Ring of Kerry and Wonderful Western Ireland
Holiday Highlights
- See the astounding landscapes of the Ring of Kerry
- Enjoy a guided tour of historic Bantry House and time to explore its beautiful gardens
- Explore Glengarriff, Bantry Bay and delightful Kinsale
- Visit Timoleague Abbey
- Spot seals on a boat trip to Garnish Island and its famous gardens
- Discover the delightful city of Cork
What's Included
- Five nights' dinner, bed and Irish breakfast accommodation at a three-star hotel
- Return flights to Cork
- A tour of the Ring of Kerry
- A visit to the abbey ruins at Timoleague
- A boat trip to Garnish Island
- Visits to Cork, Cobh, Glengarriff and Kinsale
- Entrance to Bantry House
- Comfortable coach travel and transfers throughout
- Fully escorted by a friendly, experienced tour manager
Itinerary
Day 1
Fly into Cork airport, meet your tour manager and transfer by coach to your hotel. After checking in, you'll have the rest of the day free to spend as you wish.
Day 2
Our day begins with a drive through Clonakilty, birthplace of Irish hero Michael Collins, before we reach the village of Timoleague, where the ruins of its 13th-century abbey stand proudly at the water's edge. The abbey is one of very few early Franciscan foundations with extensive remains still standing in Ireland. From here we'll continue to the attractive harbour town of Kinsale, where a maze of narrow streets lined with galleries and shops are overlooked by its mighty 17th-century fort. Enjoy lunch with a view at the quayside (payable locally), where you'll find a wonderful choice of cafes and restaurants. Afterwards, you’ll return to the hotel where dinner is served.
The Celtic Ross Hotel
Westlodge Hotel
Tipping
We are often asked about gratuities on our Irish holidays. At the end of a tour it is customary to give a coach driver around £2-3 per person per day and a Tour Manager around £3-5 per person per day; a gratuity of £1 per person per day for dining/waiting staff in your hotel will also be greatly appreciated. In a restaurant leave about 10% of a bill (no need to tip in a bar) and around £2 for services such as hairdressing.
Airport transfer times
The transfer time from Cork airport to your hotel is approximately one hour, 15 minutes.
Hotel spa treatments
To avoid disappointment, please book any treatments direct with the hotel prior to arrival.
Combining hotel transfers
We sometimes need to combine transfers to and from your hotel. We always try to keep any wait to a minimum, but you may be asked to wait at the airport for up to an hour, while other incoming flights arrive, before the transfer to your hotel. Similarly, we may need to transfer you back to the airport up to three hours before your flight home departs.
Special requirements
If you have notified us of any special requirements, please check that they have been noted and acknowledged. This is especially important with any dietary needs you may have.
Itinerary changes
Occasionally, for operational reasons, we may have to change the order of the excursions on your holiday. The final day-by-day itinerary will be confirmed on your Final Travel Documents, which you will receive approximately three weeks prior to your departure.
Disabled access
The majority of our tours involve a certain amount of walking, including a short walk from the coach stop to the town, attraction or venue you're visiting. If you are bringing a wheelchair, please let us know at the time of booking so that appropriate arrangements can be made.