One week itinerary - Two week itinerary - Hidden Ireland itinerary

"Hidden Ireland" - 7 Day Cycling Adventure

Day 1
You will be met at Muine Bheag (Bagenalstown) train or bus station. A representative of Celtic Cycling will be waiting for you there. Alternatively Celtic Cycling can arrange private transport from Dublin/Cork/Shannon airports and will be pleased to quote you a price for this service. You will be transferred from the train or bus station to Celtic Cycling’s base at Lorum Old Rectory, Bagenalstown, Co. Carlow – transfer time 15 minutes approximately. On arrival you will have a briefing session; explanation of the route maps and itineraries; fitting out with your bicycles & equipment. Depending on your arrival time you may then like to take a cycle ride in the vicinity to familiarise yourselves with your bikes. You will be shown routes for your first experience of cycling in Ireland at your briefing session. It will be daylight until about 10.00/10.30 p.m. in mid-summer. Overnight at Lorum Old Rectory where your hosts will be Bobbie Smith and her family. Lorum is an early 19th.century cut granite house which was the Rectory to the nearby Church of Ireland (Anglican) Church until the early 1950’s.

Address :
Lorum Old Rectory
Bagenalstown
Co. Carlow
Phone +353-59-9775282
Fax + 353-59-9775455
E-Mail: bobbie@lorum.com
www.lorum.com

Day 2
Cycle from Bagenalstown to the medieval city of Kilkenny (18 miles/29 kms) and then to Blanchville House (5miles/8 kms to the east of Kilkenny City). Blanchville is an elegant Georgian house built in 1800. The house has been lovingly restored by the present owners, retaining many original features and furnishings. If you prefer you can cycle direct to Blanchville (13 miles/21 kms) and then take a taxi into Kilkenny City. Either way you will pass through the village of Bennetsbridge where there are several craft industries to visit (pottery, leather, wool garments etc.). In Kilkenny you can take a guided walking tour of the City - a good way to find the places of interest and find out about the City’s history - and a guided tour of Kilkenny Castle which dates back to 1170. The castle has recently been tastefully restored by the Irish Government with EU assistance. If you want to spend more time in the City you will have time the following morning as well. Kilkenny is a good centre for shopping and the Kilkenny Design shop is one of the most exclusive shops in Ireland. Celtic Cycling have arrangements with several shops and with craft industries in the area surrounding Kilkenny to collect any purchases you may make and take them back to Lorum Old Rectory to await your return on your last night. In the evening you may like to go to an Irish music “session” - your hosts at your accommodation will advise you where to go. Overnight at Blanchville House where your hosts will be Monica and Tim Phelan. Monica no longer provides evening meals so Celtic Cycling will arrange transport (at no cost to you) to take you to one of the many fine restaurants in Kilkenny and back.

Address:
Blanchville House
Dunbell
Maddoxtown
Co.Kilkenny
Phone +353-56-7727197
Fax +353-56-7727636
E-Mail: info@blanchville.ie
URL: www.blanchville.ie

Day 3
Cycle from Blanchville House to Thomastown (20 miles/32 kms). On the road between Kilkenny and Kells you will pass “The Raggedy Bush” where Saint Patrick is said to have stopped to pray on his travels around Ireland. If you are suffering from any ailment, it is reputed that all you have to do is to tear off a piece of clothing, hang it on the bush and say a prayer and you will be cured! You can visit the ruins of the Augustinian Priory at Kells and Jerpoint Abbey both of which date back to the 12th century. If you are interested in golf you can visit the Jack Nicklaus course at Mount Juliet where the Irish Open championship was played in 1993, 1994 and 1995 and where the American Express World Championships was played in 2002 (won by Tiger Woods) and in 2004 (won by Ernie Els). Even if you are not interested in golf, Mount Juliet is a beautiful place to visit. If you like horse-riding you can take a guided “trek” through the estate (it is as well to book from Blanchville House the previous day). There is also a long established stud farm at Mount Juliet where several well known race horses have been bred. Overnight at Carrickmourne House near Thomastown where your host will be Julie Doyle. There is a steep climb for about the last kilometre to Carrickmourne House but the view and the warm welcome will be worth the “suffering”! Moreover it is ideally located just about half way between Kilkenny and your next stop at Kilmokea. Carrickmourne House is not a member of the Hidden Ireland group of houses but is of a very high standard. Julie does not provide evening meals but Celtic Cycling will book you in for dinner at one of the excellent restaurants in Thomastown or Inistioge or and will organise transport to take you to the restaurant and back.

