Tues 24 July
Arrive
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 |
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| Askeaton | Foynes 1941 | De Vere's House |
Stop in
Askeaton, home in the 18th century of The Hell Fire Club. On the River
Deel, Askeaton was of great importance during medieval times. Desmond Castle
dominates the town. The tower rising from Deel island, the fine windows and
fireplace, and to the west of the tower, a great banqueting hall are all from
the 15th century. The Franciscan friary built in 1389, was plundered and burnt
in 1579 by Sir John Marbie. Some friars were also massacred. Saint Marys Church
is a 13th century building, whose ruins are the Protestant Church. Nearby is the
grave of the poet Aubrey de Vere.
During the 1930s and early 1940s, the port of Foynes, the next village,
was the fulcrum point for air traffic between the United States and Europe. The
famous flying boats were frequent visitors, carrying passengers who ranged from
celebrities to refugees. The Foynes museum recalls the era with a comprehensive
range of exhibits and graphic illustrations. It also includes a 1940s style
cinema, the original terminal building through which many VIP's passed, war
years' radio and the weather room. Irish coffee was "invented" here in
1943.
Turn left into Glin village off the
main road and right at the top of the square to get to the castle.
Weds 25 July
The Ring of Kerry is a circular route around the Iveragh Peninsula. It is best to do it in an anti clockwise direction - Killorglin, Glenbeigh, etc.
From Glin drive through Listowel with it literary centre, Tralee, the county capital to Killorglin.
Killorglin situated on a hill overlooking the wide and graceful River Laune, a river offering salmon and trout angling. Dominating the landscape to the south are the MacGillycuddys Reeks. It is the location of the famous "Puck Fair" festival - On the bridge into the town is a salmon smoke house called The Fishery.
The Bog Village is situated half way between Killorglin and Glenbeigh on the main Ring of Kerry route. It is a must for you to stop off and enjoy a step back in time to the early 18th century to recapture the way life would have been at that time. Peat, or turf as it is usually called in Ireland, is harvested from bogs and is still used as domestic fuel. The village is here to preserve the past for your enjoyment. This is a most worthwhile and historic visit to see the real Kerry life as it was, in the heart of Kerry's bogland. The Bog Village is adjacent to the Red Fox Inn Bar and Restaurant, which is open seven days a week.
Glenbeigh is a popular holiday base nestled at the foot of a well-wooded mountain and close to the head of Dingle Bay. It is dominated by the strange ruin of Wynn's Folly, or Hedley Towers, once home of the Winns, Barons Headley. The Title dated from 1797. Wynn's Folly was burnt down in 1922. The view from 'Wynn's Folly is superb, and provides a breathtaking view of the village and surrounds of Glenbeigh. After Glenbeigh you will pass through Kells Bay where a local shepherd gives demonstrations of working sheep dogs
From Cahirciveen you can divert to the right and take the car ferrry to Knightstown on Valentia Island. Be sure to visit The Slate Quarry, Glanleam Gardens and The Tetrapod Trackway - In 1993 an undergraduate geology student (Iwan Stossel) made the discovery of a lifetime. While examining rocks on the island's coast he came across a rock platform containing a set of ancient animal footprints. The tracks have since been dated to almost 400 million years ago and are regarded as among the earliest footprints known to science, and certainly the oldest known footprints in Europe.
Valentia is an island of unique scenic beauty, tropical vegetation, breathtaking cliffs and magnificent seascapes. The island is an excellent centre for sea angling and diving in unpolluted waters. The bridge was built at Portmagee in 1970. The island, about 11km long by 3km wide is one of the most westerly points of Europe. The surface is bold and rocky, two prominent features being Geokaun Mountain 268 meters on the north and Bray head 180 metres on the south, both are splendid vantage points for the sightseer. The Skellig Experience is located here. This is where the story of the Skelligs is told. The themes include the monastic settlement, the lighthouse, the bird and underwater life.
