susan001

Hi all -- I spent 4 weeks driving throughout England in July, and am thinking about Ireland next summer. Maybe some of you can recommend a time allotment. I'm not sure I want to visit Dublin, as I'm more interested in the west coast (but I could be persuaded). My interests are quaint villages, rugged coastline, and Irish traditional music (I have performed it myself with other musicians, in California). I definitely want to visit Dingle & the Peninsula and the Cliffs of Moher. Any thoughts? I'm thinking about 18 days, but could stay longer.

latedaytraveler

Hi SUSAN001,

Glad to see that you are planning another solo driving trip. You will love Ireland. One of my favorite places on the west coast is Achill Island, north of Westport.

Padraig

Dig in here for some ideas: http://www.ireland.com/en-gb/wild-atlantic-way/

latedaytraveler

Excellent, PADRAIG. Will share with my traveling companions of old with whom I visited the west coast of Ireland some time ago.

Thanks so much...

enewell

Did you write a trip report of your driving trip in England last summer? I'm planning a similar trip, and would love to know how you fared driving solo!

susan001

Thanks, Latedaytraveler, and nice to hear from you!

Thank you, Padraig. I'll have a look!

enewell, no, I have not written a trip report (yet). Thinking about writing an abbreviated version with photos. I did fine with solo driving. The hardest part is getting used to the narrowness of some roads, but overall, I thought it was fairly easy. I will try to post some sort of report in the next 2 weeks.

tower

With 18 days, try to give Dublin 2 or 3. I happen to think it is an interesting town filled with recent history, say 1900 onward, trad music everywhere, Trinity College, the heralded "doors of Dublin", Dublin Castle and a presence of a cosmopolitan flair. You would still have plenty of time to see a good chunk of the west coast and it's scenic wonders, and fit in some of the North, if you wish. I'll post some pics of my past traveling in Ireland and the North. (during the "troubles"...)

Country driving is no more difficult than England/Scotland, IMO.

tower

https://picasaweb.google.com/stuartt...rnIreland1987#


http://picasaweb.google.com/stuartto...6PhMe88fG7yQE#

https://picasaweb.google.com/stuartt...Ireland199602#

tower

Susan...some of the above pics take in some family friends living on the Connemara Peninsula. Photos show the upgrade in their little 150-year old cottage...from no electricity or water, thatched roof....to government sponsored senior pensioner's upgrades...slate roof, concrete floor, inside water and electricity in a 16-year period.

stu (formerly L.A., now Ventura County, Ojai)

susan001

tower: thanks for your suggestions, and for sharing your photos. I do think I will include Dublin. I took a course in college entitled, History and Literature of Ireland, and so much of it centers around Dublin.

latedaytraveler

Susan001, please do a trip report about your driving adventures in the English countryside last summer. Your did so much planning for your trip.

susan001

I'm planning to write one now, but first need to get my photos online. I'll attempt to start the report in the next week.

enewell

Thanks Susan001! Can't wait to read the trip report and see your photos.