IRELAND TOUR
2nd to 10th JUNE 2023
OVERVIEW
Once we have disembarked the ferry at Rosslare, we will head across to the Mount Juliet Estate from where we will begin our driving adventure. Leaving Mount Juliet, we drop south along the coast to Cork and then up the west coast driving along many fabulous roads with stunning scenery and taking in the amazing sights Ireland has to offer.
We will visit one of the most famous distilleries, visit some of the best locations with stunning views, such as the Cliffs of Mohr and drive the famous Healy Pass, Connor Pass and Ring of Kerry.
An amazing nine day tour of the best Ireland has to offer.
ITINERARY
DAY 1 – 2 JUNE - FISHGUARD TO ROSSLARE TO MOUNT JULIET ESTATE
2 JUNE 2023
SAIL FROM FISHGUARD TO ROSSLARE AND DRIVE TO MOUNT JULIET ESTATE
DRIVING DISTANCE AND TIME : 80km / 1h15m
We all meet at the Fishguard Ferry Terminal in Wales at 11h00 for a 13h00 crossing to Ireland.
Once docked at Rosslare in the south of Southern Ireland at 16h30, our adventure will officially begin.
We will have a short 50-mile, 1 hour 15 minute, drive to the stunning Mount Juliet Estate for our first night’s stay.
The evening will start with a welcome champagne reception and dinner in their award winning The Hound restaurant.
DAY 2 - 3 JUNE - MOUNT JULIET TO CASTLEMARTYR RESORT HOTEL VIA CASHEL AND JAMESON DISTILLERY
3 JUNE 2023
MOUNT JULIET TO CASTLEMARTYR RESORT HOTEL VIA CASHEL AND JAMESON DISTILLERY
DRIVING DISTANCE and TIME : 193km / 3hrs
We will leave the hotel after breakfast and visit the Rock of Cashel where we can have a coffee, before heading south to the coast at Dungarvan before heading west towards Cork.
Before arriving at our hotel, we will visit the Jameson Whisky Distillery at Midleton, which has the world’s largest pot still.
Tonight will be a free evening where you can have dinner at one of the hotel’s restaurants or their pub, The Hunted Dog, or dine in Cork.
DAY 3 - 4 JUNE - DAY OF LEISURE
4 JUNE
CASTLEMARTYR RESORT HOTEL
Today is your day of leisure to explore the local area, or relax and enjoy the hotel Spa. There is lots to explore, from the Titanic Experience in Cobh, just south-east of Cork, to horseback riding, visiting the Hedermans Smokehouse or stretch your legs and walk the stunning Irish coastline along the Ballycotton Cliffs and admire the views across the bay.
Dinner tonight will be in the hotel.
DAY 4 - 5 JUNE - DRIVE TO KILLARNEY VIA HEALY PASS AND RING OF KERRY
5 JUNE 2023
DRIVE TO KILLARNEY VIA HEALY PASS AND RING OF KERRY
DRIVING DISTANCE and TIME : 310km / 5hr
Our route today is usually at the top of everyone’s Irish driving list – the stunning Healy Pass, a lush natural beauty of wild landscapes, unspoilt seascapes and wildlife. If this wasn’t enough, we will then drive the world-famous Ring of Kerry, full of wonderful vistas on the Wild Atlantic Way with some stunning coastlines. There are some narrow bottlenecks that need to be driven with care.
This is sure to be a driving day you do not easily forget.
To finish off our day in style, we’ll check into the five-star Aghadoe Heights Hotel and Spa where we will have dinner.
DAY 5 - 6 JUNE - ADARE TO FITZGERALDS WOODLANDS HOUSE HOTEL AND SPA
6 JUNE 2023
ADARE TO FITZGERALDS WOODLANDS HOUSE HOTEL AND SPA
DRIVING DISTANCE and TIME : 220km / 3h45
Today will be another incredible day of driving. Taking in the famous R560 (Connors Pass) one of Ireland’s most revered roads winding its way through high peaks and rolling hills.
However, before you leave our hotel you might like to visit the town of Killarney, and see the sights such as Muckross Abbey one of the major ecclesiastical sites, found in the Killarney National Park. It was founded in 1448 as a Franciscan friary for the Observantine Franciscans by Donal McCarthy Mor. It has had a violent history and has been damaged and reconstructed many times. Or visit Ross Castle, a 15th-century tower house and keep on the edge of Lough Leane, in Killarney National Park, County Kerry, Ireland. It is the ancestral home of the Chiefs of the Clan O’Donoghue.
Following this stunning drive, we will check into the wonderful Fitzgerald’s Woodlands House Hotel and Spa for two nights.
This evening’s dinner is at leisure, either at the hotel in the stunning Treehouse Restaurant, recently voted Ireland’s best outdoor dining venue, Timmy Macs Bistro or several areas within the hotel. Alternatively, you could pop up to Limerick or over to Adare if you are feeling more adventurous.
DAY 6 - 7 JUNE - DAY OF LEISURE
7 JUNE 2023
DAY OF LEISURE
Today is your day of leisure and there is plenty to do. You can drive the short distance to Limerick and spend some time exploring its compact old town, known for the medieval-era St. Mary’s Cathedral and St. John’s square, which is lined with Georgian townhouses. Or, standing along the River Shannon, the 13th-century King John’s Castle is one of the city’s most recognisable sites.
Other major sights in the area are the Cliffs of Moher which run for 14km, not that you have to visit the whole length! On a clear day, the views are tremendous, with the Aran Islands etched on the waters of Galway Bay. From the cliff edge, you can just hear the booming far below as the waves crash and gnaw at the soft shale and sandstone.
