megtr

Can anyone recommened a good guide book for self drive. Dublin to Shannon in 9 days with all the typical stops (Glendalough /Wicklow,Galway – Cliffs of Moher ,Dingle,Connemara ,Killarny) Also, are the roads easy to navigate-clear road signs?
What types of distances are we talking about from one city to another. Just a couple hours drive or a day long drive?
(A guide/driver would be so nice...but just too expensive)

rex

Find all the distance info (as well as route suggestions and driving time estimates) you need at www.viamichelin.com or www.mappy.com

Best wishes,

Rex

jfahey

Hi - I just purchased a Fromer's Road Atlas of Ireland - it has great driving maps, gives distances and is up to date - got it on Amazon. Also try www.aaroadwatch.ie - you can plug in start and finish of towns and it gives you specific routes and times. Have fun.

Debbie

My FAVORITE self drive book for Ireland is FROMMERS 25 Best Loved Driving tours. They cover all of Ireland, and most of them are circle drives, but I took legs from each of them to map out routes from Shannon to Galway, and Shannon to Killarney to Waterford -to Glendalough ( south of Dublin) .

They give you distances, things to look for , good places to overnight if needed, out of the way items etc.

I love this book.

Debbie

Debbie

Oh - thought of a couple more things to tell you

Plan on about 30mph as your ave . Sometimes you will go faster , but other times you will get stopped by a sheep crossing, or a slow truck, etc. Plus , you have to plan in time to get lost - it happens to us all.

I don't like driving more than 4 -5 hrs in a day there - I would rather walk around and see things other than the blacktop.

I believe that recently there was an article from Ireland that they are changing the road signs from English/Gaelic to only Gaelic - so be sure to know the Gaelic names for all the towns on your route.

Check out the forum at IRELANDYES.com - Michelle (the moderator) gives great advise and will help you with your driving times & distances.

Also - search on my name here - my trip in 2002 covered most of the places you are looking to go to.

Debbie

rex

Presumably, Debbie is referring to http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34421627

Debbie

Yep that is it - thanks for hunting it down Rex. I didn't have time earlier , as I was at work and rushed for time.

Debbie

yesiree100

Pat Preston's Take a Break in Ireland is my favorite (www.ireland-withpatpreston.com). She has a lot more information in her book about the sites en route than other guidebooks and has a very useful listing of attractions for each major town (many towns have their own walking tour). However, you'll want a more comprehensive map than the ones provided in her book (the car rental maps have done the job for me, but for pretrip planning, pick one of the maps mentioned in the previous posts).

Drive Ireland and Frommer's 25 Best Loved Drives are also very good.

All three offer suggested routes, distances and drive times. Driving in Ireland is very enjoyable once you adjust...expect to get slightly lost occassionally, but that is part of the adventure.

Just an FYI, you might not be able to include everything on your list in 9 days, but picking up one or both of those books will help you determine how much time you should spend on your route.