A Rural Experience
Castlefield
Gowran
Co. Kilkenny
Tel: 087 6432130
Fax: 056 7727590
Email:info@aruralexperience.com
Web:www.aruralexperience.com
Current Tours
The concept of 'A Rural Experience' is to ensure that both visitors and locals alike, have an opportunity to see some of the lesser known but still significantly important sites in and around the county of Kilkenny.
A Rural Experience was formed in April 2006 and the proprietor Amy Mc Donald organises guided tours on a daily basis from Kilkenny City to the lesser known sites in Co. Kilkenny and it's neighbouring counties. Amy was employed by the Office of Public Works as a tour guide in Jerpoint Abbey, Co. Kilkenny and Reginald's Tower, Waterford. Amy resides in Tullaherin, Co. Kilkenny and she is currently studying history at St. Kieran's College, Kilkenny as part the outreach campus of NUI Maynooth.
She discovered that visitors to Kilkenny, from the domestic and foreign markets, were familiar with the larger sites but they had difficulty accessing the more rural areas. She designed 3 day tours in 2006 which proved a huge success and since then has added a further 9 tours. Visitors and locals alike are given the opportunity to sit back and relax in comfortable and spacious coaches while allowing someone else organise a full day to suit their needs. These trips include historical, cultural and religious places of interest with lunch and that much needed retail therapy.
Amy feels strongly that it is very important that the lesser known hidden treasures in Ireland should be discovered and that everybody is made feel welcome and enjoy themselves.
Amy also organises Days at the Races, Theatre Trips and day tours to Knock.
Adults: €50 & Seniors/Students €45 A Rural Experience
Details of Tours are available from www.aruralexperience.com
We now have 15 day tours available in Ireland 2. Extended tours available (4 days) in Co. Kerry, Galway & Antrim 3. We also offer week long trips to Scotland & Cornwall
Scotland Tour
Our Hotel: The Crianlarich Hotel, Perthshire
May 27th – June 2nd
Day 1
Pick up points to be allocated
Travel to Belfast Port with a 45 minute stop en route for breakfast
11.30am - Stena Lines sailing to Cairnryan (duration 2 hours 15 minutes)
1.45pm - Disembark and travel to our hotel, in Stirlingshire with comfort stops en route. The duration of the trip is 3.5 hours
6.30pm - Arrive at hotel
7.30pm - Dinner
Day 2
8.30am - Depart Hotel
9.30am - Arrive in Balmaha Village on the banks of Loch Lomond (photo opportunity)
Travel to Loch Katrine via scenic route through The Trossachs National Park
11.30am - Scenic cruise of Loch Katrine (duration 1 hour)
Following the cruise there is the option of lunch in the Katrine Café & souvenirs in the gift shop
2.00pm - Depart Loch Katrine
2.30pm – Arrive in Aberfoyle, home to the Scottish Woollen Mills Outlet
4.30pm – Depart Aberfoyle
6.00pm - Arrive at hotel
Day 3
8.45am - Depart hotel
11.45am - Arrive in Edinburgh for a guided tour of Edinburgh Castle
Free time in Edinburgh until 4pm
4.00pm - Depart Edinburgh
6.30pm - Arrive at hotel
7.30pm - Dinner
Day 4
9.00am - Depart hotel
10.30am - Arrive in Stirling for a guided tour of Stirling Castle
12.30pm - Depart Stirling
1.30pm - Arrive in Glasgow for a short city tour by coach & free time for exploring and shopping
4.30pm - Depart Glasgow
6.30pm - Arrive at hotel
7.30pm – Dinner
Day 5
8.15am - Depart hotel
The coach will travel through Glencoe & traditional Scottish Villages en route to Loch Ness
11.30am - Arrive at Loch Ness
A Guided tour of Loch Ness Exhibition Centre & Urquhart Castle will be available on arrival
3.00pm - Depart Loch Ness
6.00pm - Arrive at hotel
7.30pm - Dinner
Day 6
9.00am - Depart hotel
The coach will travel to the village of Callander for free time & shopping
10.00am Arrive in Callander
12.30pm Depart Callander
1.30pm Arrive at Glengoyne
4.00pm Depart Glengoyne
6.00pm - Arrive at hotel
7.30pm - Dinner
Day 7
9.00am - Depart hotel
The coach will travel to Cairnryan with a comfort stop en route
3.30pm - Ferry from Cairnryan to Belfast Port
5.45pm - Arrive in Belfast
There will be a comfort stop provided en route home.
Cost: €590.00 per person sharing
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Single supplement: €10.00 per night
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Cost includes: Luxury Coach throughout the tour
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Professional Driver & Experienced Tour guide
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6 nights B&B & evening meals
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All admissions & guided tours
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Return Ferry from Belfast – Cairnryan
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Cruise on Loch Katrine
Contact Amy: (087) 6432130 / (056) 77 27590
The Lake District Tour Itinerary
June 10th – 16th 2012
Our hotel is the 4* North Lakes Hotel & Spa, Ullswater Road, Penrith
The North Lakes Hotel & Spa has the following facilities:
Lift to all floors
Swimming Pool – Sauna – Steam Room – Whirlpool & Spa Treatments available
Award winning Martindale Restaurant
The hotel is located 1 mile from Penrith Town Centre & is ideally located for touring The Lake District
June 10th
5.30am Depart Kilkenny (other pick up points available!)
