Tues 15^th Aug  LHR  12.10 pm .   

Maybe a show in London?

Weds 16^th Aug  London – The London Eye, The London Dungeon, The Tower of London, The da Vinci Code sites, …..

Thurs 17^th Aug  Thornbury Castle , near Bristol for a romantic night.  It is close to Stonehenge , Avebury and Glastonbury .

Fri 18^th Aug  Fly to Ireland from Bristol .  20kg  (about 40lb) baggage allowance pp   Flight Check in 12.00  departure 1.30  Arrive Dublin 2.30

On arrival in Dublin  start with a “Sea Thrill” – a 45 minute whiz around Dublin Bay in a RIB

Visit Dublin Castle and explore Dublin .  Overnight the Four Seasons Simmonscourt Road Dublin 4

Sat 19^th Aug  

PLEASE REMEMBER TO TREAT THIS AS A MENU, NOT AN ITINERARY - IF YOU TRY AND DO IT ALL YOU WILL GET INDEGISTION!

Tour to Dunbrody House in the South east

The Wicklow mountains may detain you for most of the day if you explore Powerscourt House and gardens, where Barry Lyndon was filmed (now with an excellent shop and restaurant), and the valley of Glendalough where St Kevin founded his monastery in the 6^th Century. However be sure to leave time to explore the west side of the Mountains - Castleruddery Stone Circle, the mysterious fort of Rathgall, the gardens of Altamount, the brewery in Carlow. From Kilkenny one should first explore the city, full of medieval laneways, inns with tales of witches, a great castle and of course lots of shops. Follow the valley of the River Nore to Bennetsbridge, with its many craft workers studios, Thomastown with the Cistercian abbey of Jerpoint and the Jack Niclaus golf course on the rolling estate of the Earl of Carrick's mansion, Mount Juliet (now a hotel) and then on down the valley of the River Nore to New Ross and Arthurstown

Castleruddery	Rathgall	Kilkenny	Mount Juliet

Sun 20^th Aug

Stop for a tour of Waterford Crystal (be sure to see the cathedral whilst you are there). From there a very scenic road follows "The Gold Coast" through Tramore and Annestown to Dungarvan. Shortly after Dungavan the church and holy well at Ardmore is a must see, as is the church in Youghal, where Sir Walter Raleigh worshipped. The famous cookery school of Ballymaloe , with its shell house and associations with William Penn, is just to the South of Midleton, home of Irish Whiskey. The Cobh Heritage centre presents a fascinating story of emigration to America and as you rejoin the main road to Cork the gardens of Fota Island and Barryscourt Castle should not be missed.  From Cork City you are still 60 miles from your destination - Ballylickey manor House, in the village of Ballylickey, just beyond Bantry, so do not linger here too long!

Fota	Whiskey

  Mon 21^st Aug  

9 am Meet your guide for a walking tour.  I would suggest lunch in the Good Things Cafe in Durrus

After lunch explore West Cork – Especially Drombeg Stone circle  Lots of houses to visit and things to see!

Touring to the west you will find brightly painted villages, mad folk museums, amazing sub tropical gardens and host of craft workers, farmhouse cheese producers and enchanting cafes, bars and restaurants. As you carry on down the coast the golden beaches begin to disappear. By the time you reach Mizen Head the seascape is as wild as anywhere in the world with the Fastnet light flashing its warning in the distance.

Overnight Ballylickey

Kinsale	West Cork	Drombeg

Tues 22 Aug  Weds 23rd & Thurs 24th Aug

More of West Cork and its houses and gardens.  See the West Cork Garden Trail  (click link)

or visit the Islands

The long West Cork coastline is dotted with islands and rocks. Many islands were once inhabited but now abandoned, while others have only a small number of residents today.

The seven inhabited island in West Cork are

• Bere Island,

• Whiddy Island (Bantry Bay),

• Cape Clare Island,

• Hare Island,

• Long Island,

• Sherkin Island (Roaringwater Bay)

• Dursey Island at the end of the Beara Peninsula.

Most ferries leave from Baltiomore

Friday 25th Aug

The highlights of Kerry – visit the prehistoric site at Barraduff and the lakes of Killarney -  Leave the family in Adare  at Adare Manor hotel, a wonderful gothic mansion.  Carry on via Limerisck and Shannon to Ennis and on to Doolin.  Return to Adare

Barraduff	Adare	Killarney

Adare Manor

Sat 26 Aug

Depart for London

Check in LHR at  1.45 pm

Britain