This is a typical proposal for a family holiday in Ireland which includes some really interesting activities which all the family can participate in. Generally, for a family group of mixed ages and fitness abilities, we concentrate on the more accessible leisure activities such as hiking, cycling and water-sports. For those of a more adventurous disposition it is very easy to increase the thrill factor.
The feedback we receive from clients suggests that they like to build some of these activities into their trip, rather than have them as the sole focus. The sample itinerary outlined below combines a fun activity during the day, while travelling around the country with luxurious overnight accommodation to ease those aching muscles.
Day 1 – Druids Glen Resort, Co Wicklow.
Arrive in Dublin Airport and collect your car for the duration of your stay. Drive south to your first night’s base at Druids Glen resort in Co Wicklow. The transfer time is approximately one hour, and the first day is spent at leisure. You can get a little rest after your flight, and if you are feeling up to it later in the day, there are plenty of beautiful, easy hikes within easy driving distance of the hotel. These include the trails around Lugnaquilla, The Vale of Clara, and the ancient monastic settlement of Glendalough. If any of the travelling party are keen golfers, the course at Druids Glen is one of the best parkland courses in Ireland, and the European Course nearby is one of the finest links courses.
Day 2 – Cliff House Hotel, Ardmore, Co Waterford.
After breakfast, you will set off down the east coast taking in the lively market town of Wexford for lunch and afterwards tour the world-famous Waterford Crystal Visitor Centre in the Viking city of Waterford. From there, the beautiful Copper Coast scenic drive to Dungarvan is a must, with stunning cliff views and its Unesco Geopark.
Your destination is Ardmore, a beautiful seaside village in West Waterford, where the 5 star Cliff House Hotel hugs the cliff over the sea below. The dining room in the hotel has a Michelin star and provides a gastronomic experience to remember. There are beautiful cliff walks around the hotel and a local adventure centre provides paddle boarding, kayaking and snorkelling. You can enjoy a drink on the terrace of the bar and watch the kids enjoy themselves in the sea below.
Day 3 – Liss Ard House, Skibbereen, Co Cork.
It is only a 40 minute drive from Ardmore to Cork, Ireland’s second largest city. Spend a couple of hours wandering the compact city centre, visiting attractions such as The English Market (Ireland’s largest food market), St Finbarrs Cathedral, and the famous Shandon Bells. From Cork continue west taking in the coastal towns of Kinsale and Clonakilty and arriving mid-afternoon in the pretty West Cork Village of Rosscarbery for a view of the stunning scenery from horse- back.
That’s right, a spot of trekking through the Irish countryside from the back of a well-trained pony or horse. It doesn’t matter if you have never been on horse-back before, or if you are an expert jockey, there are routes and durations of trek to suit everybody. You can choose between woodland or coastal scenery and also decide to go for one, two or even three hours.
Upon finishing your equine adventure, you can visit the beautiful seaside villages of Castletownsend, Glandore and Union Hall while driving the short distance to your overnight accommodation at Liss Ard House, a beautifully restored 19th century country house just outside the pretty town of Skibbereen.
Day 4 – Sheen Falls Hotel, Kenmare, Co Kerry
After breakfast, take the 10 minute drive from Skibbereen to the lovely sailing village of Baltimore which sits in Roaringwater Bay, one of the most very best marine environments in Western Europe. The harbour is huge, littered with interesting islands and is very sheltered and safe. You can choose from a whole array of water-based activities including whale and dolphin safaris, powerboat trips, a sailing charter or simply take a ferry to the beautiful islands of Sherkin or Cape Clear for a hike.
After your energetic morning afloat it is back to the car and the dilemma of whether to tour the remote Sheep’s head peninsula or to take in the Ring of Beara. You can visit Mizen Head, Ireland’s most south-westerly point, or take the rickety old cable car to Dursey Island which you might until recently have been sharing with some sheep. Your day will draw to a close with the spectacular views from the Caha pass as you climb up from Glengarriff through the rock tunnels and descend into lovely Kenmare and the beautiful Sheen Falls Lodge, one of the finest hotels in the country.
You could eat in the hotel, but Kenmare boasts some of the best pubs and restaurants in Ireland and it would seem a shame not to take advantage of them.
Day 5 – Skellig Hotel, Dingle
Today you are going to explore the beautiful Ring of Kerry and all the spectacular scenery which that entails. On the way however, you are going to take in a little exercise. For those of a more sedate disposition, there are beautiful sections of the Kerry Way to be hiked, and these can be selected by level of difficulty and duration. For those with a more adventurous mindset, you are going to spend a few hours coasteering.
Coasteering involves moving along a section of Ireland’s beautiful Atlantic coast by scrambling along the shoreline and jumping into the surf at strategic intervals. It sounds a little scary, but all levels of swimmer are catered for and wetsuits, helmets and buoyancy jackets are provided. It really is a huge adrenaline rush and pretty much the best fun you can have in a wetsuit. Having completed the Ring Of Kerry drive, you may decide to detour into Killarney, one of Ireland’s most famous and scenic tourist towns, or drive straight on to Dingle, where you are based for the night. Dingle is Europe’s most westerly town and one of its’ prettiest.
If you arrive early enough you can hop on one of the boats at the pier and go and see Fungie, the Bottlenose dolphin who has been resident in Dingle Harbour for 32 years.
Day 6 – Adare Manor Hotel, Co Limerick
On day 6 you are going to spend most of the day around the beautiful countryside of the Dingle peninsula before taking a leisurely 2 hour drive to Adare. If the weather is cooperating you could hire a bicycle in Dingle and cycle around Slea Head and the heart-stopping views of the Blasket Islands. You could take a ferry from Dunquin to the Great Blasket and hike the 3 miles to its most westerly point and look back at the rest of Europe, or if you are feeling very energetic, you could do the 4 hour return hike to the top of Mount Brandon and back.
On a clear day you can see from the Skellig Rocks to the southwest to the mountains of Connemara to the far north. After all that activity, you will be glad to get back in the car and head for the pretty village of Adare in County Limerick, presided over by the wonderful baronial castle which will be your home for the night.
Day 7 & 8 – The Conrad Hilton Hotel, Dublin
The drive from Adare to Dublin looks like a long way on the map, but it only takes 2 hours as it is motorway almost all the way. This allows you to comfortably arrive in Dublin at lunchtime and have the rest of the day and all the following for sightseeing and activities in the capital. What you decide to do in Dublin very much depends on how much energy you have left after your exploits of the previous week.
The city centre is very accessible on foot and you can mix cultural and literary tours with some more adventurous ones. We particularly recommend the sea safari tours from the city centre, which are thrilling and also give you a good geographical fix on the city and the marine environment on which it depends.
We are more than happy to arrange private tours for family groups and make pub and restaurant suggestions and bookings depending on your requirements. There are no rules; it depends entirely on how you feel and what your priorities are.