The tour is a fantastic introduction to Ireland, it covers an area that typifies Irelands best scenery, warmest welcomes, cosy pubs, and fascinating history. There is so much to see and do, some great activities, lots of time off the vehicles, free time to meet the locals and explores the colourful, vibrant communities that we visit along the way.

The tour concentrates on the South West of Ireland, mainly Counties Cork and Kerry and the three diversely beautiful peninsula’s of Beara, Iveragh (better known as ‘The Ring of Kerry’) and Dingle. The tour now spends two nights in the buzzing little fishing town of Dingle to give you more time to partake in activities, get to know the area and the locals, to explore the shops, pubs, galleries and restaurants that abound there – or simply to chill out and catch your breath.

As usual the trip is Vagabond’s unique mixture of outdoor activity, great scenery, relaxing pubs and loads of laughs. If you don’t have a fantastic time, we’ll eat the spare tyre!

Typical Highlights of the Six  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 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

Enjoy some fantastic activity options

o Walking and hiking through some of Ireland’s best scenery
o Horse-riding on the Dingle Peninsula
o Sea-kayaking with the seals in West Cork
o Try your hand at surfing an Atlantic Wave
o Learn the ancient art of “Vagaball’!

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 Optional trip to the Skellig islands, one of Ireland UNESCO World Heritage sites
o Ancient Neolithic Stone circles, Celtic ring forts, castles, monastic sites and built tombs

Explore three of Ireland’s most diverse south western Peninsulas and the West coast:

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.

6 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. You 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

We’re off! Today we head south west, all the way from Dublin to the wilds of West Cork. This is a full day and along the way we have some fantastic highlights like the Rock of Cashel and the Blarney Stones set high up in the walls of Blarney castle. After Blarney we really leave the tourist trail behind and journey to the source of the River lee, where we find Gougane Barra,

• Depart Dublin – 8.30am From Dublin Tourism Centre,
Suffolk Street, Dublin 2

• Pass through Curragh Racecourse – Braveheart film set

• The Magnificent Rock of Cashel (E5.50 per person)

• Pass through Cork, Ireland’s 2nd city

• Kiss the World Famous Blarney Stone (E10 per person)

• Follow Lee Valley to source of River Lee

• Walk in the forest park or along the Beara Way in Gougane Barra

• Overnight in the stunning Gougane Barra Hotel  (April to October – The Mills Inn, Ballyvourney from mid October to April)

Day Two

An action packed day as we journey down to the Atlantic coastline before heading out on to the ‘undiscovered’ Beara Peninsula. It is an amazing coastline, wild and rugged and extremely scenic. And while we are there we have to option of some great walks, sea-kayaking, castles and lunch in one of Ireland’s most famous pubs, before heading for Kenmare for some dinner and excellent music

• Meet Atlantic Coastline at Bantry Bay

• Seal Spotting in Glengarriff

• Sea kayaking in Adrigole Bay (E15 per person)

• Head out onto Beara Peninsula, the undiscovered Peninsula

• Great views of the Caher Mountains and Sheepshead Peninsula

• Lunch at McCarthy’s Bar in Castletownbere

• Shortcut via old copper mines and over Mountain pass

• Explore Beara’s stunning coastline, views across to Iveragh Peninsula

• Overnight in Coachmans Inn and Brass Lantern Guesthouse, Kenmare

Day Three

After a relaxing start in Kenmare, one of the most picturesque towns in Ireland, we are off to join the world famous ‘Ring of Kerry’! We only have an hours driving all day, so there is loads of time to spend on walks, on the beach, visiting a working sheep farm or maybe a Celtic ring fort. And we then spend the night right out on the Ring of Kerry in one of out favourite locations, the remote fishing (and once upon a time smuggling!) village of Portmagee.

