Live like royalty on this luxurious exploration of Ireland's best-loved attractions. On this tour, you won't simply be visiting the landmarks of Ireland's rich history. You will actually be staying in its historic luxury castles and manor houses. On a tour that promises more, you can expect the finest accommodation, the best food and the most luxurious tour transportation.
This tour features both of these iconic Irish regions What's this?
The Wild Atlantic Way is a long-distance touring route, the first of its kind in Ireland. It runs the length of Ireland's western coast, facing the Atlantic Ocean, from County Donegal in the northwest to County Cork in the southwest. The initial aim of the Wild Atlantic Way was to give greater visibility to Ireland's west coast in overseas markets. The Wild Atlantic Way is 2,500 km (1,553 miles) long and passes through 3 provinces of Ireland (Ulster, Connacht and Munster). It has given a huge boost to the tourism industry of the region since its launch in February 2014.
View our tours which feature the Wild Atlantic Way...
Ireland's Ancient East is a touring region featuring some of the Emerald Isle's best-loved attractions. Running from Co. Monaghan in the north to Co. Cork in the south, it was created by Fáilte Ireland to showcase the top tourist destinations from its broad sweep of 17 eastern counties.
Throughout ten unforgettable days, the Deluxe Irish Castles Tour ranges widely across the length and breadth of Ireland. Click on the days below to find out what adventures await you on each day of your tour.
Welcome - you've arrived on your Irish castle tour. On arrival in Dublin Airport reclaim your baggage and enter the Arrivals Hall. Here in the Arrivals Hall you will meet your Irish tour guide (who is also your driver). There will be three Group transfers this morning between 0700 am and 1200 noon. Board your luxury air-conditioned coach and make the short transfer to Dunboyne Castle Hotel where you can relax and unwind after your flight.
15:00 Check in time. Hotel reception will store your luggage prior to check in.
At 1900 this evening all participants will gather for dinner in hotel restaurant where you will become acquainted with your fellow-travellers and the coming days can be discussed at leisure with your tour guide.
After some much needed sleep and a hearty full Irish breakfast we will depart for the 5 star Lough Eske Castle majestically set on the shores of Lough Eske in Donegal. Travelling west your route today will take through Meath, the Royal County due to its history as the seat of the High King of Ireland.
Our first stop today will be at Trim Castle. Trim Castle is the largest Anglo-Norman castle in Ireland. Hugh de Lacy and his son Walter built it over a 30 year period, finished in 1206.
Continue on through the lake region of Cavan and briefly cross the border into Fermanagh in Northern Ireland and along the shores of Lough Erne Upper and Lough Erne Lower to visit Belleek Pottery, one of the oldest potteries in the world dating from 1857.
Cross the border back into Donegal in the Republic of Ireland and travel on to Lough Eske. Leisurely afternoon on the grounds of Lough Eske Castle. Tonight you will overnight and dine in Lough Eske Castle Hotel and Spa. After dinner you might like to retire to the Gallery Bar for a nightcap before bed.
Leisurely morning on the grounds of Lough Eske Castle Hotel and Spa. Depart for the historic fortified walled city of Derry / Londonderry in Northern Ireland. The city fortifications are among the best - preserved in Europe and were completed in 1618 to defend the city from Gaelic chieftains in Donegal.
Afternoon guided walking tour of the historic walls with a local guide. The city walls are up to 8 metres (26 feet) in height and in places are 9 metres (29 feet) wide. They were completed in 1618 and were never breached.
Take some free time in Derry / Londonderry to visit the shops and cafes of Derry / Londonderry to get a flavour of Northern Ireland before returning to Lough Eske Castle Hotel. Again this evening dine in Lough Eske Castle Hotel and Spa
This morning after breakfast will depart for the Ballynahinch Castle for an unrivalled experience of true Irish hospitality. Formerly the home of “Humanity Dick” Martin and The Maharajah Ranjitsinhji, Ballynahinch Castle has been welcoming visitors to Connemara for over 250 years. This unique castle is spectacularly located on a private 450 acre estate of woodlands, rivers and walks in the heart of Connemara.
Your route south to Ballynahinch Castle will take you to Drumcliffe in Sligo where you can read the epitaph on the grave of WB. Yeats.
Travel on to the beautiful Mayo town of Westport on the shores of Clew Bay. Take time to explore this unique and charming heritage town nestled in the shadow of Croagh Patrick, Ireland’s holy mountain where St. Patrick fasted for 40 days. I would suggest a stroll down the elegant tree lined Mall of Westport and wander along Bridge Street with its colourful and friendly mix of traditional shops and pubs.
