blanche5678

*reposting with clearer title*
We will be spending 7 days in Northern Ireland the first week in August. We will be based in Cushendun (renting a cottage for a week with my cousin from Scotland). My cousin is suggesting that from Cushendun we could see the following in day trips.

•Giants Causeway/ Carrick - a - Rede Bridge. Bushmills
•Ulster Folk Museum -
•Carrickfergus Castle - Norman 1177 - very important in Irish history
•Bangor and Donaghadee - to see ancesters home - nice drve down
•Londonderry - over to Donegal in the Free State - workhouse for famine victims 1840s - Mallin Head Weather Station
•Ballycastle
Dunlace Castle
•Evening at Cushendall pub Jonnie Joes - traditional music

From reading various posts I understand travel in NI is slow and I am also trying to resist the urge to dash around and see "everything". So I would appreciate your comments on the points of interest we have planned so far. Are they feasable - what would you do differently?

Secondly we could spend another 3-4 days in Ireland before going to Scotland and would appreciate advice - I have read wonderful things about Dingle Peninsula, Connemarra, County Mayo, County Donegal, and County Sligo. I realize Dingle Peninsula is at the other end of Ireland but based on all the posts I read it sounds like I should seriously consider it. I do hesitate given it is prime vacation season and I am afraid it could be very crowded and touristy ... We are interested in scenery, history, prehistoric sites, traditonal music, local culture .... and we would like to be able to fly from our last location to Glasgow.

It is our first time in Ireland (may be our last) so we are trying to get the broadest experience we can in the 10-11 days we will be there. thanks Maureen

reillygee

My vote is for Donegal. Its close and less crowded than heading south. Sorry I don't have any information about flying to Glasglow, my guess would be that you would probably have to return to NI.

Slieve League cliffs are breathtaking. Glenveigh National Forest is beautiful. Its been a few years since we were there, but we have been planning to return to Donegal since before we left. We stayed in Ardara. Make sure you plan some 'off' time and avoid the urge to jam pack your days with placed you must 'check off'.

Connemara would be my second choice. You could see Sligo on the way down.

You could try for Dingle, but all your time will be spent driving there and back.

You are going to love Northern Ireland. The scenery is just fantastic. Derry is sobering with all the sad history. If you get a chance, stop by the little Bloody Sunday museum. Heartbreaking.

Have a great trip.

CAPH52

Maureen, maybe I can pay you back a little for your wonderful help on my Barcelona thread!

Dingle is wonderful. But so are many of the other areas you've mentioned. I'd strongly suggest that you save it for another trip (never say this'll be your last trip to Ireland!). As reillygee said, you'd spend so much precious time getting there.

You mention hoping to fly to Scotland from your last destination. I don't know whether you can get flights to Scotland from Galway. But I think you'd be able to get a flight from there to Shannon or Dublin. Hope someone else will jump in on that!

So you might want to consider making your way to Galway through Connemara. But I also think reillygee's suggestions for Donegal are excellent. I'm guessing too that you'd need to drive back to Belfast for a flight out.

Whatever you decide, I hope you have a wonderful trip!

Cathinjoetown

Maybe Galway (lots of pubs, music), Connemara, Aran Islands, the Burren, Cliffs of Moher. Could be flights to Glasgow from Shannon or Galway, you'd need to check.

blanche5678

thanks reillygee
Thanks for your suggestions. Being less crowded certainly makes Donegal appealing. I understand it is one of the Gaelic centres in Ireland .. did you experience anything different here and can you recommend a place to stay in Ardara?

In your experience which area offers the greatest contrast to Antrim coast where we will have spoent 7 days.. and yes really trying to resist the urge to cram in too much thanks for the reminder

CAPH52

Cathinjoetown, I hope this doesn't come across as snarky. It's so hard to read "tone" in writing! And I certainly don't want to put down your excellent suggestions. But I think it'd be difficult to see all of those things in the three or four days they have.

Keep those places in mind for that next trip though, Maureen!

blanche5678

will check out the airlines separately.... thanks for the suggestions on different areas.... which areas do you believe offer the most in terms of traditional music, prehistoric sites ?

CAPH52

Westport, Co. Mayo is great for traditonal music and would be a logical stop if you were headed for Galway. And Inis Mor (Aran Islands) has at least a couple of prehistoric sites. But I just don't see you having time to get there.

The last time we were in Donegal was 1982! We also stayed in Ardara. And weren't able to catch any traditional music. But that was a long time ago! I hope someone will give you some good info on music and prehistoric sites in Donegal.

Cathinjoetown

Don't think you're being snarky and I could have been clearer in my post.

I agree what I listed is way too much for 2-3 days. Was just throwing out ideas of interesting places closer to where OP will be, than going down to Dingle.

Any two would work, probably. I lived very close to Connemara (on the road out of Galway). It alone is worth at least a day.

