To actually expertise Eire – that you must really feel it – really feel its land, its rain, its temperate local weather and most of all – its soul. It is a nation that can’t be rushed and exploring it on foot is likely one of the greatest methods to expertise it. This enables you the chance to satisfy the locals, come head to head with hundreds of years of historical past and see what it’s that makes Irish folks so distinctive.
I’ve partnered with information extraordinaire, Rachel Nolan of Rachel’s Irish Adventures, to place collectively an Ottsworld tour that might deliver Nation Mayo’s landscapes, mountaineering, native tradition, and distinctive touches collectively in an unimaginable custom-made tour.
Overview and Map
Dates: April 20 – 27, 2024
Value: €2,780* (€450 single complement)
It is a small group tour – solely 7 folks + me! The house will refill quick so join rapidly.
*All costs will probably be charged within the Euro – some USD worth fluctuations may happen by the point of your remaining cost – nevertheless you possibly can pay in full at any time and lock within the worth.
This isn’t your run of the mill Eire tour. That is an unique custom-made Ottsworld tour within the firm of me as your host, accompanied by our skilled native Irish information – Rachel. Our small group of seven folks will get to go to a few of Eire’s greatest saved secrets and techniques, hike on distant trails, keep in boutique lodging, meet locals, expertise distinctive Irish tradition, and benefit from the lush inexperienced of the Eire panorama within the spring.
I will even supply images instruction for these of you who’re focused on bettering your images (telephone or digital camera). As well as, I will probably be taking pictures of your entire tour and every visitor will get a obtain of all photographs I take. So for those who don’t need to take footage – I’ll do it for you!
The journey will discover the entire fantastic thing about County Mayo’s stretch of shoreline alongside the Wild Atlantic Approach and it’s islands. What’s that – you haven’t heard of County Mayo? That’s precisely why I selected it! It’s a hidden gem away from the closely traveled websites in Eire.
Whereas most individuals head to the Ring of Kerry or the Cliffs of Moher, we’ll have the attractive shoreline of County Mayo all to ourselves.
The best way to E-book This Tour
I’d like to speak to you first to reply any of your questions previous to you reserving. Due to this fact comply with these steps to ebook:
- Ship me an e-mail at [email protected] letting me find out about your curiosity. We are going to arrange a name to debate any questions you’ve got. This will probably be on a primary come first serve foundation – there are solely 7 spots obtainable on this tour.
- I’ll ship you a cost hyperlink to Rachel’s website the place you possibly can ebook your deposit and safe your spot for this tradition tour. 500€ non refundable deposit is required to safe spot.
- Remaining cost is due January 21, 2024 (90 Days previous to April 20, 2024)
Cancellation Coverage and Price
- In case you cancel greater than 90 days earlier than the beginning date of the vacation, you’ll lose the deposit quantity.
- In case you cancel between 89 – 42 days earlier than beginning date of the vacation, you’ll lose 50% of vacation price
- In case you cancel lower than 42 days earlier than the beginning date of the vacation, you’ll lose 100% of the vacation price
I extremely suggest that you just get journey insurance coverage to cowl any dangers of cancellation. I usually use Allianz Journey Insurance coverage for my very own travels and it is rather fairly priced.
Every day Itinerary
The itinerary is one-of-a-kind and is full of included experiences corresponding to a number of ‘spa’ experiences, visits to sheep farms, entrance to historical websites, lamb cuddling, cooking expertise, falconry, whiskey tasting, and the possibility to satisfy quite a lot of locals. As well as, we now have included loads of hikes, walks, and even some biking!
Observe: The journey begins in Ballina and ends in Westport. You’ll be reponsible to your personal transportation to the beginning and from the end, nevertheless there’s a common prepare and buses which can be simple to take from Dublin with a number of departures occasions throughout any given day.
Day 1 – April 20 – Arrival in Ballina Eire
Your vacation kicks off within the charming city of Ballina in County Mayo the place your information will meet you on arrival and switch you to the lodge. Settle into your room and take within the magnificent view over the River Moy and Belleek Woods, go to a museum, and luxuriate in a river stroll.
