Waterford Crystal, Carriage and Congreve
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Waterford City, Waterford ©Courtesy Celtic Routes
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Jack Burtchaell's walking tour of Waterford
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Jack Burtchaell's famous Walking tour of Waterford
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Carriage of Waterford & Suir Valley Railway
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Crystal Telephone, Waterford Crystal
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Views from Suir Valley Railway
Visit Ireland’s oldest city and base yourself at a Greatdays’ favourite hotel where there are visits to Waterford Crystal, the Dunbrody Famine Ship Experience, the King of Vikings and Mount Congreve Gardens. Enjoy the views of the River Suir as we look on from our partially open carriage on the Waterford & Suir Valley Railway.
Dates
Subject to availability
Suggested itinerary by coach
Day 1
Depart the UK
Travel to Ireland by coach and ferry or fly from your local airport.
Ferry options:
Holyhead – Dublin with a 2 hour transfer to Waterford
Fishguard/Pembroke – Rosslare with a one hour transfer to Waterford
Flight options:
Fly from your local airport to Dublin
Day 2
Waterford City, Waterford Crystal and King of Vikings
This morning we enjoy a guided walking tour of Waterford, the oldest city in Ireland. Jack Burtchaell has been exploring the streets of Waterford for decades, each time with varied fascinating stories and anecdotes. After our familiarisation tour, we visit the world-famous House of Waterford Crystal for a guided factory tour. Your guide will meander around the factory with you as you watch the four stages of the crystal making. You will conclude your tour in the showroom, where 100s of designs are on sale for you to peruse.
This afternoon a real treat, as we experience the world’s first virtual reality Viking adventure! This Viking adventure takes place in a reconstructed Viking house and seamlessly blends cutting edge technology with ancient Viking house building techniques.
Day 3
Waterford Suir Valley Railway, Mount Congreve* and Dunbrody Famine Ship Experience
Something a little different today as we take a ride on the delightful Waterford & Suir Valley Railway along the picturesque banks of the River Suir. All aboard our partially open air carriage from Bilberry in Waterford town. The journey to Mount Congreve takes about half an hour, where we will enjoy the scenic views along the River Suir and the whimsical Magic Wood. As we alight at Mount Congreve, we are welcomed by seventy acres of intensively planted woodland garden and a four acre walled garden. The entire collection consists of over three thousand different trees and shrubs, more than two thousand Rhododendrons, six hundred Camellias, three hundred Acer cultivars, six hundred conifers, two hundred & fifty climbers and fifteen hundred herbaceous plants.
In the afternoon we visit the Dunbrody Famine Ship Experience, an authentic reproduction of the ‘Dunbrody’, an 1840s emigrant vessel. A guided tour, led by costumed performers, provides a unique insight into the bravery and fortitude of the Irish people faced with the great famine.
*The gardens will be closed in October.
Day 4
Return home or stay another night
After a magnificent, cooked to order breakfast, we say fond farewell and commence our journey home.
Alternatively, we can offer a 4 night stay on selected dates, contact us for more information!
Featured hotel – Visited by Greatdays July 2019 and rated highly by Greatdays’ clients in 2016
Granville Hotel, Waterford ****
The elegant Granville Hotel in Waterford overlooks the River Suir and is a five minute walk from St Patrick’s cathedral. This traditional Irish hotel offers air conditioned rooms with free internet access and an award winning restaurant. The breakfast is cooked to order with the care and attention of a 5* property. You can even enjoy some whiskey in your porridge! The bar is bustling with hotel guests and locals most nights whilst there is a regular musician entertaining. Coach parking onsite.
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- Exterior of Granville Hotel
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- Granville Hotel Bar
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- Granville Hotel Bedroom
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- Granville Hotel Restaurant
| 4 days | |
| 2020 dates | from £239.00 per person |