You can walk one of the many paths along The Wild Atlantic Way, explore Adare and have lunch at The Carriage House at the stunning Adare Manor, Bunratty, or visit the Foynes Flying Boat & Maritime Museum and home of Irish Coffee.
If you wish to have a more relaxed time then you can stay at the hotel and enjoy its brilliant leisure centre with indoor pool, sauna, jacuzzi and steam rooms. You could of course have a leisurely stroll through the stunning Organic Garden and their woodlands trail.
DAY 7 - 8 JUNE - FITZGERALDS WOODLANDS HOUSE HOTEL TO WESTPORT
8 JUNE 2023
FITZGERALDS WOODLANDS HOUSE HOTEL TO KNOCKRANNY HOUSE HOTEL, WESTPORT VIA KINVARRA AND R336 / N59 ROAD VIA CLIFDEN TO WESTPORT
DRIVING DISTANCE and TIME : 260km / 4hrs
The R336 / N59 is considered perhaps the best scenic driving road in the south of Ireland, and we will drive almost all of it today.
The route will take us north around Limerick and past Bunratty and the 15th-century tower house located in the centre of the village as we head towards Kinvarra and past the amazing Dunguaire Castle which overlooks the bay with stunning views. We continue towards Galway and onto Clifden famous for John Alcock and Arthur Brown who landed there in 1919 during their non-stop transatlantic flight.
After travelling through some stunning scenery, our final destination of the day will be the stunning Knockranny House Hotel in Westport.
DAY 8 - 9 JUNE - KNOCKRANNY HOUSE HOTEL AND SPA TO WINEPORT LODGE
KNOCKRANNY HOUSE HOTEL AND SPA TO WINEPORT LODGE
DRIVING DISTANCE and TIME : 163km / 2h20
Today is a slightly different day. We have a late check out at Knockranny at about 12h00.
So you could have lunch at the hotel or find lunch en route and then have a just over two hour drive to Wineport Lodge for our final evening together.
This will allow us to maximise our time at both Knockranny House Hotel and Wineport Lodge as they are both lovely hotels, with Wineport Lodge situated on the side of the bay overlooking Killinure Island.
It’ll also give us some great relaxation and socialising time, after having spent the previous few days driving some serious and unforgettable roads.
We will have one final dinner together at Wineport Lodge to celebrate our time together and what will hopefully have been a fantastic road trip to this stunning country!
DAY 9 - 10 JUNE - HEAD HOME
10 JUNE 2023
CHECK OUT OF WINEPORT AND HEAD HOME.
Whichever route you take to Rosslare Harbour for the ferry home, it is about 3 hours in duration. The ferry is at 18h15, so you will have the day to do one of three things –
OPTION 1
You will be able to stay around the hotel and relax before leaving the hotel at your leisure to make the 3-hour journey to Rosslare. You need to please arrive at Rosslare by 16h15..
OPTION 2
You could leave the hotel in the morning and drive two hours down to Kilkenny which is en route to Rosslare and 75 minutes from Rosslare Harbour. You could then explore Kilkenny and its famous 12th-century castle later in the morning and the afternoon before making your way to the ferry for 16h00.
OPTION 3
You could leave the hotel by 09h00 and spend a few hours in Dublin before heading south to Rosslare. Dublin is about an hour and a half from our hotel and two hours from Dublin to Rosslare Harbour. So you could arrive in Dublin by 10h30 and leave at 14h00 to be at Rosslare by 16h00.
Please be at the ferry terminal by 16h15 to check in ahead of your 18h15 crossing. You will arrive back in England at 21h45.
HOTELS
Mount Juliet Estate
Castlemartyr Resort
Aghadoe Heights Hotel and Spa
Fitzgeralds Woodlands House Hotel and Spa
WHAT IS INCLUDED
– 8 Nights luxury accommodation
– Full breakfast each day
– 6 Dinners with paired wines (half a bottle per person)
– Champagne Reception on the first night of the Tour
– Lunch on five days of the Tour
– Jameson Whisky Distillery Tour
– Full road book including all driving routes and tour information
– Experienced Tour Managers support throughout
TOUR PRICES
£3,860.00
per person based on two sharing car and accommodation
£4,800.00
per person based on single occupancy accommodation
To secure your place – £500.00 deposit per person
MORE INFORMATION
Call us on
01926 675675
Or click the button below
BOOK AND RESERVE YOUR PLACE
Booking your place on this event couldn’t be easier. The first step would be to click the “Enquire Now” button and complete the form, which gives us some basic details about yourself and your party.
We will then get in touch with you to confirm availability on the tour, we will send you a booking form to complete together with our deposit payment options so you can reserve your place on the tour.
As soon as the deposit has been processed we will send you a booking confirmation detailing what is included in your tour together with any extras you may have requested, your travel documents and the balance payment information.
You can secure a place on any of our tours, road trips or driving adventures with a deposit of just £500 per person. This can be paid by Stripe Online Payment, BACS transfer or by card over the phone if you prefer. There’s no need to worry about paying anything more until the final balance is due (usually around 8 weeks before we travel) and you’re welcome to pay your final before that date if preferred. On some of the bigger tours we do sometimes require an interim payment to make it a little easier to spread the cost, however, please note that if the event you wish to join is within the next 8 weeks, we will require the full payment to be made at the time of your booking.
Prefer to have a chat over the phone? Give us a call on 01926 675 675
MINIMUM NUMBERS
We have a minimum number of participants required for all of our events enabling them to be viable for us to run – this is usually 10 cars unless stated otherwise. In the event that we don’t reach the minimum numbers, the tour may be cancelled at which point your booking deposit will be refunded to you, or if preferred, allocated to another event of your choice.
YOU’RE PROTECTED
As with all of our tours and events, this tour is protected by ABTOT and ATOL. Click here for more information.