Continue on via Leenane and along the shores of Killary Harbour, a Wild Atlantic Way signature discovery point, Ireland's only fjord, on the Mayo - Galway border.
Travel on to Kylemore where you will visit Kylemore Abbey & Gardens, which is nestled at the base of Duchruach Mountain on the northern shores of Lough Pollacappul, in the heart of the Connemara Mountains. It is regarded as one of Ireland's most romantic buildings.
Journey down the spectacular Inagh valley with the 12 Bens of Connemara on your right and the Maumturks Mountains on your left as you travel to Ballynahinch.
Tonight you will overnight and dine in Ballynahinch Castle. After dinner you might like to retire to the friendly Fisherman's Pub for a nightcap before bed.
Please note, although Ballynahinch Castle has undergone many modernising refurbishments over the past 250 years there are no elevators in the hotel. There is a full porter service, to carry your bags to and from the bedroom, but walking up and down the stairs, for anyone with mobility issues, can be quite difficult. Please, feel free to contact us should you have any such concerns.
This morning after breakfast take time to explore at your leisure the extensive grounds of Ballynahinch Castle. Take time to stroll the estate's forest trails or simply sit in the tranquillity of the grounds listening to the song of the river as it makes its interminable journey to the sea.
Later this morning if the lure of the castle grounds are not too strong you will travel along the shores of the famous Galway Bay into Galway City, known as the "City of the Tribes".
You will have the afternoon free in Galway City, a small but vibrant city easy to explore on foot at your leisure with plenty of opportunities for shopping, seeing its historic sites, Salthill Promenade, a Wild Atlantic Way discovery point, or perhaps enjoying a leisurely afternoon drink in one of Galway's many legendary pubs.
Return to Ballynahinch Castle Inagh Valley.
Tonight you will overnight and dine in Ballynahinch Castle.
Please note, although Ballynahinch Castle has undergone many modernising refurbishments over the past 250 years there are no elevators in the hotel. There is a full porter service, to carry your bags to and from the bedroom, but walking up and down the stairs, for anyone with mobility issues, can be quite difficult. Please, feel free to contact us should you have any such concerns.
This morning after breakfast you will depart for the Cahernane House Hotel in Killarney, located on the lake shore of Killarney's famous Lough Lein with magnificent mountain and woodland views. Your journey to Killarney will take you down the Atlantic seaboard on the west coast of Clare via Galway.
You will see The Burren, which is Gaelic for rocky land – an apt name for this vast limestone plateau. In the 1640’s, Cromwell’s surveyor described it as “a savage land, yielding neither water enough to drown a man, nor tree to hang him, nor soil enough to bury”.
On the coast you will stand on the dramatic 650ft high and 8 kilometre long Cliffs of Moher, a Wild Atlantic Way signature discovery point, to gaze out on the vastness of the Atlantic Ocean. Further south in County Limerick take time to stroll the main street of the beautiful thatched village of Adare before travelling on to Killarney.
Tonight you will overnight and dine in Cahernane House Hotel After dinner you might like to retire to the Cellar Bar for a nightcap before bed.
This morning after breakfast you will set off on the world famous Ring of Kerry (Iveragh Peninsula) via Killorglin, Glenbeigh, Cahersiveen, Waterville, Coomakesta Pass with it magnificent views over Derrynane, home of Daniel O’ Connell, known as “The Liberator”, to Caherdaniel.
Today you will have a traditional Irish pub lunch in The Blind Piper Pub in the village of Caherdaniel. Locals and visitors alike have been drinking here since 1865. The Blind Piper is Mici Cumba O'Sullivan who was born nearby in 1835 and became one of Ireland's most famous pipers.
Continue on via the pretty village of Sneem, Moll’s Gap, Ladies View and along the Lakes of Killarney to Killarney town. Tonight you will overnight and dine in Cahernane House Hotel.
This morning after breakfast you will depart for Killashee House Hotel set amidst over 280 acres of historic and intriguing gardens, walkways and parkland with magnificent views of the Kildare country side. Your route today will take you over the famous Cork/Kerry Mountains via the Irish speaking villages of Ballymakeery & Ballyvourney to the old market town of Macroom, where you will see Macroom Castle, once home of Sir William Penn, whose son was later to found the state of Pennsylvania.
Travel on to the village of Blarney via the valley of the river Lee. Visit Blarney Castle built in 1446 by Dermot McCarthy and here you will have the opportunity to kiss the legendary Blarney Stone.
You will have an opportunity for shopping at Blarney Woolen Mills where one of the largest selections of Irish arts, crafts and produce can be seen on display.