Take pleasure in a day baking expertise in Marjorie’s kitchen, hosted by Rachel’s mom in her kitchen. Marjorie is the writer of 4 cookery books and loves nothing greater than to share her ardour within the kitchen, adopted by savoring the fruits of your labor over a sizzling cuppa tea.
We are going to take pleasure in a welcome dinner for the group to get to know each other. After diner in case you have any vitality left, we are going to hit the city and go to Pat Rouse’s bar, Ballina’s oldest family-owned pub the place a standard Irish music session and singsong will go on late into the evening. It’s possible you’ll even get the possibility to drag your personal pint of Guinness.
Day 1 Meals Included: Dinner
Day 2: Sligo Coast – Following the traces of the Historic Queen Maeve of Connacht
After a refreshing sleep and a scrumptious breakfast. It’s off to hit the paths of Mayo and get our boots soiled for the primary time. At this time we are going to hike the fantastic Knocknarea hill and add a stone to the hundreds adorning the imposing grave or cairn of Maeve, the nice warrior queen, which overlooks Strandhill.
Distance: 7.5km | Elevation achieve 404m | 2-3 hours
It’s time to take pleasure in an natural, fair-trade espresso on the excellent Shells Café which overlooks the strand, having fun with one among their delicious selfmade treats. With time to chill out and discover this quaint location.
Go to Aughris Head Seaside bar – a standard thatch roof pub and luxuriate in a warming Irish espresso.
Take pleasure in a very distinctive native expertise and unwind with a seaweed tub in Enniscrone. Seaweed baths are literally a centuries-old observe in Eire. Relationship again to the twelfth century, monks harvested the seaweed from the coastlines and gave it to the poor as a nourishing meals. We’ll take pleasure in a soak on the 100+ yr outdated Kilcullen’s Tub Home perched proper on the coast the place they harvest their seaweed.
Take pleasure in a hearty dinner in Ballina and conventional Irish music at Lilly’s Bar.
Day 2 Meals Included: Breakfast
Day 3: Conventional Irish Trades & Treats
Begin the morning assembly and dealing with birds of prey. The Birds of Prey Expertise is a novel alternative to satisfy and deal with a wide range of Birds on the Mount Falcon Aviary. Get an enchanting perception into the lives of those magnificent creatures and get the possibility to carry and admire them shut up; it’s a really visceral and satisfying expertise!
Tour the Foxford Woollen Mills and be taught the historical past of the mill in addition to how essential it’s to the close by village. Have an opportunity to buy any wool mementos. Take pleasure in lunch on the Woolen Mills Cafe.
Head again to Ballina and get fitted for bikes at Rachel’s bike shed. We’ll cycle to the Monasteries of the Moy, discover the Belleek woods, and Rosserk Abbey. There will probably be numerous events to cease off and take footage and be taught concerning the historical past and traditions of the area…just like the Fairy Path!
For anybody who doesn’t need to cycle at the moment, another choice is to relax out and luxuriate in a calming remedy in an award-winning spa (at your personal price).
This night you’ve got an actual deal with earlier than dinner. A whiskey appreciation masterclass, your whisky knowledgeable will take you thru a number of Irish Whiskey and educate you on this world-famous spirit and its origins. Style the completely different whiskeys and ask any questions you could have. Following the masterclass, we’ll have dinner at Quay West.
Day 3 Meals Included: Breakfast
Day 4: North Mayo coast (The Ceide Coast)
Depart Ballina with a scenic drive to the coast the place we are going to take a simple strolling route alongside the coast to a hidden seaside. We’ll additionally make a cease on the iconic Downpatrick Head the place your information will deliver this place to life with information and folklore about time passed by.
Now it time to reward you to your morning’s journey with some scrumptious lunch and residential baked treats at Mary’s Cottage Kitchen. The proper place to cease for some tasty house cooking located within the coastal village of Ballycastle. Mary’s Cottage Kitchen was constructed within the early 1800’s and maintains many conventional options such because the stone wall exterior, open loft, uncovered beams, flag flooring and open hearth.
