Taste of Ireland-Food
7
Night Prebooked Drive
DAY 1: Dublin City
Welcome to Dublin.
After you pick up your car, transfer to your city centre hotel. In the afternoon
you can explore this capital city with its many historic buildings,
Georgian streets and colourful gardens. Take the opportunity to visit some
of its many attractions such as the Christchurch Cathedral. You can also
visit Trinity College Dublin where the visitor facilities include the
Treasury which houses Book of Kells. This evening why not enjoy dinner in
one of Dublin’s
many restaurants?
Overnight : Mount Herbert
Hotel or similar
DAY 2: Malahide Castle
& the Boyne
Valley (125km)
This tour takes you through Dublin’s
city centre and out across the North
City where you can enjoy the
magnificent views of Dublin Bay to the 14th century Castle at Malahide,set in magnificent
gardens, is furnished with the finest Irish period furniture and contains
famous portrait paintings from the National Art
Gallery. Continue to
the award-winning village
of Malahide. Leave
Malahide and head northward towards the River Boyne, which flows through
the counties of Meath and Louth
(north from Dublin)
and has long been a pivotal setting in Irish history. Follow the flow of
the river between Slane and Drogheda.
The banks are lined with landmarks from almost every phase of Ireland’s
past - from the prehistoric passage tombs at Newgrange, to the legendary
Hill of Tara, seat of the Irish High Kings as well as monuments from the
early days of Christianity. A visit to the Hill of Tara and Bru na Boinne
including a visit to either Newgrange or Knowth
burial passages, which were built between 3,500BC and 2,700BC and was used
as a tomb in which Stone Age men buried their dead
is strongly recommended. This evening why not enjoy dinner in one of Dublin’s many
restaurants?
Overnight : Mount Herbert
Hotel or similar
Day 3: Rock of Cashel
& Kinsale (285km)
This morning, you travel south from Dublin City
for Cork. Visit the Rock
of Cashel, which rises dramatically from the flat countryside. This site
has the best set of varied monuments in any Irish site. The rock is crowned by a group of
buildings, both ecclesiastical and royal, including a round tower, a 13th
century Romanesque chapel and the beautifully restored Hall of the Vicar
Choral. Continue through the Golden Vale region of Ireland, famous for its butter, cheeses and
dairy products and onto the picturesque fishing town of Kinsale, known as the “Gourmet
Capital of Ireland”. This evening why not enjoy
dinner in one of the many restaurants in Kinsale.
Overnight: Trident Hotel, Kinsale or
similar
Day 4: Kinsale & Cork City
(60km)
This morning, take some time to explore Kinsale –make a few
visits including Desmond Castle and Wine Museum.
Built as a custom house by the Earl of Desmond in circa 1500, Desmond
Castle has had a colourful history. Before completing your tour of Kinsale,
a visit to Charles Fort just outside the town is a must. Constructed in the
late 17th Century, Charles Fort is a classic example of a star-shaped fort.
In the afternoon, travel to Cork
City, where much of
the medieval core of the city is still intact today and the colourful and
dramatic past is reflected in its streets, architecture and port. Visit St
Ann’s Shandon which was erected in 1722 and is one of the
city’s best known landmarks and features the famous Shandon Bells
which visitors may ring. There is also a wonderful view of the city from
the top. Continue on to the Cork Butter Museum
which dominated the world butter trade in the 18th and 19th centuries and
the museum explores the development of the exchange and the history of
dairying in Ireland.
Return to Kinsale where once again you can sample one of the many local
restaurants for dinner.
Overnight: Trident Hotel, Kinsale or
similar
Day 5: Cobh
, Ballymaloe House & Old Midleton
Distillery (155km)
Today, why not travel east of Cork
city to Cobh where you can visit the
Queenstown Story at Cobh Heritage Centre. This dramatic exhibition tells of
the origins, history and legacy of Cobh, a
unique Irish port town, which recalls the many historic events associated
with the town. From 1845 to 1960 over 2.5 million adults and children
emigrated from Ireland
via Cobh on coffin ships, early steamers
and finally on the Great Ocean Liners. Cobh
was also the last port visited by the ill-fated Titanic. Leave Cobh and
travel the short distance to Shanagarry and stop
at Ballymaloe
Gardens which surrounds Ballymaloe Cookery School
and the Garden Café, which is run by TV chef Darina
and Tim Allen and includes a Herb
Garden, formal Fruit Garden,
a formal Vegetable Garden and Water Garden.
Why not enjoy lunch Ballymaloe House?
