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5 Day North Coast & Heartlands Tour

Overview

This 5-day tour is ideal for any group that wants to get off the beaten track as well as visit some of the main tourist destinations. Inject some Rural Adventure Tours magic on an action-packed experience that includes Belfast City, Titanic museum, Game of Thrones filming locations, an Irish speaking Gaeltacht region, the Wild Atlantic Way, Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands, farm experiences and a choice of activities such as kayaking, hiking, horseback riding.

PRICES FROM:

  • €2,450pp based on 2-3 people in group

  • €2,050pp based on 4-7 people in group

  • €1,650pp based on 8 plus people in group


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Duration 5 days

Pace Energetic

Activities

  • 4 nights bed and breakfast in 4-star accommodation
  • all transport
  • fully guided
  • 3 course evening meal x 2
  • all activity equipment rental included
  • private music session
  • exclusive Rural Adventure farm experience
  • Entrance fees as per itinerary.
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Itinerary

Overview of a 5 Day North Coast & Heartlands Tour

DAY 1 - EXPLORE IRELAND'S ANCIENT EAST AND CONNECT WITH BELFAST'S PAST

Visit a 6th century monastery and choose between a Belfast political walking tour or the Titanic museum ... click to find out more

DAY 2 - EMBRACE THE SPIRIT OF THE NORTH COAST

From the Irish language to Game of Thrones, a Giant's Causeway or crossing a rope bridge ... click to find out more

DAY 3 - JOURNEY ALONG THE WILD ATLANTIC WAY

Europe's highest cliffs to horse back riding and strolls on beautiful wild beaches ... click to find out more

DAY 4 - VENTURE INTO THE HIDDEN HEARTLANDS

Get active and immerse yourself in the heartlands of Ireland and visit our home farm ... click to find out more

DAY 5 - UNCOVER A RURAL IRELAND

Adventure activities to help fully experience Ireland's Nature & History ... click to find out more


Day 1 EXPLORE IRELAND'S ANCIENT EAST AND CONNECT WITH BELFAST'S PAST

Monasterboice Monastery, Round Tower and stone carved High Crosses

Visit the Boyne Valley and its historic ruins of early Christian settlement dating back to the 6th Century, including its famous 35 metre round tower. Hear tales of notorious Viking raids and Irish monks trying to protect their lives and valuables. Also find two of Ireland's highest and finest stone carved High Crosses.

Strandfield Farm Cafe & Carlingford Harbour

Farm cafe, florist and organic grocer based within the farm yard of Strandfield House with a quirky feel and great coffee, a real hidden gem. Enjoy beautiful views of the quaint village of Carlingford and Harbour while challenging yourself to eating some of their fresh oysters (don't worry, we won't force you if you are not a fan).

Arrive in Belfast City with a choice of 2 options;

Tour Option 1 - Belfast political walking tour

Understanding Belfast's troubled history of the conflict with an honestly presented political tour by guides from both sides of this conflict. Meet Republican and Loyalist political ex-prisoners and discover a side of Belfast you won't find in the Tourist books. Walk the streets on both sides of the Peace Line and your guides will share their own personal stories and the conflict's effects on their communities while walking you through memorials and murals that show their troubled history.
- This option is included in Tour Price
- 3 hour walking tour

Tour Option 2 - Entry to the Titanic Museum

See the location where the Titanic was constructed and walk along the regenerated waterfront while getting the full experience in the new state of the art Titanic museum.

- This option is included in Tour Price

Freetime in Belfast City

Enjoy a stroll around the City in your own freetime sampling what this great City has to offer in music, food, pubs and culture. Our guides will definitely pass on our favourite hotspots.

- Overnight in a 4 star city centre hotel
- Full Irish breakfast included

Additional details

Inclusions

  • All taxes, fees and handling charges
  • 4 star accommodation with Full Irish breakfast included
  • Transport by private vehicle
  • Private tour
  • Live entertainment
  • Local guide
  • All activities as per itinerary

Exclusions

  • Alcoholic drinks (available to purchase)
  • Food and drinks other than what is listed on itinerary
  • Travel Insurance

Day 2 EMBRACE THE SPIRIT OF THE NORTH COAST

The Dark Hedges

Known to Game of Thrones fans as “The Kings Road”, on which Arya Stark travels after her escape from King’s Landing - this row of stunning gnarled 245 year-old beech trees intertwined over a country lane, attracts thousands of amateur photographers every year.

