Dublin Suburbs &
Countryside Tours
Photos:
Three tour companies setting out from Dublin City into the countryside:
(left) Over the Top Tours; (right) Irish City Tours/Gray Line Tours; and
(below) Irish Rover Tours (formerly Tir na nOg Tours).
Whether you are looking for a conventional bus tour, or a small personalized
minibus tour with an off-the-beaten path itinerary, or even a rail tour
to more far-flung destinations, Dublin is the perfect gateway — with
a choice of more than two dozen half-day and full-day trips into the countryside.
Head into Dublin's north and south coast suburbs, or south to Co. Wicklow,
west and south to Clonmacnoise, Kildare, Waterford or Kilkenny, north
to the Boyne Valley and Newgrange, the Mourne Mountains or even to Belfast.
Choose your
destinations and then pick tours that appeal to you:
Dublin's
South & North Coastal Suburbs
Wicklow - Powerscourt, Glendalough, Avoca/Ballykisssangel
The Boyne Valley - Newgrange, Tara, Monasterboice
Clonmacnoise, Kildare, Kilkenny, Waterford
Belfast and Mourne Mountains
Railtours
Dublin's South
& North Coastal Suburbs
The
Coast and Garden Tour Including Powerscourt Estate — A morning
tour of the Dublin Bay coast including Dun Laoghaire and the picturesque
village of Dalkey (home to Ireland's “rich and famous”), and Powerscourt
Gardens. 5 hrs. Picks up from some hotels, Lr. Grafton St., and Dun Laoghaire
Tourist Office. Daily, year-round at 9:15am except Oct. 25, Dec.
20-31, and March 17. Book in advance at the Dublin Tourism Office. Operated
by Irish City Tours/Gray Line, 33 Bachelor's Walk, Dublin 1; tel. 01-872-9010;
web site: www.irishcitytours.com
Dublin
Bay & Castle Tour Visiting Malahide Castle – An afternoon
tour of north County Dublin including a admission and a guided tour at
Malahide Castle and a stop of Howth summit for breathtaking views of Dublin
Bay. 5 hours. Picks up from Gresham Hotel and Lr. Grafton St. Daily
in March-Dec. except Oct. 25, Dec. 20-31 and March 17; and on weekends
only in Jan.-Feb. Book in advance at the Dublin Tourism Office. Operated
by Irish City Tours/Gray Line, 33 Bachelor's Walk, Dublin 1; tel. 01-872-9010; web site: www.irishcitytours.com
North Coast & Castle Tour — Dublin's north coastline including Malahide, Howth, Howth Head, Dublin Bay and a admission to Malahide Castle. 3 hrs. Double-decker bus. Daily, year-round, departs at 10am. Buy tickets at Dublin Tourism Centre or Dublin Bus, 59 Upr. O'Connell St., Dublin 1; tel. 01-873-4222; web site www.DublinBus.ie
South Coast & Gardens Tour — Dublin's south coastline including Dun Laoghaire, Sandycove, the Vico Road along Killiney Bay, Bray, Greystones, and Enniskerry with a visit to Powerscourt Gardens. 3 hrs., 45 mins. Double-decker bus. Daily, year-round at 11am. Buy tickets at Dublin Tourism Centre or Dublin Bus, 59 Upr. O'Connell St., Dublin 1; tel. 01-873-4222; web site www.DublinBus.ie
Wicklow - Powerscourt,
Glendalough, Avoca/Ballykisssangel
Glendalough & Ballykissangel Tour — A full day
tour by rail along Dublin's southern coast into Co. Wicklow - The Garden of Ierland, with visits to Avoca, known as "Ballykissangel" in the PBS/BBC-TV series, and to historic 6th century Glendalough. Daily except
Sunday, departing from Connolly Rail Station at 11:45 am, returning at 6:30 pm. Buy tickets at Dublin
Tourism Centre, Irish Rail Stations, or Dublin Bus, 59 Upr. O'Connell St., Dublin 1; tel. 01-873-4222;
web site www.DublinBus.ie
Glendalough,
Powerscourt Gardens & Wicklow Panorama — Bus Eireann, Ireland's
national bus company, operates this full-day tour of the "Garden
of Ireland" with a scenic drive through the mountains, a guided tour
of Glendalough and admision to Powerscourt Gardens. 7 hrs. Departs Busaras/Central
Bus Station, Store St., Dublin 1. Operates at 10:30 a.m. daily from mid-April
though Oct.; and on Wed., Fri. & Sun. in mid-Jan. to mid-April and
