Ireland Photo Tour: The Best of Dublin & the 'Wild Atlantic Way'

Ireland is quite simply one of the most beautiful places on Earth. The gentle mists and soft, slanting light and endless rainbows add a cinematic quality to the Emerald Isle's ethereal scenery. And never more so than in western Ireland. Its enchanting landscapes and seascapes are endlessly photogenic!

Combining the charms of Dublin and the most stunning locations of rugged west and southwest Ireland, our 11-day 'Ireland: Best of Dublin & the 'Wild Atlantic Way' Photo Tour takes in Galway, the Connemara region, and Kerry, including Dingle and Killarney.

Our itinerary has been designed to feature the most photogenic locations… not least Trinity College Library, Kylemore Abbey, Galway, the Cliffs of Moher and The Burren, the wild coastal vistas of the Dingle Peninsula and endlessly scenic ‘Ring of Kerry.’ Plus, there'll be lighthouses, shipwrecks, and thatched cottages. And a four-day optional extension takes in Northern Ireland’s ‘Causeway Coastal Route,’ including such iconic venues as the Giant’s Causeway, the eerie Dark Hedges glade, and Dunluce Castle (all three of Game of Thrones fame), plus Derry’s Bogside Murals.

Unlike almost every other company, we’ll also immerse ourselves in Ireland’s culture as we explore winding lanes and remote villages to photograph Irish step dancing, musicians performing in cozy pubs, and craftsmen making traditional harps and Uilleann pipes. Plus, no Ireland itinerary would be complete without a visit to one of Ireland's oldest whisky distilleries for a tasting and tour.

The combination promises a truly memorable experience!

Co-led by National Geographic author & photographer Christopher P. Baker and one of Ireland's leading landscape photographers, you’ll gain the insights of two masters of photography, with a focus on teaching the art of interpreting a scene in front of you and, by evaluating color, form, light, and shadow, to convert looking to acutely seeing the subject’s creative potential and to composing for full-frame perfection without need for cropping or Photoshop. Whether you're a beginner or a professional, and whether you're shooting with a  DSLR camera, smart phone, or iPad, our goal is to help you return home with sensational photographs to cherish forever.

Of course, this being Ireland, the weather is sure to be fickle. We'll therefore work with whatever Mother Nature delivers, adjusting the daily itinerary as may be needed based on light and other conditions.

ITINERARY (SUBJECT TO CHANGE)

DAY 1
We begin this evening with our welcome reception and dinner in Dublin, including a presentation on our itinerary and the art of seeing and composition.
O/N Dublin (Trinity City Hotel, Davenport Hotel, or similar)

DAY 2
We’ll spend today exploring Dublin, focusing our attention and cameras on the Temple Bar District, the city’s cobbled former red-light district but today an artsy “bohemian quarter” full of friendly pubs. We’ll also explore Grafton Street, a chic and bustling shopping venue lined with photogenic shopfronts; plus Trinity College, world-renowned for its astounding library, with its world-famous Long Room lined with marble busts (and a great venue for practicing long exposures to blur the motion of people). This evening, it’s only a short distance from our hotel to the modern Samuel Beckett Bridge (inspired by an Irish harp), which we hope to photograph at sunset and when floodlit at night.
OP/N Dublin (Trinity City Hotel, Davenport Hotel, or similar)

DAY 3
Today we head west to the city of Galway, tucked along the River Corrib between Lough Corrib and Galway Bay. En route, we’ll stop at Kilbeggan Whiskey Distillery, where we’ll enjoy a whisky tasting and private tour, made photogenic by the distillery’s copper stills and its venerable cask warehouse. After hotel check-in and lunch, we’ll explore Galway’s lively Latin Quarter, jam-packed with colorful buildings and culture, as well as the surprisingly modern (1958) Galway Cathedral; we’ll also shoot the cathedral framed by autumn foliage from across the River Corrib. For sunset, we’ll head to The Claddagh waterfront to shoot across the harbor towards a terrace row of pastel-painted centenary houses. We'll spend two nights at a deluxe country house hotel outside Galway.
O/N Galway (Glenlo Abbey Hotel, or Park House Hotel, The Hardiman Hotel, or similar)

