Ireland by Train

Your first base is the Georgian city of Dublin

Your Accommodation in Dublin

A true home away from home, this elegant Victorian guest house in the beautiful leafy suburb of Ballsbridge is undoubtedly one of the city’s finest bed and breakfasts, its peaceful location just a 15-minute walk away from the city centre.

Time to explore with a guided walking tour of the city including helping you get your bearings and learn some of the histories from a local expert.  Once home to literary greats such as James Joyce, George Bernard Shaw and Oscar Wilde, the city boasts an abundance of Georgian architecture as well as cosy bars and lots of great restaurants.  Enjoy them all by walking in the area around Merrion Square and St Stephens Green; wander into Trinity College where the famous Book of Kells is on display; head to the Guinness Storehouse to sample this most famous of drinks in its historic homeland or pay a visit to one or both of the city cathedrals.  Cross the Liffey on the Ha’penny bridge and visit the GPO -site of the famous 1916 Easter Rising – and take in the Dublin Writers Museum or catch an Irish play at the Abbey Theatre.

Today catch a morning train to the contrasting city of Galway – also known as Ireland’s westernmost city.

Your Accommodation in Galway

Your base is a family-owned, grand Georgian townhouse, featuring a charming tearoom that is open to the public for breakfast, brunch and lunch. Set directly at the dramatic river Corrib salmon weir, many of the house’s five elegantly appointed rooms feature superb views across the water and beyond. Despite the house’s location just a moments’ walk from the city centre, you’ll feel detached from the city bustle in this peaceful pocket of Galway.

Today you’re off to the Aran Island of Inis Mor. The morning ferry departs Galway docks, conveniently placed a short walk from the city centre, the crossing taking 90 minutes.

The three rocky limestone outcrops that make up the Aran Islands are a bastion of traditional language, culture and music, unique in their geology and archaeology and unrivalled in their potent sense of history. Each has its own distinct atmosphere and character, and the dramatic landscapes and endless sea form a backdrop to a labyrinth of meandering stone walls and tiny, tightly packed fields.  In between, a network of narrow winding roads and grassy lanes sweep from pristine beaches and craggy shores to the dizzying cliffs that mark the edge of Europe.  The islands have lured legions of writers, artists and visitors over the centuries, their enigmatic ancient monuments, early Christian remains, holy wells and historic lighthouses adding to their sense of timelessness and mystery.  This serenity makes the islands a precious sanctuary from the rush of modern life and their isolation guarantees their place as a stronghold of traditional culture.

On arrival at Kilronan quay on Inis Mor, you’ll be met by a quite fascinating local guide, a true Gaeltacht man of the island, and whisked off in his specially adapted Land Rover for a tour of Inis Mor as part of a small group. This vehicle reaches the parts others cannot, taking you way off the beaten track to some of the island’s most enthralling locations, while a gentle guided walk to the cliffs and famous Wormhole is an added part of the experience.

Return to Kilronan via Kilmurvey Craft Village, where a sample of island-made ice cream is a must, and where you’ll have the chance to pick up a souvenir or two.

Back at Kilronan, you’ll have time for a late and a browse – you won’t believe the array of knitwear on offer – before boarding the return ferry to Galway.

The ferry-crossing back to Galway detours via the fabulous Cliffs of Moher, some of Europe’s highest, setting you back at Galway in the late afternoon

This morning, head for the harbour and board a slick motorboat for a one-hour tour in the bay, seeing the city from its best perspective in the company of a fisherman from one of the city’s last surviving fishing families.

Time to return to Dublin then connect to the Enterprise train to Belfast, arriving late afternoon in the capital of Northern Ireland.

Your Accommodation in Belfast

Your hotel is a locally owned guesthouse close to the University area and a mere 10-minute walk from the city centre. This AA four-star rated accommodation is within a few minutes’ walk from a host of restaurants and bars to suit all tastes and budgets. As they say in Belfast “the craic is never far away”.

The city is compact and easy to get around on foot or public transport.  Although there has been much new development in the city, there’s still a genuine heritage and a truly warm welcome for visitors.  The Cathedral Quarter is the historic cultural heartland of the city, whereas the Titanic Quarter of east Belfast – where the legendary liner was built – is full of reminders of a proud maritime and industrial past.  Here the brand new, state of the art, Titanic Visitor Experience is a must-visit destination and a suitable memorial to the tragedy of 100 years ago.

Other must-see destinations range from the grand Victorian City Hall to Stormont, the home of government; from the Ulster Museum – where the Girona exhibition of Spanish Armada Gold is unmissable – to historic pubs such as the Crown Liquor saloon – a rather unique National Trust property.  This morning we will arrange a private Black taxi tour where you can learn about the city’s recent turbulent history and its remarkable resurgence and optimism.

Time to return home – from Belfast or onwards to Dublin.