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Wild Atlantic Way Tour of Cork and Kerry
coastlines in South West Ireland
Not being run in 2017, maybe
2018
Starts in Limerick, then south to
Adare, Tralee, then follows the Wild Atlantic Way round the peninsulas of Dingle. Ring of Kerry
(Iveragh) Beara, Sheep's Head, Mizen and finishing in Kinsale
Tour the Southern
Wild Atlantic Way coast over 8 days on bus and boat, meet the locals,
see the fishing communities, see lots of rocks and islands, and learn
about a sea faring way of life in the South Western counties of Cork
and Kerry.
You will see lots of wildlife, thousands
of birds, seals, hopefully dolphins, for instance Fungie in Dingle
Harbour, spend two nights at Galley Head lighthouse and learn first hand
from the Attendant how it works
Tour Itinerary
July 8th we pick you up at the Clarion Hotel in Limerick
between 4 and 5pm, right beside the River Shannon, then take you
south to beautifully well kept town of Adare for the night
Day 1: July 19th After a couple of hours
in Adare, taking pictures, souvenir shopping, lots of thatched
cottages, a castle, ruined abbey, we go on to Killarney for lunch.
Then we take the north coast drive of the Dingle Peninsula, via
Tralee
stopping to take pictures along the way, going over the famous
Conor Pass to arrive in Dingle town for our bed for the
night, and evening cruise to see Fungie the dolphin
Day 2: July 10th. We head west along the road to Slea Head to see
where the Robert Mitchum movie 'Ryan's Daughter' was made. We see
the Blasket Islands and stop for elevenses at the Dunquinn Pottery
where pictures on the wall show scenes from the movie. Then we
make our way round the tip of the peninsula passing through
Ballyferriter and along the south coast of Dingle for lunch in
Milltown. After lunch we go to Killarney before heading to
Cahirciveen for our bed for the night.
Day 3: July 11th we go to the Skelligs to see the beehive monastic
settlement, the puffins and one of the largest gannet colonies. It
is also the location for the new Star Wars movies. On our return
we visit the Skellig Chocolate Factory in St. Finians Bay before
taking you to the spectacular Beara Peninsula via Kenmare
Day 4: July 12th we go out to the Bull Rock by high speed boat,
passing through the magical tunnel. We get dropped off on Dursey
Island for a bus tour there before returning to the mainland by
Ireland's only cable car. Then we go to Allihies for a meal and a
tour round the rest of Beara. Then we spend a second night
in Eyeries.
Day 5: July 13th we take you to the Dunmanus Peninsula via Bantry,
we go to Sheeps Head along the south side of Bantry Bay and
have lunch at the cafe at the end. Then we come back along the
south side of the peninsula and make our way to Galley Head
lighthouse for the night.
Day 6: July 14th we take a boat trip to see the Fastnet Rock
lighthouse, then afterwards visit the Mizen Head. Please note due
to weather conditions the Fastnet boat trip might need to be
changed to another day for instance being swapped with the day we
go to Sheeps Head.
Day 7: July 15th we follow the Wild Atlantic Way to its end in
Kinsale
View of Mount Brandon from the Conor
Pass
You will also visit Tralee, famous
for its annual Rose of Tralee festival, Killarney with its scenic lakes,
Adare with its thatched cottages and gorgeous buildings. Kinsale, which
is well known for its restaurants. At the end of it all we will take you
to Cork city so you can catch your plane, bus or train to your next
destination
Harbours you will see: Dingle,
Castletownbere (the biggest white fishing port in Ireland) Kinsale,
Bantry, Ventry, Knightstown, Port Magee, Kenmare Harbour, Ballycrovane,
Union Hall, Glandore and Cork
See Irish lighthouses
Little Samphire Island, Cromwell Point, Skellig Michael, Bull Rock, Ardnakinna, Roancarrig, Galley Head, Mizen, Crookhaven, Fastnet, Copper Point,
Dingle and Charles Fort
Birds you are likely to see during
the tour: Puffin, Storm Petrel, Blackheaded Gull, Gannet, Kittiwake,
Aortic Tern, Black Guillemot, Guillemot, Gulls, Fulmar, Herring Gull,
Lesser Black-backed Gull, and Greater Black-backed Gull
Spend two nights at Galley Head
lighthouse, go inside several towers and receive expert knowledge on how
the lighthouses work, and have worked since then they were constructed.
