Special Events

OFF THE BEATEN TRACK TOURS

Hosted by Michael & Siobhan Reidy

In 2017, we started taking groups “off-the-beaten-track” in Ireland, and had A LOT of fun in the process. We added a Scotland tour in 2020, but Covid had other plans. Our sold-out 2020 tours were cancelled, and Covid restrictions kept us home for two years.

We’re back now and currently offer trips in April and October following a variety of itineraries. We’re always tweaking and adding new things to the itineraries, but, in general, our tours head either north or south from Dublin, or into the Scottish Highlands and Aberdeenshire from Edinburgh. We’ve also developed a new itinerary for April 2026 that will visit the gorgeous, historic, and rarely visited Scottish Borders (plus Dumfries & Galloway and Northern England)

If you want to kiss the Blarney Stone, look for leprechauns, and spend your nights at tourist-only pubs, we are NOT the tour for you. But, if you want to spend time with the locals, see the best sights at a relaxed pace, stay at charming small hotels, and hang out at real pubs and restaurants rather than tour bus mills, we might be what you’re looking for. We spend at least two nights at every stop to help you get a feel for each area, and we rarely start our days before 9:00 am…we are not rushing around the country trying to hit all the supposed ‘must-sees,” but we will definitely show you the best of Ireland and Scotland.

TOURS FILL UP QUICKLY. USE THE “CONTACT US” PAGE IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE ADDED TO OUR EMAIL LIST TO RECEIVE INFORMATION DIRECTLY…WE’D LOVE TO HAVE YOU JOIN US!

NEXT TOUR: Northern England & Southern Scotland, April 14 – 27, 2026

We’re excited to debut this new tour, and we know many of you have been waiting for it. Because we work with very small, family-run hotels that cannot afford to hold blocks of rooms, we will need to provide non-refundable deposits 12 months in advance, which means we will be booking this tour much EARLIER than usual (and probably won’t be able to accommodate late registrations).

The tour will spend two nights at Hetland Hall in the Dumfries and Galloway region of Scotland; two nights at The Stone House Hotel in the Yorkshire Dales; two nights at The Grand in the medieval city of York; three nights at the sister hotels, Burts and The Townhouse, in the bustling village of Melrose in the Scottish Borders; and three nights in the beautiful city of Edinburgh.

Highlights include:

Scotland’s oldest inhabited home (with a re-furbished brewery that was re-discovered in the 1960s, hidden by discarded furniture, etc. under the family chapel)
The astonishing Burns Museum in Ayrshire, and the equally amazing Dumfries House, once a grand estate now re-purposed as a still grand community resource
A day in the famously beautiful Lake District of England, including a visit to Wordsworth’s Dove Cottage
The stone villages and stunning scenery of the Yorkshire dales (as featured in the PBS series “All Creatures Great and Small”)
The glorious York Minster and surrounding medieval “shambles”
Hadrian’s Wall and the nearby Roman fort dating from 85 AD, now a world-class museum and archeological site boasting “Britain’s Top Treasure,” the Vindolanda Tablets
The rich history and scenic beauty of the Scottish Borders
A modern take on Scotland’s long history of gin distilling
Falconry, sheepdogs, and lots of newborn lambs
Three nights in Edinburgh, with visits to the decommissioned Royal Yacht Britannia and the fascinating Craigmillar Castle, as well as time to do your own thing (with guidance from us, if needed) in this beautiful and historic city

Plus lots more…watch your email or check back with this website in February if you’re interested in getting more information

Holiday Closings

Fourth of July: CLOSED

Memorial Day and Labor Day: CLOSED

Thanksgiving: CLOSED

Christmas Eve: Last orders at 7:30; CLOSED when it falls on a Sunday or Monday

Christmas Day: CLOSED

New Year’s Eve: Last orders at 8:30; CLOSED when it falls on a Sunday or Monday

New Year’s Day: CLOSED

ADDITIONAL CLOSURES MAY OCCUR. CALL THE RESTAURANT FOR UP-TO-DATE INFO

Stout Fest, Boxing Day, Nollaig na mBan???

We’d love to bring back these beloved traditions, but the amount of regular business since Covid does not support the amount of staff needed to put on these special events properly. This is also why we no longer use our private party space and why our St. Patrick’s Day celebration no longer includes indoor service. We don’t love it, but needs must….if the situation changes, you’ll be the first to know

ST. PATRICK’S DAY – March 17th

Tent Party 11 am – 9 pm….Cover Charge $10/person (cash only)

Under 21 MUST be accompanied by parent.

OUDOOR ONLY EVENT. There will be NO SEATING IN THE RESTAURANT OR BAR.

Tables inside and outside of the heated tent will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Food & drink (including beer, liquor, wine, soda and water) can be ordered and paid for at the bar. Food will be in carryout containers, and you will be texted when it is ready for pick up. A 20% gratuity will be added to all inside orders.

Beer, sodas, water, tee shirts, and brown soda bread can also be purchased at the outdoor beer truck. Beer Truck sales are CASH ONLY

NO OUTSIDE FOOD & DRINK, including Stanley cups and coffee mugs

Reservations, call-ahead seating and online orders are NOT available on St. Patrick’s Day.

2025 Musical Lineup: 11:00 – Cloigheann 2:00 – Mrs. Doyle 5:00 – McClanahan Dancers 6:00 – Rashers

Photos by John Nation