jdill60

Leaving Aug. 7th and returning to Newark Aug. 18th
I am hoping to visit Ireland in August. I already have my tickets so am committed to the dates and airports.

Aug. 8th rent a car in Dublin and drive to Kilkenny through Glendalough and Wicklow
Aug. 10th Drive to Kenmare through Kinsale
Aug. 11th Drive through Ring Of Kerry and Killarney to Dingle
Aug. 13th Here's where it gets fuzzy Should I drive to Galway via the Talbert Ferry stopping at the Cliffs of Moher or stay near Kilkee or a town near where the ferry lets off and go to Galway the next day via the Cliffs of Moher. Any suggestions are helpful.
Aug. 14th Stay in Galway
Aug. 15th Drive to Skerries to visit friends
Aug. 16th return car and stay in Dublin
Aug. 18th return to Newark

I would love to see parts of Northern Ireland but don't know if I am planning too much by driving to Galway on the 13th and trying to get to Skerries on the 15th via Belfast..

Any suggestions as to where to stay and which plan to use would be very helpful. I have Fodor's book that suggests a drive around the Ring of Kerry going from Killarney to Kenmare but need directions going the other way. Also any sights that are MUST SEE woud be appreciated.

Cowboy1968

I would do the Dublin day(s) first to acclimatize and get rid of jetlag. And pick up rental car when you go to Kilkenny. I think the driving on the winding roads through the Wicklow Mountains will then be much more enjoyable than doing it right after a red-eye flight.
Even if your return flight will depart in the morning, it shall be an easy and quick drive from Skellies to DUB.

jdill60

Thanks for the info. We are hoping to sleep on the plane since we have an overnite flight. Would that change your thoughts. I know when we flew overnite to South Africa we didn't have jetlag.

Tony2phones

I would take the Shannon tunnel (€1.80 verses €18.00 ferry) and spend the night of the 13th in Ennis.

Kinsale would not be on my route and not sure of the Galway Skerries via Belfast that makes no sense to me at all.

It makes no difference which way you drive the ring of Kerry and the Kenmare start is the way recommended by the Kerry tourist office.

Cowboy1968

Well, if you never planned to spend some time in Dublin, I would say you know best how your body handles overnight flights and jetlag.
But as x nights in Dublin are on your list anyway, and since you can stay with friends near the airport when you will go back, I was wondering what would be the benefit to jump out of the plane into the car to drive all day if you don't have to?

longhorn55

I also would not recommend doing the drive to Glendalough/Wicklow right after landing in Dublin. Even if you sleep on the plane, you are unlikely to be in condition to drive on the left (which I'll assume is new to you) on some of the curviest (and narrow) roads we encountered in Ireland.

My husband who had driven on the left for several years in Australia and Thailand and who sleeps like a log on a plane would not even consider doing what you are proposing. We waited until the end of our trip to do this drive (Dublin - Glendalough).

jdill60

Thanks for your input. I am certainly going to consider changing my plans as you all suggest.

jdill60

Tony Thanks for your feedback as well. Do you save time by taking the ferry over the tunnel? I was attempting to use the book from Fodor's for our drive around the ROK but they suggest going from Killarney. That is why I was not sure about going from Kenmare to Killarney and on to Dingle. My husband and I are interested in stopping in Kinsale to see the charm of this fishing village.

Tony2phones

Kinsale and Dingle both used to be charming fishing villages. (note the past tense)

It seems that all the new advice is to drive the ring clockwise from Killarney. This is so you don't get stuck behind a tour bus. As the Bus's don't leave Killarney until 10am you would have a 20 minute head start if you left from Kenmare at the same time. Or going up to Killarney and heading round to Kenmare then on to Dingle would add 40 minutes to the time on the road.

The ferry route crosses to the spur and is generally considered the scenic option if you are racing between Dingle and Doolin. As you are looking for somewhere to spend the night on what is basically a road trip then taking the tunnel to overnight in Ennis. Then head to the Cliffs and Coast to Galway the following morning then there is no difference in time or mileage to Galway from Dingle.

jdill60

Thanks Tony. You are being very helpful. Is it to long a trip to go to Galway from Dingle stopping at the Cliffs in one day? I probably would prefer that but think it might be too much. If we took the ferry that would break up the driving time a little. It also appears everyone suggests we stay in Dublin 2 nights before starting our road trip and spend the last night in Skerries. If we did that and left Galway the morning of the 16th how long would it take us to get to Skerries?

Tony2phones

Galway to Dublin then up, maybe 3 1/2 hours to Skerries.

Lots of people do Dingle to Galway as a single stage and whilst many consider this the scenic route the roads are a pain.

Better stick to the main roads and cut over under Ennis to Enisstymon and the coast road. (Maybe thats me having done the south Clare coast too many times?) If you were going to spend some time for Loop Head then the ferry would be good but then getting to Galway would be a push.

I would spend the 1st night in Dublin, driving straight off a RedEye direct to Kilkenny fine, but the Wicklow mountains can drain the soul unless you have a really good day.

