Castles and Manors Summer 2019

Set your watch to the lively pace of Ireland's capital city - the springboard for your in-depth journey through the lush landscapes and enduring allure of Ireland. Our exploration of Dublin with a Local Specialist will see us view St. Patrick's Cathedral and the colourful Georgian Squares. Spend some time at leisure exploring Dublin's pretty streets before joining your travel companions and Travel Director for a Welcome Reception celebrating traditional Irish flavours.

We traverse picturesque landscapes to Kildare. 'Dive Into Culture' and delve into Ireland's thoroughbred industry at the Irish National Stud. We'll have a rare opportunity to see the foaling unit, museum and of course the magnificent stallions that continue to make racing history. Our journey south brings us to the haunt of St. Patrick and the spectacular Rock of Cashel, where we will view its majestic ecclesiastical ruins with a Local Specialist. We continue to Killarney and enjoy an evening at leisure to soak up the lively atmosphere of one of Ireland's friendliest towns. Our home tonight is one of Trafalgar's 'Stays With Stories' - Great Southern, a Victorian-styled hotel built over 160 years ago.

Enjoy a slow start to your morning, joining a Local Specialist for a leisurely guided walk at Torc Waterfall, strolling over wooded paths and lakeshore trails. We embark on an epic drive next, exploring the enduring beauty of the Ring of Kerry whose enchanting coastal landscapes have inspired writers and poets for centuries.

The beautiful views continue as we visit the Cliffs of Moher that rise imposingly from the Atlantic, over 200 metres above the waters below. Continue to County Galway and visit the Connemara Marble artisan workshop, where you'll 'Dive into Culture' and witness first-hand how this famous green jade-like marble is carved. Your home for the next two nights is one of Trafalgar's 'Stays With Stories', the spectacular Abbeyglen Castle.

Drive through the "savage beauty" of Connemara, as described by Oscar Wilde who was inspired by the region's craggy mountains, shimmering lakes and endless shades of green. We visit Kylemore Abbey, a magnificent castellated structure built as a family home and now inhabited by a group of Benedictine nuns. Venture into the secret nooks and crannies of its extensive walled Victorian garden, before returning to your castle accommodation for a delicious dinner.

Our journey takes us to Westport House where we'll 'Connect With Locals' and indulge in a memorable Be My Guest lunch with tales of the Pirate Queen, and enjoy Banoffee and Baileys flavours in the Drawing Room of this stately 18th-century home. We continue to Roscommon, where our hotel this evening is one of Trafalgar's 'Stays With Stories' - Kilronan Castle Hotel, the ancestral home of the Tenison family and legendary Colonel King Tenison. A leisurely afternoon could see you take a relaxing cruise on the Shannon River.

Our first stop today is Strokestown where we'll 'Dive Into Culture' and gain insights into Ireland's tragic potato famine history. Learn about the plight of starving Irish tenants, many of whom died or emigrated to the New World in the 1840s. This evening we return to Dublin for a Farewell Dinner celebrating an intimate encounter with the natural beauty and fascinating heritage of Ireland.

We say a fond farewell to our newfound friends and Dublin today. You will be transferred to the airport, where your journey through the Emerald Isle comes to an end. Transfers are available. Conditions apply.