We weren't even going to be in the north on this trip until I recently uncovered some ancestral things I'd like to check out.
Day 1.
Will arrive in Belfast by air from Edinburgh. Intend to rent car at airport, and proceed directly to Kilwaughter/Ballynure area in order to research relatives. Just a bit north of Belfast, so figure one afternoon for that. (Please don't suggest time in Belfast. We've already determined we will save that for another time.)
Need to stay not too far from the area, maybe around Kilwaughter or into Larne. Any good B&B's?
Day 2.
Next day plan to proceed counter clockwise along the Antrim coast, supposedly one of the more beautiful coastlines of Ireland, taking in Glens of Antrim, Giant's Causeway and Dunluce Castle, maybe the rope bridge. Stay the night in Portrush? or push on to the Derry area. B&B's anyone?
Day 3 and 4?????
I know there are things to see in the Connemara area. We also want to see the Cliffs of Moher in "The Burren" area. But I am unsure how to break it up and honestly, still researching the areas.
Day 5. Arrive in Dingle Town
All I can say for sure is that on the fifth day, I need to get to Dingle Town for 3 nights there. It seems convenient to take the Killimer-Tarbert ferry from north to south.
Wide open to suggestions on the three days from Derry/Portrush to Dingle.
Thank you.
Ireland's Antrim Coast to Dingle - Seeking suggestions
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At the end of day 2 I suggest Ballycarton House B&B at the western end of the Antrim coastline.
http://ballycartonhouse.com .
Might I suggest on your way to Dingle via the ferry that you detour a bit and go out to Loop Head, this instead of the overwrought Cliffs of Moher? Stop in Kilkee for a picnic lunch and eat out at Loop Head. You'll love it.
Let's see....Derry area to Westport? for day 3 and then Westport to Ennis for day 4. Then on to Dingle day 5.
3 nights for 0.4% of the Island 5 days for 40% of the Islands Coastline?
Anyway, Avarest Guest house for Portrush just above the harbour on a quiet one way street. http://avarest.com/
Or
Derry. Rose Park house, good location west of the river and a fair price http://www.roseparkhouse.com/. Out of the city a little but not far. Troy Hall B&B http://www.troyhall.co.uk/Troy_Hall,_Bed_%26_Breakfast,_Derry/Troy_Hall_Bed_%26_Breakfast_Derry_Londonderry_-_Home.html
Then you need to split between Derry and Dingle into two or three pieces.
As you want to rush through Donegal,Sligo,and North Mayo then Westport http://www.mccarthyslodge.com/. or Clew bay http://seapointhouse.com/ is a good suggestion before the Connemara maybe a bit of the Burren and stop around Lahinch/Ennistymon if you plan on taking the Ferry. Ennis http://bed-n-breakfast-ireland.com/ if you are going to take a bit of time for the Connemara at the expense of the Burren and take the main road. Not much chance of having time for Loop head before crossing the Shannon and I guess that Adare would be the choice for a spot of Lunch rather than Listowel.
Thanks, folks. Yes, I know, we are short on time and trying to cover a lot of ground. Still working on this itinerary. Like I said, I was originally trying to stay only in the south for this trip until this ancestry thing came up. Dingle was to be a base for day trips. Now I am adding a lot of one nighters, which is not totally satisfactory. But it is a work in progress, and I appreciate the information.
Dingle is hardly a base for day trips with 2 hours getting out and back to the base of the peninsular before setting off to get somewhere else. Killarney is a good base for touring County Kerry including a day for Dingle.