DAY 4
We’ll explore the Connemara coast today, following the panoramic coastal route (part of the ‘Wild Atlantic Way’) that loops around the peninsula. Our photographic stops include Cnoc Suain--a thatched cottage enclave offering sensational photo ops and cultural activities. Then on to Roundstone, a quaint fishing village where we’ll hope to shoot Galway “hookers” (traditional gaff-rigged sailing vessels), as well as the spectacular thatched “Home of the Stars” (owned by composer and musician Bill Whelan, famous for composing ‘Riverdance’). We may also visit craftsman Malachy Kearns, who makes Bodhrán drums in his rustic workshop; and/or Roundstone Ceramics, next door. Then it's on to the lovely coastal town of Clifden. A little further we’ll arrive at Kylemore Abbey, magnificently set on the shores of Lough Pollacappul; then Lough Derryclare, which its uber-photogenic Pine Island against a backdrop of the rugged Twelve Bens of Connemara.
O/N Galway (Glenlo Abbey Hotel, or Park House Hotel, The Hardiman Hotel, or similar)

Kylemore Abbey; Chris Hill Photographic, courtesy Tourism Ireland

DAY 5
This morning we head south via the magnificently craggy coastline of The Burren—an other-worldly mosaic of cracked limestone rocks and boulders—and the Cliffs of Moher, rising sheer for 700 feet and pinned by the spire of Doonagore Castle. We’ll then head to lunch in Bunratty, where we’ll photograph Bunratty Castle before continuing south to Adare. With its many exquisite thatched cottages, this is considered one of Ireland’s prettiest villages. We will arrive Killarney late afternoon.
O/N Killarney (Cahernane House Hotel OR The Lake Hotel, or similar)

Cliffs of Moher; courtesy Tourism Ireland

DAY 6
Our day is spent circling the Dingle Peninsula. Acclaimed as Ireland’s most scenic route, the coastal 'Slea Head Drive' leads to Dingle, with its photogenic harborfront and many cozy pubs. Beyond awaits Slea Head, picture-perfect Coomeenoole Beach (made famous in Ryan's Daughter), the craggy cliffs and stacks of Dunmore Head, plus the idyllic pocketbook wharf of Dunquin. Time permitting, for sunset we’ll hike the Ballydavid headland for a sensational view from Dun Morain ruin of the Three Sisters peaks perfectly aligned as they jut into the ocean.
O/N Killarney (Cahernane House Hotel OR The Lake Hotel, or similar)

Dunquin at sunset; courtesy Tourism Ireland

DAY 7
We’ll begin our day close to our hotel as we photograph sunrise at Ross Castle rising over Lough Leane. After breakfast, we’ll photograph ruined Muckross Abbey, with its sensational graveyard and a mature yew tree growing up through the roofless cloisters. We’ll then follow the Ring of Kerry counter-clockwise to explore Killarney National Park and the Iveragh Peninsula. Our photographic stops include Kells Sheep Centre/Caitins Pub, at Kells, where sheepdog trainer Brendan Ferris/Tim O’Sullivan will give a demo of sheep-herder with his Border collies. This afternoon, we’ll photograph gorgeous Caherdaniel beach and adjacent Abbey island, overlooking Derrynane beach. Time permitting, we may also visit the ninth-century Loher Stone Fort, finishing with sunset at Eagle’s Nest Mountain from the banks of Upper Lake at sunset.
O/N Killarney (Cahernane House Hotel OR The Lake Hotel, or similar)

