Galway & Contrasts of Connemara

Wild by name, wild by nature; the Wild Atlantic Way runs the length of Ireland's west coast and provides the world's most enchanting coastal touring route. We combine this breathtaking scenery with the diverse landscapes of the Connemara National Park as well as the contrasting convivial urban atmosphere of Galway and Dublin. With visits to the beautiful Westport House, a heritage Victorian Walled Garden, plus the ancient Achill Island also included, this break is the perfect chance to absorb the natural beauty and history of the west of Ireland.What’s Included?
- Return coach travel & ferry crossings- 2 nights at a selected hotel in the Dublin area (JG3 rating) with dinner & breakfast*- 3 nights at the Breaffy Woods Hotel, Castlebar (JG4 rating) with dinner & breakfast- Excursions to Galway, Kylemore Abbey and Victorian Walled Garden, Connemara National Park, Westport, Achill Island & Dublin- Guided city tour of Galway with our tour manager- Escorted by a tour manager in IrelandOptional locally guided city tour of Dublin (£16pp)*Please note: due to our early departure, breakfast on the final morning will be taken on the ferry.

Itinerary
Day 1We catch the ferry from Holyhead to Dublin where our tour manager joins us. We continue onwards to our hotel in the Dublin area for our overnight stay.Day 2 - Guided city tour of Galway & CastlebarLeaving our hotel, we head across to Galway, a thriving, cosmopolitan city with the added bonus of a seaside setting. We enjoy a guided city tour with our tour manager, followed by free time to explore the city, which was named as the European Capital of Culture for 2020!Later we continue to Castlebar where we check in to our hotel for the next three nights.Day 3 - Kylemore Abbey and Victorian Walled Garden & Connemara National ParkWe start the day at Kylemore Abbey and Victorian Walled Garden. We visit the restored rooms of the beautiful Gothic Abbey, home to a monastic community of nuns since 1920, and explore the six-acre Victorian Walled Garden where only flower and vegetable varieties from that era are grown. This was one of the last walled gardens built in Ireland during the Victorian period, and its magnificence at the time was compared to London's Kew Gardens.Finally, we explore the scenic mountains, bogs, heaths, grasslands and woodlands that make up the Connemara National Park. Covering around 3,000 hectares of scenic countryside, the park is home to a diverse range of flora and fauna including the famous Connemara ponies.Day 4 - Westport & Achill Island After spending some free time in the picturesque town of Westport, we enjoy a scenic drive around Achill Island, the largest of Ireland's offshore islands. The island's striking natural beauty and rugged landscapes feature spectacular mountains, remote lakes, soaring cliffs and secluded beaches. First inhabited 5,000 years ago, the island is peppered with ancient forts, historic churches and megalithic tombs.Day 5 - Dublin (with optional guided tour £16pp)Checking out of our hotel, we travel to Dublin where we spend an afternoon at leisure. There are plenty of historic sites and iconic monuments to see from the oldest, Dublin Castle, to one of the newest, the Spire of Dublin. We also have the option to join a locally guided tour of the city before spending the night in our hotel in the Dublin area.Day 6We check out of our hotel very early to catch the ferry back to Holyhead; therefore, a voucher will be provided to enjoy breakfast on board. On arrival in Holyhead, we continue our journey home.Due to ferry times, coach pickup times may be very early in the morning.Hotel Hotel
Breaffy Woods Hotel, Castlebar (JG4 rating)\n\nThe Breaffy Woods Hotel is situated in 90 acres of woodland estate just outside the town of Castlebar. The en-suite rooms feature complimentary Wi-Fi, satellite TV and tea and coffee-making facilities. The hotel also features a bar and restaurant plus an indoor pool, Jacuzzi, steam room, gym and spa (spa treatments at extra cost).\n\nA convenient selected hotel, Dublin (JG3 rating)\n\nWe also spend the first and the last night of our stay at a conveniently located hotel in the Dublin area.