Address:
Carrickmourne House
New Ross Road
Thomastown
Co. Kilkenny
Phone +353-56-7724124
fax +353-56-58118
E-Mail: carrickmournehouse@eircom.net
www.southeastireland/carrickmourne

Day 4
Cycle from Carrickmourne House to Kilmokea Country Manor and Gardens near Campile., Co. Wexford (27miles/42 kms). You will pass through the picturesque village of Inistioge - Mia Farrow, who starred in “Widow’s Peak” which was filmed mainly in Inistioge says that it is her favourite place in Ireland. The film of the Irish author Maeve Binchy’s book “Circle of Friends” was also shot in Inistioge. Woodstock Demesne just outside Inistioge, where the gardens have now been restored, is also well worth a visit and there are lovely walks/cycle rides in the demesne. Then on to New Ross where you can have lunch or afternoon tea on “The Galley” floating restaurant (check departure times). In New Ross you can also visit the “Dunbrody” a replica of a “famine ship”, which is moored at the Quay in New Ross and is open as a visitors’ centre. Famine ships transported people fleeing the famine in the 1840’s from Ireland to the U.S.A. and Canada. The J.F. Kennedy Arboretum is located close by Kilmokea. It was established by the U.S. and Irish Governments in memory of the late President and has over 4500 species of trees from all over the World. You will also pass by the Kennedy Homestead where you can take a guided tour. John F. Kennedy’s Great Grandfather was born at the homestead and emigrated from here to Boston. The historic Dunbrody Abbey is close by. Kilmokea is a restored late Georgian House built in 1794. The gardens cover some seven acres falling into two distinct parts. Around the house are the formal walled gardens from where a heavy wooden door leads you into a woodland garden. Both gardens are a delight to both amateur gardeners and the more serious horticulturist. Your hosts at Kilmokea will be Emma and Mark Hewlett.

Address :
Kilmokea Country Manor and Gardens
Great Island
Campile
Co. Wexford
Phone +353-51-388109
Fax +353-51-388776
E-Mail: kilmokea@indigo.ie
URL: www.kilmokea.com

Day 5
To-day if your main interest is to cycle and enjoy the scenery Celtic Cycling recommends that you spend the day cycling on the “Hook” Peninsula to see the spectacular scenery in this area. Alternatively you can take the car ferry from nearby Ballyhack to Passage East and cycle to Dunmore East a pretty fishing village on the County Waterford coast and on the return trip you can go to Waterford City and visit the Waterford Crystal factory - but a word of warning! Waterford is quite a busy City - population c.70,000 - and the traffic can be heavy so you may prefer that Celtic Cycling arranges transport to take you to visit Waterford Crystal early in the morning and then you can spend whatever time you have left cycling on part of the “Hook” peninsula. Remember too that there are no “bargains” at Waterford Crystal - they destroy any “seconds”! Hook Head is the site of one of the oldest lighthouses in Europe dating back to the sixth century when fires were lit on the headland to warn ships of impending danger (www.thehook-wexford.com). It is said that when Strongbow was planning his invasion of Ireland he said that he would land “by hook or by crook” - there is a place called Crooke on the Waterford side of the estuary. There is now a visitor centre and restaurant at Hook head and you can take a guided tour of the lighthouse from the visitors’ centre. You can also visit Baginbun where the Normans first landed in 1169 and which is named after the Normans’ two ships “the Bag” and “The Bun”. There is a Martello Tower at Baginbun headland. By lighting fires on the roofs, Martello Towers which were always built within sight of one another, were used as an early warning system during the Napoleonic wars. Near Baginbun you will find Tintern Abbey which has recently been restored by the Irish Government. This Cistercian Abbey was built in 1200 by William Earl Marshall of Pembrokeshire who was caught in a raging storm in nearby Bannow Bay and he made a vow that if he was saved he would build an Abbey. This he did and it was called Tintern de Vota - “Tintern of the vow” On your tour to-day it is possible to make the return journey using different roads to those travelled on the outward journey. Your routes to-day will vary between 25 miles/40 kms and 30 miles/48 kms. Overnight again at Kilmokea.

