Driftwood – Backroads and Byways 5 Day Tour
Five Day Driftwood Backroads and Byways Tour of Ireland, A tour which provides an excellent introduction to Ireland, the five day Driftwood is a truly welcoming, informative, fun, relaxing Irish tour experience. Like the seven day trips, its relaxed and flexible itinerary covers some of Ireland best scenery and historical sites; there are visits to some of Ireland’s greatest stately homes and gardens; Free times to wander and explore the local communities we visit;, excellent accommodation, food, Irish pubs and much, much more.
The tour takes you to some of Ireland best know tourist destinations like the Blarney Stone, the Rock of Cashel and the Ring of Kerry but because our groups and vehicles are smaller, we will also take you off the beaten track and show you our favourite hidden corners of Ireland.
This trip concentrates on the south west of Ireland, which for many people typifies the Irish ideal of a friendly welcome, fantastic scenery, loads of history and culture, top quality pubs, food and music and picturesque small local communities.
The focus of the trip are the Beara, Iveragh (Ring of Kerry) and Dingle peninsula’s which offer a huge variety of scenery, historical sites and shopping options. We can take you right away from the crowded tourist hotspots and show you some of Ireland’s very best locations.
There is no doubt that anyone who takes this tour will fall in love with Ireland and immediately start making plans to come back.
Typical Highlights of the Seven Day Tour:
Revel at some of Europe’s very best scenery, including:
o Ireland’s highest mountain range The Macgillycuddy Reeks
o The Green fields and stone walls of Dingle
o Connemara’s mountains, lakes, beaches and rivers
o Ireland’s wild and rugged Atlantic coastline
o The Caher Mountains of the Beara Peninsula
o The green inland scenery of areas such as the Golden Vale in Tipperary
Enjoy some of Ireland’s most popular and worthwhile tourist destinations:
o Blarney Castle to kiss the magical Blarney Stone
o Killarney National Park
o The Rock of Cashel
o The Dingle Peninsula
Visit some of Ireland’s great houses and Gardens
o Muckross House and Gardens, Kerry
o Bantry House and Gardens, Cork
o Garinish island Gardens, Cork
Wonder at some of Ireland’s historical treasures and experience the rich historical past of the region, from Stone Age man to the modern age.
o Visit The Rock of Cashel
o Ancient Neolithic Stone circles, Celtic ring forts, castles, monastic sites and built tombs
Explore three of Ireland’s most diverse south western Peninsulas:
o The majestic Iveragh peninsula (better known as the Ring of Kerry)
o The rugged Beara Peninsula (also known as the ‘undiscovered peninsula’)
o The rolling hills of the Dingle Peninsula
Take some free time to explore local communities and meet the Irish people in locations such as:
o The galleries and pubs (about 54 in total!) in Dingle town (pop. about 2500)
o The shops and boutiques of picturesque Kenmare
Some fun little side trips:
o Visit a working sheep farm for a demonstration of working dogs and also sheep shearing
o Take a boat trip to try Spot Dingle’s most Friendly occupant – Funghi the Dolphin in Dingle Bay
And at night:
o Live music and excellent food in some of Ireland’s best pubs and restaurants.
o Overnight in quality, locally owned guesthouse and small hotel accommodation in small, friendly local communities.
5 Day Trip Sample Itinerary
Please note that this itinerary is a framework for the tour. The overnights are pretty much set in stone and then we base each tour on the items in the list below. Your guide will discuss the options with you throughout the tour and make a plan from there. This gives us flexibility to adapt each tour to suit you and fit in with the weather conditions. This of course means that some things may not be included in your tour, but if there is something that you particularly want to do or see on your tour, mention it to your guide and they will make sure it is included. Please also note that this tour runs in both directions.
Day One
• Depart Dublin – 8.30am From Dublin Tourism Centre,
Suffolk Street, Dublin 2
• Pass through Curragh Racecourse – Braveheart film set
• The Magnificent Rock of Cashel
Optional visit to the quirky Mitchelstown Caves
• Pass through Cork, Ireland’s 2nd city
• Kiss the World Famous Blarney Stone
• Follow Lee Valley to source of River Lee
• Overnight in the stunning Gougane Barra Hotel
Day Two
• Walk in Gougane Barra Forest Park
• Meet Atlantic Coastline at Bantry Bay
• Detour down to visit the magnificent Bantry House
• Seal Spotting in Glengarriff or maybe a boat trip to Garinish Island and its Italian formal gardens
• Head out onto Beara Peninsula, the undiscovered Peninsula
• Great views of the Caher Mountains and Sheepshead Peninsula
• Lunch at McCarthy’s Bar in Castletownbere
• Drive up and over the Healy Pass, one of the most scenic drives in Ireland.
• Explore Beara’s stunning coastline, views across to Iveragh Peninsula
• Overnight in Coachman Inn, Kenmare
Day Three
• Depart Kenmare after free morning exploring in the town
• Join Ring of Kerry scenic route on the Iveragh Peninsula at Molls Gap (possible shop stop at the Avoca Hand weavers shop)
• Adopt a Sheep – visit a family run sheep farm and witnesses first hand sheep shearing & herding
• Photo stop and stroll to Torc Waterfall
• Visit the Killarney National Park, Muckross House and Garden
• Optional Jaunting Car (traditional Irish horse and carriage) ride through the national Park
• Overnight in Dingle Town – a town of 2000 people and 54 pubs
Day Four
• Free time in Dingle town
• Walk to waterfalls above Lough Annascaul
• Lunch in Tom Crean’s South Pole Inn
• Head out along the Slea Head Drive
• Stop at Europe’s most westerly point
• Coumeenoule Beach (Film set of Ryan’s Daughter)
• Dunchaoin Harbour – real old Ireland
• Smerwick Head – views of Mount Brandon
• Overnight in Dingle town
Day Five
• Optional Boat trip to see Fungi the Dolphin or free morning in Dingle town
• Take Conor Pass, Ireland’s highest road
• Possible lunch stop in Tralee, home of the Rose of Tralee beauty pageant.
• Join train in Tralee for journey back to Dublin.
• Arrive Dublin, 5.30-6pm. For tearful farewell hugs and a few pints
(please note that on certain departures the journey between Dublin and Tralee, which is not particularly interesting, has been replaced with a train journey which is quicker and more comfortable. This is included in the price and organised for you and allows the groups to spend more time in the really scenic parts of Ireland. If you would like further details please do not hesitate to contact Vagabond).
Prices:
870 per person (based on two sharing)
Single supplement – E100
