Jewels of Ireland: Self-Launched 14-Day Ring of Ireland
14 days · Ireland & Northern Ireland
CIE Tours charges £3,490
No-markup version: ~£1,580 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched, independent version of CIE Tours' 14-day "Jewels of Ireland" coach circuit — same loop (Dublin, Wicklow, Kinsale, Killarney, Dingle, Cliffs of Moher, the Burren, Galway, Connemara, Donegal, Derry, Giant's Causeway, Belfast, back to Dublin) but done on public buses, trains and self-booked day tours, staying in hostels and guesthouses instead of 4* hotels. You'll cover roughly the same ground with more freedom, more flexibility and the option to linger where the coach tour rushes (Belfast, Blarney, Dingle). Costs are backpacker/budget-traveller estimates in GBP and exclude flights to/from Ireland.
Day-by-day
Arrive Dublin — Historic Quarter & a Distillery
Dublin
Land at Dublin Airport and take the Airlink 747 or Dublin Express bus (~€7-10, £6-8) into the city centre. Check into a hostel or budget guesthouse around Temple Bar/Abbey Street or Smithfield. In the afternoon do a free self-guided walk: Trinity College, Dublin Castle, Christ Church Cathedral and the Liberties. Self-book a Pearse Lyons Distillery tour with whiskey tasting online (~£18), or swap for the Teeling Whiskey tour in the Liberties. Evening pint and trad session in a Smithfield pub (e.g. Walsh's or The Cobblestone) — cheaper and more authentic than Temple Bar.
🚌Airport bus ~£7; city is walkable / Leap Card for bus & tram
🛏Hostel dorm or budget guesthouse, Dublin city centre (~£25-30)
- →Airlink/Dublin Express airport bus
- →Self-guided historic Dublin walk
- →Pearse Lyons Distillery tour & tasting (pre-book ~£18)
- →Trad music session in Smithfield
Wicklow Mountains — Powerscourt & a Traditional Music Night
County Wicklow / Dublin
Hop on the DART commuter train to Bray or Greystones (~£4 return with Leap Card) and continue by local bus (route 185/44) or a pre-booked GetYourGuide Wicklow day tour if you'd rather not juggle buses. Visit Powerscourt Estate gardens (entry ~£12) and the Powerscourt Distillery for a whiskey-making tour (~£20, book direct). Return to Dublin for the evening. Book a traditional Irish dinner-and-show at Taylors Three Rock directly (~£35-45) — or save money with dinner in a pub with live music in town (~£15).
🚌DART ~£4 return + local bus ~£4
🛏Hostel dorm or budget guesthouse, Dublin (~£25-30)
- →DART train to Bray/Greystones
- →Powerscourt Estate & Gardens (self-book ~£12)
- →Powerscourt Distillery tour (~£20)
- →Taylors Three Rock dinner show OR pub music night
Dublin to Kinsale via Blarney Castle
Kinsale, Co. Cork
Take the Irish Rail train or Expressway bus from Dublin to Cork (~£15-22, 2h45-3h30). Drop bags at a Kinsale guesthouse/hostel and catch a local bus or short taxi to Blarney Castle (~£6-10). Arrive early: the Blarney Stone queue can be 90 minutes. Explore the gardens instead of queueing if it's busy. Then bus back to Cork and take the 226/226A bus to Kinsale (~£4). Evening: self-guided wander of Kinsale's colourful streets, or join a small-group Kinsale walking tour via GetYourGuide (~£12).
🚌Train/bus ~£18 + local buses ~£10
🛏Budget guesthouse or hostel, Kinsale (~£30-35)
- →Irish Rail/Expressway Dublin to Cork
- →Blarney Castle & Gardens (entry ~£16)
- →Local bus Cork to Kinsale
- →Self-guided or small-group Kinsale walking tour
Kinsale to Killarney via Kenmare & the Ring of Kerry
Killarney, Co. Kerry
Bus from Kinsale to Cork (~£4), then Expressway bus to Killarney via Kenmare (~£15, 3h). In Killarney, join a self-booked Gap of Dunloe jaunting car (horse-drawn cart) trip through Killarney National Park to Ross Castle (~£25-30 with a boat option, book direct with local operators at Kate Kearney's Cottage). Alternatively, walk or bike the park to Ross Castle independently (bike hire ~£12). Evening in Killarney's pubs — free trad music most nights.
