Real Encounters, Real People in Ireland’s Ancient East and the Wild Atlantic Way

This captivating corner in the northeast of the Republic is around two hours equidistant from both Belfast and Dublin, with regular ferry services to either city from the UK mainland. We can provide a tailor-made travel plan so you arrive with zero hassle. Once here, dive into one of Ireland’s most fascinating heritage towns – packed with major medieval monastic sites and standout examples of early Christian architecture, all just waiting to be explored.

Your Accommodation in Kells

Built in the mid-1700s and run by the same friendly family for over 50 years, your accommodation is a four-star standout in the heart of the Boyne Valley. This warm and stylish base includes a lively bar, an inviting restaurant and even a spa should you fancy a  total switch-off.

Just a short drive from your hotel, two standout experiences await. First up: a private, hands-on sourdough workshop blending wellness, sustainability, and gut health. Created by a sourdough pro and a doctor, this session shows how simple ingredients can make seriously nourishing bread—and how food, soil, and well-being are all connected. In their cosy Boyne Valley home near the Hill of Tara, you’ll learn the essentials of sourdough, flour, fermentation, and gut health, then enjoy a delicious, homemade plant-based lunch.

In the afternoon, in complete contrast, visit the cottage workshop of a woodworking artisan. Working with timber foraged from woodland surrounding his home, your genial host relates the stories of how each type of wood has an intrinsic place in Irish life and culture. You’ll learn the fundamentals of wood turning in a welcoming environment, gain confidence using essential tools and techniques, and even create your own unique piece to take home.

Set off away from Kells this morning, south through Co Kildare and across the Wicklow Mountains, to your encounter for today.

Spend five creative hours with a passionate weaver, learning the delicate art of weaving. Enjoy a delicious lunch, and head home with your own finished fibre-art piece.

Perfect for beginners, this workshop covers everything from warping your loom to mastering a variety of weaving techniques, finishing your piece, and confidently mixing materials and colours. You’ll leave with a unique artwork—and the loom plus all the know-how to keep weaving at home.

And from here, it’s only 20 minutes to your base for the next two nights.

Your accommodation in Co Wicklow

Set in a sweeping Wicklow valley, your accommodation blends classic country-house bedrooms and contemporary comfort. Unwind at the dedicated spa, then choose between two standout dining experiences: Ireland’s first certified wild and organic restaurant, or a relaxed Southern Italian–style bistro.

Within throwing distance of your hotel, you’ll spend the day getting hands-on with clay under the guidance of an incredibly skilled and experienced host. In this peaceful rural setting, immerse yourself in an authentic Irish pottery studio and learn essential techniques, including throwing on the wheel, casting plaster moulds for your own tableware, slab building, coil work, painting with slip, decorative methods like sgraffito, stamping, casting, and glazing.

You’ll head home with a newfound skill—and a deeper appreciation for the role ceramics play in Irish craft and culture.

A fine morning on the road as you head towards the Wild Atlantic Way, Ireland’s acclaimed coastal touring route. In Co Cork, you’re paying a visit to the county’s very own buffalo farm—home to around 700 buffalo and a family-run operation renowned for its award-winning cheeses, from mozzarella and ricotta to burrata and Greek- and Cypriot-style varieties. Enjoy a tour here, during which, meet the herd and hear the fascinating story of its development, then sit down to lunch showcasing the farm’s best produce.

Later, continue your journey towards the coast and your next base in the sparkling fishing village of Baltimore.

Your Accommodation in Co Cork

Just outside Baltimore—and an easy stroll from the harbour and village centre—this traditional inn blends old-world appeal with a fresh, bright atmosphere. The bar is filled with nostalgic memorabilia, while the airy restaurant offers superbly fresh seafood with views of boats drifting across the water. Settle in with a pint of Murphy’s and a chat with the locals.

The rooms are spacious and thoughtfully styled with cheerful pops of colour. With its relaxed seaside feel and genuinely warm welcome, it’s the perfect coastal escape.

Travel a short distance along this most dramatic section of the Wild Atlantic Way this morning, for your first of today’s fabulous encounters. By the village of Glengarriff, you’ll have the opportunity to discover the wild flavours of West Cork with a guided 2.5-hour hands-on foraging adventure. Take a 60-minute forest walk to gather seasonal wild ingredients and get involved in an interactive demo showing how to turn your finds into delicious dishes. Learn to cook a variety of seasonal recipes over an open fire and finish by enjoying a two-course feast served around a crackling campfire.

It’s a full sensory experience—fresh air, wild ingredients, and the taste of the season straight from nature.

Spend the rest of the afternoon exploring wonderful West Cork at your own pace. The peninsulas here are home to some of Ireland’s most arresting landscapes and coastlines, including the island’s southernmost point at Mizen Head. We’ll provide plenty of tips to help you make the most of your time.

For your encounter, wend your lazy way northeast on the Wild Atlantic Way, around the City of Cork, crossing the River Blackwater into Co Waterford. At Waterford City, you’ll be treated to a VIP behind-the-scenes factory experience at the House of Waterford Crystal. With history dating all the way back to 1783, the story of Waterford Crystal is as knotty as the story of Ireland itself and you’re in for a special experience with your own personal guide. You’ll get to indulge in the magic of fine crystal and see the incredible skills that bring these precious pieces to life. This private tour gives you a look at the tools, techniques, and talented craftspeople who turn imagination into stunning crystal. And at tour’s end, enjoy a glass of Champagne or an Irish coffee.

Perhaps take time to explore Ireland’s oldest city and its medieval quarter, before the short drive to your final base near Rosslare, Co Wexford.

Your Accommodation in Co Wexford

Steeped in history at every turn, your accommodation near Rosslare is a 17th-century castle beside a 15th-century Norman tower house, all set within beautifully kept gardens you’re free to explore. The place may look grand from the outside, but inside it’s relaxed and welcoming—the family hosts greet guests in the great hall with a warm Irish welcome and a crackling fire.

Up the sweeping staircase, each of the eight bedrooms has its own look and personality, blending classic and modern. After dinner nearby,, wind down in the drawing room with a drink from the well-stocked honesty bar and maybe chat with other guests as the evening winds down.

We’ll provide all the information you need to get you home with the minimum of fuss.