Ireland’s Best Castles

On arrival you will be warmly welcomed to Ireland by your friendly driver guide. We will build the itinerary around your preferred time of arrival, allowing you full flexibility. 

To start off your castle tour, you will be taken to Clontarf Castle, just outside Dublin, where you will have the opportunity to sample a delicious full Irish Breakfast or a hearty lunch or supper, depending on your time of arrival. 

Continuing on from here, we make our way into Dublin City and you will experience a panoramic driving tour of the capital of Ireland. 

From Dublin, we will make our way South and depending on the group’s interests, we can include a drive through the scenic Wicklow Mountains and stop at the monastic site of Glendalough. From here, we will make our way to the first castle hotel of your tour, Kilkea Castle, which is one of Ireland’s oldest castles dating back to the 12th century.

Overnight suggestion -Kilkea Castle

After your night in the lovely Kilkea Castle, your driver will pick you up and you will start the day by diving deeper into Ireland’s Ancient East. We are driving you to the medieval city of Kilkenny where you can explore one or more of the following attractions: Saint Canice’s Cathedral and Round Tower, walk the “Medieval Mile” and visit the Medieval Mile Museum, visit Kilkenny Castle and take a stroll to the castle park or take a tour in the Smithwicks Brewery.  

Be sure to get some gift shopping done in Kilkenny at the Kilkenny Design Centre, located right opposite Kilkenny Castle. 

After lunch at the infamous Kyteler’s Inn, a historic pub with great atmosphere, music and food, established in 1324, we will make our way down to the Viking City of Waterford, where you will check into Waterford Castle. This wonderful Irish castle is located on an exquisite 310-acre private island and is accessed by a car ferry over the King’s Channel.

Overnight suggestion – Waterford Castle

In the morning, after setting back over onto the mainland, we will make our way to the Rock of Cashel, a historic site perched on an impressive hill with numerous ancient buildings such as a round tower, historic cathedral and a Celtic high cross – a fabulous photo opportunity not to be missed!

We will leave the Rock of Cashel and delve deep into Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands. We make our way to King John’s Castle in Limerick, a 15th century castle located on the banks of the mighty River Shannon. Here you may partake in one of the medieval activities that take place in the castle’s courtyard. 

From Limerick City, it is just an hours’ drive to another one of Ireland’s best castle hotels – Dromoland Castle.

Overnight suggestion – Dromoland Castle

Today you can choose to make use of the castle’s fabulous amenities (perhaps you fancy an afternoon tea, a relaxing stroll through the gardens or a round of golf?). Contact the castle staff to pre-book your activities.

If you cannot get enough of Ireland’s beautiful landscape and exciting activities, another day of touring is on the cards. Perhaps you fancy a beautiful coastal drive on the Wild Atlantic Way via the Burren to the famous Cliffs Moher. En route, a possible photo stop is Dunguaire Castle and a quick visit to Poulnabrone Dolmen is also an option. 

A great alternative for our history buffs is a visit to the authentic Bunratty Castle and Folk Park with its 15th century castle and authentic old Folk Park. After lunch in Doolin (Cliffs of Moher Option) or at the famous Durty Nellies Tavern (Bunratty Castle Option), we will make our way back to Dromoland Castle, where you can enjoy some quality time making use of the wonderful facilities this castle has to offer.

Overnight suggestion – Dromoland Castle

This morning bid your farewells to the lovely staff at Dromoland Castle. Your driver will pick you up and you will start the day by driving to the City of Galway, an excellent stop to stock up on some well needed Irish gifts. 

There will also be an opportunity to have a tour of the city, visit Galway Cathedral or enjoy a walk along Salthill promenade. We will have lunch in the city and will then make our way to Connemara. On this drive into the West you will experience the ruggedness of the beautiful mountains of Connemara, the serene lakes and of course everybody’s favourite – plenty of sheep along the way – or on the road in fact! 

For those of you who like movies, you will get the opportunity to have a photo stop at the scene of the opening of the film “The Quiet Man”.

We recommend an early check-in at Ashford Castle as this surely will be the highlight of your castle tour of Ireland.

Overnight suggestion – Ashford Castle

Your driver will pick you up from Ashford Castle after a leisurely breakfast. From the village of Cong, several options are available, depending on the group’s interest. Your plan for the day is kept flexible and changes may be made according to how the group feels on the day. 

Your guide will be able to recommend some of the highlights of the area, which include: Ireland’s only fjord “Killary Fjord”, the beautiful fishing villages of Roundstone and Clifden, a sheepdog demonstration, Kylemore Abbey and its walled gardens or hike up Diamond Hill. 

At the end of the day, there is always the opportunity to visit the closing scene of “The Quiet Man” en route back to Ashford Castle. You may wish to spend the evening at your castle hotel and enjoy some of the activities on offer (lake cruising, fishing, spa treatments, afternoon tea or the famous falconry experience). We suggest you contact the castle staff to pre-book your activities.

Overnight suggestion – Ashford Castle

This morning bid your farewells to the lovely staff at Ashford Castle. Before you leave this wonderful Irish castle, enjoy one last stroll through the castle grounds and say goodbye to the resident Irish wolfhounds on site. 

Then we will transfer you to Dublin Airport or transfer you to a hotel of your choice in Dublin. If your schedule allows, we can include a stop at Athlone Castle en route. If at this point you still can’t get enough of Irish castles, we can stop for lunch at Tyrell’s Pass, a fantastic medieval Irish Castle and Towerhouse!