in Nov. through mid-Dec. Reservations recommended; buy tickets at Busaras
or the Dublin Tourism Office. For info, contact Bus Eireann, Store St.,
Dublin 1; tel. 01-836-6111; web site www.buseireann.ie
Wicklow & Glendalough
— This full day tour, conducted via a 14-seater minibus, travels off the
beaten track to some places that large coaches cannot go. The route includes
lakes, waterfalls, valleys, by-roads, as well as the Dublin Mountains,
Sally Gap, Glendalough, and the filming locations for "Braveheart"
and "Ballykissangel." 8 hrs. Departs daily at 9:45am from Dublin
Tourism Office. Book in advance at the Dublin Tourism Office or contact
Over the Top Tours, tel. 01-838-6128 or 087-259-3467; and web site: www.overthetoptours.com
Wicklow Mountain Adventure – Join in a small group (24 passengers maximum), and see the “other side” of Co. Wicklow, with a jaunt through the rugged land of Wicklow National Park including Lough Tay, Sally Gap, Glenmacnass Waterfall, Blessington Lakes and film locations for Braveheart, Excalibur, Michael Collins, Reign of Fire and Ballykissangel . Operated May-Sept on Tues, Thurs & Fri and Oct-April on Tues.-Sun. Book at the Dublin Tourism Office or contact Day Tours Unplugged, tel. 01-834-0941; web site: www.daytoursunplugged.ie
Wicklow Mountains Safari – Operated by shuttle bus, this tour travels through the Dublin and Wicklow Mountains, with various stops including a tour of Glendalough, and a drive through the Glenmalure Valley. Departs at 8 a.m. 11 hours. Reservations Required. Information: Angel Tours Dublin, mobile tel. #087-228-8760; web site: www.angeltoursdublin.com
The Wicklow Mountains, Valleys, Lakes Tour Visiting Russborough House — A full-day tour of Co. Wicklow including Glendalough with guided tour, a drive through the Wickow Gap and Blessington Lakes, and visits to Avoca Handweavers and Russborough House. 7 hrs. Picks up from 33 Bachelor's Walk and College Green. April-Oct., Sun. only at 10:10am. Buy tickets in advance from Irish City Tours Desk at Dublin Tourism Centre. For info: contact Irish City Tours/Gray Line, 33 Bachelor's Walk, Dublin 1, tel. 01-872-9010; and web site: www.irishcitytours.com.
The Wicklow Tour Visiting Ballykissangel & Glendalough – A full day tour of Co. Wickow including Glendalough, with a guided tour; and the village of Avoca, made famous as “Ballykissangel” by the BBC-TV show. The tour also includes a visit to the Avoca Handweavers. 8 hrs. Picks up from some hotels, Lr. Grafton St., and Dun Laoghaire Tourist Office. Daily, year-round at 9am except Oct. 25, Dec. 20-29, and March 17. Book in advance at the Dublin Tourism Office. Operated by Irish City Tours/Gray Line, 33 Bachelor's Walk, Dublin 1; tel. 01-872-9010; web site: www.irishcitytours.com
The
Wicklow Wilderness & Glendalough
- Designed for younger travelers and backpackers, this tour uses a small
20-seat coach and goes to many off-the-beaten path places in Co. Wicklow,
such as Sally Gap, Lough Tay, Glencree and 1798 Military Road, the Liffey
Source, and Blessington Lakes, as well as Glendalough. 8 hrs. Departs
daily at 9:30am from Dublin Tourism Office. Book in advance at Dublin
Tourism Office or at Irish Rover Tours, 57 Lr. Gardiner St., Dublin 1;
tel. 01-836-4684; web site: www.irishrover.ie.
Wild Wicklow Tour — This tour, conducted via small
Mercedes bus and led by a well-versed and entertaining guide, aims to
present the "wild" or surprising side of Wicklow including a
coastal tour, Glendalough, Avoca, Sally Gap (with mountain lakes, wild
heather, and barren boglands). 8hrs. 30 mins. Departs from Dublin Tourism
Office and major city hotels. Daily, year-round at 9am. Advance booking
required. For bookings and info, contact Discover
Dublin, 20 Lr. Stephen St., Dublin 2; tel. 01-478-0193; web site www.discoverdublin.ie.