Return to Kinsale passing through Midleton
where you can visit the Old Midleton Distillery
and learn about the story of Irish whiskey through an audio-visual
presentation; then follow the old distillery trail though mills, maltings, corn stores, stillhouses,
warehouses and kilns. After the tour of the Distillery, you will have the
opportunity to taste this world famous.Return to
Kinsale where once again you can sample one of the many local restaurants
for dinner.
Overnight: Trident Hotel, Kinsale or
similar
Day 6: Waterford Crystal & Wicklow (275km)
You depart Kinsale this morning and travel eastwards along the
southern coastline. Arriving in Waterford,
where you will receive a warm welcome to Waterford Crystal, home of the
world famous crystal, this will be an experience you’ll never
forget. The Waterford experience is unique in that
you are visiting a real working, living, breathing factory. A thin yellow line is all that separates
you from the craftsmen, during the tour you will get a chance to see the
glass being blown and cut, also take in the factory’s magical audio
visual presentation. The gallery features the finest of Waterford pieces guaranteed to quicken
the pulse of even the most seasoned collector. Leaving Waterford
we travel along the east coast through Enniscorthy
and Gorey before arriving Ashford and on to Ballyknocken
Country House
& Cookery School
for overnight. Ballyknocken House is a charming
Victorian farmhouse operating as a 4**** guesthouse.Run
by Catherine, the third generation Byrne to reside there, the house has won
many awards including the recent Jameson Georgina Campbell Farmhouse of the
Year 2004; AA 4 RED stars 2005/6,
Bridgestone 100 Best Places to Stay in Ireland 2003, 4,5,6.
Catherine’s warm welcome and Irish hospitality has seen her
nominated as the AA Landlady of the Year, Great Britain and Ireland 2005.
Catherine also runs Ballyknocken Cookery
School and entertains
with Brown Bread Making Demonstrations and Cookery Courses.
Overnight:Ballyknocken Country
House & Cookery School
DAY 7: Wicklow Tour or Ballyknocken
Cookery School
(135km)
Today (and subject
to availability) you may have the opportunity to participate in a class at
the cookery school (not included in the price).Alternatively you can use Ballyknocken House as a base to explore Wicklow, known
as the Garden
of Ireland.
Travelling through the scenic Wicklow
Mountains, you arrive in
Glendalough, in the heart of Wicklow and a well known beauty spot of Ireland. Visit the 6th century monastic settlement with
the ruins of seven churches and a round tower.
The Visitor Centre explains the history of the region and the
monastery. Travel to Blessington, to Russborough House, one of Ireland’s finest houses
which is open to the public. Built between 1740
and 1750 in the Palladian style, the House is beautifully maintained and
contains paintings from the Beit Collection, fine
furniture, tapestries, carpets, porcelain and silver. Continue on to Enniskerry and visit Powerscourt
House and Gardens. Here you will be able to stroll around the 45 acre
garden which includes formal gardens, sweeping terraces, statuary and
ornamental lakes which have over 200 variations of trees and shrubs. You
will also have an opportunity to visit the restored 18th century house,
which was destroyed by fire in 1974.
Return to Ballyknocken
Country House for overnight. Why not sample some of Catherine Byrne’s
cooking at dinner this evening in Ballyknocken?
Overnight:Ballyknocken Country
House & Cookery School
DAY 8: Depart from Dublin Airport (80km)
Departure from Dublin
Airport
7 Nights Prebooked Irish
Food Trail Self Drive Tour (Excluding Car)
Standard Programme
|
|
Per
Person Sharing
|
Triple
Room Rate Per Person
|
|
January – April
|
$905.00
|
$85500
|
|
May - September
|
$985.00
|
$945.00
|
|
October – December
|
$905.00
|
$945.00
|
|
Single Supplement
|
$535.00
|
N/A
|
|
Children 3 to 12 yrs
|
$495.00
|
N/A
|
Price Includes:
5 night accommodation in a 3 star hotel, 2
nights in 4 star Farmhouse Accommodation based on
per person sharing a twin/double room with bath/shower inclusive of service
charges.
Heritage Island Touring Guide and discount
card
All prices quoted in $AUD p.p. twin share
Child Policy
Children supplements apply when a child
between 3 & 12 years is sharing with 2 full paying adults to a maximum
of 2 children in the room. A child sharing with a single adult is charged
the normal per person rate. Children sharing 0 - 2 years are free and meals
paid directly to the hotel.
Notes:
Clients should check-in to their
hotels/bed and breakfast accommodation no later than 6pm. If clients are
going to be later that 6pm, they should call their accommodation and advise of their approximate check in time. Failure to do
this could result in their reservation being cancelled and rooms released.
Note: The services and activities recommended
in this programme are accurate at the time of printing. It is essential,
however, that they are checked to ensure that they are operating prior to
travelling.
Self Drive Tours
Click here to
view our Self Drive
Tour details
