Best of Ireland

After a short flight you’ll arrive in the Irish capital for a stay in five-star accommodation in the city’s historic heart. Its chic rooms, cocktail bar and gilded restaurant are just a short stroll from Dublin’s many highlights. Taste your way through the local tipples in traditional pubs and, yes, the Guinness brewery, before turning to the city’ medieval fortifications, Georgian treasures and world-famous galleries. Trinity College and the National Gallery are just two highlights.

Stay: Dylan Hotel, Dublin (Superior)

Picking up your hire car, you’ll strike out into the Wicklow Mountains. Known as the “Garden of Ireland”, lush countryside will see you onto Cork, perhaps pausing at Waterford on the way – Ireland’s oldest city, famed for its crystal-ware and imposing town walls. You’ll then have two nights in Cork, staying in a gorgeous manor house that’s a Small Luxury Hotel of the World. Then, Ireland’s second city will woo you with the live music of its snug pubs, nascent café scene and the winding alleyways of its Georgian centre. Of course, medieval Blarney Castle and its world-famous stone demand a visit and a kiss, while nearby Cobh – the Titanic's last port of call – impresses with colourful houses and an imposing cathedral.

Stay: Hayfield Manor, Cork (Deluxe)

Heading towards Ireland’s wild west coast, you’ll have the chance to set off along at least some of the Ring of Kerry – a spectacular driving route that brings you among salmon rivers, old-growth forests and dramatic coastal scenery. Then, in Killarney, you’ll stay in a luxurious spa hotel right on the region’s famous lakes, exploring its national-park idyll of waterfalls and woodland on hikes and boat trips. The town’s 15th-century Ross Castle, Roman Catholic Cathedral and famous gastronomy are all further favourites.

Stay: Great Southern, Killarney (Superior)

After some further time to explore the Ring of Kerry, you’ll continue north through rolling countryside to Adare in County Clare. Here, you’ll stay in one of the region’s finest hotels, a traditional Irish guesthouse converted into a plush spa getaway, replete with piano bar and afternoon teas. Then, Adare, often referred to as “Ireland’s prettiest village”, is a delight of thatched cottages, artisanal shops and lauded restaurants. There’s also plenty of world-class golf courses and hiking nearby.

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

Adare to Dublin Take a leisurely drive through central Ireland to Dublin, where the tour ends. Return your hire car to the airport and catch your flight home.