REPUBLIC OF IRELAND FITNESS / PRACTICALITIES: This tour will move at a relaxed pace with a mixture of cultural visits and longer walks taking in the best of the landscape and natural history. Participants should be comfortable both with heights and walking over sometimes rugged and uneven terrain. Longer walks will be between two and three hours. All visits on Tory Island will be made on foot.
Donegal & Tory Island June 20–28, 2021 from £2195 per person | with Kevin Hand
Please note that the itinerary represents a guide to what we hope to offer, and some elements may be subject to change or confirmation nearer the time. Certain visits are weather dependent.
Day 1 Depart London Heathrow 1245 on British Airways, arriving Belfast 1410. Transfer to Bay View Hotel, Killybegs, for two nights. Welcome and introduction. Glenveagh Castle
• Discover the beautiful views, fascinating landscape and intriguing culture of County Donegal • Trace the footsteps of St Columba as we take a short voyage to Tory Island, remote but still inhabited • Explore the impressions this part of Ireland made on artists including Derek Hill, founder of the primitive painters’ group on Tory Island This tour provides the perfect introduction to the landscapes, wildlife and cultural history of one of Ireland’s most striking coastal regions. We will follow in the footsteps of Donegal’s most famous son, St Columba, born in 521 AD, with visits to the saint’s birthplace, chapel and holy well. We will uncover the legend of the Flagstones of Loneliness, a mystical megalith that legend says has the power to cure the sorrows of those – most notably Columba himself – who fall asleep on it. Our itinerary includes the beautiful coastal scenery around Slieve League, the highest sea-cliffs in Europe, where – for those with a head for heights and a fit pair of legs – the reward will be stunning views and an abundance of seabirds. During our stay we hope to spot redthroated divers, corncrakes, choughs, puffins and perhaps even golden eagles, recently reintroduced to the region. Orchids and various bog plants should also lie along our route. As well as headland and moorland walks, we will enjoy coastal strolls along miles of deserted beaches and rocky coves.
01223 841055
Tour Director Kevin Hand, MSc, MCIEEM, is a conservationist and environmental consultant with a special interest in birds, mammals and ecotourism. Kevin has led many projects linking nature and communities, and was a Director of the Tree Council in the UK for 13 years. Kevin recently led a team providing access to the British countryside for hard to reach groups, and is currently leading a project on eagles, vultures and other wildlife in Albania. In April 2017 he was appointed President of the Cambridge Natural History Society.
From Bunbeg we will take a scenic cruise to Tory Island, the country’s most remote inhabited island. Once home to a monastery founded by St Columba, the island – an important habitat for birds – was also a favourite location for the late artist Derek Hill, who painted many evocative landscapes of the island. Indeed, primitive painting is another of the themes of our tour, which will include a visit to Glebe House, Hill’s former home and gallery. Our first two nights are spent at the three-star Bay View Hotel, a recently refurbished establishment in the charming fishing town of Killybegs, followed by three nights near Bunbeg at the four-star An Chúirt Gweedore Court Hotel. Our tour concludes with three nights at the Tory Harbour View Hotel, at the heart of the island’s community life, with simple ensuite rooms.
Day 2 Morning: through beautiful coastal scenery to high sea-cliffs of Slieve League (views and seabirds). Afternoon in Glencolmcille: folk village museum, Stone Age megaliths associated with St Columba. Day 3 Morning: Blue Stack Mountains and Colmcille Heritage Centre (saint’s birthplace, chapel, holy well). Afternoon: Gaeltacht region (where Gaelic is still the first language): Glebe House, home and gallery of primitive painter Derek Hill. Transfer to An Chúirt Gweedore Court Hotel for three nights. Day 4 Morning: coastal walks along deserted beaches and rocky coves. Afternoon: Horn Head with dramatic views towards Tory Island and Malin Head – cliff edge and headland walks, seabirds, moorland flowers. Day 5 Glenveagh National Park with walk along nature trail beside lough and onto moorland (spotting red-throated divers, golden eagles, orchids, bog plants). Visitor Centre with excellent displays on landlords and evictions, ecology and geology. Afternoon: 19th century Glenveagh Castle and gardens (neo-Gothic architecture complete with ramparts, turrets, round tower). Day 6 Morning ferry to Tory Island with cruise past island and deserted villages. Afternoon walk and free time. Three nights at Tory Harbour View Hotel. Day 7 Morning walk along the west of the island (lighthouse, Derek Hill’s remote hut). Free afternoon. Day 8 Cliff walks in search of seabird colonies (including puffins) and free time. Day 9 Return ferry to mainland. Transfer to Belfast for 1900 flight, arriving Heathrow 2020.
Cost of £2195 includes: return airfare, accommodation based on sharing a twin or double bedded room, breakfast, six lunches (four packed), dinner with water & coffee, excursions & admissions, gratuities. Not included: travel insurance, double room for single use supplement £120. TOUR CODE: DNTI21
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