Day 1: Following your home taxi collection we head across country to the Welsh Borders for our overnight stop, with ample time to settle in before our evening meal.
Day 2: This morning we depart our hotel and head to Holyhead where we board our ferry to Dublin. Upon arrival, we travel to the Johnstown Estate Hotel for our four night stay on a dinner, bed & breakfast basis. Tea & coffee will be served upon our arrival while our cases are taken to our rooms.
Day 3: Today we enjoy a full day excursion into County Kildare, firstly to the Irish National Stud and the Adjacent Japanese Gardens. Nowhere better symbolises all that is great about County Kildare, the beating heart of Irelands thoroughbred industry, than the stud. A unique attraction of outstanding natural beauty that is home to some of the most magnificent horses and sumptuous gardens to be found anywhere in the World.
You can also get up close to the spectacular stallions at the paddock, spot lively yearlings or watch the protective mares with their frolicking foals. Even if you’re not a racing aficionado, you’ll be able to appreciate the historical success that has built this place and the passion that has sustained it.
Created between the years 1906 and 1910, the Japanese Gardens were designed by craftsman Tassa Eida and his son Minoru. These gardens combine art, philosophy and nature in perfect balance to create a tranquil and contemplative environment.
Beautiful structures like the Bridge of Life and the Tea House combine with the vivid foliage and babbling streams in a perfect balance of sights, sounds and colour. These gardens are considered the best of their kind in Europe and you’ll know why when you see them.
Day 4: Today we travel to Belvedere House & Gardens, a magnificent 160 acre lakeside estate with a fully restored Georgian Villa, Victorian Walled Garden and 18th century parkland. Upon our arrival we are met by a guide for a historical tour round the garden, before enjoying free time to explore at your own leisure.
As soon as you enter the Belvedere Walled Garden you’ll be treated to a breath-taking panoramic view of its colourful interior. The old roses offer their delicate scent, and Hydrangeas bring a blaze of colour, while the garden also has a nod to the exotic, with two orchid houses. The garden also includes a Thomas Messenger-style Victorian glasshouse, with displays of exotic plants. *Please note- We have been informed by Belverdere House that the interior is closed for important conservation works until further notice.
After our visit we then return to the hotel for a cream tea, including tea/coffee and cream scones.
Day 5: After breakfast we board our coach and head to Irelands Capital, Dublin. Our first stop is the Guinness Storehouse where we have an included tour. Learn everything you ever wanted to know about this world famous beer, and then enjoy a complimentary pint of Guinness® while you take in the breathtaking 360-degree views across Dublin City. Afterwards enjoy some time at leisure to explore the city at your own pace.
The fair city of Dublin is a beautiful medieval city, with a long and colourful past - its museums, art galleries and wonderful architecture, all chronicling its fascinating history. Tracing its origins back to a small Viking settlement, it has so much history to offer. Dublin’s parks and gardens are very much the life of this stunning city, and the temple bar area is a must see. You could also take a stroll through the elegant Trinity College. The biggest draw is the barrel-vaulted Long Room in the Old Library - home of one of Ireland's greatest cultural treasures, the Book of Kells, the beautifully-illuminated Gospel manuscript that dates back to the 9th century.
Day 6: Sadly this morning, we depart our hotel and head for Dublin Port. Once we board our ferry, breakfast will be included on board. Upon our arrival in Holyhead, we begin our journey back to Norfolk, making suitable stops along the way. We then rejoin our door to door taxi service who will be waiting to take you home.
Holiday Information:
5 Nights Dinner, Bed & Breakfast
Price: £948pp
Single Supplement: £177pp (Will be allocated a twin or double room for sole occupancy at main hotel- not guranteed for the overnight hotel)
Insurance:TBC (Insurance not currently available)
Tour Reference: AWE4885
Deposit Required: £70pp
Balance Due: 10 weeks prior to departure