Egan81

Feeling a bit overwhelmed...we don't want to miss anything. A travel agent set up our accommodations and rental car, but we don't have many "excursions" planned yet. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

5/5 arriving in to Dublin for 2 days
we have a hop on/off voucher; guinness storehouse tour
picking up rental car on 5/7 and traveling to Goggins Hill
5/8 Jameson distillery tour and night in Dingle
5/9 westport
5/10 Derry
5/11-12 Belfast
5/13 Clontarf
5/14 depart Dublin for Atlanta

Anything in these areas or between that are not to be missed? Seems like a lot of driving and not much time for sightseeing

Thanks!
WE

Tony2phones

Sack your travel agent. Have you paid them? 7 days round the island of Ireland?

OK: Deep breath

2 days Dublin fine,
Dublin to just outside Cork, fine easy days drive via the M8, Cashel/Cahir, Blarney.
Cork to Dingle, maybe the Healy pass, Molls gap, Lunch in Killarney.

Then I hope your TA invests in a map

Dingle to Westport, Yes you can drive that in a day. I have an itinerary that takes 3 days for that leg. What to pluck out and say you can see on the drive.. I'd need to know your interests.

Same for Westport to Derry.

2 days in Belfast fine and reachable from Derry, Rope Bridge, Causeway, Bushmills, Dark hedges

Drop to Clontarf Castle. Thats a big price room for a last night, its only 1/2 hour to the airport but having to be at DUB 3 hours before your flight?

Its not a total disaster the problem is 2 days for that drive from Dingle to Derry That can be sorted, I have dealt with worse this year have you any thoughts on what you would want to see and do for that section.. forget time scale tell me what you want and I will tell you what is possible.

Tony2phones

Just a thought.. check the car, whats included, insurance? size?

Apart from Clontarf whats the accommodation?

Egan81

Bless you! We have a VAN from Hertz because their are 4 of us (all adults). Need to inquire about the insurance. Interests are Waterford factory, beautiful scenery (Cliffs of Moher), historical places, and pubs for meeting locals and having a pint!

Accommodations are:

Dublin: O'Callaghan Davenport Hotel at Merrion Square
Ardfield B &B Goggins Hill, Ballinhassig
Dingle Skellig
Knockranny House Hotel Westport
Troy Hall Derry
The Merchant Hotel Belfast
Clontarf Castle

I do think we can still make changes!

Tony2phones

You don't need a 9 seat van for 4 grown adults not even my size grown adults. something like the Ford Mondeo, Toyota Avensis, VW Passat. loads of room.

The hotels I know, are The Merchant, have a Client staying there in May. Clontarf Castle generally a first rather than last night but generally a good option. Knockranny House Hotel Westport handy to be able to walk down into the town. Dingle Skellig just east of the town about 15 mins walk to the High St.

The Davenport Hotel is in a good fairly central south Dublin location, looks nice from the outside.

Don't know the others.

Waterford Crystal. don't worry about not seeing the showroom/factory most is imported these days anyway. There are alternatives, Kinsale and Dingle both have former Waterford craftsmen making their own products in those locations.

You are about mid afternoon at a guess so give me a couple of hours and I'll look at some routes.

Macross

http://www.clewbayhotel.com/ Westport. Why would you want to be out of town for your Westport stay? Book in town so you can hit Matt Malloys and the other great music pubs. JJ O'Malleys is great for food. Not super fancy but clean and right in the middle of everything.

Midleton if you insist on seeing what is left of the Waterford factory. I have been twice when it was a fully working factory but they aren't anymore. Midleton is at least close to the Jameson distillery. I would love to taste the Yellow spot there. The B&B is in the middle of nowhere but then closer to get to Dingle.

If I was spending that much for a Belfast hotel it would be the Europa hotel, right across the street from the Crown Pub, close to City Hall, do visit City Hall, craftsmen that built Titanic built City Hall and the wood work is very similar. Bittles bar is a must see there also.

I would not want to drive a big van in Ireland. You are brave.

Dingle to Westport is a long day even if you stop at the cliffs for only an hour and lunch in Doolin.

Do you think you could drop Derry and Belfast and add on to some of the other days? I often recommend landing in Dublin and taking the bus to Belfast and then coming back and getting a car. You could take a day tour from Belfast and see the coast. Let someone else drive for you. McComb's tours are great from Belfast or just enjoy Belfast doing the Titanic and Black cab tour. I think you will not see much at this pace and be disappointed that you didn't get to see much of Westport and Crough Patrick. So beautiful there and the town is so charming. You could stop in Galway at least and then a night in Westport exploring along the way.

Tony2phones

Some options along the route, loads more but trying to be selective.

Longest day is Dingle to Westport, The Cliffs are an option (adds 1 hour), Possibly Bunratty (adds 2 hours), Kylemore Abbey and the Sky Rd (Clifden) then up the Doolough Valley to Louisburgh. Its a 12+ hour day so 8.30, out off Dingle over the Connor Pass. Adare, Pass or call into Bunratty, Out to the Cliffs, drive round the coast road between the "Moonscape" and the sea. Galway quick call or bypass and north west through a bit of Connemara.

Westport to Derry, I marked a few places, have a look and decide your route.

Dublin to Cork. https://goo.gl/maps/m4q3vJ986UE2
-“- https://goo.gl/maps/REbkjETH3gA2

Cork to Dingle https://goo.gl/maps/dnAKKQzLaUz

Dingle to Westport https://goo.gl/maps/2Nt7jNhDJpr

Westport to Derry https://goo.gl/maps/fEUeFHAYvJQ2

Derry to Belfast https://goo.gl/maps/Yo8Ssbk152o

Belfast to Dublin https://goo.gl/maps/PPRRvcbcFKz

There are other options, those are just a few.

Macross

Even your hotel in Dingle is not in the center of everything. You could park and take a taxi in Westport and Dingle though. We like the pubs and drinking and would never drive after.


I would do Jameson in Midleton for sure but would try and eat at http://www.ballymaloe.com/ and then walk it off on a cliff walk at Ballycotton.

Macross

http://www.tavernmurrisk.com/ If you have time in Westport you should drive to Crough Patrick, park and walk across the street to see the famine ship memorial. At least walk up to the statue of St Patrick on the trail to Crough Patrick. Very beautiful views from there. The tavern at Murrisk is on your way back into Westport and is very nice with great food. It has won a few awards but not pricey at all. The Westport house is walk-able if you are staying in the village. Very pretty grounds and you can see Grace O'Malley's statue. Someone has just bought the property so improvements should happen soon. There is a little trolley in town.

I am glad to see you are doing NI. I love it there and hope you get a clear day. The views are spectacular. Look for the Oreo cows.

janisj

Definitely do NOT rent a van. That is insanity (and you will agree once you see how narrow the roads are and the congestion in small villages..

Pack light -- a 21 inch rollaboard each plus a small carryon/personal item should be all you need. Especially for such a short trip. Then you can rent any sort of mid-sized/conventional car and save a fortune. AND have an easier time driving. I'd fire your TA before the day is out -- just some terrible arrangements