🚌Local bus + Expressway ~£20
🛏Hostel or budget guesthouse, Killarney (~£30-35)
- →Expressway bus Cork to Killarney
- →Gap of Dunloe jaunting car ride (~£28)
- →Killarney National Park & Ross Castle
- →Trad session in Killarney town
Ring of Kerry & Dingle Peninsula
Killarney / Dingle, Co. Kerry
Book a local Ring of Kerry day tour from Killarney (GetYourGuide/local operator, ~£30-40) or, if you have a car, drive it yourself. Alternatively take the public bus to Dingle (~£10, 1h15) and spend the day there: the Blasket Centre in Dunquin (entry ~£5, reached by local bus or taxi), Dingle town's harbour and craft shops, and Murphy's Ice Cream (a scoop ~£4). Overnight in Killarney or stay in Dingle for a slower night — Dingle is the better choice if you have flexibility.
🚌Day tour or public bus ~£10-35
🛏Hostel or guesthouse, Killarney/Dingle (~£30-35)
- →Ring of Kerry day tour (~£35) OR public bus to Dingle
- →Blasket Centre, Dunquin (~£5)
- →Dingle town & harbour walk
- →Murphy's Ice Cream tasting
To the Cliffs of Moher & a Castle Banquet
Ennis / Shannon area, Co. Clare
Take the bus from Killarney/Tralee to Limerick or Ennis (~£15-18, 2.5-3h via Expressway). Foynes Flying Boat & Maritime Museum is reachable by local bus from Limerick (~£6, entry ~£10) if you're keen. Late afternoon head to the Cliffs of Moher — either the public bus to Liscannor/Doolin plus a taxi, or the Cliffs of Moher Express from Ennis (~£15). Entry to the Cliffs visitor centre is ~£10 (or free on the coastal walking paths). Evening: book Knappogue Castle's medieval banquet directly (~£55) or choose a cheaper pub dinner in Ennis (~£15).
🚌Intercity bus ~£17 + local buses ~£10
🛏Budget B&B or hostel, Ennis (~£28-32)
- →Bus Killarney to Ennis/Limerick
- →Foynes Flying Boat Museum (optional, ~£10)
- →Cliffs of Moher (~£10 entry)
- →Medieval banquet at Knappogue Castle (~£55) or pub dinner in Ennis
The Burren, Sheepdogs & Galway
The Burren / Galway
Take a local bus or self-booked Burren day tour from Ennis (~£30-40) including the Poulnabrone dolmen and the Burren landscape. Book the Caherconnell sheepdog demonstration directly (~£10-12). Continue by Bus Éireann route 350 to Galway (~£10, 2h). Check into a Galway hostel around the Latin Quarter. Evening: free self-guided walk of Galway's medieval streets, Lynch's Castle, the Spanish Arch and a trad session in a Latin Quarter pub — skip paid walking tours, the city centre is tiny and easy to explore solo.
🚌Tour bus + Bus Éireann ~£15
🛏Hostel dorm or budget guesthouse, Galway (~£28-35)
- →Burren day tour or bus (~£30-40)
- →Caherconnell sheepdog demo (~£11)
- →Bus Éireann 350 to Galway (~£10)
- →Self-guided Galway Latin Quarter walk & pub session
Connemara, Killary Harbour & Kylemore Abbey
Connemara / Galway
Bus Éireann route 419/923 or a self-booked Connemara day tour from Galway (~£35-45) takes you through Leenane and along Killary Harbour. Join the Killary Harbour catamaran cruise (~£25, book direct with Killary Fjord Boat Tours) and visit Kylemore Abbey (entry ~£15, book online). Return to Galway in the evening for fish and chips and live music.
🚌Day tour bus ~£40 (included in activities)
🛏Hostel dorm or budget guesthouse, Galway (~£28-35)
- →Connemara day tour or Bus Éireann (~£40)
- →Killary Harbour catamaran cruise (~£25)
- →Kylemore Abbey (~£15)
- →Evening in Galway
Galway to Donegal via Belleek and Fermanagh
Donegal Town, Co. Donegal
Long travel day: Expressway bus from Galway to Sligo (~£15, 2h30), then the Bus Éireann/Ulsterbus route to Donegal Town (~£12). If you want the Belleek Pottery stop, take a local bus/taxi to Belleek (~£8) for the visitor centre tour (~£8, book direct). In Donegal Town, visit Donegal Castle (~£5) and wander the Diamond and the riverbank. Evening pub dinner in Donegal town with live music.
🚌Multiple intercity buses ~£27
🛏Budget B&B or hostel, Donegal Town (~£30-35)
- →Expressway Galway–Sligo
- →Bus to Donegal Town
- →Belleek Pottery visitor centre (optional)
- →Donegal Castle (~£5)
- →Self-guided Donegal town walk
Slieve League & Ardara
Ardara / Donegal
Local bus or a shared taxi to Slieve League (Sliabh Liag) from Donegal/Killybegs (~£10-15). The cliff walk to the upper viewing point is free and arguably better than the paid visitor centre — allow 2 hours on the paths. Afterwards, head to Ardara for the Triona Design weaving demonstrations (free entry, ~£0-5) and a pint in Nancy's or the Corner House. Return to Donegal for the night or stay in Ardara (limited budget beds — book ahead).