It is a sad fact that in a few years from now this 1st hand knowledge
will not be possible
We will almost certainly see dolphins, (they are often to be seen at Doolin where we get the Aran Island boat) porpoises and seals, maybe basking sharks
North shore of Dingle near the Conor Pass
8 day chaffeur driven and escorted tour for 8 people
with John Eagle
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Thatched cottage in Adare |
Tommy Hartnett, our bus driver |
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| Ardgroom Stone Circle on the Beara Peninsula |
Skellig Michael where the beehive monastery is |
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| Get up close and personal with the Fastnet |
I was there! terrific trip, packed so much in.....Richard Evans (Association of Lighthouse Keepers)
| 'John, thank you for all your hard work and perseverance to make our trip a success. You have overcome the many obstacles put in your way by the weather to make our trip an outstanding success. We really appreciate all you have done. This has been a memorable trip' Phil and Mary Borkowski |
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John Eagle and Tommy Hartnett pictured beside the minibus at Galley Head
Tommy has a fleet of buses. More often than not he will
use his luxurious Mercedes Sprinter |
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We spend the night at the Strand End House near Cahirciveen
or The Atlantic Villa on Valentia Island
We stayed there in 2012 and 2015. What a lovely welcome we received, so really looking forward to going back there |
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| Taking pictures of Cromwell Point lighthouse beside the tour bus |
Entering Cromwell Point lighthouse for tour |
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Watch aerial footage of Cromwell Point lighthouse |
Day 3: June 26th - We head out to the Skelligs from Port Magee. This is a day trip and we will see the lighthouse from below the cliffs and then go onto the rock to view the monastic settlement. We will also see the famous puffins
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Watch a video of Skellig Michael |
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| The gannet colony on Little Skellig |
Little Skellig arch |
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Upon returning from Skellig Michael we drive to the Beara Peninsula for the next two nights. We stay in Eyeries looking straight onto the Atlantic Ocean.
Picture left shows Glanmore Lake where there is a gorgeous restaurant called Josie's Lake House |
| You won 't be disappointed. I was one of 7 on
the 2012 tour. Tommy & John packed in so many sights it was nothing short of amazing- they deserve a medal. Thanks guys. Richard Evans (Association of Lighthouse Keepers) |
Map shows boat trip taking in Roancarrig, Bull, to Dursey
then tour of Beara |
We stay at Formanes House and Coulagh Bay B&Bs at Eyeries, both lovely places with welcoming hosts
Day 4: June 27th - We go out in a fast moving rib (see below) to visit the Bull Rock famous for its cave that lies beneath the lighthouse. If the sea is calm enough we will pass through and look up at the old dwellings |
Watch a video going through the cave |
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| The fast moving boat we use to go out to the Bull Rock and Ardnakinna |
Photographing Ardnakinna lighthouse from the rib |
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| left to right: Bull Rock, Calf Rock, Cow and Heifer |
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The Bull Rock lies off Dursey Island and takes about an hour from Castletownbere. On the way we will pass close the Calf Rock where there used to be a lighthouse. It was destroyed in a storm in the 1880s. A temporary lighthouse was built on Dursey before the Bull Rock was established |
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| Visiting Roancarrig on the 2009 tour |
Calf Rock |
Leaving the Calf we pass close to Ardnakinna on Bere Island then come up close on Roancarrig lighthouse in Bantry Bay which was a setting for part of the movie 'Ondine' starring Colin Farrell
Coming ashore in Adrigole we cross over the famous Healy Pass (the picture of Glanmore above was taken from it) and head down to a favourite pub of mine Teddy O'Sullivan's known as the Mussel Bar for its wonderful mussels.
There follows a tour down the coast to Allihies and supper there. |
Map shows journey south from Beara to Galley Head, then
next day to the Fastnet lighthouse |
Day 5: June 28th - We go to Galley Head lighthouse for 2 nights. Whilst staying there we go to Schull for a boat trip to the Fastnet. (Please note, in the past two years this boat trip has taken place twice at dawn and once in the evening, due to weather conditions)
Watch an aerial video |
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| The lantern at Galley Head |
The stairwell at Galley Head |
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Watch a video of Galley Head lantern at night |
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| Galley Head Keeper's Cottage, period furniture and books |
Gerald Butler, the author of the above book will be giving us a slide show when we stay at Galley Head |
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We go to look at the Fastnet, the one the yachts sail round every second year.
