Emerald Isle Discovery 2025

Duration

12 Days

Departure Dates

25th September 2025

Prices from

£2,845 Per person

Experience a unique circular tour of the Emerald Isle journeying on scenic railways through picturesque countryside and discovering iconic locations including the Giant's Causeway, the Ring of Kerry, and the Wild Atlantic Way. Visit the fascinating Titanic Experience, ride a traditional Jaunting Car, and enjoy free time to explore Ireland's capital city of Dublin. Céad Míle Fáilte!

Overview
Itinerary
Further Information
Departure Dates
Useful Resources

Chester ©Shutterstock

12 days from £2,845

DEPARTS

Thursday 25 September 2025

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

Explore Ireland’s capital city of Dublin
Journey on the most scenic railway along the East Coast
Visit the House of Waterford Crystal showcasing their world-famous product
Travel on the delightful Waterford Suir Valley Railway
Explore Killarney on a traditional Jaunting Car and scenic Lake Cruise
Tour the picturesque Ring of Kerry
Discover part of the stunning Wild Atlantic Way
Ride the narrow-gauge Bushmills Railway
Marvel at the iconic Giant’s Causeway, a unique natural phenomenon
Visit the picturesque Dunluce Castle
Learn the fascinating history of the Titanic in Belfast

Also included in your Tour Fare:

11 nights’ bed, breakfast & evening meal
Services of experienced Railtrail Tour Manager

DAY 1

Journey from your home station to Chester and, on arrival, we will make our way to the Queen Hotel for our overnight stay. We enjoy free time to explore our new surroundings before meeting for our first evening meal together.

DAY 2

After breakfast this morning, we travel by train to Holyhead where we board our Stena Line ferry to Dublin. Here, we transfer to the Hilton Garden Inn for our overnight stay, and we enjoy our evening meal together.

B, D

DAY 3

This morning, we are free to explore Dublin at leisure with our hop-on, hop-off bus ticket taking us around the main sites of Ireland's capital independently. In the afternoon, we enjoy the most scenic rail journey in the Republic as we travel around Dublin Bay following the beautiful coastline through Bray and Greystones to Wicklow and onwards to Wexford. We transfer by road to the Treacy's Hotel in Waterford for our two-night stay and enjoy our evening meal together.

B, D

DAY 4

Today, we visit the House of Waterford Crystal for a factory tour showcasing the different skills that go into creating their world-famous product including glass blowing, cutting, sculpting, moulding, and engraving. Afterwards, we journey on the delightful narrow-gauge Waterford Suir Valley Railway travelling through the beautiful Suir Valley before returning to the hotel in time for our evening meal together.

B, D

DAY 5

After breakfast, we rejoin the Irish rail system and depart Waterford to journey across Ireland's beautiful green landscapes to Killarney where we transfer to the Gleneagle Hotel for our two-night stay. Afterwards, we experience all the beauty and history that Killarney has to offer with a ride onboard a traditional Jaunting Car plus a scenic Lake Cruise and, on return to the hotel, we enjoy our evening meal together.

B, D

DAY 6

Today, we enjoy a guided tour of the Ring of Kerry taking us through 10,000 years of history from deep forests to crashing waters as we journey through an untouched landscape of rolling hills, fishing villages, and tranquil lakes on the dramatically picturesque Kerry coastline. Our tour concludes at the hotel where we enjoy our evening meal together.

B, D

DAY 7

Today, we journey by road to Westport making stops along the way including the historical city of Galway where we have time for lunch before continuing to the Westport Woods Hotel for our overnight stay. The rest of the day is spent at leisure exploring our new surroundings or enjoying the fantastic leisure facilities of the hotel ahead of our evening meal.

B, D

DAY 8

After breakfast this morning, we travel by coach to Coleraine journeying along part of the stunning Wild Atlantic Way route, one of the longest defined coastal routes in the world. We journey through picturesque countryside, past enchanting villages, towering cliffs, and beautiful beaches before arriving in Coleraine for our two-night stay at the Lodge Hotel where we enjoy our evening meal together.

B, D

DAY 9

Today, we board the Giant's Causeway & Bushmills Railway and journey on the beautiful narrow-gauge coastal stretch along the track of the former Giant's Causeway Tram to the iconic World Heritage Site. Here, we explore the interactive exhibition at the Visitor Centre and walk the short distance to the famous stone formations. Afterwards, we return to Bushmills and visit the picturesque Dunluce Castle before returning to the hotel in time for our evening meal together.

B, D

DAY 10

This morning, we return to the rails as we take our train from Coleraine to Belfast to visit the fantastic Titanic Experience. Located at the very place the Titanic was designed, built, and launched, we learn the story of her construction, launch, and voyage through to her subsequent place in history. Afterwards, we enjoy free time to discover Belfast before our coach transfers us to the Stormont Hotel for our overnight stay and evening meal.

B, D

DAY 11

After a leisurely breakfast, we transfer to Dublin Port for our ferry crossing to Holyhead and, on arrival, our private coach takes us back to the Queen Hotel in Chester for our final evening meal together.