The famous Carrick-a-rede rope bridge

Get to see the rugged coastline from a different angle on the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge. The bridge links the mainland to a tiny island and is one of the main tourist attractions in Northern Ireland. Exciting and well worth it, though a daring crossing so better eat the porridge that morning.

Ballintoy Harbour

A quaint little harbour and charming cafe with spectacular views and tasty homemade treats. For Game of Thrones fans, this is the harbor where Theon Greyjoy returns home to the Iron Islands from Winterfell, and where he meets his sister Yara for the first time. It is also close to the location where Theon was baptized.

Giant's Causeway

A must see on this coastline - 40,000 interlocking hexagonal stone columns, formed as lava cooled down after a volcanic eruption 60 million years ago. There is also the folklore legend that this causeway was created and destroyed by the famous giant Fionn Mac Cumhaill which your guide will tell you all about - we believe the giant story, of course.

Dunluce Castle

This castle, built on a cliff, is said to be the inspiration for Castle Greyjoy in Game of Thrones. It is a photographer's dream and well worth the stop. This is a short photo stop - we will not be entering the castle due to time constraints on this action packed day.

Glenveagh National Park

Travel West towards the Atlantic Ocean through the remote hills and mountains of County Donegal taking in the rugged landscape of Glenveagh National Park while listening to Enya. Yes Enya, she grew up in this region so what better way to take in this inspiring wild scenery, than listening to the sounds of it.

Immerse yourself in the "Gaeltacht" region of Gweedore

Nestled away in rural Donegal along the Wild Atlantic Way, this is one of the few areas left in Ireland where the Irish language is spoken as a first language. Overnight in Bunbeg harbour and visit the local village pub where you will hear Irish spoken and traditional musicians just dropping in off the street to play a tune - a real authentic and memorable experience.

- Overnight in a traditional Irish B&B

- Full Irish Breakfast included

Additional details

Inclusions

  • All taxes, fees and handling charges
  • 4 star accommodation with Full Irish breakfast included
  • Transport by private vehicle
  • Private tour
  • Live entertainment
  • Local guide
  • All activities as per itinerary

Exclusions

  • Alcoholic drinks (available to purchase)
  • Food and drinks other than what is listed on itinerary
  • Travel Insurance

Day 3 JOURNEY ALONG THE WILD ATLANTIC WAY

Travel South along the Donegal coastline

Named "The coolest place in the planet" in 2017 by National Geographic, we can totally understand why. We love travelling along Donegal's rugged coastline discovering secluded breathtaking beaches. You will have the opportunity to walk and feel the nature and power of the Atlantic Ocean, view sea stacks, sample the finest of Irish seafood and drive along the Wild Atlantic Way, Ireland's spectacular coastal driving route.

Experience one of Ireland's and Europe's highest cliffs

Sliabh Liag Cliffs are said to be one of the highest and finest marine cliffs in Europe. There are terrific views of the Atlantic Ocean, the Sligo Mountains and Donegal Bay as you walk towards the terrifyingly high top of Sliabh Liag, where the cliff face of Bunglas rises over 600m above the raging ocean. Walk up to the viewing point or if you are feeling adventurous, get the hiking boots on and ascend for one man's pass.

Enter the stunning County Sligo;

Tour Option 1 - Horseback riding on a wild atlantic beach

1 hour horseback ride on Trawalua Strand where beginners will be brought at a leisurely walk while experienced riders will enjoy the thrill of a canter or gallop along the golden sandy beach with Benbulbin Mountain as the backdrop.
- This option is an additional €29 per person

Tour Option 2 - Drive the Gleniff Horseshoe loop

A stunning 10 km (6 mile) single lane loop surrounded by spectacular mountain views & roadside streams, the Gleniff Horseshoe charm feels like it takes you back in time and away from it all.

