11-Day Full Irish Adventure — Self-Launched
11 days · Ireland & Northern Ireland
Overland - Small Group Tours charges £3,250
No-markup version: ~£1,770 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of Overland's 11-day small-group circuit around the whole island of Ireland — Dublin to Belfast and the Causeway Coast, down through Donegal and the Wild Atlantic Way, Galway and the Aran Islands, the Cliffs of Moher, Dingle and Slea Head, then Killarney, Kinsale and back to Dublin. You do it on public buses and trains (plus one or two local day tours where a car is genuinely needed), stay in hostels, B&Bs and small guesthouses, and book the same headline experiences directly. All costs are rough per-person estimates in GBP and exclude flights.
Day-by-day
Dublin to Belfast to Portstewart
Dublin → Belfast → Portstewart
Book an early Enterprise train from Dublin Connolly to Belfast Lanyon Place (~£20-25, 2h15, book on translink.co.uk or irishrail.ie). Drop your bag in a Belfast hostel locker, then do Titanic Belfast (£25, book online for a timed slot) and graze your way round St George's Market and the Cathedral Quarter on a self-made food crawl — the market's Friday-Sunday traders are the cheapest eating in the city. Mid-afternoon take the train Belfast → Coleraine (~£9, 1h20) and the 140/137 bus to Portstewart (~£3, 20 min), or the 218 bus up the coast. Base yourself in Portstewart for two nights.
🚌Enterprise train Dublin-Belfast £22, train Belfast-Coleraine £9, local bus £3
🛏Hostel or small guesthouse in Portstewart (~£30-40)
- →Titanic Belfast (self-booked timed ticket, ~£25)
- →St George's Market & Cathedral Quarter food wander
- →Portstewart Strand evening walk
Causeway Coast: Giant's Causeway, Carrick-a-Rede & Bushmills
Portstewart / Causeway Coast
Take the 402/172 Causeway Coaster bus (runs in summer, roughly hourly) between the sights, or pick up a Causeway Coast day tour from Portstewart/Portrush if the seasonal bus isn't running (GetYourGuide runs these for ~£35-45). Giant's Causeway visitor centre is £13.50 but the stones themselves are free if you walk in via the public right of way from the Bushmills road. Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge is ~£16 timed entry — book ahead in summer. Finish with the Old Bushmills Distillery tour and tasting (~£15-20, book direct). Optional extra: ferry to Rathlin Island from Ballycastle (~£12 return) if you have the legs.
🚌Causeway Coaster bus hops ~£6, or day tour ~£40
🛏Hostel or small guesthouse in Portstewart (~£30-40)
- →Giant's Causeway
- →Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge
- →Old Bushmills Distillery tour & tasting
Portstewart to Derry to Donegal
Portstewart → Derry → Donegal
Bus to Coleraine then the 234/X4 to Derry (~£8, 1h15). Join a self-bookable Derry walking tour of the 17th-century walls — the award-winning Bogside/Free Derry walking tours and city walls tours cost ~£10-15 and meet at the Guildhall or the Bogside. Cross into Donegal in the afternoon: the 488/494 buses link Derry to Letterkenny (~£6, 45 min) and on to Donegal Town (~£10, 2h). Stay in Donegal Town or Letterkenny.
🚌Buses Portstewart-Derry ~£8, Derry-Donegal ~£10
🛏Hostel or B&B in Donegal Town (~£35-45)
- →Derry city walls & Bogside guided walking tour (~£12)
- →Donegal town wander and pubs
Glenveagh National Park & Cuilcagh Boardwalk
Donegal / Cuilcagh
The operator combines Glenveagh and Cuilcagh in one van day; independently you'll pick one — both are stunning. Best plan: take the Local Link bus from Letterkenny to Churchill (~£4) and the park shuttle to Glenveagh Castle (free entry to gardens, small fee for castle tour ~£5) for a lake-and-glen hike, then overnight in Enniskillen or Swanlinbar. From there the Cuilcagh 'Stairway to Heaven' boardwalk trail starts at Legnabrocky car park — reachable by the seasonal Cuilcagh shuttle/minibus (£8-10 return from Enniskillen or Swanlinbar) or a local taxi split (~£25 each way, cheaper with a hostel-mate). Allow 3-4 hours for the walk itself; it's free.
🚌Local Link buses ~£12, Cuilcagh shuttle £9
🛏B&B or hostel in Enniskillen/Swanlinbar area (~£30-40)
- →Glenveagh National Park & Castle gardens
- →Cuilcagh Boardwalk Trail (Stairway to Heaven)
Cuilcagh to Ballina to Westport
Enniskillen → Ballina → Westport
Bus south to Sligo (~£14, 1h45) and on to Ballina (~£10, 1h). On the way stop at the Céide Fields or Downpatrick Head with the local Bus Éireann 445/446 services (check times — they're sparse, ~£5-8 each hop); Downpatrick Head and the Dún Briste sea stack are free to visit and a 20-minute walk from the car park. Continue to Westport (~£12, 1h). Evening in Westport: pint and a trad session at Matt Molloy's — free, and the whole point.
🚌Bus Éireann hops ~£40 total
🛏Hostel or guesthouse in Westport (~£35-45)
- →Céide Fields Neolithic site (~£6)
- →Downpatrick Head & Dún Briste
- →Trad session at Matt Molloy's Bar
Westport to Connemara to Galway
Westport → Connemara → Galway
Take the 456/423 bus through the Doolough Valley to Leenane (~£6, 1h) — Doolough Famine Memorial is a roadside stop, free. From Leenane the Killary Sheepdog demonstration at Killary Harbour runs for small groups (~£10, book direct or ask at Leenane); alternatively the local bus drops you at the harbour turn. Kylemore Abbey & Victorian Walled Gardens is ~£16.50 entry (or ~£20 with the shuttle from the gate) — reachable on the 419 Connemara bus from Leenane/Letterfrack (~£4). Finish into Galway City on the 419 (~£10, 1h40). Overnight in Galway's Latin Quarter.