Day 6
Cycle from Kilmokea House to Ballinkeele House near Enniscorthy (35 miles/56 kms). For those who would like to do a little less cycling and have more time to visit Kilmore Quay, The Museum of Agriculture and Rural Life at Johnstown Castle, the Viking Town of Wexford or The National Heritage Park at Ferrycarrig, near Wexford, Celtic Cycling will arrange to transport you and your bikes to either Kilmore Quay, Johnstown Castle or Wexford town. The distance from Kilmore Quay to Ballinkeele House is 24 miles/38 kms; Johnstown Castle 14 miles/23 kms and Wexford Town
18 miles/29 kms Those who want to cycle the whole way have the option of two routes. The first follows the coastline and you can visit the “Buried City of Bannow” on your way to Kilmore Quay. The second takes you inland through rolling farmland - if you want to take a diversion you can cycle some of the way up the “Mountain of Forth” - it is only about 600 feet/150 meters high - from here there are good views across St. George’s Channel (you can see the coast of Wales on a clear day). Kilmore Quay is an attractive fishing village well known for its thatched cottages. A new marina has recently been completed. There is considerable influence from Brittany (north-west France) in the area due primarily to fishermen from there coming ashore at Kilmore especially in bad weather. The Saltee Islands, one of the most important seabird sanctuaries in Europe are about 4 miles/6 kms. off the coast at Kilmore Quay. St Patrick is said to have driven snakes out of Ireland along the causeway between Kilmore Quay and the Islands known as “St. Patrick’s Bridge”. The route from Kilmore Quay to Wexford takes you past The National Museum of Agriculture and Rural Life at Johnstown Castle. Apart from showing farm machinery and implements, the museum depicts how farming families lived over the years. There are also magnificent gardens and lakes at the Castle. You will then pass through the ancient Viking town of Wexford with its quaint narrow streets. In the town you can visit the Westgate Heritage Centre where there is an audio/visual presentation of the history of the area. You can visit St. Iberius Church and the “twin” churches of Bride Street and Rose Street all of which are of architectural interest. In “The Bullring” you can see a statue of a “pikeman”. The “pikemen” fought for the rebels in the 1798 rebellion.. The Irish National Heritage Park at Ferrycarrig, about 3 miles/5 kms from Wexford Town is on your route to Ballinkeele House. The Park depicts Irish history from 7000 BC to the Norman invasion in 1169. There is an audio-visual presentation of the history forming the background to the Park and you can take a guided tour of the Heritage Trail (Celtic Cycling will be pleased to provide you with complimentary entrance tickets for the Park). From The National Heritage Park your route takes you directly to Ballinkeele House which is a mid-nineteenth century residence and is set in 350 acres of game filled woodlands and quality farmland. If you have any energy left after your day’s cycling you can enjoy a game of tennis here! Your hosts at Ballinkeele House will be John and Margaret Maher.