Cowboy1968

Check ryanair.com for connections from Derry or Shannon to Glasgow. Depending on where you end your trip, either one may be easier to get to than Dublin or Belfast.
You did not mention (or I was too stupid to find it) if you plan to rent a car in NI for your trip to the ROI. If so, you may want to check if returning to NI is not a "must" anyway due to possible extra drop off fees for the rental car.

blanche5678

will check out Ryanair ... and yes we will be renting a car probably out of Belfast when we leave Cushendun so I will check out the drop off fees....

so I will save Dingle for another trip and minimize travelling. I will read up some more on Donegal and Connemarra as I do not expect we could do both. Any suggestions on where to stay in either Donegal or Connemmara - that could influence the decison as we will then be going to Scotalnd for 2.5 weeks and need to be $ wise

CAPH52

I agree that you don't have time for both. And I think Cowboy gave you excellent advice re checking on your rental car return. But, if you should happen to choose Connemara and pass through Westport, we were very happy with this place:

http://www.adarehouse.net/

It's clean, comfortable, conveniently located, Margaret was wonderful and their rates are very good!

blanche5678

thanks Caph52... enjoy Barcelona and should be a wonderful trip starting with a wedding n Ireland....did not fnd yoour barcelona dilemma post - if you have any questions you can email me Maureen

reillygee

Maureen,

We stayed at the Green Gate in Ardara, although I wouldn't recommend it now. I am sure others will weigh in on places to stay in Donegal.

If you are renting your car in NI and returning there for your flight out, you won't have to worry about any extra charges for drop off. Another reason to stay north!

I'm not so sure about your request to find an area that contrasts with Northern Ireland. Since Donegal is so close, there won't be a big difference in the landscape. But it is in the Republic, a different country so that is some sort of contrast.

Here's bit of advice I wish I had taken for my first trip to Ireland. Slow down, relax and enjoy it. you don't need to plan every minute with a sight to see. Sometimes the best times in Ireland are just hanging out with the people. There is something about the place that will bring you back.

blanche5678

reillygee ... good advice I have read some previous threads and have come across some recommendations on places to stay. Not sure how easy it is to get around County Donegal .... we want to spend the 3 nights in the same B&B ... which town would you recommend to stay in as a base?

CAPH52

Unfortunately, I can't make a suggestion for a base. I'm sure you'll hear from others who can. But I think spending the three nights in one place in Donegal is a very good idea. It'll be much more relaxed.

Thank you very much for your good wishes and your offer of help. I just may take you up on it!

Itallian_Chauffer

I would suppose that Letterkenny, or there abouts would probably MOST central.

SEE: http://www.welovedonegal.com/

for LOTS of useful info.

You can fly on Aer Arran, from Donegal Airport (located near Glenveigh National Park -- West of Letterkenny)into Glasgow Prestwick (GLA).

Links:

http://www.donegalairport.ie/

afternoon flights ONLY on Wed/Fri/Sun

http://www.aerarann.com/

BEST choice would probably be Derry, though, as drop off fees for a car from NI would probably be VERY steep. RyanAir has flights to GLA seven days per week @6:30 PM and M-W-F @ 4 PM.

http://www.cityofderryairport.com/

We were in Edinburgh, Donegal and NI ( and others) in June of'07.

Trip report / link to pictures:

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=35054440

Bob

rosetravels

Blanche -
Given the number of days you have I think staying in Donegal would make sense. Check out Kilcar - it's fantastic. We've stopped in Ardara and it looked like a good, very central place to base yourself. Letterkenney is close to NI, just a short drive from Derry so I'd go a little farther west.

My DH's ancestral roots are in NI so we've been to most of the places on your list (from a base near Letterkenny) and they're all wonderful. We loved Derry.

If you wanted somewhere more 'different' from NI Westport would be the place to go, as Caph suggests. We were there a week.

blanche5678

Italian chauffeur -thanks the info and links. I glanced at your trip report and will definitely read it in full... have you been to both County Donegal and Connemarra ... which woukld you visit for a few days for history, scenery, local culture and less crowded.

rosetravels: choosingi s so hard ... how would you compare Westport area from Donegal area?

Itallian_Chauffer

We spent four days in Westport LAST June. Liked it very much. Both locations are terrific -- Donegal and Westport, but nearest departure airport for you would be Knock / Ireland West and you would have to deal with the potential drop off fee, which could be in excess of 100 GBP.

Additionally, you are looking at one FULL day to drive from Cushendun to Westport, which would cut into your time there -- though there IS much to see / visit along the way.

Even though the Letterkenny area is close to NI, I suggested it as being relatively central to Donegal and convenient to both potential airports. From there you can visit Glencolumbcille, Donegal, Glenveigh, the Inishowen and more, though certainly, NOT all of them -- unless you really DO 'rush around'.

Bob