For families still searching for that perfect holiday, with a combination of outdoor activities, cultural intrigue and a welcome unlike any other, it simply has to be Ireland. Specialist outdoor operator Wilderness Ireland has introduced for 2018 a new collection of privately-guided family activity holidays, showcasing the very best of the Emerald Isle. Whether it’s stand-up paddling with formidable pirates in Connemara, hiking and canoeing the Causeway Coast, or visiting Star Wars filming locations on Kerry’s spectacular Skellig Islands, these are holidays that will live long in the memory.
Wilderness Ireland has over 20 adventures from wilderness walking and cycling to self-drive journeys, taking in all four corners of Ireland. New family trips for 2018 include:
Giants, Myths and Legends
Inspiring both CS Lewis’ Narnia and hit TV show Game of Thrones, as well as countless folktales, Ireland’s rugged north coastline is a place dripping with myths and legends. On this fully-guided Giant’s Causeway expedition by land and sea, families will learn about these epic tales and return with a few of their own too. Highlights include: canoeing along the coast, followed by a family-friendly whiskey distillery tour; searching for puffins from an island retreat on Rathlin Island; hiking to the mythic Giant’s Causeway; scrambling over the Gobbins Path, a cliff-hugging route that is one of Europe’s most dramatic hikes; and learning about those who built the Titanic in Belfast’s fabulous museum.
Price: from €1,850 per adult and €1,520 per child, including 6 nights’ B&B accommodation, 4 lunches, 2 dinners, Wilderness Ireland guide throughout the trip, transfers and activities. Flights extra.
Legends of the Southwest
Remember to pack your lightsabers on this trip to Ireland’s southwest where families will climb the rocky outcrop of Skellig Michael, a prime filming location for the Star Wars Episode VII and VIIIfilms – home to Luke Skywalker. However, in a galaxy much closer to home there are plenty of other family-friendly activities to enjoy. The first two days are spent on Cork’s Kinsale coastline, visiting military forts, exploring smugglers’ tunnels and kayaking along the coast once raided by pirates, with a picnic on the water’s edge. Then transferring into neighbouring County Kerry, children will search for fairy houses in the woods and build and paint their own toy at the Toy Soldier Factory, before the final day’s journey across the Atlantic to the Skelligs.
Price: from €1,950 per adult and €1,555 per child, including 6 nights’ B&B accommodation, 4 lunches, 2 dinners, Wilderness Ireland guide throughout the trip, transfers and activities. Flights extra.
Paddling and Pirates
The Wild Atlantic Way is the setting for this multi-activity family holiday, where each activity is privately tailored to the family’s preferences. Beginning in the coastal town of Westport, one of Ireland’s most picturesque, families start off by biking along the Great Western Greenway – Ireland’s longest off-road cycling trail. Following in St Patrick’s footsteps, families can climb Croagh Patrick Mountain, a popular pilgrimage site, or enjoy a horseback ride along St Patrick’s Way. On the next day, families learn about the outlaw pirate queen Grace O’Malley, discovering her castle stronghold on Clare Island by stand-up paddle board, before exploring the island and taking part in a special treasure hunt to search for buried treasure. Highlights of the final two days include zip-lining in Connemara, visiting a local sheep farmer and helping him to round up the flock, and a crash course in bush craft and seaweed foraging along the coast.
Price: from €1,850 per adult and €1,520 per child, including 6 nights’ B&B accommodation, 6 lunches, 2 dinners, Wilderness Ireland guide throughout the trip, activities and transfers. Flights extra.
For more information, visit wildernessireland.com or call +353 (0)91 457 898. Wilderness Ireland recommends a minimum age of 6 years for children on these trips.
