Senior Travellers Chauffeur Tour of Ireland & Northern Ireland
- Jul 28, 2024
- 7 min read
Updated: Jul 15
From north to south, east to west, Ireland is world-renowned for its stunning driving routes, making it by far the most exciting way to explore this wild and rugged country. As a senior traveler, an Irish road trip is much more suitable with a private chauffeur, allowing you to concentrate on enjoying the incredible Irish scenery and destinations at a pace that suits you.
What to expect on a Luxury Ireland & Northern Ireland Chauffeur Trip for Senior Travellers (14 Days)
From the capitals to the countryside, you will have the privilege of experiencing the best of both countries on one easy and relaxed road trip on this luxury chauffeur tour of Ireland and Northern Ireland. Starting in Dublin, your chauffeur will drive you past preserved Stone Age settlements to the charming Cooley Peninsula before arriving in Belfast for a beer.
Next, you’ll be chauffeured up the alluring Antrim Coast to the Giants Causeway where old Irish legends come to life. From there, dip into Derry to learn more about The Troubles before letting yours while away in Glenveagh National Park. Finally, you’ll stop in Donegal before heading to your very own castle in Sligo where you can reflect on the words of its famous poet, William Yeats.
14-day Luxury Ireland & Northern Ireland Chauffeur Trip Itinerary
Days 1-3: Dublin
Day 1
Your luxury tour of Ireland’s East Coast begins with three culture-filled days in the iconic capital of Dublin with a stay at The Westbury, one of the city’s landmark hotels. For the best introduction to the city, take a Dublin walking tour through the eyes of James Joyce, a native Dublin novelist whose work often focused and reflected on life as a Dubliner. Afterward, celebrate your arrival in Ireland in true Irish fashion – by sipping on Irish whisky at Jameson Bow Street after a tour of its distillery.
Day 2
Delve into Dublin’s modern history at the former jail-turned-monument Kilmainham Gaol where enthralling stories about common criminals and political prisoners echo eerily through the cells. Change the tempo this afternoon by visiting the Guinness Storehouse to sample the world-famous stout straight from the source. This evening you’ll dine at The Westbury’s most stylish restaurant, Wilde, followed by cocktails at the hotel bar The Sidecar.
Day 3
Save the final day in Dublin to explore Trinity College, Dublin’s most historic landmark. Take time to admire the architecture, learn about Oscar Wilde and other famous former students, and feast your eyes on the invaluable Book of Kells. Once you’ve had the chance to look at the ancient book, visit the Book of Kells Experience to (quite literally) delve inside the history, artistry, and stories of the book.
Day 4: Hill of Tara, Boyne Valley, and Cooley Peninsula
Day 4
From Dublin, your chauffeur will take you on the first leg of your Ireland and Northern Ireland road trip to Carlingford, a tranquil seaside town on the scenic Cooley Peninsula. Along the way, stop at the Hill of Tara, the seat of the kings of Ireland, where you can imagine the earthworks that remain with grand halls and palaces and see the coronation stone.
Next, stop in Brú na Bóinne (Boyne Valley) where unusually well-preserved roundhouses, tombs, and petroglyphs tell fascinating tales of the Irish Stone Age. The final leg of today’s drive is by-far the best as you’ll round the Cooley Peninsula, soaking up views of its rich hilly woodlands and surprisingly turquoise bays. Tonight’s luxury accommodation is the Four Seasons Carlingford, a modern classic hotel overlooking the sea.
Day 5+6: Carlingford and Slieve Donard Hotel
Day 5
Wake up in Carlingford and enjoy the peace and beauty of the Cooley countryside on the Slieve Foye Loop. Starting in Carlingford centre, the loop is a breathtaking 8km trail featuring views beyond the bay as you head up Slieve Foye mountain. Those not keen on a serious hike can simply wander up the hill for views over Carlingford before returning for a hearty local pub lunch and a pint of Guinness.
This afternoon, explore the eerie ruins of the 12-century Carlingford Castle which has an intriguingly dark and mysterious charm. Having explored the best of the Cooley Peninsula, it’s time to continue your road trip and cross into Northern Ireland where the Slieve Donard Hotel awaits to host you for the next two nights.
Day 6
Offering golfing and spa days on a quiet corner of Northern Ireland’s southeast coast, the stylish Victorian-era Slieve Donard Hotel is the perfect spot for a ‘day off’ from sightseeing. The hotel’s nearest place to putt is none other than Golf Digest’s number-one course, Royal County Down. Whether you opt for a round of golf or a round of spa treatments, a delicious dinner at the hotel’s premium bistro J.J. Farrall’s will be well deserved.
