Self Drive 5 Day Wee Sample of Ireland

Day 1: Dublin

Highlights:

Trinity College Dublin
The Book of Kells
Temple Bar
Guinness Storehouse
Old Jameson Distillery
National Museum
Christchurch Cathedral
Kilmainham Jail

You will travel through Dublin city to see historic buildings such as Trinity College, where the Book of Kells is housed; rows of Georgian houses and the new buildings around the Financial Centre beside the River Liffey. Hit the Guinness Storehouse for a pint of the black stuff and pull your own pint! Why not take a tour of Dublin Castle, which was the seat of power and government for many centuries and today plays a leading role in European Union activities.

Day 2: Cork

Highlights:

Blarney Castle
Blarney Woolen Mills
Cobh Heritage Centre
Cork City
Kinsale fishing town
Old Midleton Whiskey Distillery

Depart Dublin and travel through the midlands of Ireland, which has some of the best farmland in Ireland. You will be itching to stop for photos at the majestic ruins on the Rock of Cashel, rising high above the surrounding countryside where you will fall in love. You will continue your drive south and, just a few miles outside Cork city, you will want to visit Blarney Castle to kiss the famous “Stone of Eloquence.” We recommend you stop at the Blarney Woollen Mills where you can find quality Irish made goods of all types to take back home with you.

Day 3: Kerry

Highlights:

The Ring of Kerry
Staigue Fort
Killarney National Park
Muckross House & Gardens
Killarney’s Traditional Music Pubs
Dingle
Tom Creans pub

Today you will experience one of Ireland’s most stunning scenic drives  –  the 100 miles long Ring of Kerry. You will inhale the breathtaking sights of the Macgillycuddy’s Reeks as well as coastal views of beaches and cliffs. Learn about the off-shore islands where early Christian monks lived in austere conditions and how they were used as one of the locations for “Star Wars VII” movie. Stop for a stroll around Sneem, with its brightly-painted houses and again at Moll’s Gap for panoramic views of Ireland’s highest mountains and deepest valleys. You will stop and get a flavour of farm life with a sheepdog demonstration of herding flocks, a shearing demonstration and see different breeds of Irish sheep with the Irish farmers at their farm house.

Day 4: Clare

Highlights:

Bunratty Castle & Folk Park
Cliffs of Moher
The Poulnabrone Dolmen
The Burren
Doolin Village
The Burren Smokehouse

You will continue your journey to Clare, and drive north to Tarbert for a 20-minute ferry ride across the wide River Shannon Estuary, the longest river in Ireland or the UK. You will want to continue along the Clare coast to the Cliffs of Moher, a spectacular wall of sandstone that reaches to almost 700 feet above the Atlantic Ocean. Head onto the marketing town of Ennis and then hit Bunratty, visit the Bunratty castle and folk park and maybe stop at Durty Nelly’s to grab some great traditional Irish food.

Day 5: Depart from Shannon

(this tour can be adjusted if you are departing from Dublin)

Your vacation will end after breakfast today.

See also our Private Escorted 5 Day Wee Sample of Ireland