Subsequent, it’s time to go to the fantastically Ceide Fields which is the oldest, most intensive Stone Age monument on the earth, which lies beneath our toes! Consisting of megalithic tombs, fields and homes, the relics are softly coated by a pure blanket bathroom, which itself is a surprise with its distinctive natural world. Put together to be blown away on the viewing platform on the fringe of the 110-metre cliff shut by.
Tonight we keep on the luxurious Ceide Glamping Pods. Every of the 6 Glamping Pods comes with a surprising coastal view. And the very best half is that we’ll have your entire space to ourselves. We’ll take pleasure in dinner within the frequent space whereas we benefit from the sound of the waves crashing on the coast.
Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 5: Off the Overwhelmed Path
After a refreshing sleep and a scrumptious breakfast. It’s off to hit one of the gorgeous trails in County Mayo. This area of the Wild Atlantic Approach has a few of the most dramatic shoreline to be discovered anyplace in Eire. The hike we are going to take pleasure in at the moment was described in Lonely planet as “The best sustained coastal stroll in western Eire, with a profusion of precipitous cliffs, crags, caves, chasms and islands alongside the distant North Mayo coast”.
Distance: 7km | Elevation achieve: 300m | 2-3 hours
After the difficult hike reward your self with a standard heat whiskey and lunch at Connoly’s Pub and luxuriate in assembly some locals at this tiny, distant institution.
Drive to Ballycroy Nationwide Park. Situated on the Western seaboard in northwest Mayo, the park covers an enormous 15,000 hectares of uninhabited and unspoilt wilderness, dominated by the Nephin Beg mountain vary. To the west of the mountains is the Owenduff Bathroom, one of many final intact lively blanket bathroom programs in Western Europe. If time permits we’ll do a brief stroll there.
Drive to Achill Island, the biggest of the Irish isles but it solely has 2500 inhabitants. Right here we’ll keep on the secluded Bervie B&B. The magical beachside home was as soon as a coast guard station, and since 1932 has been the final word escape for the numerous visitors who’ve stayed right here. It’s a low, tucked-in type of place with just a little wicket gate giving direct entry to the seaside. There may be an other-worldliness concerning the Bervie that may be very uncommon today.
In spite of everything of that mountaineering – take pleasure in some sizzling & chilly Atlantic remedy! Heat up within the cute beachside saunas after which cool off with a refreshing dip within the Atlantic Ocean…and repeat. Dinner at Bervie B&B.
Included: Breakfast
Day 6: Achill Island & Clew Bay
After having fun with the very best breakfast on Achill Island, we’ll drive to Keem seaside which is honored as among the best seashores on the earth. From there we’ll hike as much as Eire’s highest sea cliffs (it’s steep – however quick)!
Subsequent we’ll go to the Abandoned Village at Slievemore which consists of some 80 – 100 stone cottages positioned alongside a mile lengthy stretch of street on the southern slopes of Slievemore mountain. Settlement on this space dates from no less than early Mediaval occasions and we’ll get to stroll by means of the village on a simple street stroll.
After lunch on the island we’ll drive in direction of the village of Westport. We will have a ‘select your personal journey’ afternoon with a number of stops to select from relying on curiosity, climate, time, and so forth)
Keep within the in style city of Westport tonight the place we are going to take pleasure in dinner, stay music, and iconic pubs.
Included: Breakfast
Day 7: Killary Fjord & South Mayo
Morning drive alongside Clew Bay and cease on the iconic Croagh Patrick to take pleasure in views of the notorious peak that hundreds pilgrimage to the highest of.
Lunch outdoor if climate permits. For the animal lovers, we get to visist an iconic Eire sheep farm. The Killary Sheep Farm in Connemara is a standard working mountain farm with approx 200 ewes and lambs roaming freely within the mountain overlooking Killary Fjord, on the Wild Atlantic Approach. Right here we’ll get to see a sheep canine demonstration, be taught concerning the farm, and even get to cuddle some spring lambs!
We’ll head again to Westport the place you’ll get time to do some remaining souvenier procuring and luxuriate in extra of the colourful city. We’ll have our goodbye dinner (how did it go so quick?!) in Westport that night the place we are able to share our favourite Eire reminiscences and experience our new friendships.
Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 8: April 27 – Departure Day
After breakfast you possibly can catch the prepare again to Dublin, or perhaps you’ll resolve to stay round and luxuriate in extra of Eire’s west coast!
Prepare to Dublin (direct):
- 07:15 – 10:27
- 09:45 – 13:04
- 13:10 – 16:29
- 18:20 – 21:36
(Occasions is perhaps barely completely different in 2024)
Bus to Galway:
- 06:18
- 09:19
- 12:27
- 15:19
- 18:19
(Approx. 2 hours)
What’s Included
- 7 nights keep in an en-suite room at our premium hand-picked lodging.
- Scrumptious Full Irish breakfast every morning, and three Dinners.
- 7 days actions with an knowledgeable Irish information who will accompany the group throughout the vacation
- All experiences as outlined within the itinerary; Whiskey Tasting, Foxford woollen mills, Baking class, Seaweed tub, Ceide fields, Sheep canine demonstration, Sauna Achill Island, Bike rental.
- Courtesy transfers to and from every day’s strolling areas and all transport as outlined within the itinerary.
- Primary images instruction through the journey.
- Entry to a full gallery of images (shot by me!) of your entire journey, you should use for private functions.
What’s Not Included:
- Flights to/from Eire
- Transportation to Ballina and departure from Westport
- Journey Insurance coverage
- Some dinners and lunches
- Private drinks
- Medical prices
- Gratuities
Our Superior Native Information
When you’ve got the appropriate information, it may ‘make’ a whole journey! Rachel is the final word out of doors information. She’s an unimaginable athlete and such an exquisite advocate of her house area in County Mayo. Considered one of my favourite issues about staying in Ballina is that it’s the city she grew up in (and nonetheless lives there) and with that comes unimaginable native connections. In truth, we could have particular cooking class from her mom. It doesn’t get far more native than that! Plus, Rachel ensures that we all know everybody on the town introducing us to the bartenders after we go right into a pub, restaurant house owners, and even the native man who smokes fish.
Critiques
What makes this tour ‘Ottsworld’? This isn’t your common tour…it’s an Ottsworld tour. I have to confess – that I’m type of a journey snob. I don’t love to do the ‘anticipated’ or see the everyday sights; I like to hunt out the bizarre, and fewer traveled. I’ve labored collectively very carefully with Rachel to place collectively a tour that impresses even me! It has all of my favourite parts in it: mountaineering, native journey, booze, hands-on native experiences, and images. Sure – all of this in solely 8 days! Right here what previous visitors needed to say under.
“Undoubtedly a ten! I actually loved the truth that the tour was a “white glove supply” experience- all the things was so meticulously deliberate so we didn’t have to fret about transportation, meals, what we’re doing for the day, or if we’re attempting to an excessive amount of or not sufficient. I went again to reread the outline of the tour (revealed in Might) after we returned house and couldn’t consider that we hit EVERY. SINGLE. ITEM. AS. PLANNED
“It was good for me, a bit difficult however that’s what I like. The primary day was probably the most lovely, second probably the most difficult, third very attention-grabbing with the steps by means of the woods.”
“positively met expectations and likewise uncovered me to issues I’m positive I might not have thought-about if I used to be planning a visit.”
“Meals was AWESOME – approach higher than anticipated. Appreciated doing issues I might not have carried out alone”
“Thanks to your endurance in serving to us seize wonderful reminiscences! The one factor I knew earlier than your class was the rule of thirds, and now I’ve an excellent basis of data to construct upon- no extra level and shoot! Instagram be careful!”
Who Ought to Think about This Tour?
- Individuals who wish to discover the lesser-known locations, and be adventurous and lively.
- People who find themselves versatile. You have to be prepared to exhibit flexibility, as itineraries could change because of climate, and it helps in case you have a ‘prepared to strive new issues’ angle.
- Individuals who don’t thoughts getting moist or having fun with the joy of inclement climate.
- Individuals who really feel comfy mountaineering 3 to five miles in uneven terrain.
Photographs
When you’ve got any questions – please be at liberty to contact me at [email protected]. I’m pleased to reply something concerning the journey!
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