Though it’s rash to speak of anything so clear-cut as ‘seasons’ in Ireland, if you want to see the island’s greens at their most vivid, early summer is your best bet. An exclusive experience at this peak time for visitors is part of the appeal of the Belmond Grand Hibernian – a sleeper train that aims to do for Europe’s western shores what the Orient Express did for journeys east. he interior design takes a few pointers from the classic Georgian look of many Irish stately homes and, in the observation car, long sofas face the picture windows. Journeys come with onboard musical performances, and range from a two-night Taste of Ireland trip from Dublin to Belfast and Kilkenny (from £2,850; belmond.com), to a week-long Grand Tour of Ireland (from £8,800).