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BritishIrish Touring Pricing & Information |
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Ireland - A Hundred Thousand Welcomes
Truly a back-roads experience, combining the best-known icons of the south
and west coast with the lesser-known but fascinating midlands, and complemented
by a taste of Ulster. There couldn't be a better way of seeing this made-for-tourism
destination. You'll get fabulous scenery from the Cliffs of Moher to the
Giant's Causeway. You'll see history spanning the Stone Age and the contemporary.
You'll experience the riches of the Celtic past and present. You'll tour
gardens, country houses, museums and folk parks. There'll be music, story
telling and naturally a glass or two of Guinness! But perhaps, most important
of all, you'll enjoy what the Irish refer to a 'the craic' - that very special
and unique welcome and ambience that the Emerald Isle is justly famed for.
And, of course, travelling with Back-Roads Touring Co. there will be flexibility
and a leisurely pace to help you meeting the people and get behind the tourist
fa çade.
Itinerary:
Day 1 (Sunday) Omagh – Derry
Our touring programme today takes us first to the site of the Battle of the Boyne. This marks one of the defining events in Ireland's history. Next, to the Hills of Tara, the foremost spiritual and political centre of Ireland for 1000 years. Thence, to the amazing prehistoric site at Newgrange (entry to the tomb itself conditional on availability). Here we step back into the mists of time, to the time almost at the very start of history. These New Stone Age Passage Graves are regarded as among the most impressive prehistoric monuments in Europe.
Stay in: Omagh/Derry
Day 2 (Monday) Ulster
An early start today, with our touring programme taking us alongside Lough Neagh to Belfast to tour this tremendous Victorian city, currently enjoying a cultural and economic resurgence thanks to the end of the 'Troubles'. Our Belfast discovery will take you into both sides of this divided, sectarian city.
The trip up the Falls Road and down the Shankill, seeing the famed political wall murals (which are fast disappearing as the communities learn to live side-by-side), is just one of the memorable and unique experiences we'll have. Next, we’ll enjoy the first of many breathtaking scenic drives on this tour, taking us beside the Mountains of Mourne.If time permits, our final visit of the day will be Armagh, the seat of the High Kings of Ulster and where Saint Patrick built his first stone church. Stay in: Omagh/Derry Day 3 (Tuesday) Ulster
First, to Derry and a fascinating walk of the 'walls' hearing the story of how the shutting of this walled town's gates to a King of England led to over 300 years of 'Troubles'. In the afternoon we see the Northern Ireland coastline and iconic sites such as Bushmills, the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge and, our major highlight, the famed Giant's Causeway. The sheer strangeness of this place, and the bizarre regularity of its 37,000 basalt columns, has made it the subject of numerous legends. Finally, we’ll tour back to base through the Sperrin Mountains. Another perfect day! Stay in: Omagh/Derry
Day 4 (Wednesday) Sligo
Our first visit will be to the Ulster-American Folk Park. The Folk Park, probably the best of its kind in the world, examines why two million people left Ulster for America and Australia in the 18th and 19th centuries. It has more than 30 historic buildings, including a reconstructed emigrant ship and Pennsylvania farmstead brought alive by costumed guides.
We next tour west to the Sligo area. Here we’ll find pretty coastal harbours such as Mullaghmore before continuing to W B Yeats country. For those who are already familiar with the great 20th century poet, a visit to sites associated with him will be a real highlight, and will be an ideal introduction for those as yet unfamiliar with his work and times. Stay in: Sligo Day 5 (Thursday) Sligo/Mayo
The wild, western side of Ireland is one of the major motivations for visiting the country and there are few better areas to experience it than here in County Mayo, a relatively unspoilt region seemingly God-designed for back-roads touring in mini-vans! You spend a very special day exploring the wilds of both inland Mayo and the Atlantic coast. The pretty harbour town of Westport, the truly wonderful Island of Achill, breathtaking coastal scenery, a 16th century Irish tower house that was used by the legendary pirate queen Grace O'Malley, and the deserted Village at Slievemore will be sites that we’ll try to include depending on time, weather and group interests. Stay in: Sligo
Day 6 (Friday) Galway
Our day once again sees us taking the back-roads, this time through Ireland's midlands firstly to Strokestown. Though noted for its wide streets, it is probably best-known for Strokestown Park House, the home of the Famine Museum. It commemorates the Great Famine of the 1840s when approximately one fifth of the population of Ireland either died or emigrated when blight devastated the potato crop.
