Touring Ireland: Dublin & Beyond 3nts from £279pp

A short break specially designed so that you can enjoy Dublin and explore more of the Irish countryside and sights outside the city without needing to drive.

A lively and prosperous city, Dublin boasts that perfect blend of proverbial Irish charm and European chic. You will spend three nights in a carefully-chosen, peaceful base close to the centre. Enjoy both a tour of the city, and your choice of trip beyond to the Wicklows or the historic site of Newgrange.

What to see and do

Once home to literary greats such as James Joyce, George Bernard Shaw and Oscar Wilde, the city boasts an abundance of Georgian architecture, as well as cosy bars and lots of great restaurants. Enjoy them all by walking in the area around Merrion Square and St Stephen’s Green. Wander into Trinity College, and seek out the stunning Book of Kells, the 1,200 year old illuminated manuscript. For a complete contrast, head to the Guinness Storehouse and sample the national drink in it historic homeland. Pay a visit to one or both of the city cathedrals, cross the Liffey on the Ha'penny bridge and visit the GPO, site of the famous 1916 Easter Rising. Take in the Dublin Writers Museum, or catch an Irish play at the Abbey Theatre. We’ll provide recommendations for bars, restaurants and sights to help you make the most of every moment.

Tours included

Dublin by Bike: As Dublin is fairly flat, an ideal way to explore is by bike, and we have teamed up with two Dublin born brothers who offer an excellent guided bike tour of the city, in a small group, taking you beyond the normal tourist routes. Tours can be tailored to suit, and all equipment is supplied. A typical itinerary lasts around three hours, and would cover highlights of Georgian Dublin: the Grand Canal, the quaint Old Jewish Residential Quarter, the Liberties of Dublin and St Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin Castle and the River Liffey. Along the way, your guide will highlight points of interest, enlivened with historical facts and tales of modern day scams. The tour finishes at Merrion Square, just in time for a well-earned lunch.

To allow you to see more of the countryside, we have also included a day trip of your choice, where you will join a small group of visitors and be accompanied by an expert local guide. Choose from:

The Glendalough Valley in Wicklow Mountains National Park The two glacially carved lakes in this gorgeous valley have attracted people and wildlife since earliest times. In the 6th century, St. Kevin founded a 'Monastic City' whose ancient churches, high crosses and round tower remain to this day. Ireland does not get more beautiful. The nearby Heritage Centre has a small museum beautifully detailing the history of the area.

or

A tour to Newgrange, Knowth, Tara and Prehistoric Ireland. A thousand years before Stonehenge and the Pyramids, the Stone Age farming community along the Boyne River erected a series of huge mounds. The mound at Newgrange was aligned to catch the rays of the sun on the winter solstice. At this time the rising winter sun illuminates rock art, 185 feet inside a stone passageway. The scale is magnificent and visitors can walk inside for a short re-enactment of this timeless event. Inside and outside the mound at Newgrange and Knowth are the greatest assemblage of prehistoric rock art to be found anywhere in Europe - all still in place. The nearby Hill of Tara, ancient home of the High Kings of Ireland, is a prehistoric landscape dotted with ritual monuments.

Your hotel

Enjoy the best of both worlds in this welcoming guest house. Comprising two imposing Georgian townhouses, it is situated in a remarkably peaceful leafy avenue just to the South of Dublin city centre. Yet you are just a short walk from St Stephen’s Green, a pint or two of Guinness in a local bar, or a delicious meal in one of Dublin’s many fine restaurants

Prices & Dates

This holiday can be arranged throughout 2012.

The price is £279 per person for January, February, November & December, £299per person for March, April & October, £319 per person for May to September, for 3 nights on a bed & breakfast basis, which includes the two tours described. This is based on two sharing a double or twin room ensuite.

Travel to Dublin

We would be delighted to book your travel to Ireland for this holiday.

The most convenient ferry routes is the overnight Liverpool to Dublin or the much shorter routes from Holyhead in Wales to Dublin or Dun Laoghaire.

There are direct flight connections to Dublin from numerous UK airports including London, Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Leeds, Manchester, Luton, Southampton, Glasgow and Edinburgh.

All these holidays include a map of Dublin & Ireland with recommended routes from your specified starting point, suggestions on places to see and visit depending on your personal interests and our expertise to help you get the most from your holiday.

All itineraries and room types are presented subject to availability at specific hotels.

The McKinlay Kidd Guarantee

All our holiday prices include a service charge of £8 per person per night towards the costs we incur in researching, planning and designing your holiday.

We guarantee to refund this service charge if you believe that arranging your holiday through McKinlay Kidd has not met your expectations for value. All we ask is that you write to us within 7 days of your return and explain your reason for claiming the refund. This will ensure that we can improve the experience for all our future guests.

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