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Ireland
Ireland’s Causeway Coast And Wild Atlantic Way in 8 days
Experience the real Ireland in a week with beaches, cliffs, rugged scenery, warm bars and friendly local accommodation
Highlights
Spot ‘Game of Thrones’ filming locations along the Causeway coast and of course a visit to the spectacular Giant’s Causeway
Learn about Belfast’s troubled history on a fascinating guided tour
Get vertigo gazing at the 600m high sea cliffs of Slieve League
Practise your Bake Off skills in an Irish kitchen
Learn to pull a pint of Guinness and take an appreciation session on Irish Whiskey
A fully guided trip of discovery and accompanied by a local, our Ireland’s Causeway Coast and Wild Atlantic Way holiday takes you from the North West coast of Ireland into County Mayo.
There’s flexibility in the itinerary so that each day can be tailored to your needs. Become enchanted by the relaxed Irish way of life whilst exploring the rugged Irish coastline.
Walk along lovely coastal paths through the breathtaking coastal scenery. Learn about Irish history and heritage first hand from your guides – you’ll bake in an Irish home, pull your own pint of Guinness and of course, there’ll be plenty of craic in the local pubs, accompanied with live traditional music.
You’ll stay in small accommodation, often family-run and bed and breakfast style. The places you’ll stay are integral to the charm of this wonderful immersion into the Irish way of life.
Day 1
Your week starts in the historic city of Belfast with a fascinating guided tour. Beautiful Belfast has a troubled history stretching right up to more recent times and whilst showing you around, your tour guide will talk through with you how this past is reflected in the modern day.
You’ll next transfer to the stunning Causeway Coast – if you follow the ‘Game of Thrones’ series, you’ll recognise some of the filming locations.
You’ll arrive in Bushmills in time for dinner (included tonight) and to check in to your first bed and breakfast. You’ll be here for two nights.
Accommodation on this day: Cottesmore House Bed and Breakfast
Day 2
Delicious Irish breakfasts are a highlight of this week and today’s the first chance to sample the home cooking.
Today you’ll explore the dramatic Causeway Coast on foot. After breakfast you’ll travel ten minutes along the coast to the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge, linking the mainland to the tiny island of Carrareade.
The walk begins from here – you’ll follow the coast path with your guide, passing through dramatic cliff scenery and historic castle ruins (keep an eye out for locations, Game of Thrones fans!) before descending to the world-famous Giant’s Causeway.
The Giant’s Causeway was created some fifty to sixty million years ago when highly fluid basaltic lava intruded through chalk beds, spreading out into a thick layer of rock. The distinctive regularity of the columns are a result of particularly even cooling, creating around forty thousand columnar structures.
The walk finishes around lunchtime. If you’re keen for more then you can walk from here along the marked coastal trail to your B&B, or if you’d like a rest you can transfer back instead, so you’ve time to visit the Bushmills Irish Whiskey distillery.
Accommodation on this day: Cottesmore House Bed and Breakfast
Day 3
After your second Irish breakfast, you’ll set off on a road trip south to the wilds of Donegal on Ireland’s west coast.
En-route your guide will talk about the passing scenery and history. You’ll stop of course along the way for tea, scones and culture, arriving in Donegal town in the afternoon to check in to your accommodation.
From here, it’s a 10 minute walk into the town centre where you might like to take a boat trip or shop for Irish crafts. Dinner (included tonight) will be served in a restaurant that specialises in local cuisine and is renowned for their fresh fish dishes.
If you’re keen to continue after dinner, you can visit one of the many pubs to listen to traditional Irish music and enjoy an Irish whiskey.
Accommodation on this day: The Water's Edge Bed and Breakfast
Day 4
Today you’ll first visit the stunning cliffs of Slieve League. Formed of pre-Cambrian quartzite and Gneiss, these 600m cliffs aren’t as well known as the Cliffs of Moher, yet are three times as high!
Once you’ve caught your breath it’s time to visit the Folk
museum of Glencolumbkille. The museum is a series of cottages restored to reflect how people lived on the west coast during the 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries.Lunch is included today and this afternoon you’ll explore the coastline. Here there are options for all energy levels – either following the magical coastal paths, or relaxing on hidden beaches, or a bit of both!
Accommodation on this day: The Water's Edge Bed and Breakfast
Day 5
Today, you’ll travel to Sligo to explore the Wild Atlantic Way, and then on to wonderful County Mayo.
