally sourced dinner.

Overnight: Dingle | Pax House
Room Type: x1 Top Of The House Bedroom
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 7 - Monday 24^th March - Drive to County Clare

Today we say goodbye to Co. Kerry as we make our way to Co. Clare, home to The Burren region & Cliffs of Moher. We make a day out of it and stop a couple of times, one of our favourite walks is a great beach walk along one of Kerry’s best-kept secret coastlines and we can enjoy lunch in the quaint village of Adare, voted “Ireland’s prettiest village”. Its quaint cottages and artisan stores make it a great place to wander. Pay a late-afternoon visit to the Cliffs of Moher, enjoying a walk along the dramatic cliff edge on a background of coastal panoramas.

Overnight: The Burren | Wild Honey Inn
Room Type: x1 Garden Room
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 8 - Tuesday 25^th March - The Aran Islands

We hope the weather gods are on our side today as we head out to visit one of the remote islands that dot the Irish coastline. Inis Mor (Inishmore) is the largest of the three Aran Islands, and our destination this morning. Explore the island with the aid of some off-road adventure vehicles as your local guides, Padraig and Aonghus bring you to all the off-the-beaten-track spots on the islands that only their 4×4 can reach. Learn of the Irish language spoken on the islands, the unique Irish culture and traditions of the local people, the flora and fauna that inhabit the islands and of course the filming site from the recent Banshees of Inisherin film!

Overnight: The Burren | Wild Honey Inn
Room Type: x1 Garden Room
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 9 - Wednesday 26^th March - Traditional Treats

This morning, we journey further north in the untamed landscape of Connemara. Described by Oscar Wilde as a “savage beauty” Connemara is rich in wild mountainscapes and heather-clad valleys. Before doing so, we stop at a traditional farm and enjoy an authentic, fun experience making, baking (and eating!) traditional Irish soda bread and scones. What better way to get to know Ireland than through its people and its food?  Get an insight into Irish food culture and way of life, past and present. Next, we check in to Ballynahinch Castle. Once owned by an Indian Raj, this traditional hunting lodge has seen presidents and dignitaries grace its halls and rooms for generations. Today, surrounded by thousands of acres of estate land and forests, Ballynahinch boasts fine dining, a traditional pub, on-site fly fishing and a remote escape in the wilds of Connemara.

Overnight: Connemmara | Ballynahinch Castle Hotel
Room Type: x1 Superior Double
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 10 - Thursday 27^th March - Sheepdogs & Stories on the West Coast

This morning it’s a 45-minute drive through the windswept Twelve Bens Mountain Range to Killary, Ireland’s only fjord. Start the day with a sheep-herding demonstration at a local farm, and you’ll have the opportunity to cut peat from the bogs – a method that’s been used to harvest fuel in these parts for aeons. Take a stroll along the abandoned Famine Trail and hear stories of the people who emigrated en mass due to the harsh conditions they found themselves in. En route back to your hotel, you’ll stop at the stunning Kylemore Abbey. Built in the 1800s as a dedication to his wife by Mitchell Henry MP, a wealthy businessman, today Kylemore is owned and run by the Benedictine community who have been in residence since the 1920s. Tour the house and walled gardens and be sure to stop by the cafe and gift shop, the homemade chocolates, made onsite are a delicious treat to take away.

Overnight: Connemmara | Ballynahinch Castle Hotel
Room Type: x1 Superior Double
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 11 - Friday 28^th March - Hiking in Connemara National Park

This morning, your guide will lead you on a hike in the nearby Connemara National Park, a perfect place for hiking with scenic mountains, expanses of beautiful bogland, grasslands, and woodlands to explore. The rest of the day is for you to enjoy all that Ballynahinch Castle has to offer. There is a choice of unique activities such as relaxing in the Woodland Saunas, taking a fly fishing tutorial, biking, or simply sitting in the tranquillity of the grounds listening to the song of the river.

Overnight: Connemmara | Ballynahinch Castle Hotel
Room Type: x1 Superior Double
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 12 - Saturday 29^th March - Depart

This morning, your guide will take you to Shannon Airport in time for 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