The coach needs to be at Dublin Port at 7.20am for our sailing on The Stena Adventurer at 8.20am. The duration of our sailing is 3 hours 15 minutes.
11.35am Arrive in Holyhead & disembark
The coach will travel to our base for the duration of the tour, the 4* North Lakes Hotel, Penrith. The coach will make comfort stops en route.
6pm Arrive at our hotel
7.30pm Dinner will be served
June 11th
8.45am Following breakfast the coach will depart the hotel
Our group will travel to Bowness-on-Windermere (1 hour 15 minutes)
10.00am We will board The Windermere Steamboat for a 1 hour cruise on Lake
Windermere
The steamboat will cruise from Bowness-on-Windermere to Ambleside on the North end of the lake where our guests will view the Langdale Pike & Crinkle Cragg Mountains before returning to Bowness.
11.10am Disembark from the steamboat & visit Bowness – on - Windermere
Bowness is a popular tourist town on the shores of Windermere with shops & cafes and is ideal for browsing the area or relaxing with a snack
12.20pm Depart Bowness-on- Windermere
1pm Arrive at Dove Cottage, Grasmere
The coach will proceed to Grasmere, Cumbria, where the group is booked for a guided tour of Dove Cottage. Dove Cottage was home to William Wordsworth and during the tour we will visit the house & gardens which tells the story of his family & home life. There are several artefacts including portraits & furniture on display. The tour & exhibitions will take approx 1 hour. There is a restaurant & shop on site.
1.30pmThe group will be divided into smaller groups & commence the guided tours
The group is booked for a guided tour at 1.30pm but I am allowing time on arrival to walk from the coach park to the cottage (150 yards) & use the facilities
3.30pm Depart Dove Cottage
3.40pm Arrive in Grasmere
The group will have the opportunity to visit St. Oswald’s Church, the resting place of William Wordsworth, & visit the famous Grasmere Gingerbread Shop
4.30pm Depart Grasmere
5.30pm Arrive at hotel
7.30pm Dinner will be served
June 12th
10am Following a leisurely breakfast the coach will depart the hotel
The coach will drive over The Famous Kirkstone Pass, regarded as one of the most scenic routes in Cumbria with photo stops in Patterdale & Glenriding . The group will view the famous Aira Force Waterfall & Ullswater Lake.
Aira Force Waterfall is 65 foot high and is set in beautiful woodland. Ullswater Lake Shore is made famous as home to the daffodils that inspired Wordsworth. There are small village shops en route.
In the afternoon the coach will travel to Kendal. Kendal town centre is ideal for shopping & browsing as it is home to 5 shopping centres and smaller traditional gift & souvenir shops & is famous for its Kendal Mint Cake.
June 13th
9am Following breakfast the coach will depart the hotel
9.15am Arrive in Penrith & enjoy time for shopping & sightseeing
1.30pm Depart Penrith
Following lunch the coach will travel to Brampton to view part of Hadrian’s Wall & visit Birdoswald Roman Fort.
2.15pm Arrive in Brampton
Birdoswald Fort offers groups the opportunity to explore the visitor centre which contains artefacts & interactive displays, take a guided tour of the ruins & view the longest, continuous remaining stretch of Hadrian’s Wall. There is also a tearoom on site.
4.15pm Depart Brampton
5pm Arrive at hotel
7.30pm Dinner will be served
June 14th
8.45am Depart hotel
The coach will travel to Muncaster Castle, Ravenglass which is located on the western lakes with views of Scafell Pike. This historic castle is reputedly haunted and is set in 70 acres of stunning gardens. It is also home to the World Owl Trust – shows throughout the day. There are restaurants & gift shops on site.
11am Arrive at Muncaster Castle
On arrival morning coffee will be available before the group’s guided tour
12 noon The group will have a guided tour of the castle (duration of tour 1.5 hours)
Following the guided tour the group will have lunch and browse the shops & owl centre
2.30pm ‘Meet the Birds Show’
4pm Depart Muncaster Castle
6pm Arrive at hotel
7.30pm Dinner will be served
June 15th
8.45am Depart hotel
Travel to the market town of Carlisle & visit the famous Cathedral & Carlisle Castle.
9.30am Arrive in Carlisle
The group will be booked in for a tour of Carlisle Castle followed by free-time to visit the Cathedral, shopping& lunch
1.30pm Depart Carlisle
The coach will travel to Gretna Green where the group will visit The Gretna Green Story Exhibition & view The Wedding Re-enactment of a Runaway Wedding. There is a restaurant & retail outlet on site.
2pm Arrive at Gretna Green
5pm Depart Gretna Green
6pm Arrive at hotel
7.30pm Dinner will be served
June 16th
7.30am The coach will depart Penrith
The coach will travel to Holyhead for our sailing to Dublin at 1.50pm. The coach is required to be booked in at the port at 12.45pm.
We will have comfort stops en route to Holyhead
1.50pm The ship will depart Holyhead
5.05pm Arrive in Dublin Port
7pm Arrive in Kilkenny
Cost of Tour: €680.00 per person
Price includes the following:
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Luxury Coach throughout the tour
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Professional Coach Driver
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Experienced Tour Guide
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Return Ferry from Dublin to Holyhead
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6 nights B&B & Evening Meals
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Full use of the Hotel Leisure Facilities
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All Day Tours including Admissions & Guided Tours
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