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Ireland
from Coast to Coast
Days 1 - 2
We begin in Ireland’s capital, Dublin, where splendid Georgian
architecture and vibrant street scenes blend into one magnificent
mixture of past and present. Enjoy an historic walking tour,
visiting sites such as Trinity College,
Christchurch Cathedral, Grafton Street and St. Stephen’s
Green before our evening reception in Bray,
a quaint seaside resort. • Today we’ll inaugurate our coast to coast quest with a cruise into the spectacular Wicklow Mountains. Walking highlights today
include a stroll through the gardens of the magnificent Powerscourt
Estate, followed by an afternoon hike in the beautiful valley
of Glendalough, site of St. Kevin’s 6th century monastic village, before returning to Bray for our second night on the seafront.
Days 3 - 4
It’s a relatively short jaunt to our next magical destination,
Kilkenny, Ireland’s loveliest inland city, where the medieval
heritage of the once powerful earls of Ormonde is still evident.
We’ll explore Kilkenny’s rich history on a guided
tour of the city’s narrow lane-ways and majestic Kilkenny
Castle. At day’s end, we travel briefly onward to Cashel,
the ancient seat of the Munster kings. • From Cashel
our scenic drive to the remote village of Eyeries on the Beara
Peninsula is punctuated with several fascinating historic stops
including magnificent Cahir Castle, and a stroll along the banks
of the peaceful River Suir to Swiss Cottage. Then the majesty
of Cork’s mountain scenery unfolds as we pass through the
Shehy Mountains on the way to our two-night stay in the picturesque
fishing port of Castletownbere.
Days 5 - 7
From our base in Castletownbere
we’ll explore the rugged beauty of the Beara Peninsula,
one of Ireland’s best-kept secrets. If the weather allows,
we’ll take Ireland’s only cable car to Dursey Island
on the tip of the Peninsula for a wonderful walk along the most
remote stretch of the Beara Way. Other options include selected
walks on the Beara Peninsula that yield similarly breathtaking
views and historical tales. • We continue with a favorite
stretch of the Beara Way walking route that features megalithic
sites, stone circles and incredible panoramas of lake, ocean
and mountain scenery. Then just a few kilometers up the road,
we’ll arrive in Kenmare,
one of Ireland’s most picturesque and friendly towns for
another two-night stay. • Today we walk a favorite stretch
of the Kerry Way, through the Windy Gap and into one of the
most spectacular and wild parts of Killarney National Park,
Ireland’s largest remaining preserve of native woodlands.
The walk ends at the majestic Muckross House and Gardens, the
centerpiece of the National Park. Then a short excursion on
the Ring of Kerry through Moll’s Gap brings us back to
Kenmare for another night on the
town.
Days 8 - 10
We complete our coast to coast odyssey as we ramble to Dingle,
the gem of County Kerry. Spend two days exploring the Dingle
Peninsula, a treasure trove of ancient history and breathtaking
panoramas, and two nights enjoying Dingle’s nightlife
in one of over 50 pubs. Upon arrival, you’ll have a free
day to experience this vibrant coastal Mecca at your leisure.
Whether you wish to shop, experience Dingle’s lively
cultural treasures or take a scenic walk along Dingle Harbor,
where you might see Fungee, Dingle’s famous dolphin,
we’ll steer you in the right direction. • For our final
walk, we’ll select from a number of favorites – perhaps
a hike up Mt. Eagle overlooking Slea Head, the Pilgrim’s
path to the top of Mt. Brandon, or along Ballydavid Head. Geographically
speaking, the Dingle Peninsula is the westernmost point in
Europe, so it’s the perfect
place to dive into the Atlantic to ceremonially complete our
journey. Afterwards, we’ll conclude our adventure with
a flourish as we gather for our final banquet. • After
breakfast we’ll see you safely to Shannon, where you’ll
receive our heart-felt “Slan Abhaile” for your journey
home.
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