Vagabond Wild Irish Rover

Your Adventure Awaits!
Dublin to Galway

Meet your VagaGuide and fellow Vagabonds at reception of the Grand Canal Hotel, Dublin at 8.30am. Board your 4x4 VagaTron tour vehicle and hit the road!

Kickstart your Irish odyssey in style with a guided castle tour at Athenry.

Revel in the savage beauty of Connemara, famed for its traditional Irish culture, misty mountains, wild moorlands and dark lakes.

The setting could not be more scenic for a farm tour and sheepdog demo at Tom Nee’s farm above Killary Harbour. Don’t worry if we don’t get time today; you will enjoy a sheep farm tour on Day 3 instead.

Hike on Diamond Hill (442 m / 1,450 ft) for epic views of Connemara National Park. Boardwalk on lower slopes leads to steep, loose and uneven terrain. Duration: up to 2 hours 30 minutes.

Feel like royalty with an atmospheric dining experience and overnight stay at Abbeyglen Castle Hotel, deep in Connemara.

The average driving time today is 5 hours.

Into the heart of the west
Galway to Clare

We’re steering for Galway this morning. The City of the Tribes nestles on the Atlantic Ocean and makes for an atmospheric and buzzy urban experience. Expect street performances, diverse shops and tasty food options.

Spot black-hulled, red-sailed Hooker boats and picturesque Dunguaire Castle in the village of Kinvara, on Galway Bay.

Visit the bewitching beauty of the Burren region, with its limestone lunar landscape, ancient dolmens and uniquely rich flora.

Hold onto your hat! It’s the world famous Cliffs of Moher. These majestic 700ft high sea cliffs have the power to dazzle all comers.

Accommodation tonight is at family-owned Spanish Point House. It’s a short ramble across the road for dinner at the Armada’s Pearl Restaurant.

Overnight—The Armada Hotel, Spanish Point, Co. Clare

The average driving time today is 4 hours.

Through the gates of the kingdom
Clare to Dingle

Lip-smacking sausages. Locally-cured, cold-smoked salmon. We reckon Spanish Point House serves Ireland's finest breakfast.

Look out for low-flying dolphins as we ferry across the Shannon — Ireland’s broadest, longest river — to arrive in ‘The Kingdom’ of Kerry.

Visit a working Irish sheep farm with charming old-style cottages for a live sheepdog demo and a guided farm tour (if we haven’t visited earlier in the tour).

Surf’s up! Take a cold water surf lesson (Tour Option- €40 per person). Or simply absorb the serenity at one of Ireland’s most gorgeous beaches.

Another option is to climb the steep, glaciated valley of Annascaul. Prepare for a hike of 1 hour 30 minutes duration, including rough terrain and stunning views.

Refresh yourself with an ice cold pint at the South Pole Inn. Relive the extraordinary deeds of its one time landlord, Antarctic explorer, Tom Crean.

Dingle awaits... Revel in a wealth of dinner and entertainment options in this bustling little town. There’s a pub for every 40 residents!

Your accommodation tonight and tomorrow will be at the Dingle Skellig Hotel.

Overnight—The Dingle Skellig Hotel, Dingle, Co. Kerry (or Dingle Bay Hotel)

The average driving time today is 3 hours 30 minutes

Maximum adventure, minimum driving
Dingle to Slea Head (and return)

Experience one of the most beautiful drives in Ireland. Rugged beauty and knife edge cliffs are guaranteed on Slea Head, Europe’s westernmost point.

The afternoon is yours to design. Relax and soak up Dingle’s charms, with the option for some quality down time.

Your guide can also organize one of the following optional activities:
● Go horseback-riding on a beach or up a mountain (Tour Option - €45 per person)
● Tour scenic Dingle Bay on a boat trip (Tour Option - €15-20 per person)
● Guided sea kayaking on Dingle Bay (Tour Option - €50 per person)
● Guided rowing experience in a traditional Naomhóg boat (Tour Option - €25 per person)
● Golfers will enjoy Dingle’s excellent links course. This is an all day activity (Tour Option - Ask your VagaGuide for cost) 

Overnight—The Dingle Skellig Hotel, Dingle, Co. Kerry (or Dingle Bay Hotel)

The average driving time today is 1 hour 30 minutes.

