Pick up from accommodation in Dublin or an arranged location
09:30am
8-day private guided tour
Max 7 people
€5,800
Fully guided, customised and private tour
ABOUT
Unforgettable Experience
Come on an unforgettable road trip with Trudy, beginning in Ireland’s vibrant capital city of Dublin, we’ll travel through the rolling hills of the midlands towards the wild rugged beauty of the Wild Atlantic Way and finishing back in Dublin.
This Irish road trip will ensure you experience Ireland’s diverse landscapes, monasteries, and castles, including Ireland’s vibrant harbour towns of Cobh and Kinsale in the south, the lakes of Killarney and the scenic drive of “The Ring of Kerry”.
You’ll experience the beauty of Dingle and Slea Head with its intricate small craft stores and lively pubs with good Irish music, the awe-inspiring Cliffs of Moher and the expansive limestone landscape of The Burren, the picturesque village of Doolin, Galway City and the untamed beauty of Connemara.
This tour is jam-packed full of Irish culture, heritage and the Irish countryside.
ITINERARY
Dublin to the Wild Atlantic Way
Itinerary Details
Historic Dublin
Starting in Ireland’s capital city of Dublin we’ll explore the history and heritage of this vibrant city. Beginning our day with a panoramic tour of Viking, Medieval and Georgian Dublin City before delving into and experiencing some of the iconic landmark sites.
Some of your choices today include:
- Ireland’s oldest university, Trinity College, built in 1592 and host to the Book of Kells.
- Guinness Storehouse, Ireland’s number one visitor attraction where you’ll discover the history of the famous black porter.
- Kilmainham Gaol, a former prison with a significant role in Irish history.
- 14 Henrietta Street, a Georgian house with an important social history story to tell.
- St. Patrick’s Cathedral, one of Ireland’s most iconic churches and the final resting place of Jonathon Swift.
We’ll spend the night in one of Trudy’s recommended accommodations in Dublin.
Dublin to Cork
Heading out of the capital we’ll travel southwest towards Cork. We’ll traverse the midlands of Ireland stopping at the stunning Rock of Dunamase, a medieval fortress in County Laois with stories of Bishops, Vikings, Medieval knights and politicians. This is a great place to explain the last thousand years of Irish history while soaking in the panoramic views of the countryside.
Our next stop will be the Rock of Cashel or St. Patrick’s rock. Perched high on this limestone rocky outcrop, once the seat of the Kings of Munster, combines stories of religion, royalty and mythology. You’ll take a guided tour here and see the twelfth-century round tower, the Gothic cathedral and the incredible Cormac’s chapel.
Cobh bound we’ll visit the final port of the world’s most famous ship, visiting Cobh’s Heritage Centre and ticket office where the Titanic’s passengers purchased tickets on the 11th April 1912, only 24 hours before the biggest disaster in maritime history. We’ll also take in a trip to St. Colman’s Cathedral where its 300ft high spire dominates the town’s skyline, also home to the largest Carillon in Ireland.
Finally, we’ll head to Kinsale to spend a lovely evening in one of Trudy’s recommended accommodations.
Kinsale
Spending the day in Kinsale and the beautiful surrounding area of County Cork we’ll visit the seventeenth-century Charlesfort, a star-shaped military fortress which guards the entrance to the sheltered harbour of Kinsale. Hearing stories about the Battle of Kinsale, one of the most significant battles in Irish history between the combined forces of the Spanish and Irish and the English.
We’ll visit Old Head and its signal house and look out to the sea, where the Lusitania rests circa twelve miles out after being torpedoed by a German U-boat, an incident that changed history forever.
There will be plenty of time to explore some of Kinsale’s charming colourful stores and maybe buy some locally made crafts and souvenirs. The town is often known as the “Gourmet Capital of Ireland” so dining is one of Kinsale’s many restaurants and eateries is a must before spending our second night in Kinsale.
Cork to Kerry
Leaving the beautiful town of Kinsale and heading westward along the stunning coastline towards Killarney, we can for photos along the way. We’ll pay a brief stop at a picturesque thirteenth-century Franciscan friary in a beautiful setting.
Onwards to Clonakilty, Ireland’s first Autism Friendly Town, it is the home place of Michael Collins, who was instrumental in negotiating the treaty following the 1916 Rising. We can visit The Michael Collins House Museum.
Travelling on we’ll visit the gorgeous little village of Glengarriff and take a boat to Garnish Island. Here we’ll spend some time exploring the island and its lush green gardens. Relaxing at the islands café we’ll take in the panoramic views of Bantry Bay.
Finally, we’ll arrive in Killarney where you can relax, enjoy a nice meal and stay in one of Trudy’s recommended accommodations.
Killarney and the Ring of Kerry
Today is all about exploring the Iveragh Peninsula, which is better known as The Ring of Kerry. With its stunning views of rugged coastline, dramatic cliffs, and The Skelligs, a UNESCO World Heritage Site sitting out in the Atlantic Ocean, we’ll pass through quaint picturesque villages along the way.
Ladies View, where Queen Victoria’s ladies in waiting sat and soaked in the views over the Killarney lakes is an absolute must as is a stroll through the woods to Torc Waterfall.
A trip through the national park in a horsedrawn carriage might well finish off the perfect Killarney day.
We’ll travel to Dingle to spend the night in one of Trudy’s recommended accommodations.
Dingle and Slea Head
Starting our day with a drive around Slea Head drive, with its narrow roads, stone walls and stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean and the Blasket islands, you’re sure to enjoy this relaxing morning.
You can get your feet wet on the Irish side of the Atlantic Ocean at Ventry strand waking you up and refreshing you ready to continue along one of the most scenic drives in the country.
We’ll see stone forts, beehive huts, stone walls and famine cottages, climbing the most westerly point in Europe and have the opportunity to hold some baby lambs. We’ll visit the Blasket Island Centre to hear the stories and witness the lives of the people who lived on the island until the 1950s. Inis Tuascairt, “The Sleeping Giant”, another of the islands was the inspiration for Jonathon Swifts Gulliver’s Travels.
Making our way back to Dingle you’ll have the afternoon to spend in the town visiting the lovely small craft and gift stores before spending a night of music and fun in some of Dingle’s pubs. We’ll spend a second night in Dingle.
Dingle to Galway
We’ll leave Dingle, weather permitting, over the Conor Pass, continuing on our journey, crossing the River Shannon by ferry into County Clare.
The majestic Cliffs of Moher, standing over 700 feet tall and The Burren, a landscape like no other will consume our day. We’ll stop along the way to take photos and venture off the beaten track for some extra treats.
Poulnabrone is Ireland’s oldest dated megalithic monument and at over 5,000 years old it’s well worth us visiting as we make our way to Galway City.
The last evening of our road trip will be spent in this vibrant city ‘the city of the tribes’. We’ll spend the night at one of Trudy’s recommended accommodations.
Galway to Dublin
On our last day together, we’ll head back east back towards Dublin stopping along the way to visit the oldest bar in the country, perhaps take in a lovely boat trip on the River Shannon and visit a medieval monastery with a cathedral, round tower and high crosses.
Whiskey lovers might like to take in one of the midland’s distilleries and see how the “Uisce Beatha”, the water of life is produced.
We’ll finish our Irish road trip as we arrive back in Dublin ending our great adventure together.
DISCOVER
Good to Know
MEMORIES
Gallery
