Five Star Deluxe Ireland Honeymoon 14 Night Tour

Your hotel is a mere 45 minutes’ drive from Dublin Airport in Enniskerry County Wicklow. Known as The Garden of Ireland, County of Wicklow is famed for its many attractive formal gardens throughout the stunning green landscape. Powerscourt Estate will be the first such gardens you may want to visit since they are located right next to your hotel! Even though they are so popular with locals and visitors alike, Powerscourt Gardens have a great sense of calm and space. Nearby Enniskerry Village has retained its old-world atmosphere. A wander by its cafes, bars, artisan shops, antique sellers and pretty boutiques is a must for any visitor. The glacial valley of Glendalough is not far from Powerscourt and is well worth a visit. In Glendalough as well as lovely lakeside scenic walks, you will find the remains of an Early Medieval monastic settlement founded in the 6th century by St Kevin.

By now you may have already visited Powerscourt Estate and Glendalough Monastic Site and there are plenty of other attractions for you to check out in this area. Avoca Handweavers is Ireland’s oldest working mill and has been producing wool and fabrics since the 1700s, tours of the mill are offered on site and there is a beautiful café there. Russburough House, one of Ireland's finest stately homes is a Palladian palace built in the 1700s. On site there are guided house tours, tearooms, several walking trails and in the stable areas there are artisan producers selling locally made handcrafts. Another palladian mansion is Avondale House, home of of Charles Stewart Parnell, the 'uncrowned king of Ireland' and one of the key public figures in the Irish independence movement. This evening if you are the mood for some good Irish hospitality, head out to Johnnie Fox's, a traditional 19th-century pub that has Irish music and dance shows on most evenings.

You have a number of options for your journey to the Cliff House Hotel from Powerscourt, the most direct route will take you via historic Kilkenny where you can visit Kilkenny Castle or Saint Canice Cathedral. The longer route will take you via the coast of Wicklow and Wexford. The Cliff House Hotel is the perfect location for a romantic getaway; the hotel features an intimate spa as well as a Michelin-starred restaurant with a breath-taking seafront position. From the hotel there are lovely romantic Cliff Walks, you will also find a splendid beach in the area, some good pubs and the historic Ardmore Cathedral.

You may well decide to stay at the Cliff house today and avail of their amazing sea views, excellent cuisine and spa facilities or you could venture out and explore Waterford city and county. The hotel is located in Ardmore which is West of Waterford City and believed to be the oldest Christian settlement in Ireland. Testament to this is its 29m-high round tower, which served as a place of refuge and the cathedral which features Romanesque sculptures depicting scenes from the old and new testaments. Waterford is Ireland’s oldest City, dating back to the Viking period of 914, parts of the old city walls remain. Although its roots are set firmly in the Viking period, many of the buildings that remain are from the Georgian period notably Christchurch Cathedral and the lovely Cathedral Square. Other sites of interest include the Holy Trinity Cathedral, Reginald’s Tower and the House of Waterford Crystal which tracks the history of one of Ireland’s most famous exports. 

Stops we recommend on your journey today include Cobh, Cork City and Blarney Castle. The port town of Cobh serves as a poignant reminder of Ireland’s far reaching history of emigration. Millions of people left from Cobh during the great famine years and beyond and this Cobh was also the final departure port of the ill-fated Titanic in 1912. Two great museums pay tribute to these events and both are well worth a visit. Further west Cork City can be explored, the city has fantastic shops, bars, restaurants and cafes, Shandon Church is well worth a visit, as is the English Market. Before you leave Cork you may decide to visit Blarney Castle, famous here and abroad, legends tell us that if you climb to the top and kiss the Blarney stone you will be forever endowed with the gift of the gab! Your accommodation for the next three nights is the outstanding Park Hotel in Kenmare where luxury adorns each unique bedroom through rich fabrics, original antiques and interesting art. The hotel also has a deluxe spa, 25 metre swimming pool, an onsite cinema and daily lifestyle classes.

Kenmare where the Park Hotel is located is ideally situated to explore the famous Ring of Kerry. On your journey you will pass majestic mountains and magnificently beautiful coastal scenery, dotted with towns and villages that have kept a lot of their distinctive Irish character. Start in Kenmare where the beautiful Kenmare Bay which stretches 50 kilometres from Kenmare out to the Atlantic Ocean is located. Further west you will come across Caherdaniel, the ancestral home of Daniel O'Connell, known in Irish history as 'The Liberator' and further still Waterville, a favourite holiday spot of Charlie Chaplin who visited often with his family. Continuing around the ring, the next town you come to is Ballinskelligs which has another beautiful sandy beach and on from there visit Valentia Island, where you will find a striking mix of period buildings & houses most notably The Royal Hotel and the former Transatlantic Cable Buildings on the waterfront. The Ring of Kerry may well be the highlight of your honeymoon in Ireland!

Kenmare is ideally placed for you to take a tour of the stunning Beara Peninsula, the most westerly of Cork's peninsulas, and arguably its most spectacular, the Beara Peninsula which is shared by county Kerry presents exhilarating hill walks and breathtaking views. You could visit the town of Glengariff and take the Ferry to Garnish Island. Garnish is world renowned for its gardens which are laid out in beautiful walks and it has some stunning specimen plants which are rare in this climate. Before returning to Kenmare you may well pay a visit to the historic Bantry House & Gardens, the ancestral home of the Earls of Bantry, still lived in by their descendant Brigitte Shelswell-White, and her family. 

