Day 1 - From your chosen joining point your feeder vehicle will take you to the designated interchange point where your holiday begins. After joining your holiday coach, travel north with suitable stops for lunch and refreshments. Arrive at your overnight hotel in North Wales in time to freshen up for your evening meal. Dinner, bed & breakfast (on the ferry).
Day 2 - An early start as you drive to Holyhead for the morning crossing to Dublin with breakfast included. After disembarkation, there will be time to explore Dublin with a guided city tour to ensure you get the most from your brief stay in the affable Irish capital. Plenty to see here from its Georgian Squares to bustling Grafton Street; from Temple Bar to Christ Church Cathedral. Continue south on to Carlow to check in for your 4-night stay at the Seven Oaks Hotel, Carlow. Dinner, bed & breakfast.
Day 3 - 5 - At leisure in Carlow with three included excursions. The hotel has traditional Irish music in the bar on Monday nights, admission to the hotel's dance club on Tuesday nights and dancing on Wednesday nights. On the banks of the River Barrow, Carlow is the compact county town of Country Carlow.
INCLUDED EXCURSIONS
Altamont Gardens
Drive through scenic County Carlow to what is widely regarded as the jewel in Ireland's gardening crown, Altamont Gardens. An enchanting blend of formal and informal gardens with riverside walks over 40 acres, Altamont features a fabulous mix of native and exotic plants, mature trees and woodland.
Waterford & JFK Arboretum (may operate with a local coach and driver)
A full day out with a visit to Waterford, Ireland's oldest city with a history dating back to Viking times. There are still vestiges of its past in the narrow streets of the 'Viking Triangle'. Continue to south of New Ross for a visit to the John F Kennedy Arboretum. This is a beautiful woodland park, dedicated to the memory of JFK, which has over 4500 species of trees and shrubs. The visit includes an introduction by a park guide as well as tea / coffee and scones at the cafe.
Kilkenny
On a leisurely curl of the River Nore, Kilkenny is a most atmospheric and compact medieval city with all manner of curious, narrow slipways, historic pubs and brightly coloured shops. The Medieval Mile linking 13th-century St Canice's Cathedral and the Anglo-Norman castle runs through its heart. An included ride in the morning on the Kilkenny 'Road Train' is a great way to get your bearings and see the best of Kilkenny's sights.
Day 6 - After a hearty Irish breakfast, you head back towards Dublin with a stop en-route at the Irish National Stud & Japanese Gardens (entrance included) just outside Kildare. From horses to horticulture, the Irish National Stud is a unique experience. The magnificent Japanese Gardens, the finest of their kind in Europe, trace the passage of a soul from birth to death and beyond - a serene and peaceful experience admired by over 120,000 visitors each year. Take the mid-afternoon crossing from Dublin back to Holyhead. It is recommended to have a meal on board as it will be mid-evening before arriving at your overnight hotel in North Wales. Bed & Breakfast
Day 7 - After breakfast, return homewards, arriving back at your local joining points early to mid-evening.