Ireland & the Isle of Man by rail, road and sea With Bob Daniel 20 August – 5 September 2019 • DUBLIN • WATERFORD • CORK • KILLARNEY • LIMERICK • GALWAY • • WESPORT • DONEGAL • DERRY • BELFAST • DOUGLAS • Cliffs of Moher OVERVIEW HIGHLIGHTS Breathtaking lush landscapes combined with vibrant cities and historical sights… All of this and more await you on this • Spend multiple nights and take guided tours in the culturally Irish tour, including Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man. rich cities of Dublin, Waterford, Galway, Derry, Belfast and Starting and ending in Dublin, explore Ireland in depth and Douglas in the Isle of Man hear exciting stories of its rich history, legends, and myths. A small island with a big personality, Ireland boasts amazing • Witness the breathtaking scenery of the Ring of Kerry, The scenery, quaint heritage railways, an intriguingly storied past Burren, The Connemara and the renowned Cliffs of Moher and a culture rich with colour and life. • Enjoy rides on the heritage Fintown Railway and the Waterford & Suir Valley Railways Escape to the natural beauty of Ireland, from the sparkling • Visit many museums including the Book of Kells in Dublin, seascapes and mountains of the Ring of Kerry, to the Foynes Flying Boat Museum, the Kerry Bog Museum, Port amazing natural formation of Giant’s Causeway, through the Erin Railway Museum on the Isle of Man and more breathtaking views of rugged Cliffs of Moher and the raw • Travel to the incredibly scenic Giants Causeway and ride beauty of the Wild Atlantic Way and Connemara. Explore the Giants Causeway and Bushmills Railway Ireland’s vibrant cities such as the charismatic capital Dublin, Belfast, Derry and Galway, charming towns such as Killarney • Visit the iconic Blarney Castle and kiss the Blarney Stone and Waterford, and to cap it off, experience a unique heritage • Dive into the ill-fated Titanic’s story visiting Cobh’s Heritage railway adventure in the Isle of Man. Centre and Titanic Belfast Exhibition • Explore many UNESCO sites such as the Ring of Kerry, the Discover the best of both Ireland and Britain’s beauty and Burren, the Cliffs of Moher, the city of Dublin and so on history on our epic Railway Adventure. • Enjoy tastings at the Bushmills Distillery and Guinness Storehouse in Dublin • Visit the famous homes of Waterford crystal • Thrill of unique journeys on the Isle of Man, on the scenic Manx Electric Train, the Snaefell Mountain Railway, the Isle Connemara National Park of Man Steam Railway, and the vintage Douglas Bay horse- drawn tramway • Feast at a medieval-themed banquet in Bunratty Castle and a farewell dinner with a night of Irish music, song and dance Bob Daniel MEET YOUR TOUR LEADER BOB DANIEL - has been fascinated with trains all his life, his father having engineered the construction of many of the famous Australian trains during the 1950’s and 60’s, including the Southern Aurora and The Sunlander. Bob is the founder and original owner of Guidepost Tours, established nearly 40 years ago, which now operates niche market tours to many destinations around the world. He regularly travels by rail on local trains throughout South East Asia and many other countries, discovering how the spread of rail routes has led to the development and enhancement of culture and life in rural communities and cities. Whilst still involved with the development of itineraries for Guidepost Tours and Railway Adventures, Bob is heavily involved with Heritage Rail Groups in New South Wales, is qualified in Rail Safety and Track Awareness, and travels regularly on steam and diesel tours as train manager or in other capacities. TOUR MAP WHY TRAVEL WITH US Train The joy of travel is not confined to the destination. How Coach you travel is a large and rich part of the experience. Railway Adventures offers a truly unique perspective Boat on some of the world’s most spectacular holiday destinations, with the confidence that the journey will be just as magical and memorable as what you find at the end of the line. WITH US, YOU CAN EXPECT: • Unique itineraries — each itinerary has been meticulously developed by a team of expert travellers with many years’ experience, an intimate knowledge of the destination, and with great cultural awareness. You are guaranteed to experience the best that each destination has to offer. • Authentic local experiences — whether it’s a little-known yet impressive steam railway, a small 1 Belfast boutique hotel or an authentic restaurant, you can Derry 1 2 be sure of experiencing something special on our Donegal tours. • Expert local guides and operators — we employ 2 Douglas local guides to share their passion and knowledge of the place they call home, while our partners on Westport 1 the ground provide the best possible support and backup all the way. Gelway 2 Dublin • Small group sizes — a small number of passengers 1 per trip guarantees an intimate experience with less time spent queuing, more time with your guide, and Bunratty better access to sightseeing destinations. 