12-day Itinerary “Northern Ireland Experience”
(Note — This itinerary can be started from either Shannon or Dublin)
Travel Overnight flight from the USA to Ireland
Day 1 Fly into Dublin, then drive into Ireland's ancient past in the Boyne Valley Drive north into the Boyne Valley, and visit Bru Na Boyne (Newgrange, Knowth and Dowth), plus Old Mellifont Abbey, Monasterboice High Crosses and the Hill of Slane; Stay at Daly’s of Donore Guesthouse
Day 2 Driving north, a day of Nothern Ireland's points of interest and beautiful Sperrin Mountains Driving north, visit the Proleek Dolman near Carlingford, then up into Northern Ireland to Armagh Town and Navan Fort (Emain Macha) and on to a protracted stop at Beaghmore stone circles west of Cookstown in County Tyrone; then up through the Sperrin Mountains to Feney; Stay at Drumcovitt House
Day 3 North and east to ocean shores and Giant's Causeway, then west to historic homesteads of the O'Neils and McElwees North and east to the Antrim coast, to visit Dunluce Castle and a nice long stay at Giant’s Causeway (a world heritage site), then west out of NI to Grainin of Ailiach Ring Fort, high on the heights overlooking the Inishowen Penninsula; through Letterkenney and north to the Fanad Penninsula, for a two-night stay at Ardoe Cottage, ancestral thatched home of the McElwee family.
Day 4 A Day in Donegal County showcasing the pace and culture of rural Ireland Fanad Peninsula tour, including Doe castle, Doon Rock and Fanad Head and the cutest little tea/scone house in Donegal, then on to magnificent Glenveagh National Park for an afternoon of gardens, castle and nature tours; Return to Ardoe Cottage for the evening.
Day 5 More of Donegal's beautiful coastline, with mountain passes and Europe's tallest cliffs, along with local craftsmanship and quaint villages A drive along the Donegal/Atlantic coastline brings us through The Rosses (and the pub where Enya and Clannad got their start), Bloody Foreland, the tweed manufacturing village of Ardara, across Glengesch Pass to Glencollumbcille and its charming folk village; then on to Slieve League, the tallest cliffs in Europe, the fishing village of Killebegs and nice afternoon in Donegal Town (highlighted by a visit to ‘The Diamond’, the heart of the city, and to Donegal Castle); Stay in Donegal Town at The Water’s Edge, on the shores of Donegal Bay
Day 6 South and west, see the region that inspired poet W.B. Yeats South toward Sligo, and first stop is at Drumcliff Churchyard where Irish poet WB Yeats is buried, below Ben Bulben’s Head (a wonderful flat-top butte behind the churchyard); then west into County mayo and north at Ballina to Moyne Abbey and the court tombs above the bay at Green Heights; then west to Doohooma and the plains/beaches of Mayo; Stay at Doohooma Guest House
Day 7 Visit Achill Island and see the pilgrimage site, Croagh Patrick Driving south, we’ll visit Achill Island and its Atlantic Drive, Village of Lost Souls and golden beaches; then south through Westport, past Croagh Patrick Holy Mountain; Stay at Lakeside B&B in Oughterardt
Day 8 Beautiful scenery from the12 Bens Mountains to a spectacular view of the Alantic Ocean along Sky Drive Augnanure Castle, to start the day, then out through the 12 Bens Mountains to Connemara, drive out onto Sky Drive (400 ft above the Atlantic Ocean), to Kylemore Abbey and its Gothic Church, then back through the Bens; Stay a second night at Lakeside Inn
Day 9 A day Irish castles and a medieval banquet to help you forget the 21st Century for a day Drive up and along Joyce Country Drive, then east to the village of Cong and Ashford Castle, and on to Hackett’s Castle (where we’ll jump the fence and meet a ruined castle face to face); then south to Dunguaire Castle on the banks of Galway Bay; go to the medieval banquet at Dunguaire that evening; Stay at Burrenview B&B in Kinvara
Day 10 Stones of Irelands physical formation in The Burren and Cliffs of Moher and stones of its cultural formation at Polnabron and Clonmacnoise The Burren, Polnabron Dolman, Cliffs of Moher, then east to the central plains and the ecclesiastical site at Clonmacnoise, founded in 565 AD, near Athlone; Stay at Ely House B&B
Day 11 Visit the bogs that kept Ireland warm before visiting an amazing 5000 year old structure We start with the bog railroad near Athlone; then east past Trim Castle to the Boyne Valley and its inspirational highlight, Newgrange Passage Tomb, dating from 5,000 years ago (older than the pyramids and Stonehenge); Stay two nights at South Lodge B&B in Portmarnock
Day 12 A full day in vibrant and historic Dublin filled with shopping and great Irish flavor Have breakfast, then take the DART electric train into Dublin city and spend a full day within the history and sites of Ireland’s capital city (Hop on Hop off tour, Book of Kells, National Museum and Library, Grafton and Nassau streets shopping, Christ Church and St Patrick’s Cathedrals, Guiness Brewery, Jameson Distillery and dinner at Gallagher’s traditional Irish restaurant; Return to the B&B by train.
Travel breakfast, then off to the airport for flights back to the United StatesBreakfast at B&B, then off to the airport and fly out of Shannon Airport; back into to Newark.
Itinerary Highlights
See the sites in the photo gallery. The pictures were all taken by Jeff on previous tours, so you'll get a glimpse of just how beautiful your tour will be.