sb1020

Hi all
I am just starting to research our three week trip to Ireland in May and have a lot of flexibility as where we will go and what we will do

One plan would be a three week road trip around the island or most of it.

The other thing that I am thinking about is to rent a property somewhere in that three week window for about a week and use that as a base to explore and also do some walking/hiking
Usually when we travel I like to rent a property for a stay to use as a base for a region and have done this many times
As well my nephew is studying in Dublin and my brother might visit so it might be fun to have a house!!

We love nature and spectacular scenery

Where would be an interesting and well located area to base ourselves for day trips for a week?
We are serious drivers!!
Thanks
Sandy

bilboburgler

Great question, and I'm sure Tony will be along with some advice. Just so I understand what are "We are serious drivers!!" meaning? Many Irish roads are narrow, wiggly, stone walled and with the odd sheep. Do you have experience of these or US interstate highways?

Tony2phones

I live in Ireland and do regular road trips so if we do have a week in a location its a touring base. Regular locations are Clifden for the Connemara, Killarney/Kenmare for Kerry and north west Cork, Ballina for north Mayo and Sligo, Donegal or Letterkenny for Donegal and Portrush for Antrim. we have also stayed in Carlow and Kilkenny for a few days at a time, and of course live just above the west side of Lough Derg.

Check out http://www.shamrockcottages.co.uk/ ~ https://www.imagineireland.com/ ~ http://www.hogansirishcottages.com/

flpab

https://www.vrbo.com/496433hawnerprofile

our next Dublin apartment

http://www.villas.com/ireland/mayo/w...partments.html

Our next Westport apartment for five nights. We are going to Clare Island one day and hiking some of the others.
The people that own this own two, we booked the three bedroom but they also own Clew Hotel and you can see better pictures on AirB&B but I hate using them so emailed him directly and he took my deposit and I pay the rest upon arrival. AirB&B keep all the money right away when you book.

Dublin has so many day trips you can do but then great night life so we are staying there for seven nights. I am going to Belfast one day on the train just to explore the city more. There were a few things I didn't get to see last visit.

flpab

http://www.daft.ie/dublin/apartments...ublin-1627222/

I have rented this apartment also. Mary Mullins has two apartments in this building on Cows Lane. The other has two bedrooms. She is great and we loved the roof top patio. Nice area across from Dublin Castle.

nytraveler

IMHO a lot of Irish roads are not for "serious drivers" - in many areas outside of cities they are narrow, twisty, have ditches on each side instead of shoulders and there can be sheep anywhere. We have been held up at least 6 or 7 times by sheep either wandering on the road or a group of sheep actually being moved from one field (pasture?) to another.

janisj

nyt: >>IMHO a lot of Irish roads are not for "serious drivers" . . . <<

I wonder what you consider serious drivers? If you mean long haul/high speeds -- than you are right. But I'd think most people would think 'serious' drivers are those who enjoy twisty/turny country roads w/ a car that handles. In that case Irish roads are definitely for 'serious drivers'.

But maybe we need to know what sb1020 means . . .

Tony2phones

We have to be serious drivers over here, apart from the state of Irish roads, watching out for hire cars on the wrong side of said roads or them swerving to avoid imaginary sheep and walls and ditches that jump out in front of mainly US drivers.

flpab

Tony, come to Orlando and watch UK drivers get their rental cars and then get on 1-4 for Disney world. That is just as scary.

Anyhow back to rentals, Clifden is very nice and great day trips.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/VacationR...n_Ireland.html

We could not decide between Clifden and Westport. We are taking the train from Dublin to Westport so no driving and we are happy because we are not serious drivers.

sb1020

Hi all
Thanks for all the info and I look forward as always to planning this new adventure!

Now.....re my off the cuff comment "serious drivers" which has generated a few commemts!

We love road trips as you really get to see the country you are visiting

So...We have driven for thousands of kilometres in South Africa,
All over Argentina including Ruta 40!!
Many thousands of kilometers in Europe: all over Greece, Italy Spain and Portugual and Switzerland and of course France
We are well acquainted with the tiny roads, hilltop towns etc
and sinuous mountain drives
As Canadians- all over eastern western and central Canada and in the United States too many road trips to get into, but most recently last month across the Mojave desert and Death Valley-you get the picture!!

Many thanks
Sandy

Tony2phones

Just be aware that the average speed for your whole trip will be less than 35mph and your best average might be 45mph.

My general tip is to read some good Guide books, burn or shred a Rick Steves guide just to get the Irish mind set and then pin a Michelin 712 map on an empty wall, pin your must see and possible locations/activities/sights. That done decide your touring bases.