Watch a video |
| Fastnet lighthouse we circle 3 or 4 times to view this most famous lighthouse, the last sight of Ireland passengers on the way to America saw and hence that is why it is called 'The Teardrop' |
Day 6: June 29th - We go to visit the new Mizen Bridge, opened August 2011 at a cost of 2.1 million euros. It replaced the hundred year old bridge which had become unsafe. While it looks much the same the new bridge is
wider, wide enough to drive a quad bike across to deliver
necessary supplies. Often we see seals way below under the
bridge.. We also tour the fog station. Afterwards we will get a good view of Crookhaven lighthouse. Night is at Galley Head
Watch a video on the Mizen |
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One of the things available for us to do is visit the model village at Clonakilty, where a model of the Fastnet stands. This picture shows a model train going over the Ballydehob viaduct. The models are all based on scenes of West Cork |
| Day 7 |
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| Then
we take you to Cork, leaving you at the bus/train station or airport or where you would prefer |
Tour price is €1,395 per person
sharing
Tour price is
€1,495 per person wanting a single room
What's included
Tour price includes all lighthouse entry fees, all
accommodations (top quality B&Bs and 2 nights at Galley Head lighthouse), all breakfasts
except two at Galley Head self catering, bus, ferries and all boat trip costs your guide, author and photographer John Eagle. (Galley Head is self catering where we make our own breakfasts for two days) Highlights of the tour will include boat trips, a lighthouse slide show and meeting people who have worked and continue to work for Irish Lights. Unlike other countries WiFi is for the most part free in Ireland, or comes free with your accommodation.
You can also tap into my hotspot
What's not included
Meals other than breakfast are not included. I have considered including all meals, but realize that some people like to go off and do their own thing in the evenings. I also feel that set meals for people tend to be of lower quality. I will do my best to take you to places that offer the best value for the money
Insurance
I have my own Public Liability Insurance (with LeisureInsure) It covers me for showing people around lighthouses and out on location for workshops in Ireland. I suggest you bring some form of travel insurance with you
I have taken a course in
cardiac arrest rescue and know how to assist someone in
need of help
Special Notes
Cancellations and Refunds
A 75% refund will be given up to 3 months ahead of the start date of the tour, ie 25% will be kept to cover administration costs and fees incurred by banks and Pay Pal. If the start of the tour is June 1st then March 1st is the deadline for this 75% refund. After that date no refunds will be given
I make reservations, numerous phone calls and emails with my hotels and ferry operators. I need to know 3 months in advance what I am doing. In the final 3 months leading up to the start date of the tour I will keep all monies paid for the tour
I will do my level best to help you plan your trip, with staying in places beforehand and afterwards
Photographing lighthouses takes us to challenging locations, including cliffs and rough seas. For this reason I strongly suggest taking out travel insurance to cover unexpected medical needs during the tour, as accidents can happen. I will always advise you when conditions are dangerous, and when extra care is required. I have photographed all the lighthouses many times over and know the dangerous places to avoid. When on the water waterproofs are advisable, as well as non slip footwear. Cliffs might look tempting for dramatic shots, but a gust of wind could spell danger. You need to be alert at all times. Boat trips are weather permitting. I will do my level best to get you out on the water but in some cases the seas might be too rough. I will never put you in any kind of danger, and will always judge a scene before allowing you into it for your and my own safety
Sometimes it is not possible to fit
everything in on a tour. I do try to get to all locations
mentioned but delays are sometimes unavoidable. Visits to
certain locations might take place on a different day,
like if there is a storm at sea we might need to try again
another day. Several times it's been too rough to go to
the Fastnet on the planned day, but I have always managed
to find a day calm enough to go there. I might change a
lighthouse for another just so things run better, for
instance Ballincourty in place of Ballycotton. Ballycotton
is lovely but it soaks up a lot of time. In place of
Ballycotton we could see three other lighthouses instead |
| Or if you have a question to ask please contact me |
I get
charged a supplement for single rooms and have to add
this on
Other methods of payment available, for instance bank transfers, please ask
All photographs © John Eagle Photography
except *Duncannon Fort by Greg Steffenson taken on the Southern Lighthouse Tour 2013 |
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