Address:
Ballinkeele House
Ballymurn
Enniscorthy
Co. Wexford
Phone +353-53-38105
Fax +353-53-38468
E-Mail: info@ballinkeele.com
URL: www.ballinkeele.com

Day 7
Cycle from Ballinkeele House through Enniscorthy to Lorum Old Rectory
26 miles/42 kms. In Enniscorthy you can visit Enniscorthy Castle (13th. Century); Saint Aidan’s Cathedral - a Gothic revival building by Pugin - the Wexford County
Museum and the 1798 visitor centre. Vinegar Hill, the site of the main battle against the British in the 1798 rebellion is near the town and there are also several small potteries in the area which are interesting to visit. From Enniscorthy you have the option of cycling through Scullogue “gap” - the less hilly route - or through the village of Bunclody and over the “shoulder” of Mount Leinster. The Mount Leinster route adds about 10 miles/16kms to the distance and means a climb up to about 1000 ft./300 meters but on a clear day there are spectacular views all along this road. If you go via Scullogue gap you can visit the pre-Christian burial ground (c.3000 B.C.) on Rathgeeran Hill, near the village of Ballymurphy but be sure to get good directions as to where you will find the stone with the carved concentric motifs typical of these burial grounds. Overnight again at Lorum Old Rectory.

Day 8
Depart. Transfer from Lorum Old Rectory to your train or bus.

Notes:

• The distances shown are by the most direct routes but can be increased to suit the visitor’s requirements and cycling ability.
• In the event of accommodation not being available at Hidden Ireland houses Celtic Cycling will offer you alternative accommodation of a similar standard.
• Dinners at Hidden Ireland houses are a special experience. The food will be prepared by your hosts using, for the most part, locally grown ingredients including, when available, organically grown vegetables. Special dietary needs (e.g. vegetarian) will be catered for if your hosts know in advance. If you would like to dine at Lorum Old Rectory on your first night please let Celtic Cycling know in advance of your arrival. Dinners at all the other houses can be booked on arrival.
• Celtic Cycling will be pleased to arrange an extended itinerary of more than seven days involving two or three night stopovers at some or all the houses or in Dublin if you wish to spend some time there.

"THE HIDDEN IRELAND"

The Hidden Ireland is a unique collection of private houses offering the more adventurous visitor a chance to sample Irish country life at its very best, in a style not usually experienced by the ordinary tourist.

Our houses are not hotels, guest houses or B & B’s, but buildings of architectural merit and great character, with unusual and interesting owners who all enjoy sharing their homes and their way of life with appreciative visitors.

Do not expect the reception desk, bar or residents’ lounge of some more impersonal establishments. Instead, you will find a warm welcome and a glass of sherry beside a log fire in a comfortable drawing room filled with family heirlooms.

Some are great houses, at the centre of large estates. They may have been designed by famous architects and lived in or visited by famous people. Others are smaller but no less beautiful or interesting. Most are surrounded by their own tree-studded parks or by gardens, often internationally renowned. They are all in beautiful or historic parts of the Country. Some have belonged to the same family for centuries.

You will meet the present generation of owners who are always a fund of local information and knowledge. Their houses often reflect their particular interests and, if your interests are similar, you are liable to enjoy yourself all the more. Some owners are particularly keen on painting, gardening, music or literature. Others are devotees of country sports. In all cases they will ensure that your stay is enjoyable.

You may well find that just one night does not nearly give you enough time to see the house and its surroundings properly - or to get to know your hosts. We strongly urge you to consider staying for two or three nights in order to relax fully and absorb the atmosphere of bygone times. We have found that visitors on a madcap dash around Ireland, staying just one night at each location, may completely miss the point of The Hidden Ireland - which is to be a private guest in the wonderfully relaxed and intimate atmosphere of an Irish Country House.

The Hidden Ireland provides a real and interesting alternative to conventional tourist accommodation, with plenty of activities for all, or tranquil havens for those in need of a restful break. For the sportsman or sportswoman there is access to the very best hunting, shooting and fishing in the Country.

We hope you will greatly enjoy the country houseparty atmosphere of another era, with the splendid surroundings, good food and an air of exclusivity, privacy and total relaxation.
George Gossip, Chairman - The Hidden Ireland

The Hidden Ireland
P.O. Box 31, Westport, Co. Mayo
Tel +353 98 66650 Fax +353 98 66651
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