Courtesy Tourism Ireland; copyright Eamon Ward

DAY 8

Today we follow the Ring of Bearra to Castletownbere, an idyllic fishing village with colorful boats and trawlers set against a tremendous backdrop. In the afternoon, we’ll follow the coast road clockwise for a short hike to the Uragh Stone Circle, set off by a dramatic setting. Spectacular in autumn with its fall colors, our final stop is St Finbarr's Oratory—a tiny lakeside church surrounded by a panorama of trees and mountain, it is absolutely magnificent at sunset.
O/N Glensgaref (Eccles Hotel)

St. Finbarr's Oratory; courtesy & copyright Trevor Cole

DAY 9
We depart Glendarof this morning for Glandore, a postcard-perfect harbor village cusped in the fold of green hills. We continue east via the Stone Age Drombeg Stone Circle to Kinsale, another lovely habor village renowned for flower-festooned streets. Finally, we head the short distance to Nohoval Cove to photograph the magnificent coastal vista at sunset. From here, it's a short drive to Cork. 
O/N Cork (The Imperial Hotel & Spa, Maldron Hotel South Mall Cork, or similar)

Courtesy & copyright Harrington Harps

DAY 10
After breakfast and check-out, we hope to visit Harrington Harps to photograph master-craftsman Kevin Harrington in his workshop. Time permitting, we may also make a short journey to the hillside coastal town of Cobh, with its charming harborfront and a sloping street of 23 19^th-century houses known as the ‘Deck of Cards’ colored as if by Crayola, with lofty St. Colman's Cathedral behind. We then head back to Dublin via the ‘Rock of Cashel’—a limestone crag topped by a ruined cathedral and fortress that comprise the most impressive cluster of medieval buildings in Ireland. We end our tour with a slideshow of your images before our farewell dinner together.
O/N Dublin (Davenport Hotel, Trinity City Hotel, or similar)

Rock of Cashel; Courtesy Tipperary Tourism

DAY 11
Depart Dublin for home.

OPTIONAL EXTENSION

DAY 11
This morning we’ll drive from Dublin to County Antrim to photograph iconic sites associated with the Netflix blockbuster, Game of Thrones. First up is The Dark Hedges, a long glade of beech trees planted in 1775 and made famous as the 'Kings Road' in the TV series. After lunch in Ballycastle, we’ll drive the short distance to the Carrick-a-rede Rope Bridge, high above crashing waves and linking a small island boasting sensational seascapes. From here, it’s only a few minutes’ drive to the Giant’s Causeway and nearby Dunluce Castle (which served in Game of Thrones as the exterior for 'Pyke', the seat of House Greyjoy), each among the most photogenic sites in Ireland. The coast road is ranked among the world’s most scenic drives! Depending on the weather conditions, we’ll linger through the ‘golden hour’ for spectacular photography here before heading to Derry.
O/N Derry (The Ebrington, Bishop’s Gate Hotel, or similar)

The Dark Hedges; Courtesy Chaosheng Zhang & Failte Ireland

DAY 12
Our circle today begins early as we head west to the headland known as Bloody Foreland—a predominantly Gaelic-speaking farming region—and, nearby, the iconic wreck of Cara na Mara (Bád Eddie), held fast in the sand at Maheraclogher Strand. We then move north to the Inishowen peninsula and Isle of Doagh for a Celtic-themed shoot with a local photographer and dramatic ‘golden hour’ and sunset photography.
O/N Derry (The Ebrington, Bishop’s Gate Hotel, or similar)

DAY 13
Our morning begins with a sunrise shoot of the modern Peace Bridge looking west to the Guildhall. After breakfast, we’ll take a guided walking tour of the ‘Bogside Murals’ in Derry’s Catholic neighborhood. These giant street murals offer sobering comments on Northern Ireland’s turbulent sectarian history, especially during ‘The Troubles’ (1968-1990s). We then head to Dublin and the end of your tour.
O/N Dublin (Trinity City Hotel, Davenport Hotel, or similar)

Londonderry; courtesy Tourism Ireland

DAY 14
Depart Dublin for home.