Child itineray, need bed and breakfasts
 

Going in July with mother-in-law, husband and 9 and 6 yr old. Looking for comments on itinerary and suggestions on child friendly B&B's. Flying into Shannon out of Dublin.

1 nt Kinsale
2 nts Kenmare or Dingle
3 nts Galway or 2 nts Galway & 1 nt Westport
1 nt Castleblayney, yes a haul but visitng relatives
3 nts Dublin

Hannah, put Ireland or Irish into the name of your post. As it is, it's too general.

Hannah,

To begin with, Shannon to Kinsale is a long haul without jetleg (3+ hours) and will seem even longer with jetlag. It is also the height of tourist season so traffic will be heavier.

It appears that with the exception of Kenmare, Dingle & Kinsale, Everything you want to visit is West & North. HAve you considered only focusing on Galway, Westport, Castleblayney and Dublin? You could have a wonderful time taking a clockwise route from Shannon along the coast, through the Burren to Galway on your first day, spend 3 nights in Galway, 2 night in Westport, 1 night in Sligo, 2 nights in Castleblayney & 3 nights in Dublin. You will see less crowds, outstanding scenery and meet some of the most delightful people that way. Especially if you are visiting relatives, one night in Castleblayney won't be enough. Castleblayney has some great music and you will enjoy the extra time with relatives instead of it being just a stopover.

This would be an easy more relaxed pace, which is needed when travelling with young ones. Even adults get cranky after too long in the car, too many things to do, etc.

Taking the north route would take you to the Cliffs of Moher, lunch in Doolin and then through the Burren to Galway. In Galway, visit the Atlantaquarium, where the kids can touch creatures of the sea. Also just outside of Galway, you can pack a picnic lunch and spend time in Coole Park. A day trip to Inis Mor with a Pony Cart tour of the Island would be just the ticket for a family day of fun, as well. In Dublin, the Viking Splash tour is always a fun experience for families, as is the open top bus tours. In Westport, make time to explore Achill island.

For lodgings, in Westport, Lurgan House

There is so much to see & do in the North, yet it isn't as populated with tourists, even in the summer months.

Kinsale, Kenmare and Dingle are antastic places in their own right but with only eleven days in country, you really wouldn't do them the kind of justice they truly deserve. Perhaps saving them for the next trip would be a better idea. Then you could focus on the south end of Ireland.

That was interesting, as I was typing...LOL...Lurgan house, http://homepage.eircom.net/~lurganhouse/, is family friendly.

Have a most excellent adventure!

Slan Agus Beannacht,

Bit

Thank you CowboyCraic, I will go home this evening and look at my map. You made some great suggestions. I don't expect we will travel with the kids again and would hate to miss Dingle and parts south, maybe somehow I can still get at least Dingle in.

hannah,

How about driving to Kenmare(about 3 hours) on your 1st. day and stay a couple of days. I'd suggest going to Dingle the 1st day, but that is 4 or more hours. I'd skip Kinsale and head over to Dingle next and spend at least 2 or 3 nights. The children will really enjoy it and so will you.

When leaving Dingle heading to Galway, take the Killimer-Tarber ferry which will save you some miles. Drive up the coast of Clare and take time to stop at The Cliffs of Moher and on to Galway. I can't help you with the rest of your trip, but others will.

Kenmare B&B: The Lodge. They have a couple of rooms with 2 queen beds. It is a very nice and friendly B&B. The owner has 3 or maybe 4 boys so they are use to children. There are many nice B&B's in Kenmare but you rightly asked about child friendly. The Lodge might be higher end price wise but it is so comfortable.

I stayed in Greenmont House B &B in Dingle and loved it. They have Jr. suites that would fit the 4 of you very nicely. You'd have your own little refrig, plenty of space and views that can't be beat. My sons stayed in the suite and I stayed in their smallest room in a comfortable double bed and the same views. If it were me, I'd spend as much time in Dingle as I could. There's wonderful sandy beaches, scenery that can't be beat anyplace and different activies for the children. Look at the Dingle web-site. Again Dingle has many nice B&B's.

You will need to get your accommodations pretty soon.

Good Luck, Joan

Hannah, you could take a night each from Galway & Dublin and add Dingle in that way. The Killimer/tarbert ferry, www.shannonferries.com, would give you time to catch your breath, take in the sea air and refresh, then disembark and head to Dingle. Dingle is wonderful for families. They have Fungi, the dingle dolphin, the Oceanworld aquarium and so much more.

Then on day four, you would take the killimer/tarbert ferry back across the Shannon and continue towards Galway, Westport, Sligo, etc.

You could still do the other two towns but then you would have less time for the visit with the relatives, which IMHO will surely be a high point. It is a short run from Castleblayney to Dublin (60 miles, approx)giving you almost two full days there which will be plenty.

Slan Go Foill,

Bit

Bit,

With children don't you think Dingle would be the best place for Hannah? I wonder if they should cut out Kenmare too. I love Kenmare but didn't notice much for children. You said you've taken your boys and I've taken mine but mine were in their late 30's. If I get to go back with my grandchildren, it would be Dingle. Of course after Dingle they could continue up the coast of Clare like we both said.

