Explore the Emerald Isle with Rabbie's
Award winning small-group tour operator Rabbie’s Trail Burners is best known for its friendly, authentic and sustainable tours of Scotland, but 2011 sees the launch of Rabbie’s first Irish tour.
With the same philosophy as its popular Scottish and North of England tours, which depart from Edinburgh and Glasgow, the new five day Irish tour, Escape to the West, will take guests off the beaten track to experience the real Ireland, its people and culture, as well as the region’s most renowned scenic and historic highlights, all in the company of one of Rabbie’s knowledgeable, local driver/guides.
With a maximum of just 16 passengers, the tour departs from the vibrant city of Dublin, taking guests west into counties Kildare and Offally to visit Locke’s Distillery – reputedly the oldest legal distillery in the world, the mighty Shannon River and the early Christian site of Clonmacnoise. After a traditional pub lunch in the village of Shannonbridge, guests travel to Galway City for their first night.
Day two takes in the limestone landscape and ancient stone monuments of The Burren in County Clare and the iconic 700-foot high Cliffs of Moher, while day three takes guests to the scenic Dingle Peninsula, rich in traditional Gaelic culture. Highlights of the Peninsula include the ancient forts at Slea Head, the colourful harbour town of Dingle, and views across the water to the dramatic Blasket Islands and the mountains of the Ring of Kerry to the south. Overnight accommodation on days two, three and four is in the lakeside town Killarney, which has a wealth of pubs to choose from for live music and delicious Irish fare.
Day four offers an opportunity to explore the Ring of Kerry, the 100-mile trail which includes Carrauntoohil – Ireland’s highest mountain, the subtropical gardens at Kells Bay, the Cahersiveen ring fort and the fishing village of Portmagee, where guests can tuck into local seafood for lunch before crossing to the island of Valentia. In the afternoon, the Coonmakista Pass provides one of the best views in all of Ireland, before dropping back down to sea level for a visit to Derrynane House, the family home of 19th century political leader Daniel O’Connell, with gardens and a beach to explore as well as the house itself. Further photo opportunities are provided at Moll’s Gap and the Ladies View before travelling back to Killarney.
The final day of the tour takes guests to the stunning Torc Waterfall in Killarney National Park then through the mountains of West Cork to Blarney Castle, with the chance to kiss the famous Blarney Stone. Other highlights of day five include the medieval monastery at the Rock of Cashel and the many attractions of Kilkenny, which include the Castle, Park, riverside walks, National Craft Centre and plenty of pubs in which to enjoy one last Guinness before heading back to Dublin.
Rabbie’s guarantees guests will enjoy their trip – or their money back. Time off the bus is very important and the Rabbie’s team has personally researched and experienced every stop on every route to ensure visitors are seeing the very best of what the region has to offer. Tours can be tailored to suit individual budgets, with a wide range of accommodation options available, from hostels to hotels, which Rabbie’s will book on behalf of guests. Costs are kept down further with no obligation to pay entrance fees for visitor attractions and flexibility for guests to choose their own meals according to individual taste and budget.
The new Escape to the West tour has ten departure dates on Sundays from 15 May to 18 September 2011 and costs from €299 for adults or €279 for students, seniors and children between five and 16.
To book, please visit: rabbies.com