Next, Shannonbridge and a pint-sized train ride across the bogs for a fascinating insight into the history and development of the bogs and peat gathering. It’s a paradise for wetland birds and distinctive flora. Then, Clonmacnoise, to explore a 6th century monastery burial place of the Kings of Tara and Connaught with reputedly a direct chariot route to Tara! Our last major stop will be at Birr. Set in Ely O'Carrol country (ancestral home of any who bear the O'Carrol name), the town of Birr is not one normally found on tour itineraries which tend to neglect this region, yet it is one of Ireland's gems. With approaching 2000 years of inhabitation, an authentic Georgian street layout, the 'Steffin Stone', supposedly marking the centre of Ireland and Birr Castle with its magnificently landscaped gardens and the famed Birr telescope, we cannot understand why it isn’t swamped with tour coaches. Stay in: Galway Day 7 (Saturday) Galway
Time to slow down and to enjoy the freedom of Galway city on a day of ‘organised independence’. Your guide will have briefed you thoroughly about how to make the most of this small jewel in Ireland’s crown. It is a ‘walking city’ and you’ll enjoy exploring the shopping alleyways, cathedral, literary sites and pubs at your own pace.
Those who might like to, can take an excursion by boat to the unchanged Arran Islands (not included in your tour price if you are only taking the Ulster and Donegal short section) and then explore Galway itself tonight. Dinner is not included this evening to allow for freedom of choice, perhaps a theatre visit or just a relaxed evening in one of the city’s many pubs that offer traditional music. Stay in: Galway Day 8 (Sunday) Killarney
We have a wonderful day planned today with a typical mix of 'must-see' icons and sights, and a range of additional attractions that are not always visited by the tourist masses. Following the coast road, we'll visit some Galway Bay harbours such as Kinvarra. As ever, we'll be taking you behind the tourist façade but we'll begin our day with a visit to the world-famed Cliffs of Moher. En route, you'll probably see some turf-cutters and perhaps a stop at the commemorative Great Famine site will prove interesting. Then we tour through the lunar-landscape of the Burren with stops at points of interest and some incredible prehistoric burial sites. Stay in: Killarney/Tralee
Day 9 (Monday) Killarney
This part of Ireland is a magnet for tourists, attracted by the incredibly scenic Dingle Peninsular and the Ring of Kerry. Though ‘must sees’, despite the occasionally coach-crowded roads, we’ll be following the back-roads and will spend more time at the less crowded Dingle. If it suits group interest, we may be able to explore northern parts of the Ring and MacGillycuddy's Reeks. If we don't have time today then we'll see parts of the Ring tomorrow.
We’ll also leave some time for Killarney itself where, with some free-time for independent sightseeing, tour participants can decide on whether they want to take a jaunty car experience, see Muckross House, or simply shop. Stay in: Killarney/Tralee Day 10 (Tuesday) Cork – Blarney
Just when you thought that the scenery you've seen already could not be bettered, we have a good attempt at doing so! We take the hair-raising mountain road from Killarney to Kenmare and onward to the very pretty harbour of Bantry Bay. Here you'll have time to have a delicious seafood lunch or find some interesting local shops! Our drive next will take us over the Healy Pass, one of the most spectacular drives in Ireland. Finally, no Irish tour could be complete without at least a cursory visit to Blarney Castle. Yes, of course every coach tour goes there, but let’s join the herd for once! At least we’ll be there after the main tour parties have left and we’ll have the place much to ourselves. Stay in: Cork/Blarney
Day 11 (Wednesday) Cork – Blarney
A brief tour of Cork begins our day. Next, to nearby Cobh, a naval base during the Napoleonic wars when much of the present day buildings were built. It was one of the major departure points for 2.5 million of the six million Irish people who emigrated to North America between 1848 and 1950, and also for the men, women and children who were deported to penal colonies such as Australia. On 11 April 1912 Queenstown (as it was then known) was the final port of call for the RMS Titanic as she set out across the Atlantic on her ill-fated maiden voyage. Also locally we have the fine harbour of Kinsale, considered by many to be Ireland's prettiest. There are certainly many historic sites, and it was just of the coast here that the Lusitania was sunk. The local museum has a great display relating to this terrible Great War event and on a lighter note, the famed Kinsale giant's boots! Stay in: Cork/Blarney
Day 12 (Thursday) Dublin
Departing Cork we have a full and memorable final day seeing a selection of Ireland's major icons (how many we manage will depend on time, weather and group interests as ever on a Back-Roads Touring Co. tour). First, we'll run through Waterford, where those who feel they want to can have a quick look at the crystal outlet.
Next, a choice; either to Cashel and the medieval town of Kilkenny or to Glendalough. The former is one of the oldest and most interesting towns of Ireland with the magnificent Cathedral of St. Candice one of the finest unruined churches in the country. At the alternative Vale of Glendalough (glen of the two lakes) we'll find the remains of a Celtic village, the 6th Century church of St Kevin, the 9th Century cathedral ruin and the amazing 33 metre high Round Tower. We’ll reach Dublin at approximately 18.00 and tour participants will be dropped at our central Dublin base.
Tour Include:
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