Days 7+8: Belfast
Day 7
Arriving in Northern Ireland’s grand capital this morning, you’ll dive straight into the deep end with a Belfast Political and Mural Tour. Not only does this tour share stories of conflict and heroism about ‘The Troubles’, a war about uniting Northern Ireland with the Republic of Ireland, but it also introduces the city’s most heavily affected locations where you can see the infamous political murals. Contrast this heavy but compelling tour with a light and breezy stroll through Belfast Botanic Gardens in the afternoon. Tonight, relish in a sound night’s rest in Belfast’s landmark hotel, The Merchant, an art-deco delight housed in a former bank.
Day 8
Try soda bread and other local treats this morning at St George’s Market, the country’s favourite Victorian market selling the best local produce and crafts. From here, your chauffeur will drive you along the River Lagan to the Titanic Belfast, the world’s leading Titanic exhibit. Located at the very port where the fateful cruise ship was built, Titanic Belfast offers a harrowing insight into the tragic story with interactive exhibits and sets. Celebrate your final evening in Belfast at Ox, a buzzy Michelin-star restaurant focusing on modern British cuisine.
Days 9+10: Giants Causeway & Bushmills Distillery
Day 9
From Belfast, your trusted chauffeur will drive you along the Antrim Coast, Northern Ireland’s most scenic coastal section, to the iconic basalt column cliffs of Giants Causeway. Here, an audio guide will share the myths and legends these cliffs have inspired as you hop from one column to the next.
Having lapped up some of nature’s most impressive scenes, it’s time to lap up some of Northern Ireland’s most exquisite whiskies on a tour of the Old Bushmills Distillery, the oldest licensed distillery in the world. Rest your heads tonight at the Bushmills Inn, a stylish luxury boutique hotel.
Day 10
Spend a quiet morning in your suite before slowly sauntering downstairs to savour mouthfuls of scones at Bushmills Inn’s gourmet afternoon tea. As well as scones with clotted cream and strawberry preserve, wrap your lips around quail egg sausage rolls, prawn cocktail wraps, and chocolate fondant. Full and satisfied, walk off your lunch at Dunluce Castle, a frequent film location on the rugged coast. On a private castle tour, you’ll learn all about its film features and its former owners, Clan MacDonnell. Tonight, you return to the Bushmills Inn for another stellar meal and restful sleep.
Day 11: Derry
Day 11
Today your chauffeur will drive you through the beautiful Binevenagh National Landscape to Derry Londonderry on the western border of Northern Ireland. Infamously caught in a tug-of-war between the Irish and British, this city is like an open-air museum for The Troubles that ensued between the 1960s and 90s. On a private bespoke city tour, your guide will share everything they know about the city’s turbulent history and how it has transformed into the exciting city it is today. Following the tour, explore the Museum of Free Derry and the political street murals before heading to the Bishop’s Gate Hotel for a sound night’s sleep.
Days 12+13: Donegal and Glenveagh National Park
Day 12
From Derry Londonderry, your chauffeur will drive west over the Irish border towards Glenveagh National Park, beloved for its Highland-like landscapes featuring bare undulating mountains and vast loughs. Choose from a range of easy to hard hikes each showing off the glen’s magical views.
Reward yourself with a Guinness at one of Ireland’s best pubs, Leo’s Tavern (birthplace of music group Clannad) before continuing to your next stop: the 15th-century Donegal Castle. Tonight you’ll get to stay in your very own castle, the elegant Markree Castle situated on a 500-acre estate a few kilometres south of Sligo.
Day 13
Stroll around the splendid grounds of Markree Castle this morning before being whisked to the West Coast of Ireland for an afternoon at Lissadell House. This impressive 19th-century private country residence is home to The Yeats Gallery, an inspiring exhibition on the life and works of Sligo’s most famous former resident, poet William Yeats. Reading the loving words Yeats wrote about Ireland is the perfect way to finish your luxury chauffeur tour of Ireland and Northern Ireland.
Day 14: Onward travel
Savour the last morning at your castle hotel in Ireland before your chauffeur delivers you to your final destination for your onward travel home.
Start Planning your Best of Ireland and Northern Ireland Chauffeur Tour
Whether this Luxury Ireland and Northern IrelandChauffeur Tour suits you to a T or you’d prefer to make something more bespoke, ensure you book within plenty of time to guarantee the best choice of cars, activities, and hotels. Our UK & Ireland travel experts will create a detailed tailored itinerary that ensures everything from the transport to the accommodation is exactly as you’d like. To book your bespoke Ireland private chauffeur driving itinerary or simply enquire further, get in touch by calling us toll-free at 1 (800) 707-5184/ direct in the UK +44 (0) 2045 781 580 or email us here.
