cork vs. kerry airport to dingle?
Mar 18th, 2011, 07:19 AM
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cork vs. kerry airport to dingle?
Hello all -
We're trying to determine the logistics for one leg of our trip in May, flying from the Cotswolds to Dingle. One route is London Luton to Kerry, arriving 1230; the other is Birmingham to Cork, arriving 1830. We will have a car in the Cotswolds, dropping off at whatever airport we choose for the flight, and we will rent another car once we land in Ireland. Haven't driven on the left side of the road before, but hopefully we'll be used to it after 3 days in the Cotswolds?
The kind folks on the England side of this site have suggested it would be better to take the much shorter drive to Birmingham and the more scenic drive from Cork to Dingle (compared to the "horrible" drive from the Cotswolds to London Luton). Would this be a reasonable introduction to Ireland? We plan to explore Dingle peninsula for a few days and then head up the west coast to Galway via Cliffs of Moher; from there we have a couple days to see the Aran Islands and maybe a drive around Connemara before heading over to Dublin for a couple days. Given this itinerary, do you have any suggestions on what route to take from Cork to Dingle if we go with the evening flight? Or is it better to fly into Kerry?
Thanks so much for your help! We're so excited about this trip!!
We're trying to determine the logistics for one leg of our trip in May, flying from the Cotswolds to Dingle. One route is London Luton to Kerry, arriving 1230; the other is Birmingham to Cork, arriving 1830. We will have a car in the Cotswolds, dropping off at whatever airport we choose for the flight, and we will rent another car once we land in Ireland. Haven't driven on the left side of the road before, but hopefully we'll be used to it after 3 days in the Cotswolds?
The kind folks on the England side of this site have suggested it would be better to take the much shorter drive to Birmingham and the more scenic drive from Cork to Dingle (compared to the "horrible" drive from the Cotswolds to London Luton). Would this be a reasonable introduction to Ireland? We plan to explore Dingle peninsula for a few days and then head up the west coast to Galway via Cliffs of Moher; from there we have a couple days to see the Aran Islands and maybe a drive around Connemara before heading over to Dublin for a couple days. Given this itinerary, do you have any suggestions on what route to take from Cork to Dingle if we go with the evening flight? Or is it better to fly into Kerry?
Thanks so much for your help! We're so excited about this trip!!
Mar 18th, 2011, 07:39 AM
#3
You are going to get some of the same folks posting on this thread too. (there isn't an 'England' side - or even a UK side - -- just the Europe forum)
From Stow on the Wold to Luton is a nasty 2.5 hour drive. To Birmingham only about one hour and a much easier route.
Now, on the Ireland end -- the drive in from Kerry is much shorter. But you won't be jet lagged so the longer Cork drive wouldn't be a hardship.
It is honestly 6 of 1/half dozen of the other because the total travel time is about the same - though the Kerry flight arrives earlier in the day.
If the flights landed about the same time -- It would be a no brainer -- Birmingham 10000%. It will be light late so even w/ the later start from Cork, you'd have daylight all the way.
If it was me -- I'd choose B'ham/Cork.
From Stow on the Wold to Luton is a nasty 2.5 hour drive. To Birmingham only about one hour and a much easier route.
Now, on the Ireland end -- the drive in from Kerry is much shorter. But you won't be jet lagged so the longer Cork drive wouldn't be a hardship.
It is honestly 6 of 1/half dozen of the other because the total travel time is about the same - though the Kerry flight arrives earlier in the day.
If the flights landed about the same time -- It would be a no brainer -- Birmingham 10000%. It will be light late so even w/ the later start from Cork, you'd have daylight all the way.
If it was me -- I'd choose B'ham/Cork.
Mar 18th, 2011, 07:59 AM
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Such a no brainer-- arrive in Kerry if your main goal is to drive to the Dingle Peninsula right away. The traffic around Cork airport and into/around the city was the worse we experienced in Ireland.
Mar 18th, 2011, 08:18 AM
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Getting from the Cotswolds to Luton in time for a flight that arrives in Ireland that early will mean you need to leave really early in the morning, and will undoubtedly hit the rush hour which will add to the drive time.
We didn't find the traffic or the roads around Cork airport to be at all bad - certainly nothing compared to getting to Luton in the morning!
We didn't find the traffic or the roads around Cork airport to be at all bad - certainly nothing compared to getting to Luton in the morning!
Mar 18th, 2011, 08:31 AM
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"But the drive from Stow-on-the-Wold to Luton is worse than the drive from Cork to Dingle"
It absolutely isn't. Drive up to BHX, then turn right onto the M6. Most of the time faster (and let's be honest: not than much less scenic. Cork-Kerry isn't an Irish gem) than fighting the southern ring road.
It absolutely isn't. Drive up to BHX, then turn right onto the M6. Most of the time faster (and let's be honest: not than much less scenic. Cork-Kerry isn't an Irish gem) than fighting the southern ring road.
Mar 18th, 2011, 08:49 AM
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If it were me, though...
I'd fly to Cork, and spend the night in Kinsale (virtually at the end of the runway) or round Bantry Bay. Then take the Great Circle route through Bantry and Kenmare the following moring to Killarney. On which the views most certainly beat the stuffing out of the (British) M1.
I'd fly to Cork, and spend the night in Kinsale (virtually at the end of the runway) or round Bantry Bay. Then take the Great Circle route through Bantry and Kenmare the following moring to Killarney. On which the views most certainly beat the stuffing out of the (British) M1.
Mar 18th, 2011, 11:17 AM
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Thanks for the explanation about the forum mechanics; I thought maybe some people were tuned into the "Ireland" tag and others to "England" so the posts might have different readers.
Ok, so looks like we have two viable options; based on your other posts about driving times, I think the day would look something like this:
1. BHX-ORK
0600 depart for BHX
0700 drop off rental car at BHX
0730 check in at BHX
0840 flight
1015 pick up rental car in ORK
1045 leisurely drive to Dingle, stopping for photos and lunch*
1500 arrive Dingle*
* alternative: stop in Kinsale or Bantry, drive to Dingle next day
2. LTN-KIR
0700 depart for LTN **rush hour
0930 drop off rental car at LTN
1000 check in at LTN
1100 flight
1230 pick up car in KIR
1300 drive to Dingle
1400 arrive Dingle
They both have their pro's and con's. I suppose we'll just pick one and go with it, unless you have any other comments!
Thanks again for your help!!
Ok, so looks like we have two viable options; based on your other posts about driving times, I think the day would look something like this:
1. BHX-ORK
0600 depart for BHX
0700 drop off rental car at BHX
0730 check in at BHX
0840 flight
1015 pick up rental car in ORK
1045 leisurely drive to Dingle, stopping for photos and lunch*
1500 arrive Dingle*
* alternative: stop in Kinsale or Bantry, drive to Dingle next day
2. LTN-KIR
0700 depart for LTN **rush hour
0930 drop off rental car at LTN
1000 check in at LTN
1100 flight
1230 pick up car in KIR
1300 drive to Dingle
1400 arrive Dingle
They both have their pro's and con's. I suppose we'll just pick one and go with it, unless you have any other comments!
Thanks again for your help!!
Mar 27th, 2011, 11:22 AM
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The poster commenting about Cork city traffic is correct - but only in rush hour, plus you don't have to go into the city to drive to Bantry and on to Dingle. Personally (living on that route) and also familiar with drive from Shannon I'd advise Kerry regardless of what the journey is like in the U.K.
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