From the 300m summit of Knocknarea there are great views over the Atlantic ocean, Donegal and County Mayo. Here’s where you’ll find Queen Maeve’s grave, one of Ireland’s finest unexcavated passage tombs. The grave has the form of a cairn about 10 metres high and 55 metres wide. Your guide will tell you about the history of the tomb as you take in the views.
There’s a chance for lunch at a cafe on the coast where you can savour
the finest organic local produce. From here you’ll travel along the coastline to the famous Beach Bar for an Irish coffee or maybe a cheeky pint, before exploring on through the coastal villages of Easkey and Enniscrone, and arriving in Ballina.Dinner’s included at your bed and breakfast tonight, a true Irish experience with a home cooked meal and your host’s favourite dessert. Welcome to County Mayo!
Accommodation on this day: Brigown Bed & Breakfast
Day 6
Today is all about northern Mayo.
You’ll start with breakfast cooked by your host (who is known as a celebrity chef in Ireland!). After breakfast you’ll travel to the spectacular cliffs, sea stack and blow holes of Downpatrick Head. Ireland was neutral in the second world war but the coastline is dotted with stone markers visible from the air, so that allied planes knew their crossing point – Downpatrick Head is marked EIRE 64.
Next you’ll be taken to the Ceide Fields, the most extensive Neolithic site
in Ireland and the world’s oldest known field systems, dated at around 3,500BC. The fascinating visitors centre is well worth spending time in, to take it all in.This afternoon you’ll get involved in the kitchen, where you
will learn to prepare scones, Irish potato bread and & traditional
soda bread. You’ll wash down your creations with a nice cup of tea.Next up you have an Irish Whiskey Appreciation Session where you will discover what variety you like, and why.
Lastly you’ll take a short stroll down to the local pub at the nearby quay where you’ve a chance to learn to pull your own pint of Guinness.
You’ll probably need dinner by now – tonight this is included and is served next door and we can vouch for their delicious fish and chips!
Accommodation on this day: Brigown Bed & Breakfast
Day 7
Breakfast at Brigown’s is great – there’s a lot of choice on the menu, with a particular favourite being the locally smoked salmon and scrambled eggs.
The towns of the West coast are lively and untouched by the chain stores which have changed England’s centres so much over the past 20-30 years. After checking out, your guide will take the scenic route to Westport. Here you’ll have time to visit the colourful town and browse around the many locally-owned shops.
Today’s destination is Galway. On the way there’s a chance to visit the powerful Aasleagh Falls and then Kylemore Abbey with it’s Victorian walled garden, before passing through the mountains of beautiful Connemara to Galway city.
There’s time on arrival to freshen up and walk the short distance to the centre of town for the fun of your last Irish dinner and evening out.
Accommodation on this day: The Stop Bed and Breakfast
Day 8
You’ll say goodbye to Ireland – for now – and we’ll transfer you to the airport or ferry port for your onward journey.
Walking
The perfect way to explore Ireland's unspoilt scenery from gentle strolls on isolated golden sand beaches along the Wild Atlantic Way to the more challenging ascents of Achill island's two 650m peaks, there are walks to suit everyone.
Cycling
County Mayo's back roads are wonderfully quiet and picturesque - your only hazard might be a few sheep! You'll be able to cycle the Great Western Greenway (a disused railway line), cross beautiful Ballycroy National Park and explore Achill Island. Daily routes are 40-50km so there's always plenty of time for stopping to admire the scenery.
Baking
You'll get to spend time in your guide's 'Mam's' friendly kitchen where she'll have you baking scones, traditional Guinness soda bread and Irish potato cakes. Don't worry because you'll get to eat them all afterwards washed down with a nice cuppa.
Whiskey tasting
Take part in our guide's very special Whiskey appreciation session and you'll soon work out which Whiskeys you like and why.
The Stop Bed and Breakfast
The Stop is a wonderful bed and breakfast created from a 1930’s town house, situated 500m from the River Corrib and the centre of the city of Galway. It’s a modern take on a B&B, with the minimal and tasteful decor creating light and space in the otherwise rather compact rooms. Downstairs the walls are filled with original contemporary artworks.
Breakfast is a highlight, cooked by owners Russel and Emer, but save some space for the homemade cookies which are always available in the sitting room.