Rising out dramatically from the plains of Tipperary you will visit the Rock of Cashel. This was the seat of kings and medieval bishops for 900 years and flourished until the early 17th century. Brian Ború was crowned King of Munster here in 977 and he became High King of Ireland in 1002.
Tonight you will overnight & dine in Killashee House Hotel. After dinner you might like to retire to the contemporary Jack's Bar for a nightcap before bed.
Please note, the Killashee House Hotel still retains some of the characteristics from its Victorian heritage. While the hotel has been refurbished and has elevators to the bedrooms, its grand scale means that to walk the full length of the lobby can be quite strenuous for anyone with mobility issues. Please, feel free to contact us should you have any such concerns.
Trinity College founded in 1592 by Queen Elizabeth I on the site of an Augustinian monastery. Trinity College is also home to the Book of Kells, which is the most richly decorated of Ireland’s medieval illuminated manuscripts. The book contains the four gospels in Latin. Some of the dyes used were imported from as far as the Middle East.
Christ Church Cathedral founded by the Viking King Sitric almost 1000 years ago in 1034. The cathedral crypt is one of the largest in the UK and Ireland, dating back to the 12th Century. Here in the crypt you can see the Mummified remains of the Cat and the Rat which were found in the cathedral organ and a rare 14th century copy of the Magna Carta. You will also have a unique opportunity to visit the Belfry and ring the Cathedral bells
Please note: Getting to the Belfry in Christ Church Cathedral involves climbing 86 stone steps in a medieval building and crossing the roof at the South transept – quite the experience.
Guinness Storehouse at St. James's Gate for a tour of the world famous brewery and afterwards enjoy a perfect pint of Guinness in the Gravity Bar, which is located at the top of a glass tower that commands spectacular views of Dublin City and County in every direction.
Please note, the Killashee House Hotel still retains some of the characteristics from its Victorian heritage. While the hotel has been refurbished and has elevators to the bedrooms, its grand scale means that to walk the full length of the lobby can be quite strenuous for anyone with mobility issues. Please, feel free to contact us should you have any such concerns.
Today marks the end of the Deluxe Castle Tour of Ireland.
After a final great Irish breakfast this morning there will be three group transfers between 0500 and 1100 for you to choose from to get you to Dublin Airport for your return flight home.
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Arrival | Departure | Price Per Person | Availability |
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Sun 26 Apr 2020 | Tue 05 May 2020 | - | fully booked |
Sun 03 May 2020 | Tue 12 May 2020 | € 2390 | Book Now |
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Sun 17 May 2020 | Tue 26 May 2020 | € 2490 | Book Now |
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Sun 05 Jul 2020 | Tue 14 Jul 2020 | € 2490 | Book Now |
Sun 12 Jul 2020 | Tue 21 Jul 2020 | € 2490 | Book Now |
Sun 09 Aug 2020 | Tue 18 Aug 2020 | € 2490 | Book Now |
Sun 16 Aug 2020 | Tue 25 Aug 2020 | € 2490 | Book Now |
Sun 23 Aug 2020 | Tue 01 Sep 2020 | € 2490 | Book Now |
Sun 30 Aug 2020 | Tue 08 Sep 2020 | € 2490 | Book Now |
Sun 06 Sep 2020 | Tue 15 Sep 2020 | € 2490 | Book Now |
Sun 13 Sep 2020 | Tue 22 Sep 2020 | - | fully booked |
Sun 04 Oct 2020 | Tue 13 Oct 2020 | € 2390 | Book Now |
Sun 18 Oct 2020 | Tue 27 Oct 2020 | € 2390 | Book Now |
The Deposit for the Deluxe Irish Castle Tour 2020 is €400 per person.
For guests who are travelling alone and are therefore not sharing a room, the single occupancy supplement for the Deluxe Irish Castle Tour 2020 is €500.
The full balance is due 60 days before your tour.
All payments are in Euros.
We do not charge any fees for paying by credit card. We accept Visa, Mastercard and American Express.
Children ages 8 yrs - 17 yrs inclusive receive a 10% discount on the prices. Children must share a room with a least 1 adult. Our tours do not cater for children 7 yrs or younger. You must be 18 or over to travel on our adults-only tours.
Once a partial or full payment has been made, cancellations will only be accepted in writing (either by email or standard mail) to My Ireland Tour. Cancellation terms will be applied based on the date that the written cancellation is received and based on the following dates prior to tour commencement. Cancellation fees apply as indicated below. All cancellaion fees include the initial, non-refundable deposit.
