Best of Ireland – No-fly Self-drive

Today you'll depart the UK via ferry from Holyhead to Dublin, enjoying the comfort of your spacious ensuite cabin and Club Class lounge access as you avoid the airport queues. On arrival in Ireland's capital, you'll check into your luxury accommodation in the heart of the city, minutes away from the highlights. Make sure you visit one of the many traditional pubs for a pint or perhaps even tour the Guinness brewery, before losing yourself among the city's medieval architecture and world-class galleries – including Trinity College and the National Gallery.

Stay: Dylan Hotel, Dublin (Superior)

After two days in Dublin, you'll collect your hire car and head out, driving through the rolling Irish countryside via the Wicklow Mountains. After a brief stop in Waterford – Ireland's oldest city and home of the world's most famous crystal-ware – you'll arrive at a picturesque manor house in Cork. Spend two days enjoying the city's lively music scene, traditional pubs and cafes and narrow laneways, calling in to kiss the Blarney stone and perhaps visiting nearby Cobh, the Titanic's final port of call. Each night, you'll relax in the comfort of your room, all antique furnishings, exquisite fabrics and elegant marble bathrooms.

Stay: Hayfield Manor, Cork (Deluxe)

Today you'll drive towards Ireland's wild western coastline, exploring some of the Ring of Kerry, one of the world's most spectacular driving routes. You'll wind your way past old-growth forests, pretty salmon rivers and dramatic coastal scenery en route to Killarnet. On arrival, you'll check in to your luxury spa accommodation, right on the shores of Lough Lein, and surrounded by hiking trails, scenic waterfalls and lush woodlands waiting to be explored. In town, the 15th-century Ross Castle and Roman Catholic Cathedral are highlights, as are the food and drink.

Stay: Europe Hotel & Resort, Killarney (Deluxe)

Today, you'll have time this morning to explore the Ring of Kerry before driving north through more emerald countryside to County Clare. You'll stay in a traditional Irish guesthouse that's been converted into a spa retreat, complete with elegant afternoon teas and a charming piano bar. The village of Adare, famed for its beauty, is a haven of boutique shops and delightful restaurants, while nearby you'll find world-class golf courses and plenty of hiking trails.

Stay: Fitzgeralds Woodlands House Hotel & Spa, Adare (Superior)

This morning, take a leisurely drive through central Ireland back to Dublin. You'll return your hire car and catch your ferry transfer back to the UK.