Regards, Joan

Most Definitely Joan,

which is why in my last post, I suggested that she take a day each from Dublin & Galway to add in two days in Dingle, which would make their itinerary something like this:

2 night s Dingle
2 nights Galway
2 nights Westport
1 Night Sligo
2 Nights Castlblayney
2 nights Dublin

This way, every thing is geared towards family friendly activities, less crowds, and a lot of picture perfect memories without having to cajole smiles.

Dingle, Dublin and Galway all have kid friendly things to see & do. In Westport, they can spend the day out on Achill Island. Sligo is just a stopping point but they do have a lovely park type setting in town center that the kids might enjoy, as well.

Kenmare is more of an outdoors type and resort area. I agree that there isn't much there which caters to children.

Slan Go Foill,

Bit

This June went on family outing of 10 that included my niece and nephew. The kids loved staying in B&B's; it was a whole new experience for them. Check, many B&B's had videos available for guests to use which was nice since TV options are quite different.

They loved any time they could get out and explore. I think you have way too much city time planned. It is great to be in a small town to walk around at night or out in the countryside...provides fun family hikes...scenic stroll.

I think the idea to start in Kenmare and then on to Dingle is a good one. These are our top 2 favorites. Both have a good choice of nice, friendly B&B's in town (nice to park the car and relax in evening by walking to dinner), good dining, pubs w/music (the kids usually joined us for the first set), good shopping, and easy to walk around. Great scenic drives and top sights in the area.

Dingle has the added bonus of the harbour...do the Funghi trip. We planned various activities for different members here...horseback riding (easy to plan 2-3 hour activity), golf, shop. Kenmare has a small stone circle that you can easily walk to.

While in Kenmare I would suggest a day to go out to Garnish Island (cute harbour seals and fun gardens to explore...go out to the tower). Then drive across the Healy Pass.

On drive from Kenmare to Dingle you can drive part of ROK past Ladies' View thru Killarney National Park. I would suggest stops at Ross Castle and/or Muckross House. Take a Jaunting cart ride.

In Dingle a drive around Slea head is a must...lots of stops (Rick Steves' book gives a great narrative of places to stop).

I also agree that taking the Tarbert-Killimer Ferry across the Shannon is a good time saver (kids will like too), up the coast with a stop at Cliffs of Moher...I would spend a night in Doolin or Bunratty (could do park/castle/banquet/shop Woolen Mills)would be nice for everyone.

I would skip Galway city and stay either near Clifden or in Westport. We stayed in Westport and enjoyed a day drive past Croagh Patrick (hiked up a little), thru the Doo Lough Valley (some nice places to stop to enjoy lakes)past falls, to Kylemore Abbey (nice to see...not a must tour), around to Clifden (drove part of Sky Road) and enjoyed coral beaches just south of Clifden. Westport is a scenic town.

On previous trip we stayed in Galway...don't think of it as a family friendly tourist town...if I were single and in my twenties I would love it. Hard to drive thru. Save city time for Dublin...so much more to offer for all.

I think you would enjoy having a full day for relatives. I would enjoy drive/sights on way to Castleblayney...then you have an evening with family...full day with family...then leave early next day for Dublin. You could enjoy some sights north of Dublin (Trim Castle, Hill of Tara, Newgrange/Knowth); turn in your car and spend last nights in Dublin.

If you didn't want more time with family...I would add extra day to Dingle (exploring town and area) or Kenmare (Gap of Dunloe, more of Killarney National Park, or ROK).

2/3 -Kenmare
2 -Dingle
1 -Bunratty
2 -Westport/Clifden
1/2 -Castleblayney
2 -Dublin

You've gotten some great advice here. Just a note to add to chip's contribution. The Cliffs of Moher have a new visitor cetner with lots of interactive things for kids of various ages.

Bill

All great advice. We have come up with this itinerary.

2 nights Kenmare (2 days)
1 night Dingle (1 day)
3 nights Galway (2 days)
1 night Castleblaney (1 day)
3 nights Dublin (2 days, will take time to get there, seeing sights north of Dublin)

I am trying to push staying in Westport rather than Galway but for some reason my mother in law would rather stay there. Any further thoughts on B&B's are welcomed, particularly in Galway area.

Hello hannah,

In regards to staying in Galway, as opposed to Westport, you could always inform your mother-in-law about the water problem in and about Galway city. http://www.emigrant.ie/files/indexfile.asp?id=600

Perhaps she will change her mind! And you can stay in Westport, after all.

Helen

I like the way you think Laoghaire, what exactly is the water problem and does it seem like this will still be an issue this July? The international festival will be in Galway when we will be there, thought that would sway her away but didn't.

hannah,

It seems the sewage treatment plant at Oughterard was contaminated with cryptosporidium, which causes GI upsets. E.Coli, by which we know it.

Apparently it is a problem that can continue for some time. The Galway Bay Hotel in Salthill has installed their own filtration system, so maybe you should book there!

Seems the area extends slightly north and east of Galway city. It was of interest to me, because we will be in the Connemara in the middle of May for three days. But it seems our area is not involved.

Anyway, just drink bottled water, brush your teeth with bottled water, but worst of all--Don't use ice cubes!!(LOL)

Helen

Struggling with a B&B in Galway or on the outskirts. Any thoughts out there?