Hey there, all. Any input on what I've come up with here is appreciated. Still have a couple of months to decide on this. My friend and I are meeting in London, then we're planning on flying into Kerry Airport since it's closest to Dingle. Hopefully that is a good choice. It's cheap via Ryan Air, so that much sounds good.

The plan is to bus the majority of this trip and then rail to Dublin near the end. Neither of us are really wanting to drive. I know that would make it easier, but it's not something I'm willing to do and I'm not sure we can even afford it.

Day 1-4: Dingle town & Peninsula. I'll have to look into hiking and such, but it looks like a great area to do it. That's why I allowed us so many days. Possibly visit Blasket Islands as well, if that is feasible

Day 5-6: Limerick

Day 7-8 : Doolin/The Burren .
I've been to Doolin previously, figured it would be a decent point for checking out the Cliffs of Moher, since my friend hasn't seen it, and the Burren as well.

Day 9: Ferry to Aran Islands .
This one confuses me. I read a message in these forums where someone said the more time on the islands the better. So, staying in a hostel sounds decent for a night. What I was thinking was going from Doolin to the Islands by ferry, then Islands to Galway the next day. It SOUNDS simple, but all the ferry trips are return and so I don't think it's possible to get a one way trip "to," and then a one way trip "from" over to Galway. Or is it?

Day 10-11: Galway

Day 12-13: Dublin,

Day 14: Fly back to London and then home to the USA

Any input is greatly appreciated!

Hi Crawl:

The itinerary looks OK though I'm don't think I'd do Limerick for two days. If you want to do some hiking, stay near Killarney and do some hiking there, and then do Dingle. The Kerry Way is beautiful, especially around the National Park. I think I would skip Limerick, but that's just me. There are some interesting things there I presume and no doubt some fine pubs. I understand there is a wonderful museum there. Can't come up with the name right now.

I believe that you can do a one way from the Aran Islands but you might want to call the various companies. Doolin ferries say they sail from both Galway and Doolin, so I'll bet they could work something out for you. Give them a call at:353 65 7074455

Have fun!

Bill

Thanks a lot for the input, Bill.

About Limerick - the only real reason I chose that city was because there's a fairly great distance between Dingle & Doolin and I just wondered what we would do if we weren't going to stop there. It's a very long trip by bus, otherwise. Full days worth, I would think. That's one of my biggest problems. I suppose I need to find a way to fly or rail from the south up towards Shannon.

I agree with wojazz, skip Limerick and go anywhere else. Kllarney is a fun town and you have the Gap of Dunloe and the park for some wonderful walks.

I appreciate it. One other thing I'd like to note - I'm having a tough time finding places to make day trips to because of transportation. I'd like to see "the real Ireland," the one without all of the pubs full of other American/Canadian/Euro tourists, mainly the stuff away from the bigger cities, but it seems that if we want to get to the smaller towns or sites in areas like Killarney and Dingle we'll need other transportation than a bus.

For instance, I don't know of any way to get to the The Gap of Dunloe without a car (except walking 14+ miles, as the guidebook says). Would anyone know of any good areas for just hiking it or bussing? No use in having a city-hub to make day trips out of if there's no where to go

If you don't catching a ride with other tourists for a little while, catch a boat across the lakes to the Gap of Dunloe and the little shuttle bus back to Killarney at the other end.

You can walk, ride a pony or a jaunting cart along the gap itself.

That's the kind of stuff I had no idea about, clifton. Thanks

Just remember in relation to walks in the Dingle Peninsula. They go accross private land just rem to read the sign. You have a great time there
Regards
ger
http://www.dingle-region.com

dingle999, that's something that has always confused me about Ireland. I pictured large, open, green fields with not so many fences, but the area I saw last year was quite different. I wouldn't have dared and gone over the fences onto some farmer's land. Mostly that is because you just don't do that here in America and I assume it is the same in Ireland. It seems silly in the grand scheme of things, but you just don't do it. Which leads me to something else...as far as I know, there are no "public rights of way" or "private rights of way" in America, like there are in Ireland. So that means it is perfectly legal to go across someone's land in Ireland, but you're saying it isn't socially acceptable (even if you keep to yourself and just WALK)? Makes you feel kind of paranoid hiking around, I'd think...