To join your exciting Cliffs of Moher, Ailwee Cave and Burren Rail Tour , you should make your way to Heuston Station, Dublin by 0710h (7:10am). The tour operator’s representatives (wearing yellow jackets) will be waiting for you beside the customer service desk. They will check you in and show you to your reserved seats on the train to Galway. A dedicated host will be available on the train to assist you and may also act as a guide on sightseeing tours.

Your departure station, Dublin Heuston, was opened in 1844 as the headquarters of the Great Southern & Western Railway and is now the official principal station of Iarnród Éireann – Ireland’s national railway company. As your train departs, you will travel in a south westerly direction, passing some of Dublin’s western suburbs – and will soon be travelling through the lush fertile countryside of County Kildare. The train goes through the town of Newbridge, which marks the northern boundary of the Curragh of Kildare.

The Curragh (pronounced ‘curra’) is famous for its racecourse, home of the Irish Derby, and there are many stud farms in the vicinity. At this time of the morning, you are likely to see some of Ireland's finest bloodstock being exercised. The Curragh is also the headquarters of the Irish army and their buildings can be seen in the distance (on the left-hand side facing the direction of travel – the 'down' side). At the southern edge of the Curragh is the county town of Kildare.

The train now rushes through Monasterevan, an old transport convergence, where the River Barrow, the Grand Canal, the main road to the south and the railway all meet. You then enter Laois (or Queen’s County as it was known before Independence), and pass through the small town of Portarlington, the first stop since leaving Dublin.

Leaving Portarlington, the train takes a westerly course as the line enters County Offaly. Your route takes you into the midlands and the Bog of Allen – vast tracts of peatland. Before then you pass through the County Town of Tullamore and then to Clara across the gentle farmlands of north Offaly.

After Clara Bog, you arrive at the historic town of Athlone and pause briefly at its station, before crossing the mighty River Shannon, the longest river in these islands. You are now heading due west, surrounded by peat bog on both sides of the line. You will begin to notice that the hedgerows give way to dry stone walls, a feature of the west of Ireland.

Ballinasloe, on the River Suck, is the next stop. This market town is home to the world famous October horse fair. Continuing through east County Galway, the train arrives at Athenry, a small town immortalised in the song “The Fields of Athenry” and boasting many castles, old forts and ruined abbeys. On the last few kilometres before Galway, you will get your first glimpse of Galway Bay as the train passes through the village of Oranmore.

Please use the ladies/gents onboard the train before arrival in Galway to ensure a swift transfer to the bus, which will be waiting for you.

On arrival in Galway at 1015h (10:15am) you will join your conducted tour of The Burren and the Cliffs of Moher. From here, the tour follows the dramatic southern coastline of Galway Bay through the pretty fishing village of Kinvara and past the 16th century castle of Dunguaire, said to be the most photographed castle in Ireland.

You will drive past the strange lunar limestone landscape of The Burren. (Time permitting the coach will stop so you can take a closer look.) In 1649, one of Oliver Cromwell’s men described The Burren as follows: “No tree to hang a man, no water deep enough to drown him and no soil deep enough to bury him”.

Today the Burren is noted for its diverse flora, with few parallels elsewhere in Ireland or indeed, Europe.

You will stop to admire the majestic Cliffs of Moher, one of Ireland’s top tourist attractions. Rising slowly from Doolin the towering Cliffs ascend to over 700 feet (213 metres) and stretch south for nearly 5 miles (8km) to Hags Head.

You also will visit Ailwee Cave – the most famous of the many thousands of ancient caves beneath the Burren. It contains an underground river and a waterfall as well as large stalactites and stalagmites. The remains of bears can also be seen inside and it has been described as the ‘last bear den in Ireland’.

After your day’s touring you will be returned to Galway Station. Departure by train from Galway will be at 1805 (6:05pm) and you should proceed to board the train, where your host will be waiting. Upon arrival at Galway Station please present your ticket and travel pack at the ticket barrier. You will then be directed to your reserved seats on the train – usually reserved in the very first carriage. Snack and bar facilities are available on board the train.

The train arrives back in Dublin at 2045h (8:45pm) and your tour ends at Heuston Station where the trip began.