The Water’s Edge Bed and Breakfast
Surrounded to the South and West by Donegal Bay, The Water’s Edge Bed and Breakfast is set in a quiet, peaceful location only five minutes walk from the centre of Donegal town. Inside, the bed and breakfast accommodation is ensuite and tastefully decorated.
Cottesmore House Bed and Breakfast
As with all of the accommodation here in Ireland, your hosts Rae and John from Cottesmore House Bed and Breakfast will give you a warm Irish welcome in their cosy bungalow.
Cottesmore House is a great location from which to explore the Causeway Coast. It’s also within easy walking (staggering?) distance of the Bushmills Whiskey Distillery.
Brigown Bed & Breakfast
A warm welcome is assured at Brigown Bed & Breakfast. Your host Marjorie is a household name in Ireland when it comes to cooking and will ensure you feel at home here in her charming guesthouse on the banks of the river Moy in Ballina. Breakfast is particularly good here – a great chance to sample Marjorie’s culinary skills!
The Quay is a short walk away for food and drink, and you’re not far from the centre of town. The garden is a great place to sit and relax to watch the river and the world go by.
What’s the currency in Ireland?
The official currency in Ireland is the Euro (€) and has been since Ireland withdrew legal tender status for the Irish Pound in 2002. Ireland was one of the first countries to adopt the Euro, in 1999.
What’s the craic?
If you’re having a good time with others in Ireland, you’re almost certainly having a good craic (pronounced the same as the English word ‘crack’). Craic is a Gaelic word that’s hard to precisely define in English. Essentially it’s ‘fun’ but there’s definitely a social element to the definition. Generally, craic is a noun and it can be used in the singular or plural: ‘Yeah, we had some great craic today’. ‘Today was a good craic’.
Craic can’t be purchased, unless you’re in the middle of a serious misunderstanding.
You’re guaranteed to have a good craic on our holidays in Ireland!
What is the Wild Atlantic Way?
The Wild Atlantic Way is a road route along the length of the Atlantic west coast of Ireland, stretching from Londonderry in the North to Kinsale in the South. The Wild Atlantic Way was launched in 2014 by the Irish Tourist Board to raise awareness of and showcase the stunningly beautiful, diverse and lesser-populated Atlantic west coast of Ireland.The full signposted route is some 2,500Km long and passes through nine counties. It’s subdivided into six zones: The Northern Headlands, The Surf Coast, The Bay Coast, The Cliff Coast, The Southern Peninsulas and The Haven Coast.
For our Ireland holidays, we’re focusing on County Mayo and County Sligo, bounded by The Surf Coast and The Bay Coast sections of the Wild Atlantic Way.
How do you pour the perfect pint of Guinness?
You’ll have the chance to learn from a local if you’re on some of our guided days out in our Ireland holidays. But here are the steps to pouring a perfect pint of the Black Stuff.Step one – the glass is important. Choose a slightly ‘tulip’ shaped glass with a Guinness logo. As well as looking the part, the logo provides a visual aid…
Step two – you’ll need to hold your Guinness glass at a 45 degree angle whilst the Guinness logo is facing downwards.
Step three – here’s where the logo is helpful – pull the Guinness tap towards you and position your glass so that the stream hits in the area of the harp logo. The angle works it’s magic here as it discourages the Guinness stream from bouncing and creating large air bubbles.
Step four – watch for the liquid level and as it reaches the bottom of the harp, slowly return the glass to the upright position. Once the Guinness reaches the top of the harp, smoothly and slowly close the tap to stop pouring.
Step five – place the glass down for the magic phase, the ‘surge and settle’, as tiny bubbles form the iconic creamy head. If you’ve done it right then once the liquid is settled the wording ‘Guinness’ on the logo should be framed in black liquid, whilst the head should be between the bottom and the top of the harp.
Step six – hold the glass again under the pouring tap and push the tap away from you to slowly raise the head to the top of the glass. The perfect head should be about 20mm in height.
Step seven – drink and savour! If you need more practice, simply pour another ;).
Where are the tallest cliffs in Ireland?
