To book the St. Patrick's Footsteps Self Drive Tour or request more details please call our partner Toll Free on 1866-553-6294

This popular Self Drive tour takes place over seven days and six nights.

The flexibility of a Self Drive is fantastic! Where you go and when you go is completely up to you - but if your sense of direction isn't the best, you might like to follow our tried and tested route outlined below.

With a Self Drive you can choose to stay in any of our top quality, Tourist Board Approved accommodation, which is found throughout Ireland.

And, because Ireland is renowned for its legendary welcome - whether it's a castle, hotel or B&B you stay in - you can be certain you'll have a pleasant stay.

Remember, St. Patrick can be celebrated anytime of the year - not just on St. Patrick's Day (March 17th)!

Day 1 and 2:
Pick up your rental car in Dublin and base yourself here for the next two nights. In Ireland's charismatic capital, visit its top sights and delights which include the Book of Kells, Trinity College.

If you'd like to sample a pint of the world renowned Guinness Irish stout, we can't think of a better place to taste it in other than the Guinness Storehouse and brewery.

Dublin boasts a fantastic nightlife too so get your glad rags on and head out on the town for the first night of your stay.

Day 3:
And so your real expedition begins:

From Dublin, head north towards County Down making a few stops along the way. Drive to Newgrange first and you will see a place steeped in Celtic mythology. Here lies the finest Stone Age passage tomb in Ireland; some say it's the finest example of a passage tomb in the world!

Head to the Hill of Tara, the place where Ireland's High Kings held their seat of power. From here visit the Hill of Slane - no you're not going to a concert here - it was at this site that Saint Patrick adopted the shamrock to explain the 'Holy Trinity'.

When you get back on the road to head north, we recommend you take the scenic coast road towards Newcastle. This seaside town sits in a valley under the Mourne Mountains.

Day 4:
Wake up nice and early and you can take a ramble through the Mourne Mountains. Northern Ireland's most spectacular mountains truly are breathtaking and the view of the Irish Sea, which crashes against the Mourne Mountains, is phenomenal from here.

When you come down from the mountains why not freshen up before packing up and heading to nearby Downpatrick. This is a key place to visit if you are following Patrick's footsteps, as it was here that the saint built his first church. Within the grounds of this legendary church, only a single slab with his name, 'Patric' inscribed on it, symbolises where Patrick was buried.

To get the low down on the man himself, the Saint Patrick Centre hosts an excellent multi-media exhibition showcasing the life and legacies of Ireland's favourite saint.

Leaving here, drive to Armagh, which is renowned to be the religious capital of Ireland. This is where Patrick built his first ever stone church at approx 445 AD. On seeing this, head west towards, Fermanagh where you can choose from a wide range of accommodation to stay in, in Enniskillen.

Day 5:
Day 5 of this exciting journey brings you to Sligo, but be sure to take a walk by the tranquil shore of Lough Erne first.

You'll find some amazing Megalithic tombs around Sligo, most notable at Carrowmore, and a trek up nearby Knocknarea will present you with brilliant vistas of the surrounding countryside including Ben Bulben.

Moving on from here, head to the popular County Mayo tourist town, Westport. You are sure to find great restaurants, pubs and accommodation here along with a hospitable welcome.

Day 6:
You'll find the 765m Croagh Patrick Mountain overlooking Westport. You can really trace Saint Patrick's steps if you attempt this summit. According to legend it was here that Saint Patrick banished the snakes from Ireland.

Remember, the saint himself climbed this mountain bare foot so if you're able for the challenge - go for it! This takes around 4 hours but is definitely worth it as the view of Clew Bay and the Mayo surroundings is unmatchable!

Day 7:
After that long trek, why not indulge in a quiet day of meditation at Knock. Here you can visit the famous Marian Shrine where it is said that an apparition of the Virgin Mary was witnessed by village folk in the 19th Century. Ever since, people have flocked to this famous pilgrimage site to pray to her.

Why not take some holy water with you to keep you safe on your journey home? Drive to Bunratty from Knock where you can enjoy an evening banquet in the castle.

Day 8:
You are just 10 minutes drive from Shannon International Airport here. We hope you've had an enjoyable holiday and you got everything you could ask for from this adventure.

Hope you have a safe trip home and that you'll return again soon!

To book the St. Patrick's Footsteps Self Drive Tour or request more details please call our partner Toll Free on 1866-553-6294