• Depart Kenmare after free morning in the town

• Walk the ‘Old Kenmare Road’ through the ancient oak forest of the Killarney National Park

• Join Ring of Kerry scenic route on the Iveragh Peninsula

• Adopt a Sheep  – visit a family run sheep farm and witnesses first hand sheep shearing & herding

• Visit Staigue Fort (amazing views)

• Walk amongst Macgillycuddy Reeks Mountains

• Barbeque on Derrynane Beach

• Overnight in the picturesque fishing village of Portmagee

Day Four

It’s the Dingle bay day, as we follow the northern half of the Ring of Kerry around the Iveragh Peninsula and then join up with the Dingle Peninsula. Not forgetting the option of a boat trip to the incredible Skellig Islands, which are truly breahtaking  – though not for the faint hearted!

• Optional visit to mystical Skellig Islands – One of two UNESCO Heritage sites in Ireland

• Quick stop or horse-riding at Rosbeigh Strand (or Ventry Beach, Dingle) – E30 per person

• Head for Dingle Peninsula via Killorglin (Goat Fair) and Castlemaine (Wild Colonial Boy)

• Drive along Inch Strand for fun and games

• Walk to waterfalls above Lough Annascaul

• Lunch in Tom Crean’s South Pole Inn

• Overnight in Dingle Town – a town of 2000 people and 54 pubs

(Please not that if we visit the Skellig Islands today then it affects the activities and itinerary for the next couple of days. The trip takes until about 3pm in the afternoon and we then have to drive around Dingle Bay, so it does mean that activities like horse-riding would normally be done on Day five, along with other activities. Also if only some of the group want to go to the Islands, if you wish the guide will of course look after anyone staying on land and take you around the Portmagee area and across the bridge onto Valencia island)

Day Five

A great day spent enjoying Dingle town and the Peninsula, you can do as much or little as you like on day five as we spend two nights here in the town. At some stage while we are in Dingle we normally take the group out on a tour of the Peninsula, to the most westerly point in Ireland that you can drive to and a selection of the stops we see along the way are below. Plus we can also organise other options for you if you would like something more active, or relaxing.

The Dingle Peninsula Tour out to Slea Head:

• Head out along the Slea Head Drive past Ventry beach

• Stop at Europe’s most westerly point with views over the Balsket Islands

• Walk down to Coumeenoule Beach (Film set of Ryan’s Daughter)

• Dunchaoin Harbour – real old Ireland

• Photo stop at Smerwick Head – views of back up the Dingle Peninsula and of Mount Brandon,

Optional Activities on day five:

• Boat trip to see Fungie the Dolphin or free time in Dingle town (Price: E20 per person)

• Go horse riding on Ventry Strand (Price: E30 per person)

• Rent Bikes and explore the area (Price: TBA)

• Surf an Atlantic Wave on Inch Strand or in Castlegregory (Price: E35 per person)

• Cooking Lessons – We are hoping to add this option for anyone interested in learning how to prepare some traditional Irish recipes (Price: TBA)

• Go for a walk along the Dingle Way from the centre of Dingle town up into the Hills

Chill Out in Dingle

• Wander the picturesque town of Dingle, with its brightly coloured street, numerous shops, excellent galleries, numerous local craftspeople, restaurants and of course pubs

Day Six

On day six we leave Dingle and the mountains of the south west behind and start travelling North. The 7 and 8 day tour carries on and crosses the River Shannon into County Clare, while the 6 day tour boards a train in Tralee (all booked and included in the fare, with seats reserved), but before you go, we still have plenty to do in the morning

• Take Conor Pass, Ireland’s highest road

• Walk and view over Dingle Bay

• Possible lunch stop in Tralee, home of the Rose of Tralee beauty pageant.

• Board train in Tralee and travel back to Dublin for 5.30-6pm arrival, for tearful hugs and farewell hugs. (Train departs Tralee 13.15pm, arrives Dublin 17.20pm, later trains can be arranged but please notify Vagabond in advance if you would like to travel later)

(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. If the tour is running in the opposite direction, then the train journey is at the start of the tour. By using the trains it allows us to offer you a much wider range of tour departures).