The most well-known cliffs in Ireland are the Cliffs of Moher which run for some 14Km along the coast of County Clare. They’re certainly impressive with their vertical drop of 214m and they’ve become famous due to the visitor’s centre developed in the 1990s and opened in 2007. Between one and two million people visit every year. However, these cliffs are dwarfed by the tallest Ireland has to offer…The cliffs of Slieve League in County Donegal fall steeply from the summit of 601m to the ocean far below. Slieve League can be accessed by a short walk from the road. The drop is not as sheer as Moher but the cliffs are nearly three times as high! They’re still not the winner though… Slieve League is notable due to it’s accessibility however the real winner of the title is further south and west in County Mayo.
The tallest cliffs in Ireland are the sea cliffs of the remote mountain of Croaghaun on Achill Island which rise an incredible 688m from sea to summit. This makes them the highest not only in Ireland but also in all of the British Isles. They’re proudly also the third highest in all of Europe. To view the cliffs from Croaghaun summit requires commitment and fitness – and plenty of British hill walking experience or a guided hill walking day.
There’s a chance to see the cliffs of Croaghaun on our holidays in Ireland that include time on Achill Island.
Is Ireland in the UK?
By area, the Republic of Ireland is roughly 85% of the island of Ireland, the remaining 15% being Northern Ireland. The United Kingdom is a unitary sovereign state currently comprising Northern Ireland, Wales, Scotland and England. So no, the Republic of Ireland is not in the UK. But yes, Northern Ireland is in the UK. You may find this confusing but confusion’s been the least of it since the creation of Northern Ireland via the Partition Act of 1922.Where is Ireland?
The Republic of Ireland is part of the British Isles, an archipelago of over six thousand islands large and small lying off the coast of continental Europe, bounded to the west by the Atlantic Ocean and to the east by the North Sea. The two largest of these islands are Great Britain (comprising England, Scotland and Wales) and the island of Ireland (comprising the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland).How do I get to Ireland from the UK?
For UK travellers, the good news is that there are daily flights from many UK airports straight to County Mayo, arriving at Knock airport. There are also daily flights to other Irish airports including Dublin and Belfast making a through-trip possible on your Irish holiday.How do I get to Ireland from the US and Canada?
From the USA and Canada, direct flights go from many international airports to Dublin – from New York, Chicago, Orlando, Toronto, San Francisco, Seattle, Washington, Baltimore.How do I get to Ireland from continental Europe?
Very many continental European airports offer direct flights to Dublin.
Dublin airport is very well connected and so we can organise your holiday in Ireland to include flights from anywhere in the world.Highlights
Spot ‘Game of Thrones’ filming locations along the Causeway coast and of course a visit to the spectacular Giant’s Causeway
Learn about Belfast’s troubled history on a fascinating guided tour
Get vertigo gazing at the 600m high sea cliffs of Slieve League
Practise your Bake Off skills in an Irish kitchen
Learn to pull a pint of Guinness and take an appreciation session on Irish Whiskey
A fully guided trip of discovery and accompanied by a local, our Ireland’s Causeway Coast and Wild Atlantic Way holiday takes you from the North West coast of Ireland into County Mayo.
There’s flexibility in the itinerary so that each day can be tailored to your needs. Become enchanted by the relaxed Irish way of life whilst exploring the rugged Irish coastline.
Walk along lovely coastal paths through the breathtaking coastal scenery. Learn about Irish history and heritage first hand from your guides – you’ll bake in an Irish home, pull your own pint of Guinness and of course, there’ll be plenty of craic in the local pubs, accompanied with live traditional music.
You’ll stay in small accommodation, often family-run and bed and breakfast style. The places you’ll stay are integral to the charm of this wonderful immersion into the Irish way of life.
Day 1
Your week starts in the historic city of Belfast with a fascinating guided tour. Beautiful Belfast has a troubled history stretching right up to more recent times and whilst showing you around, your tour guide will talk through with you how this past is reflected in the modern day.
You’ll next transfer to the stunning Causeway Coast – if you follow the ‘Game of Thrones’ series, you’ll recognise some of the filming locations.
You’ll arrive in Bushmills in time for dinner (included tonight) and to check in to your first bed and breakfast. You’ll be here for two nights.
Accommodation on this day: Cottesmore House Bed and Breakfast
Day 2
Delicious Irish breakfasts are a highlight of this week and today’s the first chance to sample the home cooking.
Today you’ll explore the dramatic Causeway Coast on foot. After breakfast you’ll travel ten minutes along the coast to the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge, linking the mainland to the tiny island of Carrareade.