The Boyne Valley
- Newgrange, Tara, Monasterboice
Be Irish For A Day! Tour — This action-packed tour
takes visitors 40 miles from Dublin up to Co. Meath to the Causey Farm
near Navan for a full agenda of traditional Irish sights, sounds, experiences
and culture. The program includes a bog trip, a game of hurling, a lesson
in bread-making, a sugan-rope demonstration, farm visit and sheepdog demonstrations;
ceili dancing and bodhran classes, culminating with a colcannon supper
and a live traditional music session. Tours operate according to demand.
Advance booking required. You can drive yourself to the farm or take a
public bus from Busaras in Dublin to Kells and you will be met at the
bus stop and taken to the farm. For bookings and info, contact Deirdre
Murtagh, The Causey Farm, Girley, Fordstown, Navan, Co. Meath; tel. 046-34135;
web
site www.causeyexperience.com.
Newgrange & Boyne Valley — Bus Eireann, Ireland's national bus company, operates this full-day tour to County Meath with a scenic drive through the Boyne Valley, a guided tour of Newgrange, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and a visit to the Bru na Boinne Heritage Centre. 8 hrs. Departs Busaras/Central Bus Station, Store St., Dublin 1. Operates daily at 10am except Fri. May-Sept.; and on Thurs. & Sat. during Feb.-April, Oct. through mid-Dec. (Note: in May-Sept., on Tues., Thurs. & Sat, this tour operates via Hill of Tara and Trim; on Mon., Wed. & Sat, it goes via Monasterboice and Mellifont). Reservations recommended; buy tickets at Busaras or the Dublin Tourism Office. For info, contact Bus Eireann, Store St., Dublin 1; tel. 01-836-6111; web site www.buseireann.ie.
Newgrange
Tour & Boyne Valley Drive Visiting the Burial Chamber at Bru na Boinne
— Half-day tour to the Boyne Valley with visits to the Bru na
Boinne Heritage Centre and a guided tour of Newgrange, the oldest and
largest burial chamber in Europe. 6 hrs. April-Oct. except Oct. 25, departs
Mon., Tues., Fri. and Sat. at 10am. All passengers for this tour must
go to Gray Line Desk 1, Dublin Tourism Centre, 20 minutes prior to departure.
Buy tickets in advance from Irish City Tours Desk at Dublin Tourism Centre.
For info: contact Irish City Tours/Gray Line, 33 Bachelor's Walk,
Dublin 1, tel. 01-872-9010; and web site:
www.irishcitytours.com
Newgrange & Hill of
Tara - Designed
for younger travelers and backpackers, this tour uses a small 20-seat
coach and goes to Newgrange and other less-traaveled places in the Boyne
River Valley, such as the 1690 Battle of the Boyne site, Monasterboice
Round Tower & Celtic Crosses, St. Patrick's Slane Abbey and the Hill
of Tara.. This company also does another tour that goes to Trim Castle
and the Knowth Neolithic Roms asa well as Boyne Valley sites. 8
hrs. Departs daily at 9:30am from Dublin Tourism Office. Book in advance
at Dublin Tourism Office or at Irish Rover Tours, 57 Lr. Gardiner St.,
Dublin 1; tel. 01-836-4684; web site: www.irishrover.ie
Newgrange
& Hill of Tara
— Mary Gibbons and her associates conduct small, personalized tours(maximum:
20 passengers) to Newgrange via minibus with a detailed commentary
and interior visit to the historic site, as well as visits to the River
Boyne, Hill of Tara, and village of Slane. 6-7 hrs. Mon.-Fri., departing
at 10:15 a.m. from the Dublin Tourism Office and also from some hotels.
Advance booking required. To book, visit the Dublin Tourism Office or
contact Mary Gibbons Tours, tel. 01-283-9973; web site: www.newgrangetours.com.
