TALE OF TWO IRISH CAPITALS

Touch down in the north of Ireland and transfer to your overnight stay in the Belfast area.

Enjoy a day trip in County Down starting with an exciting walk from Tollymore Forest Park to Newcastle, a scenic seaside town. Tollymore Forest Park is located in the foothills of the Mourne Mountains and is home to woodlands, streams, grottos, and caves. The forest was used in several scenes of the popular TV series Game of Thrones. In the afternoon enjoy a traditional bread-making demonstration with local food tasting in the family kitchen of Tracey Jeffery, located in a very scenic setting
along Strangford Lough. Everyone gets to enjoy a feast of homemade bakes and treats. 

Start your morning with an enjoyable walking tour of Belfast, Northern Ireland’s capital and largest city. In spite of its recent unsettled past, today Belfast is a progressive and cosmopolitan city. During the tour, note the city’s architecture, industrial glory, and divided past. Enjoy a visit to the iconic Belfast City Hall and explore some of its finest features. Then, stop at the Botanic Gardens, an important part of the city’s Victorian heritage. Of particular note is the glasshouse made from curved iron and glass and the Palm House’s tropical plants and birds of paradise. This afternoon, return to the Boyne Valley and visit Slane Distillery. Housed in the 250-year-old stables of the iconic Slane Castle estate, which is privately owned by the Marquis of Conyngham, Lord Henry Mountcharles, and his family. The distillery pays homage to the resilient nature of the family heritage and the surrounding lands that they call home. Enjoy the tour and whiskey tastings to follow! Slane Castle is also well known as a concert venue – Bruce Springsteen, Queen, and Rolling Stones to mention just a few of the performers over the years. 

A day of ancient history awaits you! Some of Ireland’s oldest archaeological treasures – cairns built in 4000 BC as burial chambers – can be found upon the hills above Loughcrew. There is an energetic walk to get up the hill of Loughcrew where the cairns are located. Fore Abbey is located not far from Loughcrew, in a tranquil green valley in the village of Fore. Here you view the site where St Fechin founded a Christian monastery in the 7th century. In the afternoon you will have a stop in Trim, an ancient town well located on the River Boyne and so significant that a 5th-century fort and an early monastery were sited here. Visit Trim Castle, which was built in 1172 shortly after the arrival of the Anglo-Normans in Ireland. There have been adaptations to the castle over the centuries but much of its fabric has remained unchanged since the height of the Anglo-Norman power in Ireland. The film Braveheart shot many scenes at this impressive castle.  

Travel to the capital city of Dublin in the Republic of Ireland for a walking tour. Built around the 7th century on the River Liffey, Dublin is now a small and vibrant city showcasing interesting medieval, Georgian and modern architecture. During your tour, you will see some impressive cathedrals, Georgian squares, government buildings, and the Phoenix Park – Europe’s largest public city park. Enjoy a visit to the National Museum of Ireland – Archaeology on Kildare Street. From prehistoric Ireland to Ancient Egypt, visitors can see important archaeological artifacts dating from 7000 BC up to the 20th century. Highlights include Iron Age ‘bog bodies’ and an exhibition of prehistoric Irish gold. The rest of the day will be spent enjoying your free time in the city.

It’s time to say goodbye – transfer to the airport for your onward journey or extend your stay to discover other parts of glorious Ireland.