The walk begins from here – you’ll follow the coast path with your guide, passing through dramatic cliff scenery and historic castle ruins (keep an eye out for locations, Game of Thrones fans!) before descending to the world-famous Giant’s Causeway.
The Giant’s Causeway was created some fifty to sixty million years ago when highly fluid basaltic lava intruded through chalk beds, spreading out into a thick layer of rock. The distinctive regularity of the columns are a result of particularly even cooling, creating around forty thousand columnar structures.
The walk finishes around lunchtime. If you’re keen for more then you can walk from here along the marked coastal trail to your B&B, or if you’d like a rest you can transfer back instead, so you’ve time to visit the Bushmills Irish Whiskey distillery.
Accommodation on this day: Cottesmore House Bed and Breakfast
Day 3
After your second Irish breakfast, you’ll set off on a road trip south to the wilds of Donegal on Ireland’s west coast.
En-route your guide will talk about the passing scenery and history. You’ll stop of course along the way for tea, scones and culture, arriving in Donegal town in the afternoon to check in to your accommodation.
From here, it’s a 10 minute walk into the town centre where you might like to take a boat trip or shop for Irish crafts. Dinner (included tonight) will be served in a restaurant that specialises in local cuisine and is renowned for their fresh fish dishes.
If you’re keen to continue after dinner, you can visit one of the many pubs to listen to traditional Irish music and enjoy an Irish whiskey.
Accommodation on this day: The Water's Edge Bed and Breakfast
Day 4
Today you’ll first visit the stunning cliffs of Slieve League. Formed of pre-Cambrian quartzite and Gneiss, these 600m cliffs aren’t as well known as the Cliffs of Moher, yet are three times as high!
Once you’ve caught your breath it’s time to visit the Folk
museum of Glencolumbkille. The museum is a series of cottages restored to reflect how people lived on the west coast during the 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries.Lunch is included today and this afternoon you’ll explore the coastline. Here there are options for all energy levels – either following the magical coastal paths, or relaxing on hidden beaches, or a bit of both!
Accommodation on this day: The Water's Edge Bed and Breakfast
Day 5
Today, you’ll travel to Sligo to explore the Wild Atlantic Way, and then on to wonderful County Mayo.
From the 300m summit of Knocknarea there are great views over the Atlantic ocean, Donegal and County Mayo. Here’s where you’ll find Queen Maeve’s grave, one of Ireland’s finest unexcavated passage tombs. The grave has the form of a cairn about 10 metres high and 55 metres wide. Your guide will tell you about the history of the tomb as you take in the views.
There’s a chance for lunch at a cafe on the coast where you can savour
the finest organic local produce. From here you’ll travel along the coastline to the famous Beach Bar for an Irish coffee or maybe a cheeky pint, before exploring on through the coastal villages of Easkey and Enniscrone, and arriving in Ballina.Dinner’s included at your bed and breakfast tonight, a true Irish experience with a home cooked meal and your host’s favourite dessert. Welcome to County Mayo!
Accommodation on this day: Brigown Bed & Breakfast
Day 6
Today is all about northern Mayo.
You’ll start with breakfast cooked by your host (who is known as a celebrity chef in Ireland!). After breakfast you’ll travel to the spectacular cliffs, sea stack and blow holes of Downpatrick Head. Ireland was neutral in the second world war but the coastline is dotted with stone markers visible from the air, so that allied planes knew their crossing point – Downpatrick Head is marked EIRE 64.
Next you’ll be taken to the Ceide Fields, the most extensive Neolithic site
in Ireland and the world’s oldest known field systems, dated at around 3,500BC. The fascinating visitors centre is well worth spending time in, to take it all in.This afternoon you’ll get involved in the kitchen, where you
will learn to prepare scones, Irish potato bread and & traditional
soda bread. You’ll wash down your creations with a nice cup of tea.Next up you have an Irish Whiskey Appreciation Session where you will discover what variety you like, and why.
Lastly you’ll take a short stroll down to the local pub at the nearby quay where you’ve a chance to learn to pull your own pint of Guinness.
You’ll probably need dinner by now – tonight this is included and is served next door and we can vouch for their delicious fish and chips!
Accommodation on this day: Brigown Bed & Breakfast
Day 7
Breakfast at Brigown’s is great – there’s a lot of choice on the menu, with a particular favourite being the locally smoked salmon and scrambled eggs.