Clonmacnoise, Kildare,
Kilkenny, Waterford
Clonmacnoise
& Locke's Distillery Museum Tour - Bus Eireann, Ireland's
national bus company, operates this full-day tour to the often-overlooked
center of Ireland, covering Counties Westmeath and Offaly, with admission
to Clonmacnoise, St. Ciaran's 6 th century settlement on the River Shannon,
and a tour/tasting of Locke's Distillery. The route also passes via the
Blackwater Bog, Cloghan, Tullamore, and Edenderry. 8 hours. Departs Busaras/Central
Bus Station, Store St., Dublin 1. Operates June 8 to Sept. 14 on Tues.
only at 9:45am. Reservations recommended; buy tickets at Busaras or the
Dublin Tourism Office. For info, contact Bus Eireann, Store St., Dublin
1; tel. 01-836-6111; web site www.buseireann.ie
Kildare — This half-day tour, with both morning or afternoon departures, goes to the Irish National Stud for a fully guided tour, and time to stroll through St. Fiachra's Garden and the Japanese Gardens. 4 hrs. Departs Fri. & Sat. from Dublin Tourism Office and major city hotels. Book in advance (advance booking required) at the Dublin Tourism Office or contact Day Tours Unplugged, tel. 01-834-0941, web site www.daytoursunplugged.ie
Kilkenny City & Nore Valley Drive — Bus Eireann, Ireland's national bus company, operates this full-day tour to Kilkenny, Ireland's medieval city, with a scenic drive through the Nore River Valley, via the picturesque village of Inistioge. 9 hrs. Departs Busaras/Central Bus Station, Store St., Dublin 1. Operates June 2-Sept. 29 on Wed. only at 9:30am. Reservations recommended; buy tickets at Busaras or the Dublin Tourism Office. For info, contact Bus Eireann, Store St., Dublin 1; tel. 01-836-6111; web site www.buseireann.ie.
River Barrow Luncheon Cruise & Waterford Crystal Showrooms — Bus Eireann, Ireland's national bus company, operates this full-day tour to Counties Waterford and Wexford including a scenic river cruise on board the "New Ross Galley" (including lunch) and then a visit to the famous Waterford Crystal Showrooms. 12 hrs. Departs Busaras/Central Bus Station, Store St., Dublin 1. Operates June 10 to Aug. 26 on Thurs. only at 9am. Reservations recommended; buy tickets at Busaras or the Dublin Tourism Office. For info, contact Bus Eireann, Store St., Dublin 1; tel. 01-836-6111; web site www.buseireann.ie.
Belfast and Mourne
Mountains
Belfast Day Tour — This full-day tour to Belfast
is geared for backpackers and young travelers, using a bright green "Paddywagon"
minibus. The day includes the drive to/from Belfast and the following
activities in Belfast: historic walking tour, a Black Taxi tour to see
the political wall murals and alternative sights of the city, and two
hours of free time in Belfast to sightsee or shop on your own. Departs
from the Paddywagon Tour Office and from main city hotels. Operates
at 8 am Sat. & Sun. year-round; and on Tues. & Thurs in May-Sept.
11 hrs. Reservations required; buy tickets at the Paddywagon
Tours Office, 17 Westmoreland St., Dublin 2; tel. 01-672-6007; e-mailweb
site www.paddywagontours.com.
Mountains of Mourne — Bus Eireann, Ireland's national
bus company, operates this full-day tour into Northern Ireland with a
scenic drive via Drogheda, Dundalk and around the Carlingford Peninsula
(including lunch at the Village Hotel of Carlingford). Then over into
the North to see the Victorian seaside resort of Newcastle, the Spelga
Dam and the Silent Valley with its beautiful gardens. 11 hrs. Departs
Busaras/Central Bus Station, Store St., Dublin 1. Operates July-Aug. on
Tues., Thurs. & Sat at 10am. Reservations recommended; buy tickets
at Busaras or the Dublin Tourism Office. For info, contact Bus Eireann,
Store St., Dublin 1; tel. 01-836-6111; web site www.buseireann.ie.
Railtours — With Dublin as your base, you can
visit all parts of Ireland. Tours by train and bus including Ballykissangel and the Garden
of Ireland; Glendalough and the Vale of Avoca; Waterford, Kilkenny & the East Coast;
Cork, Blarney & Cobh; Cliffs of Moher, Burren and Galway Bay; Connemara; Aran Islands;
Ring of Kerry, Giant's Causeway & Glens of Antrim and many more including a "mystery railtour."
Duration of tours and schedules vary; departures daily except Sundays and bank holidays. Advance booking
required. Buy tickets at Dublin Tourism Centre or contact Railtours House, 16 Amiens St.,
Dublin 1; tel. 01-856-0045;
web site www.railtoursireland.com.
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