4 Day Grand Atlantic Tour – Tour: DH37 – Irish Railtours First Class

TOUR OVERVIEW

Dublin-Cork

6:40 check in for departure at 7:00 from Dublin Heuston Station to Cork City. Travel in style across Ireland to Cork, enjoy on board services and the comfort of rail travel. Upon arrival in Cork City you are transferred to coach and head to through the city and on to your first stop, Blarney Village

Blarney Castle

Built in 1446, Blarney Castle is a world famous landmark and one of the prettiest setting in Ireland. Don’t forget to kiss the Blarney stone to get the Irish gift of the gab! Explore historical Blarney village, with its array of quaint shops and restaurants, grab lunch- as this will be the only opportunity during the day to have a substantial meal.

Cork City and Cobh

You say good bye to Blarney and head back to Cork for a short city tour of the Southern Capital. Cork sits on an island on the River Lee and has a fascinating history at the heart of the rebel county. After your short city tour, you head to the picturesque coastal town of Cobh, Home to the imposing St. Colman’s Cathedral and the last port of call of the Titanic. After a visit to St. Colman’s, you follow the sea front, past the former While Star Line offices en route to Cobh’s Victorian railway stations. Now the Cobh heritage centre, the beautifully restored station is houses stories of the Great Famine and subsequent Irish Emigration, 3 million Irish people left Ireland via Cóbh, (principally to the United States) including Annie Moore, whose memorial statue is located in front of the heritage centre. Cobh was also the tragic location of the sinking of the Lusitania, and the refuge for all of the survivors. Cóbh is also the headquarters of the Irish Navy and you will most likely see some navy ships.

Cobh to Killarney

Travel in style across the south west, as we transfer to a local train to Killarney. Enjoy on board services and the comfort of rail travel. Check into your accommodation before spending the evening exploring Killarney town, with its quaint local pubs and restaurants, at your leisure.

Ring of Kerry

Enjoy an Irish Breakfast in your B&B before heading by coach to tour the famous Ring of Kerry. There are lots of stops along the way around this 180km (110 mile) route including a visit to the Kerry Bog Village Museum, which gives people an insight into how people lived and worked in rural Ireland in the 18th century. The Ring of Kerry is dominated by the highest mountains in Ireland, the MacGillycuddy Reeks and the tour meanders through many of the mountain passes and valleys on the way to Dingle Bay. The tour follow the ring of Kerry to the picturesque villages of Waterville and Sneem, were we stop for lunch. The tour returns to Killarney tour via the amazing Ladies View and Killarney National Park. You have the evening to relax and enjoy Killarney town with its wonderful pubs and restaurants.

Killarney-Bunratty Castle

Enjoy your continental breakfast at Lesiure before departing Killarney by road to Limerick to join the Bunratty Castle and Cliffs of Moher Tour. You take a city tour of Limerick, the setting of Frank McCourt’s classic novel and Hollywood movie, ‘Angels Ashes’ and home to St. John’s Castle. From the mighty banks of the river Shannon we travel onto Bunratty Castle and Folk Park. A 15th Century stronghold, Bunratty Castle and Folk Park is the most complete and authentic medieval fortress in Ireland. Built in 1425 The Castle was restored to its former medieval splendour in 1954 and now contains mainly 15th and 16th century furnishings, tapestries, and works of art, which capture the feel and mood of the era.

Cliffs of Moher

From Bunratty you make your way across picturesque county Clare to Doolin village and lunch in a traditional Irish pub. After an enjoyable lunch, you visit the majestic Cliffs of Moher. The Cliffs rise to over 200 meters (nearly 700 feet) and stretch for over 5km (3 miles) along Ireland’s dramatic Atlantic coast. Visit O’Brien’s Tower, perched on the edge of the cliffs and learn all about the history and geology of the cliffs in the Visitor centre-admission included.

The Burren and Galway Bay

The drive north from The Cliffs of Moher takes in part of the Wild Atlantic Way and some of the most spectacular scenery in Ireland. Visit The Burren, with its famed lunar like landscape. The Burren is a national park and the word ‘Burren’ comes from the Irish Language, it means ‘rocky place’. The coach continues on to Black Head and its idyllic lighthouse, the most northerly tip of County Clare, Black Head commands a magnificent view of the whole of Galway Bay from its western barrier of the Aran Islands to Oranmore Bay east of Galway City, a truly wonderful sight.

Galway City

From Black head we continue up the coast to Galway City. Check into your 4 star hotel and enjoy Ireland’s western Capital with it’s wonderful array of traditional pubs and restaurants. Galway is always buzzing with music and life. Spend the night in the vibrant city centre.

Connemara & Kylemore Abbey

Enjoy an Irish Breakfast in your hotel before heading by coach to Connemara, one of Ireland’s most scenic regions. We whisk you from the city towards Lough Corrib, the gateway to Connemara. Enjoy the specular views as we journey to Maam Cross, the Connemara “crossroads”, where the 1950’s John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara film “The Quiet Man”, was filmed. The Tour continues north to Leenane, Letterfrack National Park and the famous kylemore Abbey. Lunch in Kylemore on the banks of Pollacapall Lough, the Abbey is an 18th century castle now owned by the Benedictine nuns who run an excellent pottery, gift shop and restaurant.

Clifden- Spiddal

From Kylemore Abbey you turn south and on to colourful Clifden, one of Ireland’s most picturesque village, beloved by walkers, cyclists, hikers and anglers. The road takes you back through Maam Cross and on to the Gaeltacht or Irish speaking area of Connemara where Irish is still the everyday spoken language. Take in the wonderful views and enjoy the numerous photo stops as you meander towards Galway bay. The shores of the bay take in the villages of Inverin and Spiddal, with the Aran Islands and The Burren visible in the distance, truly a wonderful sight as the sun sets over the north Atlantic.

Galway City –Dublin

Your day winds back to Galway City and the train to Dublin, arrival at 21:45. You can choose to either return to Dublin via rail or spend the night and return the following day with your open ended return rail ticket. (Accommodation is not included) Railtours First Class returns to Dublin at 21:45 via Athenry, Tullamore and Athlone.

FEATURES

• 4 Day trip from Dublin to the South and South West of Ireland
• Visit Cork and Blarney Castle, kiss Ireland’s most famous landmark – the Blarney Stone
• Enjoy two evenings in Killarney and one in Galway City
• Tour the Ring of Kerry
• Visit the imposing Cliffs of Moher
• Explore Spectular Connemara

EXTRA INFORMATION

• Railtours Ireland First Class operates:
• – Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday between November and March
• – Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from April to October
• B&B Accommodation in Killarney
• Information pack provided & Friendly, professional local guide
• Lunch not included in the tour price
• Check in 20 minutes early at Heuston Station for The Grand Atlantic Tour departure at 7am

For more day tours around Ireland click here.

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