Change Forum
My friend and I were unable to book our flights on the dates we wanted to fly into Shannon so we are flying from NY into Dublin/ spending 2 days there (to recup from jetlag) and then we planned on driving from Dublin to Kerry (Kenmare) on the 3rd day.
Any thoughts/ suggestions as to whether this is a good idea since this will be our FIRST trial drive on the other side of the road... and it's a fairly long (4 1/2 hours) trip. Would we be better off taking a train? how difficult is that drive to do? Also we really didnt want to miss the scenic drive... and wondered if the train will be less appealing...
Thanks!
drive dublin to kerry or take the train?
Recent Activity
View all Europe activity »
- 1 Help with Ireland itinerary
- 2 Train fares in Poland
- 3 B and B in Kenmare / Killarney National Park
- 4 2 Week Trip to France - Please Help Me Stu Dudley
- 5 Weather and scenery in late-March/early-April: Lake Como, Italy or Tuscany
- 6 Westminister Abbey
- 7 Vienna - panic attack over booking it - $$$$
- 8 Best way to travel from Berlin to Florence?
- 9 Alilaguna or shuttle/Vaporetti - which one?
- 10 Amsterdam, Germany F1, Prague help
- 11 Do I need a travel agent?
- 12 Question about Writing A Trip Report
- 13 Venice - Acqua alta?
- 14 Hotel in Wengen - Murren
- 15 Venice - What to do?
- 16 Malta By Bus
- 17 Beaune or Tuscany?
- 18 Train travel in Italy
- 19 Any recommendations for a guesthouse or small hotel on Jersey?
- 20 Turkey Itinerary help requested (13ish days)
- 21 How to take the Scenic View from Paris to Provence?
- 22 Colosseum closed due to snow damage
- 23 suggestions for 10 day trip
- 24 Driving in Edinburgh- 2012
- 25 germany trip
We did exactly that! Flew into Dublin, spent a few days, then rented a car to drive to Dingle. We considered taking a train, but, in the end decided to drive. It's a straight shot most of the way, Large interstate devided highways, not very scenic, but an easy drive. For most of the trip you'll never know you're supposed to drive on the left, as it's all on the left. A very easy drive.
We took the train from Dublin to Galway and then picked up a car. I love trains and my husband wasn't ready to start driving yet (he slept on the train). I think the scenery would be much better on the train. I loved the scenery on the train and watching and hearing the mostly Irish passengers. I am a people watcher when I am in a foreign country.
I did pretty much the same drive (Dublin to Limerick) my first time trying to drive on the "correct" side of the road 2 weeks ago and it wasn't too bad close to Dublin. As we got further away, the "dual carraigeway" turned into two lane highway with, at times, something of a hard shoulder of varying width used for passing. It became somewhat difficult when pressed by the locals, but doable. If you are going to be driving anyway when you get towards Dingle, you may as well get your feet wet beforehand...it only gets more challenging. As for scenery, it is pleasant, but nothing like Dingle.
Rick
Thank you all for your advice and experience! Just watched Ryan's Daughter and cant wait to go to Dingle.
Any suggestions for driving Connors Pass? what to expect re: driving there?
Thanks again-
Stacey
Can't really tell you. We tried doing it got about halfway and chickened out and went the other way around to Dingle. The roads are really, really narrow there and its way way up high.....
Rick
If one is a good driver and confident in attempting this small challenge, than one should try it. You can get a smaller type car and won't feel the snugness of the lane until you get to the coast, for the most part. BTW, if you are left handed and can drive a shift the pedals are the same one just has to get used to the reverse shifting. I only know of one point of the Dingle loop that was remarkable which was a tight bend with a trickling creek going across the road. I would just take it slow while the confidence builds up. There is nothing like discovery a remote scene of beauty and being able to enjoy stand alone turning in a circle trying to appreciate the moment. It will happen
Enjoy! PS Ryan's Daughter is a movie, please don't go there with the mindset of Hollywood Ireland RE: people, just the scenary, not to say that the Irish don't market this image, but beware...