Ireland’s Western Shores—8 day tour
This tour commences in Dublin before travelling across the peaceful lakelands of central Ireland to reach the rugged Atlantic Coast. Discover remote islands, view ancient archaeological sites and enjoy the friendliness and humour of the welcoming Irish people. Time is also spent in the west coast city of Galway.
Included Highlights
- Dublin City Tour
- Achill Island
- Connemara National Park
- Aran Islands
- Tullamore Dew Heritage Centre
Hotel Nights
- Dublin 1
- Ballina 2
- Galway 2
- Dublin 2
Day 1 Dublin
Arrive at Dublin airport. Céad Míle Fáilte – a hundred thousand welcomes to Ireland’s capital city. A professional Dublin guide meets and accompanies us by motor coach on a panoramic tour of this bustling city. Visits are included to St Patrick’s Cathedral as well as Trinity College where we see the famed illustrated medieval manuscript known as The Book of Kells. See O’Connell and Grafton Streets and stroll along the banks of the River Liffey.
Overnight Dublin
Day 2 Dublin – Ballina
Journey through Ireland’s picturesque lake district to County Mayo, where a visit is made to Foxford Woollen Mills. See how the town of Foxford grew and prospered around the mill and observe skilled craftsmen producing their wares under the watchful eye of Sister Arsenius. From here it is not far to travel to the friendly town of Ballina, our home for the next two nights.
Overnight Ballina
Day 3 Achill Island
Today’s excursion is to the remote and beautiful Achill Island. We tour the island’s lovely beaches and enjoy the mountain scenery that has long served as a creative inspiration for artists and writers including Paul Henry, Heinrich Boll and Graham Greene. On our return to the mainland we visit Ceide Fields. Céide Fields contain a 1,500 hectare archaeological site of stone walls, field systems, enclosures and tombs and is the most extensive Stone Age site in the world.
Overnight Ballina
Day 4 Westport – Connemara National Park – Galway
Travel south this morning to the pretty town of Westport, overlooked by the dramatic peak of Croagh Patrick. We continue into the Connemara National Park and experience the beauty and tranquillity of Kylemore Abbey, still occupied as the Monastic home of the Benedictine Order of Nuns in Ireland. Travelling around the remote Connemara National Park we see where Marconi tested his transatlantic signals and where some of the original transatlantic pilots landed.
Overnight Galway
Day 5 Aran Islands
This morning we board our ferry across to Inis Mor, the largest of the three Aran Islands. Visit the ancient Christian site of The Seven Churches, the dramatic stone fort of Dun Aengus and take in the picturesque limestone landscape. Our island tour concludes at the Aran Islands Hotel where a 2-course lunch is served. There is free time to visit the shops and heritage centre in the village before returning to the pier for the return ferry crossing.
Overnight Galway
Day 6 Dublin
Time to leave Galway today and journey back to Dublin. We stop en route at the Tullamore Dew Heritage Centre, where you will be transported on a journey through life in a small Irish town from the early 1800s before learning the secrets of how whiskey is made.
Overnight Dublin
Day 7 Dublin
A day at leisure in Dublin. Enjoy a coffee at Bewley’s on Grafton Street, visit Dublin Castle, soak up the atmosphere of Temple Bar or pick up some last minute souvenirs along O’Connell Street. The tour ends this evening with an Irish themed dinner and traditional musical entertainment.
Overnight Dublin
Day 8 Dublin
Group transfer to Dublin Airport. We will be pleased to tailor your tour to suit your preferred arrival and departure airports.
You can find out more about our service on the Your Tour and Tour Price page. Please do email or call us to discuss your requirements. All quotations are provided free of charge and without obligation. We look forward to hearing from you.