Head on to Ballinskelligs via St Finans Bay. In Ballinskelligs is the Cill Rialaig Centre - once a deserted and almost forgotten pre-famine village of thatched stone cottages situated on the Bolus road near Ballinskelligs, it is now an international artists' retreat .
On through Charlie Chaplin's Waterville and Cagerdaniel where, by golden beaches, stands Derrynane House, the ancestral home of Daniel O'Connell, lawyer, politician and statesman. Today some 120 hectares of the lands of Derrynane, together with Derrynane House, make up Derrynane National Historic Park. Plantations and garden walks were laid out in the 18th and 19th centuries, principally north and west of the house. Some features of the demesne are strongly associated with Daniel O'Connell, including the old Summer House. The main area of the gardens, set inland and to the north of the house, can be reached through a tunnel under the road.
Between Waterville and Derrynane you will see a Neolithic Stone alignment on the ridge above the LHS of the road. Outside Caherdaniel is a ruined Iron Age fort on the RHS.
Ar Castlecove, some distance to the left off the main road, is Staigue Fort - probably the finest example of a stone fort in Ireland, and is about 2500 years old. It is built of local stone and is almost circular, 27m in diameter. The walls are almost 4m thick at the base, and 2m thick at the top. The north side is still perfect with some of the old coping stones still in position. There are two small chambers in the wall, one on the west side and one on the north side. The stairways are probably the most interesting feature of the fort, and run inside the wall almost to the wall's full height. They lead to narrow platforms on which the fort's defenders stood.
Through Sneem and back to Kenmare.
Good eating places en route are The Bianconi in Killorglin, , The Ballinskelligs Inn or The Cill Rialaig Centre, Waterville Golf Course Club House, The Skellig Inn (but arrive late after the coaches have gone).
Overnight
at Hawthorn House in Kenmare Coming into Kenmare from Sneem, follow the one way
street up the town. Turn right at the Landsdowne Arms. Hawthorn
House is on the left, just after the Lime Tree restaurant.
Thurs 26 July
The Beara Peninsula is the wildest and most romantic of the peninsulas in the South West, and one of the largest of the long peninsulas, which make up the highly indented coastline of the South West of Ireland.
The peninsula stretches for a distance of 48km (30 miles) as the crow flies from Glengarriff to Dursey Island and back to Kenmare. It has an unspoilt and magnificent landscape, which sweeps from the spine of the Caha hills down to the shores of Bantry Bay and Kenmare Bay. The twisting road around the peninsula is well over 100 miles.
The Beara Way Walking Route is regarded by many as the best in Ireland, covering 125 miles and taking in some of the most breathtaking scenery imaginable. The Beara Cycling Route has also been developed and links up with the Beara - Kilgarvan and Beara-Gougane Barra Cycling Routes.
Beara has a profusion of archaeological sites, over 600 identified so far, ranging from wedge graves, stone circles, ring forts, "fulacht fiadh" and ancient church sites to the tallest ogham stone in the world (17 ½ feet / 5.3m) situated at Ballycrovane, Eyeries.
For the angling enthusiast, there is lake and shore angling. There are safe bathing spots all around the coast with sandy beaches at Allihies and Garnish.
Dereen Gardens are on the North coast of the peninsula, coming from Kenmare. Spectacular gardens and botanical refuge planted a hundred years ago by the fifth Lord of Landsdowne at the mouth of the Kenmare River. Hundreds of rhododendrons of every possible variety , Australian tree ferns, Chinese bamboo, and huge trees seen no where else in the world other than in their native lands. The Lord of Landsdowne lived to see all of his plantings come to full growth due to the fertile soil and interesting climatic zone.
The Healy Pass is an absolutely gorgeous, magical road, leading over the peninsula, or you can follow the Coastal route, overlooking Kenmare Bay and Coulagh Bay. By way of Eyeries Village and Ahillies,
Ardgroom Stone Circle
At the foot of Coomaeloghane mountain, with panoramic views over the north of the Beara Peninsula and the Kenmare estuary, Ardgroom stone circle is a delightful place to visit. The circle consists of nine particularly attractive and tall upright stones, one prostrate stone and a gap for an eleventh.
