Georgian Farmhouse Night Self Drive Tour (7 nights/8 days)
Wicklow, Dublin, Kilkenny, Cork, Kerry, Tipperary, Meath, Return to Dublin
Ireland is steeped in history and can trace its heritage to almost 5,000 years ago, in archaeological sites like Newgrange, Co. Meath and the Ceide Fields, Co. Mayo. Ireland is also famous for it’s ’Cead Mile Failite’ or ‘One Hundred Thousand Welcomes’. How better to experience Ireland than with our Georgian Farmhouse Tour, where history and the warm Irish welcome are combined. The Georgian Period ran from the late 1700’s through to the end of the 1800’s and coincided with the rule of the four King Georges. Our programme is based on bed and full Irish breakfast accommodation in en-suite rooms in stylish Georgian or other period/historic farmhouses. The accommodations which we use are generally those whose basic structures would have been built from the late 1700s to the late 1800s and have been occupied by the same families since then; indeed many of them are still full working farms.
Itinerary
Day 1 Wicklow
Highlights
Spectacular glacial valleys, towering mountain passes and forested glens; welcome to wild and wonderful Wicklow! It is a land that time forgot with magnificent early Christian sites sharing the landscape with the elegant country homes of eighteenth century nobility. Lose yourself amongst the lush, rolling hills of the ‘garden of Ireland’, amongst which are nestled intimate villages, cascading waterfalls and dark, rippling lakes.
Day 2 Dublin (Overnight in Wicklow)
Highlights
One of Europe’s most thrilling capitals, Dublin impresses on every level. Vibrant, youthful and energetic; the city pulsates with a compelling mix of cosmopolitan and traditional, a gripping fusion of hip and history. Lose yourself in one of its thousand bars all bursting with engaging characters in search of the ‘craic’. Crammed with a glut of boutique hotels, great shopping and chic restaurants; chock-full with museums and historical buildings, the capital doesn’t miss a trick.
Day 3 Kilkenny
Highlights
Travel to the Kilkenny area. Enroute you can pop into the Irish National Stud and Japanese Gardens for a visit. Continue on into the medieval city of Kilkenny where perhaps you could enjoy a walking tour of the city, which commences at Shee Alms House, now the tourist office, but formerly shelter to the poor of Kilkenny during the Middle Ages. You tread through the narrow streets and slip ways where you can see many of the historic sites Kilkenny is famous for . You can also visit Kilkenny Castle, which dates from the twelfth century and stands on a majestic site straddling the River Nore.
Day 4 Cork
Highlights
This morning leave Kilkenny and travel south towards Cork, Ireland’s second largest city. Enroute, why not drop into the Old Midleton Distillery and learn how Irish whiskey is made or kiss the world famous Blarney Stone at Blarney Castle and acquire the gift of the gab? Continue on into the spectacular west Cork region to explore the fishing towns and villages which dot the southwest coastline.
Day 5 Kerry
Highlights
Today tour one of Ireland’s loveliest districts, the Ring of Kerry. Poets, painters, writers and musicians have all attempted to convey the beauty of this wonderful area. Mountains, valleys and lakes blend into a palette of scenic splendour.A delightful day includes a drive along the broad, dramatic coastline of the Iveragh Peninsula and through the charming villages and towns of Caherciveen, Waterville and Irish speaking Sneem. Why not visit Muckross House, a magnificent Victorian mansion and one of Ireland’s most impressive stately homes? The gardens at Muckross are renowned world-wide for their beauty; they are particularly noted for their fine collections of azaleas and rhododendrons.
Day 6 Tipperary
Highlights
Continue on to Limerick and the Shannon Region, perhaps visiting King John’s Castle or the Hunt Museum in the City or whittling away a few hours in the otherworldly village Of Adare. Plough on into middle Ireland and fabled Tipperary county, over the Glen of Aherlow and into the towns of Cashel and Cahir. A stop at the magnificent Rock of Cashel is a must and the castle in Cahir is no slouch either.
Day 7 Meath
Highlights
Meath is Ireland’s most enduring link to it’s mighty past as an island of saints and scholars; its amazing relics stand defiant, ignoring the ravages of time and invading armies. Brú na Bóinne is one of the most extraordinary sites in the world, the jewel in it’s crown is the mind blowing Newgrange. All of these gems lie under the epic shadows of the Hills of Slane and Tara, the sacred dwellings of St. Patrick and the gods.
Day 8 Departure
Fill out our enquiry form for more information
Click Here for Exploring Ireland Featured Cars
Listed By 