🚌Connemara buses ~£20
🛏Hostel in Galway city (~£30-40)
- →Doolough Famine Memorial
- →Killary Sheepdogs demonstration (~£10)
- →Kylemore Abbey & walled gardens (~£17)
Aran Islands and the Cliffs of Moher by sea
Galway → Inis Oírr → Lahinch
Book the Aran Islands ferry from Rossaveel or Doolin direct (Aran Island Ferries / Doolin Ferry, ~£25-30 return) and hire a bike on Inis Oírr for the day (~£12) — the Plassey wreck, the lighthouse and the tiny beach are all within a couple of hours' pedalling. If you sail from Doolin, add the Cliffs of Moher cruise (~£20-25) on the way back. Bus Galway-Doolin is ~£12 (Bus Éireann 350). Base in Doolin or Lahinch for the night — Lahinch has the better hostel/budget guesthouse choice.
🚌Bus 350 Galway-Doolin ~£12, ferry ~£28, bike hire £12
🛏Hostel or guesthouse in Lahinch (~£35-45)
- →Aran Islands ferry & Inis Oírr by bike
- →Cliffs of Moher cruise (~£22)
Cliffs of Moher coastal walk, then to Dingle
Lahinch → Cliffs of Moher → Dingle
Walk the free Cliffs of Moher coastal trail from Doolin to the visitor centre (8km, 2-3 hours, no guide needed — it's the same path the operator's local guide uses). Then bus to Killimer (~£8) for the free-ish Shannon ferry crossing to Tarbert (foot passenger ~£3), and the 314/14 bus down to Tralee (~£8), where you change for Dingle (~£8, 50 min). Overnight in Dingle — a lively, musical town with excellent cheap seafood.
🚌Buses ~£27, Shannon ferry foot passenger ~£3
🛏Hostel or guesthouse in Dingle (~£35-45)
- →Cliffs of Moher coastal hike (free)
- →River Shannon ferry crossing
- →Dingle town pubs & music
Dingle Bay kayaking and Slea Head
Dingle / Slea Head Peninsula
Book Dingle Bay kayaking direct with one of the town's sea-kayaking outfits (~£55-65 for a 3-hour guided paddle with wetsuit). In the afternoon, Slea Head Drive: the local Slea Head bus/tour loop (Dingle Shuttle Bus, ~£20-25) does the full peninsula with stops at Gallarus Oratory, the Fahan beehive huts and the Blasket Islands viewpoint, or you can cycle it on a rented bike (~£20, hilly but doable). Return to Dingle for the night.
🚌Local Slea Head loop bus ~£22
🛏Hostel or guesthouse in Dingle (~£35-45)
- →Dingle Bay sea kayaking (~£60)
- →Slea Head Drive: Gallarus Oratory, beehive huts, Blasket viewpoint
Killarney National Park by bike, then Kinsale
Dingle → Killarney → Kinsale
Bus Dingle to Tralee (~£8) and Tralee to Killarney (~£8). Hire a bike in Killarney town (~£15/day) and ride into Killarney National Park — Muckross House & Gardens (house tour ~£9, gardens free), Muckross Abbey ruins (free) and the lakeshore loop are all on the same 20km ride. Then bus Killarney → Cork (~£12, 1h45) and Cork → Kinsale (~£6, 45 min). Kinsale is a food town — grab fish and chips on the harbour.
🚌Buses ~£34, bike hire £15
🛏Hostel or guesthouse in Kinsale (~£35-45)
- →Killarney National Park cycling
- →Muckross House & Gardens
- →Muckross Abbey
Blarney Castle, Rock of Cashel and back to Dublin
Kinsale → Blarney → Cashel → Dublin
Early bus Kinsale → Cork (~£6) then the 226 to Blarney (~£4). Blarney Castle & Gardens entry is ~£20 online (~£22 at the gate) — go at opening to beat the stone queue. Bus back to Cork (~£4), then the X8/245 to Cashel (~£14, 1h30); the Rock of Cashel is ~£10 entry. Finish with the express bus Cashel → Dublin (Bus Éireann X8, ~£20-25, 2h30) or a train from Limerick Junction if you prefer rail. Arrive Dublin by early evening.
🚌Local buses ~£14, intercity expression Cashel-Dublin ~£22
🛏Not included — Dublin hostel ~£30-40 if you're staying on
- →Blarney Castle & the Blarney Stone (~£20)
- →Rock of Cashel (~£10)
Self-launched vs. Overland - Small Group Tours
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Overland - Small Group Tours | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£1,770 | £3,250 |
| Duration | 11 days | 11 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,480 per person (46%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Overland - Small Group Tours-style trips? Check them out here.~£1,770
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does 11-Day Full Irish Adventure — Self-Launched cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £1,770 per person for 11 days in Ireland & Northern Ireland. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with Overland - Small Group Tours?+
Yes — Overland - Small Group Tours charges around £3,250 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £1,770 — a saving of roughly £1,480 (46%) per person.
How long is the Ireland & Northern Ireland trip?+
This itinerary runs 11 days, covering 11 day-by-day stops through Ireland & Northern Ireland.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a adventure, culture, hiking trip through Ireland & Northern Ireland, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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