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Castle Coole, chromolithograph c. 1880.
Great Irish Houses - Country houses both sides of the border
Tour highlights
- Includes many of the finest country houses in Ireland, both north and south of the border, selected with a bias towards the Georgian era.
- Outstanding architecture and decoration, excellent furniture and pictures, fine gardens and fascinating historical context.
- Special arrangements at many of the houses (several are still private homes), from out-of-hours openings to dinners in state rooms.
- Exceptional countryside accommodation including two nights at a stately home.
- An itinerary that is full, but with time to absorb, rest or explore independently.
Itinerary
Practicalities
Two sharing: £5,610. Single occupancy: £6,270.
Accommodation as described below; private coach throughout; breakfasts, 2 lunches and 7 dinners with wine, water, coffee (of these, 2 lunches and 3 dinners are in private houses); all admissions and donations; all tips; the services of the lecturer and tour manager.
Several airlines link Dublin and Belfast with many UK and other airports, so flights are not included in the tour. You are free to choose flights which are the most convenient for you.
Cliff at Lyons is a hotel installed in the disparate buildings of an estate village. There are between two and six bedrooms and sitting areas in each house, and a restaurant, spa and other facilities are scattered through well-tended grounds. Belle Isle Castle is a pair of adjoining houses dating to c. 1900 and earlier on the shore of Lough Erne. It is not a hotel but has been beautifully converted for private hire and features very comfortable bedrooms, lounges and dining room. Ballywalter Park is a stately home (see above), and our residence here is as guests of the resident owners – it is very much not a hotel! Bedrooms are very comfortable. Being historic properties, none of the accommodation on this tour has lifts.
At Belle Isle & Ballywalter, all rooms have private bathrooms but not all are en suite and bathrooms at Ballywalter have baths, not showers. Some rooms are proper twins without double beds.
There is quite a lot of walking on this tour – walking from drop-off points, touring the houses, enjoying the gardens. Stairs are unavoidable as only one of the places visited has a lift. Average distance by coach per day: 70 miles.
Between 10 and 18 participants.
Before booking, please refer to the FCDO website and Travel Health Pro to ensure you are happy with the travel advice for the destination(s) you are visiting.
Testimonials
“Anthony Lambert is almost perfect: learned, well-prepared, witty, articulate, thoughtful, respectful, friendly with everyone and quietly helpful, as needed.
”
“I travel a lot and have been on many organised tours. It doesn't get any better than yours. Indeed this tour was one of the best I've take in 60 plus years of travel.
”
“Unique and fascinating week.
”
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