Details
Day One – Captivating Co. Cork
Your tour begins in the harbourside town of Kinsale in Co Cork. Famed for the quality of its seafood, served in any number of superb restaurants with frontages painted in vivacious colours, Kinsale is one of the prettiest towns in Ireland and home to a number of fine historical attractions, all within easy walking distance of your hotel. And, as you’ll find across Ireland, the quality of the welcome and friendliness of the people are simply world-class.
Your hotel in Kinsale
This recently refurbished privately owned hotel has an enviable waterside location, just on the edge of Kinsale and close to the marina. The brightly decorated rooms have great view of the water, and the wharf bar converted from an historic warehouse is a popular destination for visitors and locals alike.
Day Two – The taste of Kinsale
Following a fine Irish breakfast in your hotel’s water-side restaurant, later in the morning you’ll be met by your locally based private guide and taken on a half-day walking tour around some of Kinsale’s best foodie hot-spots. You’ll experience just-caught seafood and superb produce from Ireland’s best artisan craftspeople, while meeting many of the town’s food-folk and learning a little of the fascinating history of this most charming part of the country. Weather permitting there will also be an opportunity for a picnic by the sea.
Day Three – Cork to Kerry
After breakfast, you’re off on a fabulous day’s touring the Wild Atlantic Way as far as the famous Ring of Kerry.
Your hotel in Cahersiveen
Your hotel is a delightful townhouse ‘restaurant with rooms’ in the middle of Cahersiveen and a refreshing change from the norm. Set above a destination seafood restaurant, the owners have extended their offer to include nine spacious, modern and extremely comfortable rooms furnished with iPod docks, flat screen TVs and Nespresso machines. Some even have their own in-room roll-top bath. The appealing continental breakfast which is delivered directly to your bedroom door provides a great excuse to enjoy a morning feast in your super-king size bed. There’s also a large, contemporary-style lounge complete with big sofas and a log-burning stove – perfect for relaxing after a day out exploring the Ring of Kerry. Downstairs an award-winning restaurant is – literally – on your doorstep.
Day Four – A fascinating Atlantic Ocean seaweed trail
At Caherdaniel, just a 30km drive from your hotel, you’ll be met by the infectious host of your Atlantic seaweed walk. On this ‘Deluxe Seaweed Tasting Stroll’, you’ll graze on seaweed as you go, discovering the health-giving properties and sheer deliciousness of Duileasc, sea-lettuce and Carrageen moss, learning how to get the best from this most natural product, all amidst the breath-taking scenery of the Kerry coastline. A real foodies’ treat!
Day Five – Get ready to mingle with Dingle!
Another great drive coming up today, along the Ring of Kerry and on to the spectacular Dingle peninsula to the town of Dingle itself. The term ‘picturesque’ could have been coined with Dingle in mind, enclosed by its fishing port and with its meandering streets featuring shopfronts and pubs painted in retina-troublingly bright colours. The town is a magnet for artists, musicians and tourists from across the globe, and has often seen itself on-screen as a backdrop to epic Hollywood movies and TV dramas.
Your hotel in Dingle
Your accommodation in Dingle is a family owned guest house in a prominent location near the centre of town. Spacious rooms, a patio with sea views and beautifully presented garden combine to make a wonderful place to stay.
The house is situated just a stone’s throw from all of Dingle’s many attractions, and the family and staff are only too happy to give any information you might need, to help you get the most from your visit to this colourful and fascinating corner of Ireland.
Day Six – Out and about in Dingle
You could easily spend the day simply wandering the streets of Dingle, browsing the many individual shops and galleries, stopping for a pint at any one of the unique Irish pubs – some of which double as, variously, a hardware store, a leather goods workshop or a general greengrocer’s – enjoying freshly caught seafood, superb ice cream and, of course, the craic.
But there’s a number of fascinating attractions nearby, not least of which is Dingle Distillery, one of Ireland’s newest, where the first bottled drop of malt whiskey was released in November 2016. We also love the Slea Head Drive, a superb loop starting and ending in Dingle and part of the Wild Atlantic Way. We’ll provide a host of recommendations to make sure you get the most from your day whatever you choose to do.
Day Seven – Set fair for Co. Clare
You’re in for another rewarding day on the road, the long way along the Wild Atlantic Way to Co Clare. On this fabulous and fascinating section of Ireland’s West coast, you’ll see some of the country’s prettiest coastal villages and most inspiring scenery. As ever, we’ll supply our best recommendations for favourite spots along the way.
Crossing from Kerry to Clare by short ferry trip, you’ll have the opportunity to drive the Loop Head Peninusla, perhaps stopping at an oceanside inn for catch-of-the-day lunch and ‘the last pint of Guinness before New York’, before heading north along the coast to your next hotel.
Your hotel in Co. Clare
Your hotel is a superb family-owned residence, set within its own mature grounds in the heart of the magical landscape of The Burren. This 18th century property is more country house than castle and has fine views across to Galway Bay. Open fires, striking decoration and antique furniture feature throughout, and the award-winning fine-dining restaurant expertly combines cutting-edge cuisine with the traditions of local artisan producers.
Day Eight – Discover the unique landscape of the Burren
The long-misunderstood, mysterious and magical landscape of the Burren is a must-see for visitors to this part of Ireland. It’s a vast, rocky, limestone pavement, peppered with petrified springs, seemingly barren and like nowhere else on Earth. But look just a little closer and you’ll discover life at every turn; wild flowers cling to rocky outcrops and cattle seem to graze on rock.
Today you will enjoy the company of a local guide who will help reveal the secrets of the area.
In recent years, the Burren has become something of a foodies’ Mecca, with quite superb restaurants cropping up in the towns and villages at its periphery, as well as a staggering range of artisan farmers and cottage-industry manufacturers creating some quite superb produce, much of which can be sampled directly at source.
As always, our comprehensive selection of recommendations will guide you along, helping you get the most from your time.
Day Nine – Heading home
Enjoy a leisurely breakfast at your hotel before getting back on the road and heading home.
