Irelands Hidden Heartlands By Coach

Day 1

We travel to South Wales making suitable stops along the way. We board the ferry from Holyhead to Dublin. (approx. 3 hrs. 15 minutes). Opportunity to purchase lunch on board. We then continue to our hotel, The Bloomfield in Mullingar with time to freshen up before our evening meal.

Day 2

This morning, we make our way to the impressive Birr Castle Gardens, where we have time to wander around the award-winning gardens, home to an abundance of rare plants collected by the Earls of Rosse on their travels around the world over the last 150 years. Afterwards we visit the pretty town of Athlone, perched on the banks of Ireland's longest river, the Shannon. Spend time at leisure to obtain lunch and discover this town which is also home to Sean's Bar, Ireland's oldest pub where Karen invites you join her for an Irish Coffee. We return to our hotel afterwards with time to relax before our evening meal.

Day 3

After breakfast we head to Dublin, a city that's as intimate as a village and as friendly as an Irish pub. Framed by mountains centered on a river and edged by a beautiful bay, the city's streets and alleys are filled with historic buildings, cafes and traditional; 'old man' pubs, as Dubliners call them. Enjoy a coach guided tour with free time to walk the streets filled with over 1,000 years of history with buzzing boutiques and shops and restaurants. In the afternoon visit the awesome Guinness Storehouse, where we are invited on a tasting and entertaining storytelling journey, delving deeper into the origins and tastes of Guinness. Did you know a total of 3 million pints of Guinness are brewed every single day here! Our tour ends in Gravity Bar, Irelands highest bar for a pint of Guinness. We return afterwards to our the for our evening meal.

Day 4

This morning, we head to the River Shannon, the country's longest river, for a leisurely one hour cruise. A full commentary is provided. Relax and unwind taking in the breath-taking scenery along this iconic River nestled in Irelands Hidden Heartlands. Afterwards we head to the stunning Belvedere House and Gardens, for a guided tour, where the Past will be unlocked. Prepare for an adventure at this spectacular Georgian country house, home to Lord Belvedere or 'The Wicked Earl', which shares its story of opulence and splendor, sadness, and joy. Wander through the magnificent gardens, a place where you can escape into a fantasy world. See the Jealous Wall, the Gothic Arch, Fairy Gardens, Walled Gardens, Earl's Walk, and the House which all come together to deliver a magical experience. Time here to purchase refreshments in the Lakeside café before returning to our hotel.

Day 5

We say a sad farewell to our hotel and travel to Dublin for our morning sailing over to Holyhead. Vouchers will be provided to obtain breakfast onboard our ferry. We continue afterwards homeward making suitable stops along the way.

B=Breakfast Included, D=Dinner Included