June 14: (Monday) Collect at Shannon airport and transfer to our first hotel in Dingle, on the western tip of the Dingle peninsula. With its extensive hiking trails, offshore islands, prehistoric sites and outstanding local artists, Dingle has everything to offer the visitor. This afternoon we will take a short hike to get some good sea air into our lungs. Overnight Dingle (three nights).
June
15: (Tuesday) A five mile hike across Ballydavid Head offers spectacular sea views, with the afternoon exploring some local historic sites, and trying to separate the truth from folklore about St. Brendan, 'the Navigator'. This 6th century monk is reputed to have discovered America on one of his great sea voyages, recreated in the book 'The Brendan Voyage' by Tim Severin.
June 16: (Wednesday) A ferry crossing takes us to Great Blasket island, with its abandoned village, seabirds and the chance of passing whales and dolphins. Lunch will be eaten among the pre-historic ruins near the summit, offering the finest lunchtime views you will ever see!
 June 17: (Thursday) Heading east, we stop for a beautiful hike along Inch beach, before turning inland to Killarney and its national park. Our afternoon will see us learning about the park's Bronze-Age mining site, set among the yew and oak forests along the shores of Lough Leane. Overnight Killarney (three nights)
June 18: (Friday) A delightful boat cruise will drop us at the start of an eight mile hike across moorland and peat bogs to Torc waterfall. Along the way we'll look for red and sika deer, and hope to spot the massive outlines of white-tailed sea eagles. This hike will also take us through one of the country's best preserved pre-Famine period (1845-50) landscapes, where we'll learn about the cause and impact of this sad period of Irish history.
 June 19: (Saturday) We drive the famed Ring of Kerry to Portmagee where our next ferry leaves for the island of Scellig Michael, 8 miles offshore. With its well-preserved early Christian monastery and teeming throngs of puffins, gannets and other seabirds, this is always a day to remember.
June 20: (Sunday) Leaving Killarney, we cross the 'county bounds' into west Cork, where our first stop is the enigmatic pre and early-Christian site at Ballyvourney. Continuing east we'll finish with an afternoon hike around Doneraile Park to learn about the life and times of the 18th and 19th century Anglo-Irish aristocracy. Stay near Mallow (two nights).
June 21: (Monday) We'll take an extended morning hike in the Galtee Mountains, with views stretching over at least five counties, before visiting the wonderful Rock of Cashel, one of the premier sites in the country. The rich farming country around here abounds with antiquities, and we'll stop of on our way home to visit one of the largest megalithic tombs in Ireland.
June 22: (Tuesday) To Shannon airport (1 hr) or nearby Mallow train station for trains to Dublin or Cork.
Other sites nearby we may visit include:
BALLYBEG ABBEY, Buttevant. A monastery built by the Barrys of Buttevant.
KILCOLMAN CASTLE, Doneraile. In the late 1500's and early 1600's the home of Edmund Spenser and where he wrote the 'Faerie Queene'.
Tours must be booked at least 45 days prior to arrival.
TOP OF PAGE
Things
to Know | Site
Map | About Us
| Contact Us |
Home |
