Self Drive 8 Day Luxury Castle Tour

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? Stay in Clontarf Castle in the historic town of Clontarf, scene of the famous Battle of Clontarf 1014 A.D.

Day 2: Waterford

Highlights:

Kilkenny City
Smithwick’s Brewery
Kilkenny Castle
House of Waterford Crystal
Waterford Treasures Medieval Museum

From Dublin, you will travel to the South-East of Ireland taking in the lively city of Kilkenny on your way to Ireland’s oldest city, Waterford. Founded by Viking raiders in the 9th Century, Waterford came to prominence as a port city. During its tumultuous history, Waterford has seen off sieges, invasions and famine. It is the home of the world-famous Waterford Crystal. During your trip why not visit the House of Waterford Crystal, take in the Viking Triangle and take a tour of the Waterford Treasures Medieval Museum during your visit. Stay in the fantastic Waterford Castle Hotel and Golf Resort. The Fitzgerald family dynasty ruled the Southeast of Ireland and, at times all of Ireland, from this location for over 800 years.

Day 3 : Cork

Highlights:

Ardmore Round Tower
Blarney Castle
Blarney Woollen Mills
Cobh Heritage Centre
Cork City
Old Midleton Whiskey Distillery

Depart Waterford and travel on to Cork. On the way, take a short stop at Ardmore and visit the 10th Century Round Tower. Continue on towards Cork and have a quick break for a whiskey tasting at Midleton Distillery! Travel on to Cobh and visit the last departure point of the Titanic. Just a few miles outside Cork City you will visit Blarney Castle and kiss the famous ‘Stone of Eloquence’ where you will receive the ‘gift of the gab’! We recommend you take a walk around the nearby Blarney Woollen Mills where you can find quality Irish made goods of all types to take back home with you. Head back to Cork City and stay the night in the luxurious Hayfield Manor.

Day 4 & 5: Kerry

Highlights:

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

Leave Cork and travel on to Kerry where you will experience one of Ireland’s most stunning scenic drives –  the 100 miles long Ring of Kerry. You will inhale the breath-taking 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. Stay in the splendid Ballyseede Castle, steeped in history and splendour.

Day 6: Clare

Highlights:

Bunratty Castle & Folk Park
Cliffs of Moher
The Poulnabrone Dolmen
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. Stay at the majestic Dromoland Castle which was the ancestral home of a branch of the O’Brien clan for over 900 years.

Day 7: Dublin

Highlights:

The Burren
Newgrange World Heritage Site
Temple Bar

You will travel from Clare back to Dublin for your last day taking in the Burren National Park, a unique karst landscape, along the way. From there you will travel along the midlands of Ireland to the ancient County of Meath where you will visit the world-famous UNESCO World Heritage Site at Newgrange, a monument older than the pyramids of Egypt. Stay in Clontarf Castle for your final night.

Day 8:

Depart from Dublin Airport

See also our Private Escorted 8 Day Luxury Castle Tour

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