Take a thrilling trip on Ireland’s
Ancient East from Hook lighthouse
Featuring the world’s oldest intact working lighthouse; enjoy an adventure with the masters at ‘The Irish Experience’.
- Explore Ireland’s oldest city and meet the founders – The Vikings’
- Cycle on Ireland’s longest Greenway and enjoy a dram at the Jameson Whiskey Distillery before you march around the gourmet ‘English Market’ in Cork City.
Itinerary: 2-day
Distance:
Hook Lighthouse to Cork City: 185 km
Explore the world’s oldest intact operational lighthouse. Climb the 115 steps of the ancient tower and step back in time to lighthouse life some 800 years ago.
As the oldest intact operational lighthouse in the world, it offers a deep maritimate heriatge and of course knock-out views of the sea east coast. Lonely Planet recently deeming it “the world’s flashiest lighthouse”. But it’s far more than a lonely old beacon… guided tours take visitors right inside a structure that has watched over the rocks here for 800 years, there’s a homely cafe and art workshops are available for kids.
Trip
Highlights
We've put together some prominent significant places for you.
The Vikings
The Vikings
Jameson Whiskey Distillery
Jameson Whiskey Distillery
English Market
English Market
Once you’ve captured your fill of coastal photos, meet up with ‘The Irish Experience’ an authentic Eco Adventure Tourism Company. Enjoy a bespoke Adventure Experience like nothing you have ever done before from Sea Cave Kayaking to Stand Up Paddleboarding to Coasteering, to Mountain climbing or a white water advenutre.
Once you’ve had your adrenaline fill take the Passage East car ferry to beautiful Waterford City, a city steeped in the history of the Vikings. Ireland’s oldest city was founded by Norse invaders in 914AD. You can discover the city’s past within the Viking Triangle and explore the trio of the Medieval Museum, Reginald’s Tower and Bishop’s Palace or meet the founders at The King of the Vikings – the world’s first Viking virtual reality adventure. Housed in an exact copy of a Viking house found in Waterford the experience also includes a brief tour on the Vikings.
Enjoy a stay over in Waterford city or county and awake to an adventure on the Waterford Greenway a spectacular 46km off-road cycling and walking trail along an old railway line between Waterford City and the county’s western town of Dungarvan.
Continue to head further West taking the N25 to Cork City and enroute take a pitstop at the Midleton experience the true heart of Irish whiskey at The Jameson Distillery. Set on 15 acres and beautifully restored, this old distillery is a unique experience with some of the buildings dating back to 1795. Take a journey through history and see the old kilns, mills and malting, water wheel and old warehouses. You can also take part in a tutored whiskey tasting to become a certified Irish Whiskey Taster!
Back on the road to Cork City and after all of the action you will have a healthy appetite for an exploration of Cork’s beloved English Market. This enclosed market is a gourmet hub, selling fresh produce, organic meats, baked delicacies and speciality cheeses. It can be traced back to 1610 and is long recognised by locals as a place to meet, eat and shop. Follow in the footsteps of HRM Queen Elizabeth II who visited the Market in May 2011.
For all details and booking information see: www.irelandsancienteast.com