Set off early today to give you enough time to truly enjoy the luxury surrounding Dromoland Castle. The castle is steeped in history, its roots going back as far as 1014 when the son of Brian Boru held a fortress here. The current structure was built in 1800 and was opened to guests in the early 1960’s. Dromoland Castle is undoubtedly one of Ireland’s most luxurious castles due to the high standard imposed on every feature; from the well-designed bedrooms to the impeccably landscaped grounds. The hotel has a superb spa and leisure centre that is perfect for the discerning honeymoon couple and plenty of other activities for you both to enjoy, from the onsite falconry, archery, horse-riding and fishing to their world renowned golf course. Dromoland Castle is a great location to discover all that Clare has to offer including the Burren where you will find romance in every corner! Scramble over karst limestone formations where the bleak landscape and unusual plants give the area an other-worldly ambience. In the Southern area of the Burren the limestone rock gives way to the black shale and sandstone that form the magnificent Cliffs of Moher. The cliffs are one of Ireland’s most visited attractions and they offer outstanding ocean views. Well-worn visitor walkways lead in both directions, offering various viewing points.

Continuing your Clare explorations you will find plenty of excellent beaches; Bishop’s Quarter near Ballyvaughan has fabulous views over Galway Bay and across the Burren, Kilkee beach is quite compact but has a lovely seaside village beside it with a few nice places to eat, Lahinch is generally accepted to be one of Irelands finest beaches and is a hot spot for surfing and other water sport. Continuing with your Burren sightseeing you may wish to check out Aillwee Cave, the name Aillwee comes from the Irish Aill Bhuí which means "yellow cliff".  Not too far away, the Burren Perfumery is another popular stop, they make all kinds of Irish perfumes and organic cosmetics inspired by the Burren Landscape. During the summer season they often organise spontaneous talks by staff on perfume, soap-making and skincare.

At night you could check out one of Clare’s best music towns, Ennis which often hosts ‘Fleadh Cheoils’ (Irish music festivals) or Doolin which is considered by many as the traditional music capital of Ireland! In Ennis there are more than 50 pubs for you to choose from, many of which will have traditional music sessions on any given summer night. In Doolin, you are surely to find a comfortable pub to spend the last evening of your honeymoon soaking up the lively atmosphere. As nightfall approaches, join the crowds at Doolin Pier which has become famous for its stunning sunsets that tend to give the watcher a greater appreciation of life and nature.

The most pleasant way to go to Ashford Castle from Clare is via the coast, travelling through the small harbour village of Ballyvaughan and the picturesque harbour town of Kinvara. A popular destination for both Irish and international Tourists, Kinvara is known for its 16th century Castle and two festivals, Fleadh na gCuach (the cuckoo festival) an Irish music festival and the Cruinniú na mBád (gathering of the boats)  which celebrates the traditional sailing craft  of the ‘Galway Hookers’. Next travel onward to Galway city, often referred to as Ireland’s festival capital, there is always something going on in Galway.  The city’s hub is the 18th-century Eyre Square, a popular meeting spot surrounded by quaint shops and traditional pubs that often offer live traditional Irish music. From Galway city, Ashford castle is about another hour drive.  

Ashford Castle hotel is ideally situated to explore the wild region of Connemara, encompassing mountains, bogs and a ruggedly beautiful coastline. Visit Kylemore Abbey, stunningly sheltered by the slopes of the 12 bens mountains, the Abbey was once a castle built by Mitchell Henry for his wife Margaret after she fell in love with the area whilst they visited on their honeymoon. Visit Clifden, the principle town of Connemara with its colourful craft shops and lively pubs or the town of Cong where Ashford Castle is situated. Cong is most famous for being the location of John Ford’s Oscar winning film The Quiet Man, tours of the set are available and Cong Abbey is also worth a visit. Ashford Castle is an authentic Irish Castle with its roots going back as far as 1228. The Castle has been restored and expanded throughout the centuries and now is one of the best five star luxury hotels in Ireland. The hotel is fitted throughout with classic furnishings and fabrics in keeping with the style of the castle. Each room commands spectacular views and has every amenity needed. The estate has plenty of activities to keep you entertained including Golf, falconry, lake cruises, horse riding, archery, kayaking and fishing.

You might wish to spend some time on Galway City before you return to Dublin. Due to its compact size, it is easy to explore on foot. There are many traditional shops, bars and restaurants around the Eyre Square and Shop Street areas and the city always has a wonderful atmosphere provided in part by the street performers that often take up position at various points along these streets. From Galway, Dublin City is not a long journey. You might decide to travel directly getting some extra sightseeing time in Dublin or stop at Clonmacnoise an early Christian Monastic site or take one of the excellent whiskey distillery tours at Kilbeggan or Tullamore. Your accommodation in Dublin will be the super luxury Shelbourne Hotel. The Shelbourne has been welcoming honeymoon couples to Dublin since 1824 and continues to this day to offer the highest standards of accommodation and service. The hotel has a prime city centre location giving you a great opportunity to discover much of Dublin on foot.

Dublin City is a fantastic stop on any honeymoon tour of Ireland due to the wealth of cultural activities available at its doorstep and the host of exciting touring options available. Your Irish Tourism Itinerary will detail the places we recommend you visit including Christchurch Cathedral, Trinity College and The Guinness Storehouse to name but a few. This evening you may wish to spend some time in temple bar where some of Dublin’s best pubs, bars and restaurants line the cobblestone street that ends at Christ Church Cathedral. This area is often referred to as the city’s ‘arts zone’ and here you are sure to find a good selection of Irish Music as well as stylish shops and galleries.