The towns of the West coast are lively and untouched by the chain stores which have changed England’s centres so much over the past 20-30 years. After checking out, your guide will take the scenic route to Westport. Here you’ll have time to visit the colourful town and browse around the many locally-owned shops.
Today’s destination is Galway. On the way there’s a chance to visit the powerful Aasleagh Falls and then Kylemore Abbey with it’s Victorian walled garden, before passing through the mountains of beautiful Connemara to Galway city.
There’s time on arrival to freshen up and walk the short distance to the centre of town for the fun of your last Irish dinner and evening out.
Accommodation on this day: The Stop Bed and Breakfast
Day 8
You’ll say goodbye to Ireland – for now – and we’ll transfer you to the airport or ferry port for your onward journey.
Walking
The perfect way to explore Ireland's unspoilt scenery from gentle strolls on isolated golden sand beaches along the Wild Atlantic Way to the more challenging ascents of Achill island's two 650m peaks, there are walks to suit everyone.
Cycling
County Mayo's back roads are wonderfully quiet and picturesque - your only hazard might be a few sheep! You'll be able to cycle the Great Western Greenway (a disused railway line), cross beautiful Ballycroy National Park and explore Achill Island. Daily routes are 40-50km so there's always plenty of time for stopping to admire the scenery.
Baking
You'll get to spend time in your guide's 'Mam's' friendly kitchen where she'll have you baking scones, traditional Guinness soda bread and Irish potato cakes. Don't worry because you'll get to eat them all afterwards washed down with a nice cuppa.
Whiskey tasting
Take part in our guide's very special Whiskey appreciation session and you'll soon work out which Whiskeys you like and why.
The Stop Bed and Breakfast
The Stop is a wonderful bed and breakfast created from a 1930’s town house, situated 500m from the River Corrib and the centre of the city of Galway. It’s a modern take on a B&B, with the minimal and tasteful decor creating light and space in the otherwise rather compact rooms. Downstairs the walls are filled with original contemporary artworks.
Breakfast is a highlight, cooked by owners Russel and Emer, but save some space for the homemade cookies which are always available in the sitting room.
The Water’s Edge Bed and Breakfast
Surrounded to the South and West by Donegal Bay, The Water’s Edge Bed and Breakfast is set in a quiet, peaceful location only five minutes walk from the centre of Donegal town. Inside, the bed and breakfast accommodation is ensuite and tastefully decorated.
Cottesmore House Bed and Breakfast
As with all of the accommodation here in Ireland, your hosts Rae and John from Cottesmore House Bed and Breakfast will give you a warm Irish welcome in their cosy bungalow.
Cottesmore House is a great location from which to explore the Causeway Coast. It’s also within easy walking (staggering?) distance of the Bushmills Whiskey Distillery.
Brigown Bed & Breakfast
A warm welcome is assured at Brigown Bed & Breakfast. Your host Marjorie is a household name in Ireland when it comes to cooking and will ensure you feel at home here in her charming guesthouse on the banks of the river Moy in Ballina. Breakfast is particularly good here – a great chance to sample Marjorie’s culinary skills!
The Quay is a short walk away for food and drink, and you’re not far from the centre of town. The garden is a great place to sit and relax to watch the river and the world go by.
What’s the currency in Ireland?
The official currency in Ireland is the Euro (€) and has been since Ireland withdrew legal tender status for the Irish Pound in 2002. Ireland was one of the first countries to adopt the Euro, in 1999.
What’s the craic?
If you’re having a good time with others in Ireland, you’re almost certainly having a good craic (pronounced the same as the English word ‘crack’). Craic is a Gaelic word that’s hard to precisely define in English. Essentially it’s ‘fun’ but there’s definitely a social element to the definition. Generally, craic is a noun and it can be used in the singular or plural: ‘Yeah, we had some great craic today’. ‘Today was a good craic’.
Craic can’t be purchased, unless you’re in the middle of a serious misunderstanding.
You’re guaranteed to have a good craic on our holidays in Ireland!
What is the Wild Atlantic Way?
The Wild Atlantic Way is a road route along the length of the Atlantic west coast of Ireland, stretching from Londonderry in the North to Kinsale in the South. The Wild Atlantic Way was launched in 2014 by the Irish Tourist Board to raise awareness of and showcase the stunningly beautiful, diverse and lesser-populated Atlantic west coast of Ireland.The full signposted route is some 2,500Km long and passes through nine counties. It’s subdivided into six zones: The Northern Headlands, The Surf Coast, The Bay Coast, The Cliff Coast, The Southern Peninsulas and The Haven Coast.