Dunboy Castles
Originally the castle began its life as a tower house of four stories height owned by the O'Sullivan Bere family. Donal Cam, head of the O'Sullivan Beres at the time of the battle of Kinsale in 1601, supported the Spanish and with the defeat of the Irish at Kinsale Donal Cam returned to Dunboy to reinforce its defences against an English attack. Upon arriving at Dunboy he was forced to oust the Spanish soldiers from the castle but retained 3 Spanish gunners to man the cannons and to advise him on fortifying the castle. As a result the tower house was reduced in height and an outer wall of stone and earth was built against cannon fire.
Puxley's manor
The mansion, originally a large tower house built in the 15th century was extended in 1868 with the increasing wealth of the Puxley family. The Puxleys first came to Beara from Galway and gradually acquired land, first by lease then by purchase. In 1812 John Puxley discovered copper in the Allihies area and brought the mining leases to them. With the profits of the mining " Copper John ", as he became known bought the lands around Dunboy There are 2 novels based on the Puxley family " The Two Chiefs of Dunboy " by J.A. Froude and "Hungry Hill " by Daphne du Maurier
Fri 27 July
Through the Midlands of Ireland by way of
Muckross House is situated close to the shores of Muckross Lake, amidst the beautiul scenery of Killarney National Park. The house is a focal point within the Park and is the ideal base from which to explore its terrain.
Muckross House was built for Henry Arthur Herbert and his wife, the watercolourist Mary Balfour Herbert. This was actually the fourth house that successive generations of the Herbert family had occupied at Muckross over a period of almost two hundred years. William Burn, the well-known Scottish architect, was the designer. Building commenced in 1839 and was completed in 1843
Cahir Castle - Once the stronghold of the powerful Butler family, the castle retains its impressive keep, tower and much of its original defensive structure. It is one of Ireland's largest and best preserved castles. It is situated on a rocky island on the River Suir
Rock of Cashel - A spectacular group of Medieval buildings set on an outcrop of limestone in the Golden Vale including the 12th century round tower, High Cross and Romanesque Chapel, 13th century Gothic cathedral, 15th century Castle and the restored Hall of the Vicars Choral
Sat 28 July
Tour to
Take the N7 into Dublin and turn right onto the R111
At Junction 56 continue forward onto Canal Road - R111 (signposted N1, N11, M50)
At Junction 55 continue forward onto Grand Parade - R111 (signposted (N1, N11), (M50)
At Junction 54 continue forward onto Mespil Road - R111
At Junction 53 continue forward onto Haddington Road - R111
At Junction 52 continue forward onto Haddington Road - R111
Continue to Grand Canal Street at Junction 51, past Beggars Bush Barracks on your right and turn right at the traffic signal, onto Shelbourne Road
In the afternoon Explore Dunlin - see http://www.tourismresources.ie/dublintour1
Sun 29 July
Fly to
Mon 30 July
Via Loch Lomond & Oban to
Inveraray enjoys a picturesque setting on the shores of Loch Fyne, where it meets Loch Shira. It was built on the site of an earlier fishing village in the mid 1700s by the 3rd Duke of Argyll, chief of the powerful Clan Campbell. He demolished the original village to give his rebuilt castle more space, and rehoused the population in a new village that is one of the most attractive in Scotland. Inveraray Castle is open to the public and boasts interiors every bit as magnificent as its exteriors, plus a superb collection of furniture and art, and a huge arsenal of weaponry.
Lochgilphead stands, as the name suggests, at the head of Loch Gilp, a short loch leading north west from Loch Fyne. The town was first laid out as a planned settlement in about 1790
Oban is the largest port in the west of Scotland, and the main ferry terminus for the Hebrides. Ferries from here serve Mull and many of the inner Hebridean islands as well as Barra and South Uist in the Western Isles.
The town is also a popular resort, overlooking a beautiful sheltered bay and having many attractions for visitors including McCaig's Folly, a lookalike of Rome's Colosseum, built in 1897.
