Betsypaige

Hi all!

This may be a double post, sorry about that! My first one didn't show up at all......


I realized that, although my previous itinerary wasn't bad, the Dingle to Connemara leg was just way too much driving for my taste. The idea of being on the road 8-10 hours, with stops, just exhausts me thinking about it. With that in mind, I've cut some things out and tweaked my plans a bit. Please let me know what you think:

Day 1(arrival at Shannon): stay at Ballynahinch for 3 nights

Day 2 - explore Connemara area (National Park, Leenane, Clifden, etc...)

Day 3 - Aran islands

Day 4 - Burren, Cliffs of Moher...driving to Dingle. stay overnight at Echo Lodge/Balingarry.

Day 5- drive to Dingle Peninsula. Explore Dingle town. stay at The Shores for 2 nights

Day 6 -Sciurid Archaelogical tours/Dingle Peninsula

Day 7 - to Kenmare. Stay 3 nights at Shelburne Lodge.

Day 8 - Beara Peninsula

Day 9- Killarney National Park

Day 10 **This is where it gets difficult. I will be leaving from Shannon, so I need to get fairly close to the airport in order to avoid a long drive in the morning.

I thought possibly of leaving Kenmare, doing the Mizen Head pen., maybe exploring some of the small towns such as Clonakilty, then making my way back for another stay at Echo Lodge before I leave the next day. I think that will end up being an awful lot of driving, even if I just do the Mizen pen. Any advice? Should I skip the Mizen Pen. this time? I think I can do it, but the trick is getting close enough to Shannon. Thoughts?

I think this itinerary (much as I hate to leave out Kinsale and Cobh, I wanted to see Connemara that much more) works better than my other.......less rushing around.

I'd have to change my reservations at Shelburne and the other B&B's, but since this is in October, I would hope that I wouldn't have too much trouble.

I would love to hear your thoughts; thanks

amyprib

I am not sure how much daylight you get in October, but you might be able to swing Mizen Head the day8 you have for Beara. But, I don't have my map or distances in front of me, but that would be a full day. I am not sure what else you had planned on Beara, but if you don't explore the entire Pn, you could probably make it down to Mizen and back.
I liked Mizen so much because it was bright, sunny, and blue blue waters when we were there. The cliffs/rocks are impressive all around it. But if you just don't have time, you probably don't want to rush everything.

If you are planning to go back, then you could leave that, along with the southern towns, for next time.

Betsyp

Hi Amy

I think I figured out a solution to my "problem". Instead of spending 3 nights in Connemara, I'll spend 2.......leaving that extra day for Mizen.

I've read wonderful things about Fortview House in Goleen; I think I'll try to book a room there.

Thanks for your help!

Budman

I think it's an excellent decision to visit Mizen Head and the Lighthouse tour. It's a beautiful area.

We met with HappyCheesehead on Mizen Head for a Fodors GTG May a year ago. Yhey stayed at Fortview House in Goleen and couldn't say enough about it.

Betsyp

Hey Budman

It's thanks to you (and many other posters here) that I have any kind of idea of what I want to do in Ireland. I was reviewing some rave reviews of Fortview last night (must have been Happy Cheesehead's) and I remembered that I had loved their website. It looks like a truly lovely place to stay....

Betsyp

Unbelievably, I just changed my itinerary again. I really wanted to see Mizen Head, but my heart was calling out to Connemara. I just needed the extra night there, and I figured if I'm in that area already, I might as well take advantage.

Next time, and there will be a next time to Ireland I'm sure, I will concentrate on the Kinsale, Cobh, Mizen Head area.

Darn, it's hard to choose what to leave out!

chatham

Betsyp, Good idea to stay a little longer in Connemara. When you are at Ballynahinch, you'll be well taken care of. Have them ring you a taxi to take you around sight-seeing.

beach_dweller

Betsyp,

I think your itinerary is great (3 nights in Connemara, 2 in Dingle, 3 at the wonderful Shelburne Lodge in Kenmare--we stayed there last October and loved it; Kenmare is still our favorite town in Ireland).

I suggest getting up early on Day 8, go through Beara as Amyprib suggested to get to Mizen Head and then return to Kenmare. You can get a decent feel for Beara by going out & back via slightly different routes. I can't recall the exact road names, but we did a little loop from Kenmare (1/2 day in October) to Glengariff and then returned after dipping a little south through a wonderful pass, whose name escapes me now, Gap of . . . ? Or . . . Pass?

Then you can simply drive from Kenmare to Bunratty to spend your last night comfortably about 10 minutes from the Shannon Airport. I'd stay at Bunratty Lodge, and visit Kathleen's pub and Durty Nelly's while in Bunratty.

Have a great time!

Betsyp

Hi Beach Dweller!

Do you think it's better to explore part of both Beara and Mizen rather than the whole of Beara? This is what the itinerary I am working off of suggests (I'm arranging this through Discover Ireland tours):

*Pass over the Caha mountains to tour Beara pen. via Coornagillagh, Lauragh, Ardgroom, Eyeries, Allihies and Castletownbere.

DI recommends "lunch and a pint" at O'Sullivan's pub in Castletownbere and suggests that it's a nice little fishing port to explore.

If I can work this so that I get the best of both peninsula's, I will. Nothing in my itinerary is set in stone............

Thanks!

McShane

Betsy,
Here's the place we like near Shannon: http://www.carrygerryhouse.com/index.htm

You'd love it!

I know Nedsireland also recommends staying in Ennis. We spent a couple of hours in Ennis (his posts had piqued my curiousity) and it is indeed a wonderful town.

oopsy

Hi Betsy,
I'm just putting in an early request for a trip report. We got a small taste of Connemara on our only other trip to Ireland and I'm looking forward to spending more time there.

In late July, Budman gave me what looks like a nice Mizen/Beara itinerary. Here it is:
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If you wanted to see Mizen Head and Beara on the same day, I would recommend driving straight from Kenmare to Mizen Head which will take you about 2 hours. Tour the Lighthouse and surrounding areas (great views), then head for Crookhaven (Crookhaven Inn) for lunch and maybe a pint down the street at O'Sullivans, which is right on the water. Great views on a nice day.

From Crookhaven to Glengarriff -- head South on the Beara Peninsula. Just before Adrigole, take the Healy Pass North (R574), and head back to Kenmare. If you wanted to further explore Beara, you should have ample time as sunset in late May is about 9:30-10:00pm.

Grab a map and check out the area -- another possible lunch place that we liked was Castletownbere on Beara. A lot of nice pubs.
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oopsy

beach_dweller

Budman to the rescue again!

Betsyp, Healy Pass is exactly what I was thinking of in my post above. We did that part of Beara as sort of a loop (in a half day), so Budman's route through Beara to Mizen Head would be great for a full day trip.

Betsyp

Hi Oopsy, Beach Dweller!

Thanks for the Beara/Mizen tips. With that itinerary, it looks like I would have the best of both worlds. It really sounds great -I've been looking forward to this for 4 years. I started planning in 2001, but that changed after 9/11.

I saw a travel channel show that made me remember how much I wanted to visit Ireland - now here I am, only a month a way.

Thanks for your help!

McShane - the CarryGerry house seems like an awfully nice place to stay. I will definitely check it out.

Thanks!