For our Ireland holidays, we’re focusing on County Mayo and County Sligo, bounded by The Surf Coast and The Bay Coast sections of the Wild Atlantic Way.
How do you pour the perfect pint of Guinness?
You’ll have the chance to learn from a local if you’re on some of our guided days out in our Ireland holidays. But here are the steps to pouring a perfect pint of the Black Stuff.Step one – the glass is important. Choose a slightly ‘tulip’ shaped glass with a Guinness logo. As well as looking the part, the logo provides a visual aid…
Step two – you’ll need to hold your Guinness glass at a 45 degree angle whilst the Guinness logo is facing downwards.
Step three – here’s where the logo is helpful – pull the Guinness tap towards you and position your glass so that the stream hits in the area of the harp logo. The angle works it’s magic here as it discourages the Guinness stream from bouncing and creating large air bubbles.
Step four – watch for the liquid level and as it reaches the bottom of the harp, slowly return the glass to the upright position. Once the Guinness reaches the top of the harp, smoothly and slowly close the tap to stop pouring.
Step five – place the glass down for the magic phase, the ‘surge and settle’, as tiny bubbles form the iconic creamy head. If you’ve done it right then once the liquid is settled the wording ‘Guinness’ on the logo should be framed in black liquid, whilst the head should be between the bottom and the top of the harp.
Step six – hold the glass again under the pouring tap and push the tap away from you to slowly raise the head to the top of the glass. The perfect head should be about 20mm in height.
Step seven – drink and savour! If you need more practice, simply pour another ;).
Where are the tallest cliffs in Ireland?
The most well-known cliffs in Ireland are the Cliffs of Moher which run for some 14Km along the coast of County Clare. They’re certainly impressive with their vertical drop of 214m and they’ve become famous due to the visitor’s centre developed in the 1990s and opened in 2007. Between one and two million people visit every year. However, these cliffs are dwarfed by the tallest Ireland has to offer…The cliffs of Slieve League in County Donegal fall steeply from the summit of 601m to the ocean far below. Slieve League can be accessed by a short walk from the road. The drop is not as sheer as Moher but the cliffs are nearly three times as high! They’re still not the winner though… Slieve League is notable due to it’s accessibility however the real winner of the title is further south and west in County Mayo.
The tallest cliffs in Ireland are the sea cliffs of the remote mountain of Croaghaun on Achill Island which rise an incredible 688m from sea to summit. This makes them the highest not only in Ireland but also in all of the British Isles. They’re proudly also the third highest in all of Europe. To view the cliffs from Croaghaun summit requires commitment and fitness – and plenty of British hill walking experience or a guided hill walking day.
There’s a chance to see the cliffs of Croaghaun on our holidays in Ireland that include time on Achill Island.
Is Ireland in the UK?
By area, the Republic of Ireland is roughly 85% of the island of Ireland, the remaining 15% being Northern Ireland. The United Kingdom is a unitary sovereign state currently comprising Northern Ireland, Wales, Scotland and England. So no, the Republic of Ireland is not in the UK. But yes, Northern Ireland is in the UK. You may find this confusing but confusion’s been the least of it since the creation of Northern Ireland via the Partition Act of 1922.Where is Ireland?
The Republic of Ireland is part of the British Isles, an archipelago of over six thousand islands large and small lying off the coast of continental Europe, bounded to the west by the Atlantic Ocean and to the east by the North Sea. The two largest of these islands are Great Britain (comprising England, Scotland and Wales) and the island of Ireland (comprising the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland).How do I get to Ireland from the UK?
For UK travellers, the good news is that there are daily flights from many UK airports straight to County Mayo, arriving at Knock airport. There are also daily flights to other Irish airports including Dublin and Belfast making a through-trip possible on your Irish holiday.How do I get to Ireland from the US and Canada?
From the USA and Canada, direct flights go from many international airports to Dublin – from New York, Chicago, Orlando, Toronto, San Francisco, Seattle, Washington, Baltimore.How do I get to Ireland from continental Europe?
Very many continental European airports offer direct flights to Dublin.
Dublin airport is very well connected and so we can organise your holiday in Ireland to include flights from anywhere in the world.