Cancellation Date | Cancellation Fee |
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Up to 60 days before start of tour: | Non-refundable deposit |
59 to 40 days before start of tour: | 50% of total price |
39 to 14 days before start of tour: | 75% of total price |
Less than 14 days before start of tour: | 100% of total price |
Perhaps the most vital ingredient of any tour is your tour guide. Acting not only as your guide but also as your driver, their knowledge and experience, their passion and personality form the foundation on which any successful tour is built.
That's why we only work with the very best guides in Ireland. As our past guests know, our tour guides are a big reason why we're Ireland's best-rated tour operator, with 443 five-star reviews out of a possible 451.
The Deluxe Irish Castles Tour welcomes you to a different class of accommodation. On the journey of a lifetime, you will be staying in some of Ireland's finest castles and manor houses. We are very proud of the range of luxury accommodation we have put together for this exclusive journey. Many of these castle hotels and manors are family-owned, just like ourselves, and we have a long standing relationship with them all.
We know and trust the accommodation providers we use, and we choose them carefully based not only on their star rating, but also on their location, service, value and character. With years of experience in the industry, we have the knowledge, the experience and the local contacts to design the perfect accommodation package for your vacation.
On a tour vacation, the journey can be just as important as the destination. That's why our tour buses are all of the highest standards both in terms of luxury and reliability.
We deliberately leave some seats empty. In fact, we use 34-seater coaches, but limit the number of participants to 26. That's because we want all of our guests to be able to spread out, relax and enjoy the journey. This smaller group size is a core principle in our tours.
Please note: the bus shown in the gallery below is one of the 34-seater coaches used on our tours for max. 26 guests. For any reason, should one of these become unavailable for your tour we will endeavour to provide an equally luxurious and comfortable touring bus.
Travelling along the shores of Lough Erne Upper and Lough Erne Lower, you will reach Belleek Pottery, one of the oldest potteries in the world dating from 1857. Today, the visitor centre still displays pieces which date from those early samples over 150 years ago. Touring the pottery, meet and chat with the craftspeople as they produce ceramics which will be exported across the globe.
Belleek Pottery can be found just off the trail of the Wild Atlantic Way
Situated five miles north-west of Cork city, Blarney Castle is a solid fixture on almost any tour of Ireland. It is best known for the famous "Blarney Stone" which visitors are encouraged to kiss, in accordance with a tradition which spans the centuries.
A limestone plateau covering 250 square kilometres, The Burren takes its name quite aptly from the Gaelic for "rocky land" or "great rock". While in one sense very fitting, the name does not do justice to what experts have more justly termed "one of the world's most stunningly unique natural heritage regions
".
The Burren runs alongside the Wild Atlantic Way.
Christ Church Cathedral, founded by the Viking King Sitric almost 1000 years ago in 1034. The cathedral crypt is one of the largest in the UK and Ireland, dating back to the 12th Century. Here in the crypt you can see the Mummified remains of the Cat and the Rat which were found in the cathedral organ and a rare 14th century copy of the Magna Carta.
You will be joined by a local specialist guide on a city tour of Derry and the famous city walls. The city fortifications are among the best-preserved in Europe and were completed in 1618 to defend the city from Gaelic chieftains in Donegal. Standing at up to 25 feet tall and thirty feet wide, it is little wonder that these fortifications were never breached.
Visit Drumcliffe Cemetery in County Sligo where you can read the epitaph on the grave of WB. Yeats. Found nestled between Ben Bulben mountain and Drumcliffe bay.
Explore Drumcliffe along the Wild Atlantic Way.
Guinness is more than just a brand, indeed, more than just a beer. And that's not just for the Irish, but for the many millions of Guinness-drinkers worldwide. The site of the brewery itself is massive, at a staggering 26 hectares, but it will be the old grain storehouse which you visit. Shaped like a giant pint of the black stuff, this most popular of Dublin attractions towers over the surrounding neighbourhoods, with the top-floor Gravity Bar offering a delightful panorama across the Dublin cityscape which can only be enhanced by a well-earned pint to cap-off your visit.
At Nancy's Point just outside Leenane Village you will board the "Connemara Lady" for a spectacular 90 minute cruise on Ireland's only fjord. Cruising the sheltered Killary Harbour fjord is the ideal way to take in the dramatic sweep of the landscape, as you pass between the Twelve Bens and the Maam Turk mountains to the South, in County Galway, and the Mweelrea mountains to the North in County Mayo. Not to mention the views out to the Atlantic at the mouth of the fjord.
Killary Harbour is also one of the Signature Discovery Points found along the Wild Atlantic Way.