🚌Local buses/shared taxi ~£15
🛏Budget B&B or hostel, Donegal/Ardara (~£30-35)
- →Local bus to Slieve League (~£12)
- →Slieve League cliff walk (free)
- →Triona Design weaving demo, Ardara
- →Pint and music in Ardara
Derry, the Giant's Causeway & Belfast
Derry / Belfast, Northern Ireland
Take the bus from Donegal to Derry (~£10, 1h30). Join a self-booked Derry walking tour of the walls and Bogside murals (~£12 via GetYourGuide) — the Derry tours are consistently rated the best on this route. Then take the train or bus along the north coast (Derry to Coleraine ~£7, then the Causeway Coaster/Ulsterbus to the Giant's Causeway, ~£5; site entry free to walk the stones, visitor centre ~£13). Continue by train from Coleraine to Belfast (~£10, 1h30). Book a Belfast hostel in the Cathedral Quarter. Remember: pound sterling in Northern Ireland.
🚌Local bus + train ~£30
🛏Hostel dorm or budget hotel, Belfast (~£25-30)
- →Bus Donegal–Derry (~£10)
- →Derry walking tour (~£12)
- →Giant's Causeway (free to visit; visitor centre ~£13)
- →Train Coleraine–Belfast (~£10)
- →Evening in Belfast Cathedral Quarter
Titanic Belfast & Back to Dublin
Belfast / Dublin
Morning: Titanic Belfast (book online ~£22) plus the Titanic Quarter walk, and a self-guided Black Taxi Tour of the murals if budget allows (~£40 for the taxi, split between up to 4). Grab lunch at St George's Market (free entry, food ~£8). Afternoon: Enterprise train or Aircoach/Expressway bus Belfast to Dublin (~£18-25, 2h10). Check into a Dublin hostel near Connolly Station or the north quays. Evening in Dublin — try the Cobblestone or the Bernard Shaw for a cheaper night out.
🚌Enterprise train or coach ~£20
🛏Hostel dorm or budget guesthouse, Dublin (~£25-30)
- →Titanic Belfast (~£22)
- →St George's Market lunch
- →Optional Black Taxi Tour (split cost)
- →Train/bus Belfast–Dublin (~£20)
Dublin at Your Own Pace
Dublin
Pick one big-ticket attraction and self-book it online: Guinness Storehouse (~£28), Teeling Whiskey (~£18), EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum (~£15), Jameson Bow St (~£25) or the GPO Museum (~£12). Add a DoDublin hop-on-hop-off bus only if you want an overview (~£20, or use the Leap Card on regular buses for a third of the price). Afternoon: Phoenix Park, the National Museum of Ireland (free) or a coastal DART trip to Howth for cliff walks and seafood.
🚌Leap Card bus/Luas ~£5
🛏Hostel dorm or budget guesthouse, Dublin (~£25-30)
- →Guinness Storehouse OR Teeling OR EPIC OR Jameson OR GPO Museum (~£15-28)
- →Optional hop-on-hop-off bus (~£20)
- →Free national museums or Howth DART trip
- →Evening pub session
Departure Day
Dublin
Final breakfast, a last wander through the markets or along the Liffey, then take the Airlink/Dublin Express bus back to the airport (~£7). If your flight is late, consider a morning visit to Kilmainham Gaol (book well ahead, ~£8) or Dún Laoghaire's harbour walk by DART (~£5).
🚌Airport bus ~£7
🛏N/A — departure day
- →Airport bus (~£7)
- →Optional Kilmainham Gaol visit (~£8)
- →DART to Dún Laoghaire (optional)
Self-launched vs. CIE Tours
| This itinerary (self-launched) | CIE Tours | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£1,580 | £3,490 |
| Duration | 14 days | 14 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,910 per person (55%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more CIE Tours-style trips? Check them out here.~£1,580
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 Jewels of Ireland: Self-Launched 14-Day Ring of Ireland cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £1,580 per person for 14 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 CIE Tours?+
Yes — CIE Tours charges around £3,490 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £1,580 — a saving of roughly £1,910 (55%) per person.
How long is the Ireland & Northern Ireland trip?+
This itinerary runs 14 days, covering 14 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 culture, adventure, 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?
Drop your comment below — if you've done a similar route, tell us what worked, what you'd add, or what you'd skip.
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