1 Tralee • Fully escorted – our tour leaders are experienced 2 and capable, entertaining and considerate, and 1 together with our local guides have your needs well Waterford covered. They help with everything along the way, 1 providing peace of mind, and enabling you to relax Cork and enjoy the journey. And you’ll find them jolly good company, to boot! • Customer satisfaction — our testimonials speak for themselves. Thousands have travelled with us over the years and many come back year after year, often bringing friends along. Our customer satisfaction ratings show that over 97% would recommend us to others and/or travel with us again. SOME WAYS YOU’LL TRAVEL The best train trips possible, private luxury coach for off-train travel, guided walking where suitable, and other appropriate wand appealing options to make exploration easy. Bushmills Railway Isle of Man Steam Railway Isle Of Man Ferry Day 1 – Tuesday 20th August: ARRIVE IN DUBLIN Make your way to our hotel, conveniently located in the vibrant city centre of Dublin. After settling into your hotel for the night, meet with your tour leader Bob and fellow travellers for drinks, a briefing, and a celebratory welcome dinner at the hotel’s restaurant. Overnight: Camden Court Hotel or similar, Dublin (D) Day 2 – Wednesday 21st August: WATERFORD This morning, after breakfast at the hotel, we travel southeast by public train to the oldest city of Ireland, Waterford (approx. 2/2.5hrs). Founded by the Vikings in AD 914, then invaded by the Normans in the 12th century, Waterford is moulded by history. Our local guide takes us on a short walking tour of the city to dive into its 900 years of history and explore its atmospheric narrow streets. Reginald’s Tower dominates the skyline, gazing over the bustling River Suir and the medieval lanes of the ‘Viking’s Triangle’. Waterford is also world-renowned for the quality and beauty of its crystal. In the Waterford Crystal Factory, master craftsmen will explain the ancient art of turning molten crystal into glass masterpieces. After lunch, experience the beauty of the Suir Valley with an afternoon excursion on the Waterford and Suir Valley Heritage Railway. This narrow-gauge heritage railway follows over 6km of the route of the abandoned Waterford – Dungarvan line. The track runs mostly along the picturesque banks of the River Suir between Kilmeaden and Waterford offering panoramic views of the River Suir, Mount Congreve Gardens and rolling farmland of County Kilkenny. We then return to our hotel and enjoy the rest of the evening at leisure. Overnight: Treacy’s Hotel Waterford or similar, Waterford (B) Day 3 – Thursday 22nd August: CORK After breakfast this morning, we depart Waterford and travel southwest by coach to the town of Cobh, famous for being the departure point for 2.5 million of the six million Irish people who emigrated to North America between 1848 and 1950, to escape the ravages of starvation. It is also the last port of call for the ill-fated Titanic which sailed from there on 14 April 1912. The visit of the Heritage Centre, located in the restored Victorian Railway Station, will give you the opportunity to learn about the stories of these emigrants. You will then travelLake past Pichola, Cork andUdaipur onto the medieval village of Blarney, to visit its castle and have a chance to kiss its famous stone. According to Irish folklore, anyone who kisses the stone receives the ability to speak with eloquence, or “The Gift of the Gab.” After we return to Cork, we have some time to freshen up at the hotel before re-grouping for dinner in a local restaurant or pub. Overnight: Clayton Hotel Cork City or similar, Cork (B,D) Day 4 – Friday 23rd August: KILLARNEY – TRALEE This morning, enjoy a scenic train journey on the public train from Cork to Killarney in county Kerry. Surrounded by impressive lakes, woodlands, mountains and moors, Killarney is truly charming. On arrival, take a seat in a traditional ‘Jaunting Car’ and admire the hidden delights of Killarney National Park, heading to the Muckross House, a magnificent Victorian mansion and one of Ireland’s leading stately homes. The visit of its elegantly furnished rooms offers a rare glimpse into the life of the landed gentry, overlooking Killarney Lakes and mountains. Return to Killarney and absorb the wonders of the town at your leisure before hopping on the coach and heading not far away to your centrally-located hotel in Tralee. Dinner is at the hotel tonight. Overnight: Manor West Hotel or similar, Tralee (B,D) Day 5 – Saturday 24th August: RING OF KERRY Today, after breakfast at the hotel, our local guide takes us on a tour of the famous Ring of Kerry, a 180km scenic route of narrow roads winding around the Iveragh Peninsula, to share in its history, geography, culture, stories and folklore.