The Heart of Ireland Experience

What You'll Do

Discover, relax, enjoy. Experience the real Ireland, the warmest Irish welcome, the picturesque landscapes and over 5000 years of history at the heart of the country. Let yourself relax and feel the breeze, have the craic (fun) with the locals and let the world slow down for a while.

See Ireland from the inside out and spend three nights in a small town with a big heart, plus one night in the heart of the country in a 13th century castle. Visit historic houses, gardens, and ancient Celtic monuments, cruise on the River Shannon, and explore the vibrant medieval city of Galway. Get a real taste of Ireland through its food; sample some local produce, learn how to make traditional soda bread, enjoy a traditional sheep farm visit and scone making.

Experience
Highlights

Visit historic houses, gardens, ancient Celtic monuments, and cruise on the River Shannon

Explore the vibrant medieval city of Galway, sampling local produce

Learn how to make soda bread, visit a sheep farm, and scone making

Experience Itinerary

Dublin pickup

Pick up in Dublin, greeted by your guide for the week. Feel the weight of the world drift off your shoulders as you relax in our luxurious mini-van, while your guide enthrals you with stories (and maybe even a song or two). Explore the abandoned medieval town of Rindoon with a refreshing guided 4.5km walk around the ruins along the Lough Ree shoreline. Discover Europe’s largest unexcavated site, soak up the atmosphere of 5000 years of myths and legends and squeeze through the gateway to the underworld! Spend a while sampling some of the locally made gin, before retiring to your cosy, traditional guesthouse accommodation at the heart of Ireland.

Accommodation: On this tour we use 3-4 star hotels which change depending on the time of year. Please ask which hotels we will use for the time you are booking.

Irish touring

After a relaxing nights’ sleep and a hearty breakfast, discover how to make traditional Irish soda bread in the impressive surroundings of Clonalis House, seat of the O’Connor clan, enjoy a tour of the house from the current owner and enjoy your freshly baked bread over lunch in the grand dining room. After lunch, take some time to explore the picturesque historic town of Boyle, and return to Roscommon for an evening of traditional Irish food and storytelling, and maybe a song or two, with a seannachi (storyteller).

Accommodation: On this tour we use 3-4 star hotels which change depending on the time of year. Please ask which hotels we will use for the time you are booking.

Galway

Take a trip westwards and experience life on a traditional sheep farm, making scones and enjoying them after a morning out in the fields rounding up sheep. Spend the afternoon exploring the lively medieval city of Galway. Settle into a 13^th century castle for a memorable stay.

Accommodation: On this tour we use 3-4 star hotels which change depending on the time of year. Please ask which hotels we will use for the time you are booking.

Athlone

Explore the vibrant town of Athlone, at the geographic centre of Ireland, and spend a while relaxing on a River Shannon cruise. Sample an Irish coffee at Ireland’s oldest pub, and in the afternoon walk along the Pilgrim’s Road (the oldest road in Europe) to the world-famous 6^th century monastic settlement of Clonmacnoise, featuring three legendary high crosses.

Accommodation: On this tour we use 3-4 star hotels which change depending on the time of year. Please ask which hotels we will use for the time you are booking.

Ireland touring and departure

Discover the picture perfect Clonfert Monastery, founded by St Brendan the navigator in the sixth century and see the miraculous statue of Our Lady of Clonfert, which survived an attack by Cromwellian soldiers by hiding in an oak tree for two hundred years! Take a tour around Portumna Workhouse and discover the harsh reality of life in nineteenth century Ireland which led to mass starvation and emigration. Explore the beautiful Birr Castle and Gardens, and the world’s largest telescope built in the 1840s.

Unfortunately, your tour comes to an end towards the late afternoon.

Location Information

You will be picked up from your hotel in Dublin, or any designated central city place of your choice. Please ensure you have passed this information to us no later than one month prior to tour departure.

You will dropped back in Dublin afterwards at a central city destination of your choice.

FAQs

Yes, please reserve this using the drop down at booking stage.

Yes, please just advise us of your preferred dates and we will try make sure it happens.

£1482