B, D

DAY 12

After breakfast, we bid farewell to Chester and make our way to the station for our homeward journeys.

B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner

HOTELS

Queen Hotel, Chester

Ideally located opposite the railway station, the Queen Hotel is the original railway hotel famous for its rich heritage and offers stunning public areas serving great food and signature cocktails plus a tranquil terrace. The modern bedrooms provide an en-suite bathroom, air-conditioning, a hairdryer, flat-screen TV, free Wi-Fi, and tea/coffee making facilities.

Hilton Garden Inn, Dublin

Enjoying a riverside location, the Hilton Garden Inn offers an elegant restaurant serving delicious local cuisine, a relaxing bar, and a fitness centre. The stylish bedrooms provide an en-suite bathroom, a hairdryer, flat-screen TV, ironing facilities, free Wi-Fi, and tea/coffee making facilities.

Treacy’s Hotel, Waterford

Set in the picturesque heart of Ireland’s oldest city, the Treacy’s Hotel offers comfort and convenience with a restaurant serving delicious local cuisine, a welcoming bar, and leisure facilities including a heated indoor swimming pool and a gym. The elegant bedrooms provide an en-suite bathroom, a hairdryer, flat-screen TV, ironing facilities, free Wi-Fi, and tea/coffee making facilities.

Gleneagle Hotel, Killarney

Located in the vibrant town of Killarney, the Gleneagle Hotel offers a welcoming atmosphere, a stylish restaurant serving the flavours of Ireland, a relaxing bar, and fantastic leisure facilities including a swimming pool, steam room, sauna, squash and tennis courts, and a golf course. The beautiful bedrooms provide an en-suite bathroom with complimentary toiletries, a hairdryer, flat-screen TV, free Wi-Fi, and tea/coffee making facilities.

Westport Woods Hotel, Westport

Nestled within beautiful woodland, the Westport Woods Hotel offers an onsite restaurant serving local dishes, a relaxing bar, and wellness facilities including a heated indoor pool, sauna, and steam room. The modern bedrooms provide an en-suite bathroom, a hairdryer, flat-screen TV, free Wi-Fi, and tea/coffee making facilities.

The Lodge Hotel, Coleraine

Located in the heart of Coleraine and close to the railway station, the Lodge Hotel offers award-winning dining in their vibrant restaurant and a relaxing Coffee Bar serving freshly baked goods. The comfortable bedrooms provide an en-suite bathroom, a hairdryer, flat-screen TV, ironing facilities, free Wi-Fi, and tea/coffee making facilities.

Stormont Hotel, Belfast

Located close to Belfast City Centre and overlooking the beautiful, wooded landscape, the Stormont Hotel offers a gourmet restaurant serving delicious cuisine and an inviting lounge with wood burning stoves. The stylish bedrooms provide an en-suite bathroom with complimentary toiletries, a hairdryer, flat-screen TV, free Wi-Fi, and tea/coffee making facilities.

FARES

Fare Region	First*	Standard
London: Euston	£3,095	£2,955
Greater London	£3,115	£2,975
South of England	£3,159	£3,005
East Anglia	£3,195	£3,019
South West	£3,119	£2,975
Heart of England	£3,009	£2,909
Midlands	£2,915	£2,889
Yorkshire	£3,019	£2,939
North East	£3,119	£2,995
North West	£3,015	£2,925
South Wales	£3,129	£2,965
North Wales	£2,959	£2,885
Scotland	£3,089	£2,965
Join & Leave at Hotels	£2,845
Single Traveller Supplement	£699
Deposit	£285

*Please Note: Some local and regional train services are Standard Class seating only and First Class ticket holders will travel in standard class accommodation for these sections of their journey.

11 nights’ bed, breakfast & evening meal

Rail travel & seat reservations from your Home Station to Tour Base (Standard or First Class)

Rail & coach travel, with transfers as described

All excursions & admissions as detailed

Services of experienced Railtrail Tour Manager

Important – Please select the number of passengers before proceeding to ‘Book Now’

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Date	From Price	Book Now	Callback
25th September 2025	£2,845 Per person	Book Now	Callback

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Queen Hotel, Chester

Hilton Garden Inn, Dublin

Treacy's Hotel, Waterford

Gleneagle Hotel, Killarney

Westport Woods Hotel, Westport

Lodge Hotel, Coleraine

Stormont Hotel, Belfast

Visit Chester

Visit Dublin

House of Waterford Crystal

Giant's Causeway & Bushmills Railway

Giant's Causeway

Dunluce Castle

Titanic Experience

Stena Line Ferry ©Shutterstock

Dublin ©Shutterstock

Dublin Castle ©Shutterstock

Temple Bar, Dublin ©Shutterstock

Dublin Bay ©Shutterstock

Bray ©Shutterstock

Greystones ©Shutterstock

Waterford ©Shutterstock

Waterford Beach ©Shutterstock

Waterford Crystal1 ©Shutterstock

Waterford Crystal2 ©Shutterstock

Waterford & Suir Valley Railway ©WSVR

Killarney National Park ©AdobeStock

Killarney Jaunting Car ©AdobeStock

Ring of Kerry1 ©AdobeStock

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