• Visits to:Glendalough;
Kinsale;
Mizen Head;
Beara Peninsula; Ladies View;
Adare;
Killaloe;
Cavan County Museum
PRICE EXCLUDES
• Single room supplement £70
• Obligatory holiday insurance
This tour is based in Baltimore, one of Ireland’s most southerly fishing villages. From there we explore rugged Mizen Head and the Beara Peninsula.
Our outward route takes us through Wicklow to our overnight stop in Wexford, before heading towards West Cork, stopping off in beautiful Kinsale on the way. Our return journey includes the Lady’s View section of the Ring of Kerry and stops in Adare, one of the country’s most picturesque villages, and Killaloe, on the shore of Lough Derg. We have an overnight stay in Birr, Co. Offaly.
Day 1 Sunday
We leave Belfast this morning and travel south, by-passing Dundalk, Drogheda and Dublin, to Wicklow, the ‘Garden County’. We break our journey at tranquil Glendalough before continuing to the south-east corner and our overnight hotel in historic Wexford.
Hotel: Talbot Hotel, Wexford HHHH (1 night)
After breakfast we have a little time to explore Wexford before commencing our trip along the south coast. We pass through Youghal and around Cork City to the beautiful fishing port and gourmet centre of Kinsale, where we stop for a couple of hours around lunch-time. In the afternoon we again follow the coast to Baltimore and our main hotel.
Enjoy a free morning to relax over breakfast and explore the village. In the afternoon we travel round the bay through Skibbereen and Ballydehob to Mizen Head (Ireland’s most south-westerly point). The Fastnet Rock Visitors Centre can be visited but there is a steep walk (99 steps) and the arched bridge to negotiate before you get there. We leave it to the more energetic.
Day 4 - Wednesday
A trip to the Beara Peninsula today - much more rugged and less visited than the neighbouring Ring of Kerry.
Day 5 Thusday
We leave Baltimore this morning and travel into Co. Kerry, taking the scenic route through Kenmare and along the final and arguably most spectacular section of the Ring of Kerry, stopping at “Ladies View”. We break the journey around mid-day in charming Adare and again, in the afternoon, at Killaloe. Finally today we follow the eastern edge of Lough Derg towards Portumna before turning towards Birr and our final hotel.
The final day of our tour still holds a few surprises, as we avoid the new direct motorway routes and take roads less travelled, through the Midlands. We call briefly at Virginia, visit the Cavan County Museum, in Percy French’s Ballyjamesduff, around mid-day and continue through Cootehill before arriving back in Belfast around 5.00pm.