Just outside Oban you can drop into Dunstaffnage Castle, just off the A85 three miles north of the town.
Much of the castle you see at Dunstaffnage today was built by the Macdougalls in
the 1200s.
Tues 31 July
By way of
The day starts with a romantic drive through wild highland scenery.
Callander's attraction to visitors goes back a long way. The Romans named this place Bochastle when they built a fort beside the River Teith here in the first century AD. Today this episode in Callander's history is marked primarily though the name of the Roman Camp Hotel, near the eastern end of the town
Ask just about anyone, worldwide, about Stirling, and they'll probably have heard of Stirling Castle. But don't, whatever you do, think that if you've seen Stirling Castle then you've exhausted all there is to see and do in what became Scotland's sixth city in 2002.
If you take a walk downhill from the castle towards the city centre you begin to come across other treasures. If you can drag yourself past the enticing Portcullis Hotel you see on the opposite side of the road Argyll's Lodging.
Beyond Argyll's Lodging you come to the area known as the Top of the Town. This features the striking ruin of Mar's Wark facing down Broad Street towards the town, and a range of other imposing, if in some lights slightly austere buildings. Behind Mar's Wark lies the graveyard of the Church of the Holy Rude, in which James VI was crowned.
Opposite the side of the Church of the Holy Rude, is the white-painted Cowane's Hospital, built in the mid 17th Century as an almshouse for bankrupt merchants. It fulfils a variety of functions these days, but is noteworthy for "Meet the Ancestors", a centre for information about the history of families originating in the Stirling area.
Downhill from Cowane's Hospital is Stirling's Old Town Jail. This extremely impressive building backs onto the town walls and visitors are offered superb guided tours conducted by actors who really take you back to the far from "good" old days. An entertaining but extremely thought-provoking way to spend your time; complete with some excellent views over the town.
Next door and downhill again from the Old Town Jail is Stirling's Youth Hostel, backing onto the town walls and set back from the road to its front. Scottish Youth Hostels are located in buildings ranging from the very humble to the pretty grand. Stirling's is definitely somewhere at the grand end of the spectrum.
Opposite the Jail and Youth Hostel is the Tolbooth, built in 1705, and other nearby attractions include the Mercat Cross. A little further down the hill is Robert Spittal's House, founded by Robert Spittal, tailor to James IV in 1530 to support the poor. Beyond it is Darnley's House, where Lord Darnley, who became Mary Queen of Scots' husband, is said to have stayed when she was in residence at the Castle.
Further downhill still and you enter Stirling's Lower Town, the commercial heart of the town and home to most of the opportunities to shop, eat or drink.
Dunblane lies some five miles north of Stirling on the
Allan Water. A bustling and wealthy town, it comes complete with a charming
centre and one of Scotland's most attractive cathedrals.
The former 1830's Coaching Inn has been fully restored by Mark
Stevens and Claire Alderson and returned back to the Blackford Hotel.
Wood burning stoves in the restaurant, bar and dining room together with
Claire's special homemade recipes will all help to generate that feeling of
contentment, relaxation and escapism from the hustle and bustle of life outside. They have only
8 (very comfortable!) ensuite bedrooms
The Blackford Hotel is situated on the main quiet street of Blackford Village, 3 miles south of Auchterarder, just off the Main A9
Weds 1st Aug
A day of choices - The longest day would be by way of
Perth has Royal blood in its veins. Nearby is Scone, where all Scottish monarchs from 838 were invested. The ceremonial Stone of Scone, the Stone of Destiny, which featured in the investiture of successive Scottish monarchs, was taken from there by Edward I of England in 1296. It only officially returned to Scotland 700 years later, in 1996 Visitor attractions include St John's Kirk, sited behind the City Hall; and the Fair Maid's House, featured in Sir Walter Scott's novel The Fair Maid of Perth. By the North Inch is Balhousie Castle, now the headquarters and museum of the Black Watch, originally the 15th Century home of the Earls of Kinnoull. The Perth Mart Visitor Centre explores Perth's agricultural heritage. Caithness Glass has its factory and visitor centre just outside the town.Two miles north of Perth is Scone Palace. Built in 1580 in the grounds of a former abbey, it was enlarged in 1803 and having passed between families is today home to the Earl and Countess of Mansfield. The palace is sited in extensive parkland and there are rare pine trees in the grounds. A superb collection of French furniture is also on display in the palace.
