Mourne Mountains, Titanic & the Giant’s Causeway
What's Included
Return coach travel and ferry crossings
4 nights at a selected 4-star hotel in Dundalk or Carrickmacross with dinner & breakfast
1 night at a selected 3-star hotel in the Dublin area with dinner 1 breakfast on the return ferry home
Excursions to the Mountains of Mourne, Giant’s Causeway, Derry~Londonderry, Belfast, Titanic Belfast & Dublin Guided walking tour of Derry~Londonderry and guided city tour of Belfast with our tour manager
Escorted by a tour manager in Ireland
Optional locally guided city tour of Dublin (£14pp)
Itinerary
Day 1 to day 6
Day 1 We catch the ferry from Holyhead to Dublin where we meet our tour manager. We continue onwards to our hotel in Dundalk or Carrickmacross, our base for the next four nights.
Day 2 – Mountains of Mourne We enjoy a drive through the spectacular Mountains of Mourne, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, stopping to explore some of the region’s towns along the way. Hillsborough is a delightful town that is home to a beautiful castle and scenic wooded parkland and lakes. The popular seaside resort of Newcastle is the picturesque gateway to the Kingdom of Mourne where Slieve Donard, Northern Ireland’s highest mountain, sweeps down to the sea, while Downpatrick’s cathedral is said to be the burial place of St Patrick.
Day 3 – Giant’s Causeway & Derry~Londonderry Our day begins at the Giant’s Causeway, named for the enormous volcanic columns that make this National Trust-owned site such an incredible place to visit. From here we head to Derry~Londonderry – the only completely walled city on the island of Ireland. Our tour manager takes us on a guided walking tour where highlights include the gleaming Peace Bridge across the River Foyle, St Columb’s cathedral and the beautiful Guildhall.
Day 4 – Belfast & Titanic Belfast We take a guided tour of Northern Ireland’s vibrant capital with our tour manager. Belfast is now a thriving, modern metropolis with a colourful history – as a key player in the Industrial Revolution; it was the centre for the Irish linen and tobacco industries. We also pay a visit to Titanic Belfast, a fantastic exhibition located on the site of the original shipyard in which the famous liner was built, that brings the maiden voyage of the Titanic to life.
Day 5 – Dublin (with optional guided tour £14pp) Checking out of our hotel, we travel to Dublin where we spend an afternoon at leisure. Just some of the sights here include the historic Temple Bar area, known as the entertainment and cultural quarter of Dublin, and Trinity College, the oldest university in Ireland set in 40 acres of cobbled squares, gardens and parks. We also have the option to join a locally guided tour of the city before spending the night in our hotel in the Dublin area.
Day 6 We check out of our hotel very early to catch the ferry back to Holyhead; therefore a voucher will be provided to enjoy breakfast on board. On arrival in Holyhead, we continue our journey home.
Due to ferry times, coach pickup times may be very early in the morning.
We’ll stay at one of two hotels: The 4-star Ballymascanlon House Hotel is set in beautiful parkland approximately two miles north of Dundalk, complete with fantastic leisure facilities. The en-suite rooms offer free Wi-Fi, satellite TV and tea and coffee-making facilities.
The 4-star Nuremore Hotel & Country Club is an elegant manor-style hotel situated in the beautiful Monaghan countryside on the edge of the town of Carrickmacross. The hotel offers rooms with tea and coffee-making facilities, a TV and free Wi-Fi. Leisure facilities include an indoor swimming pool, spa, fitness centre and an 18-hole golf course. We also spend our last night in a conveniently located 3-star hotel in the Dublin area.