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Journeys With Rosemary
Scotland & Ireland: Circle-Island Tour June 2014 |
Ireland, what can you say? Nicest people on the planet; every shade of green imaginable in the landscape, intriguing vistas—from the limestone and wildflowers of the Burren, to the breathtaking Cliffs of Moher, the rugged Aran Islands and the Antrim Coast; traditional music and a more relaxed lifestyle. We experienced all of this and so much more after spending three nights in each of 5 cities.
Edinburgh: Most of us began the trip with a prequel to Edinburgh, Scotland. In the land of “aye”, “ye” and “wee”, our group of 11 toured the castle and Royal Mile and day-tripped to the Highlands, passing through the charming village of Aberfoyle and lunching at Loch Lomond. Some of us tried haggis while in the country, but no one purchased a can of it to take home!
Dublin: In this busy but friendly capital, our group, now comprised of 15, visited Trinity College including the Book of Kells and Old Library, toured Kilmainham Gaol (jail), toured Newgrange and Malahide Castle. Some of us made it to Guinness Storehouse while others visited historic buildings and museums. We all spent some time in the pubs, most notably in the Temple Bar neighborhood. The food in Ireland has improved ten-fold in the past 10 years and nowhere was it more evident than in this city. We savored a “lovely” meal at the Pig’s Ear for one of our included dinners. There were a few light rain showers, but aside from that and some fog on Dingle, the rest of the trip was sunny and very warm!
On the way to our next destination, we visited the Irish National Stud farm. What gorgeous horses and gardens!
Kenmare: Avoiding touristy Killarney, we stayed in tiny Kenmare in the SW corner of Ireland. From here we day-tripped to coastal Kinsale, with its colorful streets and shops, and spent a day on the iconic Dingle Peninsula. Back in our adopted town of Kenmare, some of us made Foley’s pub a nightly event. Were we ever surprised when our guide Michael joined the musicians on his tin whistle! Not only can he drive and give a running narrative at the same time, but he can play an instrument and sing!!
Galway: En route to this western city, we passed through the Burren and stopped at the spectacular Cliffs of Moher. Again clear weather made it possible to ferry to Inis Mór, largest of the Aran Islands. Here we spent time at Dun Aengus prehistoric stone fort and in the woolen shops around town. The Irish language is prevalent here; residents speak to each in their native tongue and in English to tourists. We also drove through the Connemara with its limestone formations and peat bogs, and visited beautiful Kylemore Abbey. En route to our next destination, we toured the Belleek pottery center and gained an appreciation of all the time and work that goes into a piece. And a few of us made some purchases…..
Belfast: Last but not least, we entered N Ireland where the prosperity of the UK is evident compared to the Republic. With a local guide, we took a city tour of Belfast that included Queens University and the world-famous murals. During our free time, several of us visited the City Hall which rivals some of the finest State Houses in the US. Another highlight was the amazing new Titanic Belfast exhibit, which takes at least 2.5 hours to fully appreciate. On our last full day, we rode along the Antrim coast and explored the incredible Giants Causeway with its basalt column formations. We made a final stop at Bushmills Distillery for a tour and—you guessed it—a tasting.
It was a very full itinerary, but none of us would have wanted to miss any of the experiences in this very special land.
Edinburgh: Most of us began the trip with a prequel to Edinburgh, Scotland. In the land of “aye”, “ye” and “wee”, our group of 11 toured the castle and Royal Mile and day-tripped to the Highlands, passing through the charming village of Aberfoyle and lunching at Loch Lomond. Some of us tried haggis while in the country, but no one purchased a can of it to take home!
Dublin: In this busy but friendly capital, our group, now comprised of 15, visited Trinity College including the Book of Kells and Old Library, toured Kilmainham Gaol (jail), toured Newgrange and Malahide Castle. Some of us made it to Guinness Storehouse while others visited historic buildings and museums. We all spent some time in the pubs, most notably in the Temple Bar neighborhood. The food in Ireland has improved ten-fold in the past 10 years and nowhere was it more evident than in this city. We savored a “lovely” meal at the Pig’s Ear for one of our included dinners. There were a few light rain showers, but aside from that and some fog on Dingle, the rest of the trip was sunny and very warm!
On the way to our next destination, we visited the Irish National Stud farm. What gorgeous horses and gardens!
Kenmare: Avoiding touristy Killarney, we stayed in tiny Kenmare in the SW corner of Ireland. From here we day-tripped to coastal Kinsale, with its colorful streets and shops, and spent a day on the iconic Dingle Peninsula. Back in our adopted town of Kenmare, some of us made Foley’s pub a nightly event. Were we ever surprised when our guide Michael joined the musicians on his tin whistle! Not only can he drive and give a running narrative at the same time, but he can play an instrument and sing!!
Galway: En route to this western city, we passed through the Burren and stopped at the spectacular Cliffs of Moher. Again clear weather made it possible to ferry to Inis Mór, largest of the Aran Islands. Here we spent time at Dun Aengus prehistoric stone fort and in the woolen shops around town. The Irish language is prevalent here; residents speak to each in their native tongue and in English to tourists. We also drove through the Connemara with its limestone formations and peat bogs, and visited beautiful Kylemore Abbey. En route to our next destination, we toured the Belleek pottery center and gained an appreciation of all the time and work that goes into a piece. And a few of us made some purchases…..
Belfast: Last but not least, we entered N Ireland where the prosperity of the UK is evident compared to the Republic. With a local guide, we took a city tour of Belfast that included Queens University and the world-famous murals. During our free time, several of us visited the City Hall which rivals some of the finest State Houses in the US. Another highlight was the amazing new Titanic Belfast exhibit, which takes at least 2.5 hours to fully appreciate. On our last full day, we rode along the Antrim coast and explored the incredible Giants Causeway with its basalt column formations. We made a final stop at Bushmills Distillery for a tour and—you guessed it—a tasting.
It was a very full itinerary, but none of us would have wanted to miss any of the experiences in this very special land.