Have you considered reversing the whole thing and starting in Skerries. With the Airport being north of the city you would be half way to Skerries to start with.

crckwc1

With all the driving you're planning, remember that driving times are much slower in Ireland than in the US. Unless you're on a motorway, expect about 40-45 mph average -- maybe less. At least, this has been our experience during several trips.

jdill60

Thanks everyone for your input. Does this make more sense.
Day 1 rent car at airport and drive straight to Kilkenny and stay 2 nights..
Day 2 Drive to Glenalough and Wicklow and then back to Kilkenney.
Day 3 Drive to Kenmare through Kinsale and stay overnite.
Day 4 Drive the ROK to Killarney and then to Dingle. Stay 2 nights.
Day 6 Drive to Galway after visiting the Cliffs of Moher. Stay 2 nights.

Day 8 Drive to Skerries and stay overnite
Day 9 and 10 Stay in Dublin.
Day 11 Fly home.

Tony2phones

Looks fine.

jdill60

Thanks everyone for your help. I am going to consider driving through Ennistymon to the Cliffs of Moher and then on to Galway just as Tony suggested. I like idea of driving on main roads. I have been printing out the routes from AA. Are they accurate? Also do you recommend spending the extra money for a GPS? Does anyone have any good suggestions for B&B's in or near Kenmare to start the road around the ROK from? Also would like suggestions for a B&B in Galway and Skerries. I checked easytourireland and they wanted more money then the quote that I got from Hertz.

Tony2phones

I personally like Google maps as you can interact and drag the route. AA also base on Google maps but lack this option. Add 15% to any times as route planners base solely on speed limits and neglect time spent waiting at junctions or getting stuck behind slow moving traffic. AA does have the benefit of showing road works and similar problems.

Gps is a comfort aid. I used to have one but as it does not recognise where I live coming the short way and takes our visitors 10 miles out of their way? We do live on an L (Local) road on the Slieve Aughty so possibly a bad example. Unless you are planning on being adventurous then a decent map, the improved standard of road signs and possibly the non male approach of actually asking a local will suffice.

Kenmare, The Abbey Court is wonderful by the Abbey and the bay. http://www.abbeycourtkenmare.com/ A little out from the town Tara Farm is my second choice. http://www.tara-farm.com/

Galway depends on whether you want to be right by the City or outside (how far outside?)

Skerries no personal knowledge of

Car hire make sure all quotes are what you pay at the desk, all inclusive with no hidden optional extras. Desk clerks need commission to boost their earnings so have hard copy of the quote. It is a quote not an estimate!

jdill60

Tony you are a wealth of knowledge. Thanks. I have sent inquiries to the 2 B&b's you suggested. Also decided not to get the GPS. As far as Galway is concerned I don't really know whether to stay in the city or outside. I am looking for a place once we leave the Cliffs of Moher. Also looking to leave Galway for Skerries and planning to arrive in Skerries around dinnertime. I am open to any suggestions as to what to do in the Galway area. We will have one full day and half of a second day before leaving for Skerries

longhorn55

Instead of staying in Galway, you might enjoy staying in Kinvara, which is only about a 35 minute drive from Galway. It's a charming town with lots of good restaurant choices. You might enjoy visiting Dunguarie Castle there or even doing the Dunguarie Castle Banquet, which we very much enjoyed. For accommodations, I can recommend Clareview House for a nice rural B&B stay just a few kilometers outside of Kinvara.

http://www.shannonheritage.com/Attra...nguarieCastle/

http://www.clareviewhse.com/

I found nothing in my research of Galway that particularly interested me, so we spent our time in this area on Inishmore. You might enjoy doing the same. Catch the ferry at Rossaveel and spend the day biking the island or touring by minibus or pony cart. The Dun Aengus fort is not to be missed!

Tony2phones

It's a full day Dingle to Galway and depends how much you want to do on the way.

Perhaps call into Listowel (on my list of favourite towns) or Adare for brunch. You have the choice of the ferry or Tunnel to cross the Shannon. Could I suggest that you stay the night in Ennis rather than Galway giving a couple of options.

Taking the ferry 18euro you could see Loop Head (good alternative to the Cliffs) and maybe the west Clare railway. Or taking the Tunnel 1.80euro then Bunratty folk park is a great place.

The next day you could go up to Galway at a steady pace to take in the Burren and Cliffs
Or get off the tourist trail and pop into East Clare for Killaloe and Lough Derg. then maybe spend the night in Birr. (Lough Derg West being my locale). Birr would have you handy for Clonmacnoise before joining the M6 to Dublin and up to Skerries.

If you do go up to Galway from Dingle then you could take the ferry to Innis Mor from Rosaveal or do some of the N59 to Maam and back in a loop.

I might be complicating things?

Accommodation B&B's Galway http://www.praguehousegalway.com/ http://theforgehouse.com/

Ennis. We stay at the Grey Gables just a couple of minutes walk into the centre. http://bed-n-breakfast-ireland.com/?...05666032682470 The Hotels in town are The Old Ground and Temple Gate, both are very good, http://www.flynnhotels.com/Old_Ground_Hotel_Ennis http://www.templegatehotel.com/

Birr Definitely the Maltings http://themaltingsbirr.com/ or if booked up Townsend House http://townsendhouse-guesthouse.com/

Tony2phones

Sorting things whilst longhorn was posting.. Kinvara is fine and an alternative option.

Longhorn and JD for the loop above Spiddal to Maam take some from my work in progress.

http://www.tripadvisor.ie/ShowTopic-....html#40811579

There is a lot I could list for the Lough Derg area if you consider that option.