Tracks, Trails & A National Park
Dingle to Portmagee

It’s a swift morning start for a guided cycling tour of Killarney National Park (Tour Option - €30 per person). Expect a mix of paved road and forest trails. Duration 3 hours approx. Cycling ability is required.

Biking not your thing? You’re free to roam this magnificent parkland. Highlights of Killarney National Park for both bikers and hikers may include:
● Sightings of rare red deer herds in native oak forest
● 19th century Muckross House and Gardens
● A short hike to scenic Torc Waterfall
● A centuries-old yew tree at the centre of a ruined abbey
● Idyllic lakeside and mountain views

Your well-earned rest and dining tonight is in the comfort of The Moorings Guesthouse in Portmagee on the Ring of Kerry.

If it’s a clear night, look up! Kerry’s night sky is a certified International Dark Sky Reserve and offers crystal clear views of the Milky Way.

Overnight—The Moorings Guesthouse, Portmagee, Co. Kerry

The average driving time today is 3 hours 30 minutes

Island adventures
Portmagee to Kenmare

Today is your chance to experience Ireland’s island treasures; the Skelligs.

Option 1: Take a guided boat trip around both Skellig Islands to experience seabirds and amazing history (Tour Option - €40 per person). This cruise lasts 2 hour 30 minutes.

This is an ocean crossing. Departures are seasonal (mid-May to mid-September). The 12 person capacity boats are small. The cabin conditions are rough and wet; sea legs are required. Your departure is weather dependent and, as such, occasionally subject to late cancellation.

Option 2: Landlubbers can still experience the Skelligs. Hike to the historic signal tower on Bray Head for amazing views of the islands (1 hour 30 minutes). The trail combines well-worn farm track and open hillside.

The afternoon brings you more choice. Witness 385 million year old tetrapod tracks on Valentia Island; or visit the historic National Monument and golden beach at Derrynane; we might even force you to taste some chocolate!

We’ll hit lively Kenmare this evening. Your accommodation is at the Coachmans Townhouse in the centre of town.

Overnight—Coachman’s Townhouse Hotel, Kenmare, Co. Kerry

The average driving time today is 2 hours.

Strictly backroads
Kenmare to West Cork

You’re about to feel true wilderness. Expect rugged roads, superb scenery and livestock-induced traffic jams on the remote Beara Peninsula.

Of the four peninsulas in Ireland's southwestern corner, the Beara receives the least amount of visitors. It’s a cliché; but the Beara is truly off the beaten track.

One of our favourite pastimes is dancing around ancient stone circles. Luckily, the Beara has a plethora to choose from. Astrology? Aliens? Sacrifice? No one truly knows what the circles were for. Let your imagination run wild!

Cross the Caha Mountains with a scenic drive across the Healy Pass, Ireland’s bendiest road.

There’s one more drive today, a coastal ride that snakes along Bantry Bay before cutting inland.

Overnight—Gougane Barra Hotel, Cork, Co. Cork (or West Cork Hotel, Skibbereen)

The average driving time today is 3 hours 30 minutes.

The Parting Glass
West Cork to Dublin

Before we wave goodbye, there’s still time to take in some of Ireland’s highlights.

We’ll trace the valley of the River Lee, passing stone bridges and postcard-pretty countryside.

Then it’s time to - hygienically - kiss the famous Blarney Stone to gain the gift o' the gab. Afterwards, explore the lush, landscaped gardens of Blarney Castle.

Take a self-guided tour of the Rock of Cashel. You’re in good company. Saint Patrick converted the King of Munster here in the 5th century. In the year 978, Brian Boru was crowned High King of Ireland on the same spot.  We think it’s a fittingly epic place to conclude your Irish odyssey.

You’ll disembark your VagaTron 4x4 tour vehicle back at the Grand Canal Hotel in Dublin between 5-6pm. Farewell hugs (or elbow bumps!) all round for your new travel compandres.

The average driving time today is 4 hours and 30 minutes.