Emerald Isle Discovery 2026

Duration

12 Days

Departure Dates

25th September 2026

Prices from

£2,885 Per person

Experience a unique circular tour of the Emerald Isle journeying on scenic railways through picuresque 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
Helpful Links

Giant's Causeway1 ©Shutterstock

12 days from £2,885

DEPARTS

Friday 25 September 2026

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 Aspect Hotel and check-in for our overnight stay before enjoying 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 and enjoy time to explore the city centre before our visit to 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, 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 enjoy 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.

Aspect Hotel, Dublin

Located close to the railway station with excellent links to Dublin city centre, the Aspect Hotel offers a stylish restaurant serving local cuisine and a relaxing lounge bar. The comfortable bedrooms provide an en-suite bathroom with a power shower, 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.

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.

Ibis Riverside, Coleraine

Overlooking the River Bann and close to the town centre, the Ibis Riverside offers a welcoming restaurant serving a fresh and varied menu plus a comfortable bar and lounge area. The modern bedrooms provide an en-suite bathroom, a hairdryer, flat-screen TV, 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	£3,215	£3,019
Greater London	£3,229	£3,039
South of England	£3,295	£3,079
East Anglia	£3,339	£3,089
South West	£3,285	£3,095
Heart of England	£3,105	£2,989
Midlands	£2,989	£2,949
Yorkshire	£3,069	£2,985
North East	£3,175	£3,045
North West	£3,119	£2,985
South Wales	£3,215	£3,025
North Wales	£3,019	£2,929
Scotland	£3,235	£3,069
Join & Leave at Hotels	£2,885
Single Traveller Supplement	£695
Deposit	£290

*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’

Number of passengers:

Date	From Price	Book Now	Callback
25th September 2026	£2,885 Per person	Book Now	Callback

Can't see a date that suits you? Please register your interest for additional departures on this tour.

Register interest

Enter your details to receive updates on upcoming departure dates for the Emerald Isle Discovery 2026 rail tour.

Queen Hotel, Chester

Aspect Hotel, Dublin

Treacy's Hotel, Waterford

Gleneagle Hotel, Killarney

Westport Woods Hotel, Westport

Ibis Riverside, Coleraine

Stormont Hotel, Belfast

Visit Chester

Visit Dublin

House of Waterford Crystal

Giant's Causeway & Bushmills Railway

Giant's Causeway

Dunluce Castle

Titanic Experience

Chester ©Shutterstock

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

What our customers say

Sounds like the holiday for you?

View Dates and Book

Why Book with Railtrail

Railtrail Tours is a family firm with an ethos of honesty and integrity. Our passion for delivering quality escorted holidays by rail at great value fares along with consistently excellent customer service has stood us in good stead for over 40 years – Big on Quality, Small Enough to Care

Unique Experiences

Our tours are unique to us, created by our team of rail travel experts who each have a lifetime of knowledge and experience in the rail holiday industry

Financial Protection

Railtrail Tours are members of ABTOT and ATOL, meaning you can relax knowing that you are fully protected when booking any holiday with us.

Loyalty Rewards

For every pound spent you will receive Loyalty Points on return from your holiday, which can then be used as a discount on future bookings.

Award Winning Team

We were proudly awarded Silver at the British Travel Awards for ‘Best Small Travel Company for Rail Holidays’ in 2024.

More about us

Destinations

Tour Types

Emerald Isle Discovery 2026

Register interest

What our customers say

Sounds like the holiday for you?

Why Book with Railtrail

Unique Experiences

Financial Protection

Loyalty Rewards

Award Winning Team