With 3 weeks you could even have 2 fixed bases and a week getting to from and between these.

sb1020

Hi Tony

Those are great suggestions
This is our first trip to Ireland and I was able to get a great deal on round trip tickets to Dublin direct from Montreal.

So we will be in Dublin at the beginning and at the end-we arrive at 10:30am

So.....some (?number to be determined) days in Dublin, then we start the road trip

If you were to suggest 2 centres to tour from, then what would you recommend?


I have already started some of your rental site suggestions, and they are very good-thank you

We could easily spend the 3 weeks in southern and western ireland and Dublin-that is clear

It looks like about 2 weeks/one week if we do south and north with Dublin at each end

Or not do the North this time......

Tony2phones

Typical touring bases would be Galway and Killarney. Both have optional routes from Dublin but are an easy drive between each other (3 hours maybe a bit more)

Rentals are typically Saturday to Saturday although Hogans and Imagine do have 3, 4 or 5 day options although the price typically isn't that much different to a week's rental it does give flexibility.

One of my basic routes round the island goes,

Land DUB head to Belfast *
Belfast~Portrush (or Portstuart or Derry)*
Next night Donegal then Sligo/Ballina/Westport* before Galway*.
Night between Galway and Killarney/Kenmare, Ennis/Limerick/Adare/other*
Cork area*, then options on a couple of days getting to Dublin** either up the M8 route or the Copper coast to Waterford and up or include Kilkenny and Wicklow. That starts at 14 days off the peg itinerary which can be tailored to suit individual cases. * being an overnight.

Another option is to get an express bus direct from DUB to Cork or Galway rent a car from those locations day 2 or when needed. A car is a hindrance in Dublin and as you have 3 weeks you might want to consider keeping the car hire to a couple of weeks unless using a Canadian Visa Card that has acceptable Irish insurance (that's another story)

sb1020

I am back again....

This trip is starting to take shape but I need a little input

We will arrive Dublin airport -probably pick up the car around 12 noon and head south through the Wicklow region toward Wexford for probably two to three nights and use that as a base to explore the
region. I found a nice property to stay in

I would like to be able to spend time at Powerscourt. Wicklow mountains, Glendalough, Kilkenny, waterford Cashel etc

So the question is...if I also want to drive the Copper route, how many days do I need to do all/most of this before I settle for about one week in a rental property which will mostly likely be in
Kenmare (unless I find something nice and affordable in Killarney)


We will spend the last 4 nights in Dublin, dropping the car at the airport before going into Dublin

When I get this part of the trip loosely organized, I will focus on Clare,Galway Mayo and further north for which it looks like I will have about about one week
The timing of the rental is crucial, as it will determine what I can do before and after!!

I look forward to your feedback

Sandy







.

Tony2phones

You can drive the Copper coast Waterford and onwards to Cork in well under 2 hours but could easily spend a day doing the same drive. It might depend on the day concerned as most self catering rentals run Saturday to Saturday?

janisj

Are you flyingin long haul? I am totally comfortable driving on the left . . . but I never plan more than a few miles drive on the first day (and usually no driving at all on arrival day). The jetlag could make it downright dangerous -- or at least totally exhausting.

I'd wait a day before driving south . . .

sb1020

Hi Janis
Thanks for your concern

It is a direct flight from Montreal-about 5 1/2 to 6 hours and we have driven in South Africa so I think we will be okay to do a 2- 2 1/2 hour drive to Wexford-we just might go directly to the property which looks really nice-so we can rest when we arrive as the suite will be ready by that time

We will spend 3 nights/4 days and use that as our base for the SE and I have just rented a really nice property overlooking Kenmare Bay for one week

I now have 8 night days and seven nights before the final 4 nights in Dublin

I am thinking about two nights in Ennis to visit the main sites in County Clare and then continue

So leave Kenmare early on Sunday am and have 2 overnights in Ennis

Or ....TONY : would one overnight be sufficient as we head to Galway and drive the Connemara?....Generally I do not like one nighters!
I would like to also spend time in the North if possible

If not we can do as much as we like and always cut back to Dublin the following Sunday for the last 4 nights

What are your thoughts?

Thanks
Sandy





S

Tony2phones

8 days from Kenmare to Dublin,
Possibly,

2 nights Ennis for county Clare, 2 nights Clifden for Connemara, 1 night Sligo break the trip up and give time to call at the Slieve League before entering the North , 2 nights Portrush for Antrim, 1 night Belfast before dropping to Dublin.

There are 2 x 1 night stays on that route but I feel that gives a more logistical approach, giving time to see some of the many options along the way. some on this map https://goo.gl/xrDQtD

flpab

Great map Tony.

sb1020

Thanks Tony
That map is great
Enjoying figuring it all out!
I think that this might be too ambitious, and actually it is only 7 nights and I might not do Belfast on this trip.
Sandy