Discovery Tour in Kerry & Cork

During your Discovery Tour you will have the opportunity to visit many fascinating places of interest. This is the proposed programme, but your HF Holidays leader may adjust it at their discretion, taking into account factors such as weather or local opening times or the wishes of the group.

The Beara Peninsula
We explore the delightful Beara Peninsula, stopping en route to marvel at the great collection of tree ferns at Derreen Gardens, the pretty painted town of Eyeries and Allihies with its incredible sea views. This afternoon we visit the bustling little town of Castletownbere before heading off for the spectacularly beautiful Healy Pass.

Ring of Kerry
A visit to Kerry wouldn’t be complete without this fascinating drive. Our scenic route begins with Portmagee and the Skellig ring for lovely views of Valentina Island and Skellig Islands. We then survey the dramatic Atlantic Ocean from Waterville, which takes its name from the Irish An Coireán, meaning "the crescent". Later we explore Derrynane House, former home of Irish politician and statesman, Daniel O'Connel and now an Irish National Monument. Our final stop is at Sneen, with its stunning Sculpture Park and Garden of the Senses.

Killarney and Muckross House
Today we drive to Killarney for a short walking tour and some free to time to explore this delightful historic town. Afterwards we visit Muckross House, the 19th century Victorian mansion which is set against the stunning beauty of Killarney National Park and stands close to the shores of Muckross Lake, one of Killarney's three lakes, famed worldwide for their splendour and beauty.

Bantry House, Glengarriff and Garinish Island
This morning we visit historic Bantry House, before stopping on for lunch in the lovely town of Glengarriff. This afternoon we catch the ferry to Garinish Island. Warmed by the waters of the Gulf Stream, this island and its unique gardens enjoys a climate that is almost sub-tropical, making it possible for beautiful ornamental plants from many parts of the world to flourish. 

Dingle Peninsula
Today we have time to soak up the atmosphere in the colourful fishing town of Dingle, ‘capital’ of the Dingle Peninsula. Afterwards we enjoy the beautiful views (and possibly some sightings of seals!) at Clogher Head. Time permitting, we stop to view Galarus Oratory, a tiny 1200 year old church on our way home.

Holiday information

All transport relevant to the itinerary (hired minibus or local transport) is included in the price of your holiday, but for flexibility we do not include entrances, or optional cable car rides (allow £30 per person).

Discovery holidays involve active sightseeing and you should expect to spend lots of time on your feet. Optional short walks of approximately 2½ miles allow you to stretch your legs and see the best of the local scenery. 

Free day – on our 7 night holidays we allow one free day where there is no organised excursion. This is an ideal opportunity for you to relax, enjoy the hotel facilities or explore independently. 

The "Emerald Isle" offers a multitude of interests for the visitor.  If you are fascinated by ancient relics and their accompanying legends of fairies and leprechauns, or looking to uncover the past history of your ancestors, this is the place to visit.  The countryside is green and lush and the area we visit is the home to the famous circular tourist trail; the Ring of Kerry.  

The counties of Kerry and Cork are located on the wild southwest tip of Ireland and has an abundance of lakes and mountains creating a beautiful landscape to walk in.

Kenmare: Kenmare is located between the Kerry Way and the Beara Peninsula and is a friendly town, full of colourful shops and pubs.  The town is full of cultural interests making it worth exploring.

Seafari: There is a seal watching cruise that goes from Kenmare pier with the commentary of a marine biologist, a 2 hour cruise.  There are complimentary hot drinks and cookies.  

Gardens of Derreen: One of Ireland’s oldest and most established gardens, Derreen is regarded as one of the ten best gardens in Ireland. The gardens are full of rare and exotic plants many of which brought back from hunting expedition from the Himalayas and beyond. 

‘With flight’ holidays

For flight times see the Dates & Prices tab.

We offer flights from Heathrow, Manchester and Birmingham (regional flight supplement £45) to Cork.

If you book a ‘with flight’ holiday with us, we automatically include transfers between the Airport and the hotel. The coach transfer to Kenmare takes 1½ hours.

Independent travellers

All our overseas holidays can also be booked without a flight. This is ideal if you are travelling from overseas, or prefer to make your own arrangements from your local airport. If you choose this option the transfer to the hotel is not included.

HF Holidays can help you to reach the hotel in the following ways:

HF Holidays’ transfer coach from Cork airport. These are timed to meet the HF Holidays’ flights (provisional HF Holidays’ flight times can be found on the dates and prices tab or call 020 8732 1220). Cost per single journey is £25. Please note that HF Holidays is not responsible for your onward travel if you fail to meet the transfer coach under any circumstance.

Our Airport Taxi service also operates at this resort, offering quick and easy transfers for guests booking their own flights. All prices are per taxi for single journeys, allowing you to mix and match different transfer options. Transfers must be pre-booked.  Please call 020 8732 1220 for more details.

From Cork Airport by taxi transfer £120 per taxi single journey.

We can also arrange transfers from Kerry and Shannon airports. Please ask our Reservations team for details and prices.

Charlie Street

Ian Winterbourn