Kylemore Abbey is not only one of Ireland's most attractive buildings; since 1920, it has also been home to the Sisters of the Benedictine Order in Ireland. Even today, Kylemore continues to operate as a working Abbey: here, the sisters live, work and pray, as well as welcoming visitors from across the globe.
Kylemore Abbey can be viewed along the Wild Atlantic Way.
They are one of the most popular and frequently most eagerly anticipated attractions on any of our Ireland Tours, and the views will not disappoint. Rising to a height of 203 metres, these sheer vertical cliffs hold a steady, undulating line against the tireless advance of the Atlantic below. A better view of the sea and setting sun you will not find.
The Cliffs of Moher are a Signature Discovery Point on the Wild Atlantic Way. For more information click here.
Ireland has more than its fair share of outstanding archaeological sites, but the Rock of Cashel is arguably the most impressive. The 'rock' from which it takes its name is in fact a limestone hill, covered in luscious green, rising from the plain which characterises the surrounding area. The word 'cashel', by contrast, is derived from the Irish gaelic word caiseal, meaning stone fortress.
Pubs (public houses) play a huge part in the culture of Ireland, and have done throughout the ages. Sometimes busy, often noisy, but always friendly and welcoming places to meet the locals. In a pub, you will see a full cross section of Irish society - its a place where people from all classes, ages, interests and backgrounds can mix.
Located in County Meath, Trim Castle is the largest Anglo-Norman castle in Ireland. Hugh de Lacy and his son Walter built it over a 30 year period, finished in 1206.
Ireland's most prestigious university is arguably its most attractive, too. Covering no less than 16 hectares, the college buildings and grounds are a poetic tribute to the best of Victorian architecture. Receiving its charter from Queen Elizabeth I in 1592, Trinity remained exclusively protestant until 1793. Today, such prejudices and exclusions are long gone, and Trinity enjoys a global reputation as a leading institution for learning, teaching and research.
The Wild Atlantic Way is a long-distance touring route, the first of its kind in Ireland. It runs the length of Ireland's western coast, facing the Atlantic Ocean, from County Donegal in the northwest to County Cork in the southwest. The initial aim of the Wild Atlantic Way was to give greater visibility to Ireland's west coast in overseas markets. The Wild Atlantic Way is 2,500 km (1,553 miles) long and passes through 3 provinces of Ireland (Ulster, Connacht and Munster). It has given a huge boost to the tourism industry of the region since its launch in February 2014.
Galway City is seen as the cultural and artistic hub of Ireland. Take time to enjoy the artisanal food and relaxed, bohemian vibes of this unique city.
Galway City and Salthill Promenade form part of the Wild Atlantic Way. The county of Galway also includes the Wild Atlantic Way Discovery Points of Killary Harbour, Cleggan Harbour and Sky Road. For more information click here.
Connemara, in western County Galway, is a rugged and scenic landscape. Once described as a place of "savage beauty" by Oscar Wilde, Connemara is an expanse of bogs, mountains and lakes.
Connemara is also home to two Wild Atlantic Way's Signature Discovery Points in Derrigimlagh Bog and Killary Harbour.
The Ring of Kerry is located on the Iveragh Peninsula of southwest County Kerry. It is a circular driving route which takes in a number of seaside villages and picturesque coastal landscapes.
The Ring of Kerry towns of Kilorglin, Glenbeigh, Cahersiveen, Waterville, Caherdaniel, Sneem and Kenmare also feature on the Wild Atlantic Way. You can also visit the Wild Atlantic Way Signature Discovery Point of Skellig Michael, an abandoned 7th-century Christian island monastery, from the town of Portmagee during the warmer months of the year.
Originally built in 1823, Blarney Woolen Mills was mainly used for the spinning and weaving of wool. After it closed in 1973 it reopened, in 1975, as an Irish heritage shop.
Overlooking a salmon fishery on a scenic 450-acre estate, this luxury castle hotel is nothing short of a national treasure. The hotel and grounds are aesthetically stunning, perfectly blending classic elegance with modern comfort.
Ballynahinch Castle is located in the Connemara region of County Galway and is proud to be a part of the Wild Atlantic Way.
Muckross Estate, in the town of Killarney, County kerry was donated to the Irish Free State in 1932. Its grounds became Ireland's first national park and over time it has expanded to encompass nearly 25,500 acres. The jewel in the crown of the park is its majestic lakes, Lough Leane (the lower lake), Muckross Lake (the middle lake), and the Upper Lake. These lakes make up a quarter of the park's area and continue to draw admirers in hugh numbers ever since the park first opened.
Killarney National Parks & Lakes are located a short distance from the town of Kenmare on the Wild Atlantic Way.