jeshea

Hi. I am traveling my first solo trip to Ireland for 10days in mid October. I am looking for suggestions for a solo women traveler to do in the area. I will not have a car...so by bus or train is how I will be traveling. I am interested in outdoors activities like walking and begginer kyaking. I am also interested in the arts, vegetarian food, dancing, live music, good cities to wander and parks and gardens and castles.

I am also looking for any general information that someone could help with like what can I expect for weather, where are palces to avoid, any necessities I should bring and generally what to expect. I know this is alot and I thank who ever is so kind to answer my many questions

GreenDragon

My first trip anywhere was a solo trip to Ireland. Don't worry, it's a nice, safe place as long as you keep your wits about you. However, Ireland is still a whole country, which area are you going to be landing in/leaving from? You can find just about everything you are interested in many places.

I would definitely check out www.irelandyes.com, the lady who runs that website (Michele) has been to Ireland over 40 times, and is a great resource. Her chat forums have lots of great information.

Mid October will mean you have less daylight than if you were traveling in the summer, so you may want to center around places with a nightlife (cities). While Ireland has a decent train and bus system, they are not known for perfect reliability, and do not go to many of the more beautiful out of the way places.

Hope that helps!

If you click my name (or go to my website at http://www.greendragonartist.com/BIireland.htm, you can find my trip reports and other information I've gathered from going to Ireland in the past.

Padraig

You asked this question earlier.

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Padhraicin

Have you considered a tour. Others on this site have recommended Paddywagon www.paddywagontours.com. Might be an option if you are travelling alone.

You will need warm clothes in October as it will be beginning to get cold. Weather here is very unpredictable, so it is always best to be prepared for all weather!

Itallian_Chauffer

Check out this post -- NOT solo, but done using public transit:

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34584502

Bob

Itallian_Chauffer

Here's another, -- a REAL classic --
Single girl, WITH a rental car...

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34373959

Bob

dmdevl

I haven't been to Ireland solo but I wouldn't worry about doing it sometime. I went last November with a girl friend and the year before in October with my husband. My hubby and I rented a car and zoomed across the country in a whirlwind trip. By contrast my buddy and I only visited 3 locations and relied entirely on public transportation. Both trips were a blast.

I love Dublin. I love the energy and the shopping and the pubs and the restaurants. For your first time, I wouldn't miss it and I would definitely get the hop on hop off bus tour and go around once just to hear it all. I spent hours at the Kilmainham Gaol - it is a haunting tour. We went to the photographic archive and looked though old pictures and then toured the Jameson Distillery where I was certified as a taster!

We took at day tour to the Wicklow Mountains and Glendalough from Dublin. Several solo women were on that tour from all over the world.

My friend and I took the train to Galway and stayed for several days. While there we took the ferry to the Aran Islands for the day. That would be good place to rent a bike and ride around for a couple of days.

Hubby and I loved the drive north and enjoyed visiting the Giant's Causeway in the north. There may be tours there from Dublin.

The weather in early October was light jacket weather, except on the north coast. At the end of November, I was fine with a lightweight, water proof jacket, although I did wear a sweater I bought under it on our trip to the island. Some days were sunny and warmish and some were cloudy/rainy and cool but every day was warmer than home at that time!

You will have a great time!!!

Itallian_Chauffer

Here's the link for the Northern Ireland day tour that dmdevl speculated about:

http://www.railtours.ie/dc10.asp

They also offer other 1 and 2 day trips by train and coach, primarily originating in Dublin.

www.derotours.com offers several small and large coach tour daytrips, based out of Killarney -- which is easily accessable by train from Dublin.

Bob