Welcome to Yeat's Country

Travel through WB Yeat’s country overlooked by the great Benbulbin mountain. Stop off at the grave of WB Yeats, one of Ireland's most famous poets and have the opportunity to hear one of his poems along his graveside.

End the day in the coastal town of Strandhill

End the day with a gentle walk along Strandhill Beach and watch the sunset from the sand dunes or maybe relax in one of the popular Seaweed Baths. This small surf town has a lot to offer with great food, cafes and pubs with it's easy going but fun atmosphere.

Additional details

Inclusions

  • All taxes, fees and handling charges
  • 4 star accommodation with Full Irish breakfast included
  • Transport by private vehicle
  • Private tour
  • Live entertainment
  • Local guide
  • All activities as per itinerary

Exclusions

  • Alcoholic drinks (available to purchase)
  • Food and drinks other than what is listed on itinerary
  • Travel Insurance

Day 4 VENTURE INTO THE HIDDEN HEARTLANDS

Free time in the morning to relax or get active

Have a well-deserved sleep in, go for a walk/run on the beach, hike Knocknarea mountain or hit them waves with a 1 hr surf lesson.

Glencar Lake & Waterfall

Enter your journey into Ireland's Hidden Heartlands with your first stop off at Glencar Lake & Waterfall. Enjoy the more relaxed rhythm and breath-taking views of this valley where lake and mountains meet. Stop off for a light lunch at the Glencar TeaShed.

Option to visit The Shed Distillery

Visit the home of Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin and Drumshanbo Single Pot Irish whiskey and join "The curious journey of the curious mind" tour.
- Distillery Tour option is an additional €** per person

Rural Adventure Tours home farm experience

Travel to our rural organic farm and home for a personal experience. Meet with friends and family who prepare a welcome meal. Marcus or one of our guides will lead in an outdoor acoustic music session around the fire (weather permitting) and tell stories of how the farm started. We also invite all our groups that visit our farm to plant a tree for environmental and symbolic reasons. Leave a part of your tour here always and help towards a greener future.

Additional details

Inclusions

  • All taxes, fees and handling charges
  • 4 star accommodation with Full Irish breakfast included
  • Transport by private vehicle
  • Private tour
  • Live entertainment
  • Local guide
  • All activities as per itinerary

Exclusions

  • Alcoholic drinks (available to purchase)
  • Food and drinks other than what is listed on itinerary
  • Travel Insurance

Day 5 UNCOVER A RURAL IRELAND

Visit Erica's Fairy Forest

Enjoy a gentle stroll along the Dromore river though Halton's Amenity park until you get to Erica’s fairy forest. Let your imaginations run wild no matter what age you are.

Kayaking/Boating to Cloughoughter Castle

County Cavan, famous for its 365 lakes, one for every day of the year and what better way to uncover them other than a kayak or boat trip to Clough Oughter Castle. This is an enchanting castle built on a crannog (man-made island). Hear about the many tales of Irish Chieftains and battles that are linked to this monument. The castle ruin is part of the Marble Arch Geopark on Lough Oughter lake adjacent to the charming Killykeen forest park and is only accessible by water.

A short hike to Loughcrew Megalithic Cairn

A short hike to the highest point in County Meath to find Loughcrew Megalithic Cairn, an ancient rite of passage tomb older than the pyramids of Egypt. You will hear local folklore stories, see carvings on stones dating back 5000BC and visit the Loughcrew Megalithic centre, an old Irish thatched cottage cafe.Get conn ected to Ireland's ancient past.

Fore Abbey

Visit a 7th Century Monastery located in the remote village of Fore and what better way to finish this tour but sampling one of Ireland’s finest Pints of Guinness in the local village pub while hearing all about the Seven Wonders of Fore.

Additional details

Inclusions

  • All taxes, fees and handling charges
  • 4 star accommodation with Full Irish breakfast included
  • Transport by private vehicle
  • Private tour
  • Live entertainment
  • Local guide
  • All activities as per itinerary

Exclusions

  • Alcoholic drinks (available to purchase)
  • Food and drinks other than what is listed on itinerary
  • Travel Insurance

Availability

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