On the Crieff road out of Perth you will find Huntingtower Castle, a fascinating glimpse of the way buildings are altered to meet the needs of their occupants: and another key part of the backdrop to Scotland's history.Four miles in the opposite direction, on the south bank of the River Tay, is Elcho Castle, easily one of the best castles to visit in Scotland. A marked contrast, further south and near the village of Glenfarg, is the high and lonely location of Balvaird Castle. Further east you come to the ancient village of Abernethy with its remarkable Round Tower.
The southern end of this area is marked by Loch Leven, complete with Lochleven Castle on Castle Island, and the nearby town of Kinross.
Pitlochry is a popular tourist destination and an excellent base from which to explore a large part of the Central Highlands. The town is set on the eastern side of the River Tummel. It is surrounded by hills, with the most striking being Ben Vrackie, to the north east. Beyond Ben Vrackie is a vast area of wilderness rising to the Cairngorms.
Pitlochry is home to two distilleries. The Edradour is Scotland's smallest, producing only twelve barrels per week, and can be found just to the east of the town. Bell's Blair Atholl Distillery, at the southern end of the town, is a very much larger operation. Both have visitor centres.
A few miles south of Kirriemuir is Glamis Castle, childhood home of the late Queen Mother and an important location for Shakespeare's Macbeth. The Castle and grounds are open to the public during the summer months and are well worth a visit.
Dundee is Scotland's fourth city and known historically for its shipbuilding and whaling, for its jam, and for its jute industry. It is also known for journalism and for comics
St Andrews is Scotland's oldest university town, perhaps best known as the home of golf. It sits on a wide bay on the north-east coast of Fife.
The town is easily explored on foot. The main streets, Market Street and South Street run from east to west and form the hub of the town. Here a mix of 13th Century through to modern university buildings are to be found alongside shops and restaurants, much as in Oxford or Cambridge.
The ruins of St Andrews Cathedral, once the largest and most magnificent cathedral in the country, lies at the eastern end of North Street.
The association of St Andrews with golf dates to the 15th Century, with the famous Old Course being constructed in the 16th. Today, St Andrews boasts the Old Course plus five other public courses in the area. It is also home to the excellent British Golf Museum.
Inland between Crail and Anstruther is Scotland's Secret Bunker, a site that was to become the country's seat of government in the event of a nuclear war. Inland from St Monans is Kellie Castle.
Falkland Palace, in the village of Falkland, is a stunning example of Early Renaissance architecture and both palace and gardens are open to the public during the summer months.
.
Thurs 2nd Aug
Drive to
The 
As the palace is a working royal palace,
opening arrangements may change at short notice.
The Scottish Parliament
A striking addition to the Old Town Skyline, the building is architecturally stunning, set among beautiful public gardens.
The Royal Mile
The famous cobbled street linking the Castle with The Palace of Holyroodhouse and passing St. Giles High Kirk, John Knox House, The Scotch Whisky Heritage Centre, Camera Obscura and many other museums and historic buildings of interest
Depending on time divert via The Grassmarket
The Grassmarket
retains the feel of a medieval market square.
Stroll round the cobbled streets with spectacular views of
Edinburgh
Scotland
's top visitor attraction, stands high upon an extinct
volcano. See the Scottish Crown Jewels and Stone of Destiny in the Castle's
Royal Apartments. Birthplace of James VI, son of Mary, Queen of Scots, he became
the first Stuart King of 
Princes Street - Edinburgh's main shopping throughfare contrasting with the tranquility
of
New Town - Edinburgh 's elegant Georgian New Town designed over 200 years ago by James Craig. He was awarded a certificate, a medal and Freedom of The City for his winning design.
Overnight
at the Caledonian
Fri 3rd
Depart