mikej48

We will be spending 4 nights in Kenmare, 2 in Dingle and 2 in Ennis May 9 departing Shannon on May 17. I would like to know if you have any lodging recommendations (B&B preferred). Also do you think there is enough to see in these 8 days in the area? This is what I have tentatively planned
Day 1: Driving from Waterford stopping at Kinsale and rest night in Kenmare
Day 2: Muckross House, Farm & Abby, Killaryney National Park Tor Waterfall, Ladies View
Day 3: Killaryney Town, Gap of Dunloe Tour
Day 4: Beara Peninsula
Day 5: Dingle Town, Slea Head, St James Church Concert
Day 6: Dingle Peninsula
Day 7: Cliffs of Moher, the Burren
Day 8: Spend the day in Galway
Day 9: Depart Shannon

Tony2phones

There is more than enough to see in the locations you have, Beara is the same area as the Dingle peninsula which you are giving 2 days probably just for the western end?

Don't drive the ring Clockwise no matter what your guide book says, follow advice from folk who know the area and drive counterclockwise. Off the Ring there is the Skellig loop including Valentia Island and Waterville The Kerry Cliffs are also by Portmagee.

The world and his wife will be down doing Dingle and Slea head but also consider the other end of the Connor Pass by Castlegregory. The Maharees have more than a solo dolphin off the double beaches, Brandon Mountain can be a challenge but has some great views as a reward and try walking through Glentenassig Forest?

Ennis is the best Touring base for the Whole of County Clare which is a lot more than 1/2 mile of Cliff and a Moonscape. The Cliffs walk starts at Liscannor, home to St Brigids Well and Hags head passes the tourist spot and drops down into Doolin. From Doolin you can take a Cliffs Cruise, get there early and you can do an Inis Oirr and Cliffs Combi cruise. The Burren is not just a Moonscape, Fanore has a great beach, there are caves, Abbeys, Birds of Prey and Hawlk walks, sheep dog demonstrations in a Ring fort that faces the most photographed Dolmen on the island, a Perfumery and a smoke house. On the east side of the Burren you find Yeats connections, Europes tallest (and leaning) round tower.

Also in West Clare Loop head and Scattery Island with ferries starting in May. some nice Gardens a renovated castle and folk park (Clare has over 100 castles listed from small ruins to fully restored)

Here in east Clare by the Shannon and the Lough Derg Lakelands there are lots of options from Portumna with the Forest, Castle and Workhouse down past Holy Island, Wildes Chocolates to Killaloe and Ballina.

Lot more than 8 days worth of spots.

Bette

HI,

I can offer lodging recommendations for Dingle and Kenmare.

Dingle - Castlewood House:
http://www.castlewooddingle.com/

After 11 or 12 trips to Ireland, Castlewood wins best place to stay in my book!

Kenmare - Seashore Farm Guesthouse
http://www.castlewooddingle.com/

Delightful owners, very good - large rooms.

Hope this helps.

mikej48

Thank you all! Tony2phones, do you think maybe I shoudl have 3 nights in Ennis and 1 in Dingle? More time for Galway, Cliffs of Moher and the Burren?

dugi_otok

I can recommend the Cleevaun Country House in Dingle.
We stayed there a few years ago. 10-minute walk to Dingle town. Very nice hosts. They are very helpful in sharing their vast knowledge of the Dingle Peninsula.Their restaurant recommendations were outstanding. Lounge,breakfast room, guest rooms are super clean and nicely decorated. Nice pasture surroundings and panoramic views of Dingle Bay and Mount Brandon. Outstanding breakfasts.


http://www.nci.ie/holiday/guesthou/k...vauk/hotel.htm

There is plenty to do in the areas of your itinerary. We enjoyed the activities that you are planning- Killarney NP, Muckross House and surroundings,the Gap,Dingle Peninsula- Gallarus Oratory, Cliffs, Burren. We only spent 5 nights in County Kerry (You 4 nights in Kenmare, 2 nights Dingle, we 3 nights in Killarney-great pub music, 2 nights Dingle). Therefore we missed Beara P.

We spent our last night of our trip in Bunratty. We went to the Medieval Banquet at the castle.It was really fun and the girls sang like nightingales. Ennis to Bunratty is only a 20 min drive.

Tony2phones

I like Ennis and can live without Dingle so that's a loaded question. It's not my trip. If you were happy with less time in Kerry I might take one from Kenmare so 3 nights there, 1 from Dingle so 1 night there. use those 2 nights for Galway and see some of the Connemara. BUT. As i started by saying there is more than enough in the areas you have to fill the time you have in each place.
My advice in respect of Dingle, find somewhere in Town. might be a bit more expensive but nowhere in Dingle is low budget. Taxi's in Dingle are hard to come by and with Darkness falling just after 9 you don't want a 10 minute walk up a dark lane after a night out even if the Host does lend you a torch.

Cant find a recent web site for Cleevaun Country Lodge the one linked is in Punts we have had Euros since 2002 Had to look because I've never heard of the place.

I give the Lantern Townhouse on Main st. not the most luxurious accommodation you can find but Clean comfortable central well priced and a great breakfast.

mikej48

Thanks all! I need one more piece of advice. We are planning on staying in Kilkenny for 2 nights, driving to Waterford for 2 nights then on to Kenmare. Is Waterford worth 2 nights? Any other ideas?

Tony2phones

Waterford has suddenly become flavour of the month I am guessing as the rest of itineraries follow the Kinsale, Kenmare, Dingle route that there is an RS influence behind them.

Waterford is Ireland's oldest city but apart from the Crystal factory tour the main features are probably the Viking quarter and Museum of Treasures. There is the Dunbrody Famine Ship in New Ross the Suir Valley Railway and the run along the Copper coast. Waterford Castle Hotel is well worth considering if you have the budget for it.

I don't especially know Waterford there are probably lots of features I will discover later this year when I go exploring, at the moment my plans for this year are homework visits to the north west and south east. At the moment I would say possibly only 1 night for Waterford if that night could be used more productively elsewhere.

dugi_otok

Building on the expert Tony's post, I would even skip Waterford to spend 2 days in Connemara.

Also Glendelough makes a good stop en route from Dublin to Kilkenny.

Also Rock of Cashel makes a good stop en route from Kilkenny to Kinsale.

mikej48

Good advice and thank you!

mikej48

What do you say Tony2phones? Is Connemara a good choice or would Galway be better if I eliminated Waterford?

Tony2phones

Dingle to Galway is a fair days drive, Dingle to Clifden adds at least 1 hour to the run. Tour de Connemara is on the weekend of 27th 28th so you would be in front of that weekend where I know there is no accommodation in town.

Staying in Galway(or that area) 2 nights you can do a loop or Figure of eight tour of the Connemara the middle day, Lots of options to tick a range of interests. Some but no where near all sights are on this old map I did before Google upgraded and made a mess of it https://drive.google.com/open?id=1Pz...x0&usp=sharing some pints along the N59 are given in detail on the link within that map.

cjbpjb

Dingle: Browne's B&B. Lovely hostess. Ennis: We stayed in the Woodstock Hotel (slightly out of town) which worked for us with kids since it has an indoor pool. Decent and reasonable.