Historic Marvels of Armagh

HISTORIC MARVELS IN ARMAGH

 

23 – 27 September 2024

Monday - Friday

5 Days

From £729

 

This super new tour makes the most of our base in the historic city of Armagh with guided tours of St Patrick’s Church of Ireland Cathedral and Armagh Robinson Library, as well as a visit to the Armagh Cider Company complete with tasting. We also follow in the footsteps of royalty at the cracking Hillsborough Castle and step back in time at the Navan Centre & Fort and Brownlow House. A great tour packed with history and discovery and some tasty treats along the way!

 

 

HOLIDAY HIGHLIGHTS

Navan Centre & Fort   |   St Patrick’s Church of Ireland Cathedral   |   Hillsborough Castle   |   Armagh Cider Guided Tour   |   Brownlow House & Lurgan Park

 

DAY ONE – Arrival

We depart from your home and travel to Holyhead and our ferry crossing to Ireland.  Arriving late afternoon you will have time to relax before dinner this evening.

 

DAY TWO – Navan Castle & Fort and St Patrick’s Church of Ireland Cathedral

This morning we enjoy a guided tour of the Navan Centre and one of Ireland’s most important ancient monuments, the Navan Fort. Our experienced guide divulges some of the significant archaeological discoveries made here and provides an insight into the fort’s links with the city of Armagh and other royal sites in Ireland. As living history characters interpret life over 2,000 years ago, we experience life in an Iron Age dwelling, sample a traditional Celtic welcome of tea and oat cakes, and learn some warrior skills and how to write our names in Ogham. We enjoy a soup and sandwich lunch with tea/coffee here before heading to the historic Hill of Armagh.

 

Our guided tour introduces us to some of the city’s most important historic buildings, including St Patrick’s Church of Ireland Cathedral, built on the site of St Patrick’s first stone church, and the 18th century Armagh Robinson Library, home to thousands of rare books, maps and manuscripts, including the original copy of ‘Gulliver’s Travels’.

 

DAY THREE – Hillsborough Castle and Armagh Cider Company Tour

We follow in the footsteps of royalty this morning with a guided tour of Northern Ireland’s royal residence, Hillsborough Castle. As we move through the stunning State Rooms, we learn more about the history of this elegant Georgian home. Outside, we can stretch our legs in the 100 acres of beautiful gardens. We enjoy free time for lunch at the castle before making our way to the family-run Armagh Cider Company for a tour and tasting.

 

We stroll through the orchards, see where the apples are pressed and fermented and step into the bottling plant, progressing to the Cider Barn where the ciders and juices can be sampled. Taste buds tingling, we tuck into tea/coffee and a delicious apple tart with cream.

 

DAY FOUR – Scenic Mourne Mountains Drive, Newcastle & Brownlow House

Our day begins with a scenic drive through the majestic Mourne Mountains, the highest mountain range in Northern Ireland with 12 picturesque peaks. We stop in the small seaside resort town of Newcastle to enjoy some time at leisure before continuing to Brownlow House, a fabulous grade A 19th century country manor house overlooking the scenic Lurgan Park.

 

We tuck into a delightful afternoon tea and embark on a guided tour of the house with its ornate high ceilings, grand spiral staircases and beautiful stained glass windows. As we explore, we can imagine what life was like when it was occupied as a dwelling in years gone by and as a home to US troops during World War II.

 

DAY FIVE – Departure

After breakfast this morning we leave our hotel and make our journey home with comfort stops en route.

 

YOUR HOLIDAY INCLUDES

• Luxury coach travel

• Home pick-up

• 4 nights accommodation, dinner & breakfast

• Porterage on arrival and departure

• Welcome tea/coffee

• Return ferry crossing UK - Northern Ireland

• Admission and Guided tour of Navan Centre & Fort with soup & sandwich lunch & tea/coffee

• Admission and Guided tour of St Patrick’s Church of Ireland Cathedral & Armagh Robinson Library

• Admission and Guided tour of Hillsborough Castle

• Admission Guided tour & tasting at Armagh Cider Company & tea/coffee & apple tart

• Admission and Guided tour of Brownlow House with afternoon tea.

 

ARMAGH CITY HOTEL, ARMAGH

Within easy walking distance of the city’s historical attractions, shops, restaurants and bars, the Armagh City Hotel occupies a slightly elevated position, offering pleasant views over Armagh. The 92 bedrooms are bright and comfortable with neutral décor and modern furnishings. All are equipped with a TV, hairdryer and tea/coffee making facilities. With its dark wood panelling, the elegant Friary Restaurant offers a relaxed atmosphere and makes use of the finest local produce in its dishes. The hotel’s Callan Bar comes with a laidback atmosphere, cosy fire and plenty of seating. Excellent leisure facilities include an indoor swimming pool, sauna, steam room and gym.

YOUR HOLIDAY INCLUDES

Luxury coach travel

Home pick-up

4 nights accommodation, dinner & breakfast

Porterage on arrival and departure

Welcome tea/coffee

Return ferry crossing UK - Northern Ireland

Admission and Guided tour of Navan Centre & Fort with soup & sandwich lunch & tea/coffee

Admission and Guided tour of St Patrick’s Church of Ireland Cathedral & Armagh Robinson Library

Admission and Guided tour of Hillsborough Castle

Admission Guided tour & tasting at Armagh Cider Company & tea/coffee & apple tart

Admission and Guided tour of Brownlow House with afternoon tea.

 

ARMAGH CITY HOTEL, ARMAGH

Within easy walking distance of the city’s historical attractions, shops, restaurants and bars, the Armagh City Hotel occupies a slightly elevated position, offering pleasant views over Armagh. The 92 bedrooms are bright and comfortable with neutral décor and modern furnishings. All are equipped with a TV, hairdryer and tea/coffee making facilities. With its dark wood panelling, the elegant Friary Restaurant offers a relaxed atmosphere and makes use of the finest local produce in its dishes. The hotel’s Callan Bar comes with a laidback atmosphere, cosy fire and plenty of seating. Excellent leisure facilities include an indoor swimming pool, sauna, steam room and gym.

 

 HOTEL FACILITIES INCLUDE

General	Rooms	Accessibility
3-star	Tea/coffee making facilities	Lift
Bar	Television	Wheelchair accessible
Restaurant	Wi-Fi
Swimming pool	Hairdryer
Gym

 

DAYS	TOUR DATE	DEPARTS	TERMS	SUPPLEMENT
5	23 – 27 SEPTEMBER 2024	MONDAY	£729	£120 SINGLE
JONES HOLIDAYS INSURANCE			£27.28

 

 

Rooms are allocated on a first come first served basis and are limited. If no single supplement applies this is limited to the tour single room allocation and therefore additional cost may apply.  Prices displayed are per person unless otherwise stated. If door-to-door pick-up is included there may be additional charges for out of area. Itineraries and hotel inclusions may be subject to change. Seat numbers on the coach may be subject to change. Issues whilst on tour must be raised in the first instance with the driver. Covid-19 restrictions may apply. When making bookings you accept on behalf of yourself and your party the terms in our Trading Charter which can be found in our brochure, on our website at http://www.jonesholidays.co.uk/Jones-holidays-trading-charter, or a copy can be requested from our Sales office.  If your holiday is more than 56 days from departure, we offer a 7-day cooling off period where a full refund will be offered from the date of the initial confirmation invoice (with the exception of flight holidays).

Armagh City Hotel Brownlow House Armagh Cider Hillsborough Castle