Draft 2, 15 night, North and West, please review, advise
 

After taking a really, really hard look at our earlier plan, we've come up with a new one.

As much as we WANT to see everything, we don't want to drag home with Ireland an exhausting blur. We've chosen the North because we're interested in a less traveled, quieter and maybe wilder route, and the West because it looks beautiful.

To be honest, the Ring of Kerry and Killarney was making me anxious with all the tour buses (ok - I know, I'm a tourist too!). It may not have turned out to be a problem, but in my mind, it's something I was dreading.

I'm hoping this revised plan will give us more time to do nothing (in the pub) but enjoy where we are.

It's blank in the middle, and am hoping for some advice there:

Sep 8, 9 - Dublin (2 nights)

Sept 10 - Newgrange, overnight Belfast, Black taxi tour, Titanic exhibit if time.(1 night)

Sept 11 - 14 (4 nights) Antrim, Bushmills, Causeway, overnight Derry/Donegal/Sligo/Letterkenny/Westport(any combination as an example) This is where I need help. Would like to see Carrowmore near Sligo, and keen to get off the beaten track a bit. We're about the scenery but absolutely no hair-raising, white knuckle drives I'd like the driver (husband) to enjoy his trip too!

Sept 15, 16 - Clifden

Sept 17 - Aran

Sept 18,19 - Ennis (Loop Head)

Sept 20, 21 - Dingle (Slea Head)

Sept 22 - Dublin area airport (this is a Saturday drive from Dingle to Dublin) I've estimated anywhere from 4.5 - 6.5 hours.

Sept 23 - am flight home to Toronto.

I'm really hoping that this will give us a good mix of sightseeing and conversation. The absolutely best parts of past vacations have been times in pubs and cafes talking to the locals, and just meandering along, stopping here and there for no real reason.

(would really like to keep in Dingle if possible)

Thanks in advance.

Hi SM thought we had lost you there for a minute.

Can I suggest that you take one night from the north of Clifden and put that between Dingle and Dublin.

Have the night of the 11th in Derry.

Nights 12th-13th ? will think on that. but a two night stop would be good.

Night 14th Westport after seeing the Ciede Fields and Achill Island.

The rest is fine.

messed that up and NO EDIT BUTTON!!!.

second thoughts take a night from Ennis. to split Dingle Dublin.

How about Brigtown B&B in Ballina for the 12th and 13th?
http://www.marjorieskitchen.net/

Hi Tony

My internet connection's been wonky - the gentleman was here for over an hour this morning, so hoping it's all good now :)

I like the idea of Westport before Clifden.

For our "off-the-beaten-track" I'd thought of the Donegal area, and never considered Achill, but after reading about it, oh, my gosh, it sounds wonderful!

So then Derry to Ballina? Do you see this as a full day, including Sligo Abbey?

Then in Bellina - one day to do Rosserk and Carrowmore, maybe Portacloy. R315, 314, 313 - do you know this route back to Ballina?

The next day Achill - and then right to Westport.

Dingle to Dublin - I'd prefer to get it done in one go, unless there's a real reason not to.

Does this general plan seem more "reasonable" as far as easy (read pub) time is concerned, notwithstanding the drive back to Dublin?

I might be tempted to drive from Derry to the Slieve League and then Belleek pottery (there's a contrast) and push through Sligo. Sligo and Carrowmore for the intermediate day and the Ciede Fields and Achill on the way to Westport.

If you are happy taking the Dingle-Dublin drive in one go then fine (pity you are not going back through Shannon) there are a couple of alternative routes back across.

Is that staying in Sligo then for one night after Derry?

And one night still in Ballina on the way to Achill?

I have no problem with one nighters in a row, so long as the days aren't crazy.

How long to you reckon from Dingle to Dublin?

No just the middle day between the 2 nights in Ballina for Sligo and the inland bits then the coastal bits on the way down to Westport. Having a couple of nights together gives the chance to see an area without thinking about how difficult the next accommodation will be to find.

Dingle to Dublin Airport (area) is probably going to be about 4 1/2 hours too 5 1/2 hours dependant on route, road time plus any stops.

There is not a lot of distance between Ballina and Westport. there is though a fair bit to see around the area. Sligo for a couple of nights would work the same way. Basically its just breaking the Derry/Westport stage and giving a feel for part of Ireland that few visitors actually stop to enjoy.

There is a lot to see and do in the Sligo area. Drive the Glenniff Horseshoe (stop at the mill and walk by the little river), Glencar Waterfall, and as Tony mentioned, Belleek Pottery. A bit closer to home is Celtic Weave Pottery. I could go on, but you aren't staying there a week!

Thanks for the advice.

How does this look? I have 5 one-nighters in a row, so as to
eliminate backtracking, and to shorten days. Clearly I have no idea of "real" travel times, so backtracking may not be a problem, hence my need for advice :) I'm not wedded to that: Most, if not all accommodation will be booked from here, which will eliminate that daily stress.

Day 1,2 - Dublin
Day 3 - Belfast, Black Taxi tour, Newgrange
Day 4 - Antrim (doubtful Causeway), Derry overnight, walls, bogside
Day 5 - Slieve League Cliffs, Donegal area, Belleek, overnight Sligo? or head right to Ballina?
Day 6 - Carrowkeel, coastal roads, Carrowmore, overnight Ballina
Day 7 - Achill Island, poke about Westport, overnight
Day 8 - R335 through Louisburgh, Delphi to Clifden, overnight
Day 9 - Clifden - R341 through Roundstone, Lough Carib, Clifden castle (not in order)
Day 10 - Fly to Aran Islands, overnight at Kilmurvey House (must be booked in advance)
Day 11, 12 - Overnight Ennis, Burren, Loop Head
Day 13, 14 - Dingle Peninsula, Slea Head, Connor Pass
Day 15 - Dublin airport

I would spend night 5 and 6 in the same place either Sligo or Ballina. They are so close together that moving for movings sake makes no sense.

Maybe see loop head before taking the ferry over and on to Dingle.

Other than that no problems at all.

Thanks so much Tony.

I think we have a real plan that doesn't seem too rush, rush :)

Another option I'm now thinking of.

Only one night in Sligo or Ballina, take that night and add it to Dingle in order to add the Beara?

Unfortunately, I can't really play it all by ear, as Ennis and Inishmore need to be booked ahead. (what's going on in Ennis-it's pretty well booked up????)

Good idea? Bad idea?

Dingle is not a touring base and certainly not for Beara. Stay as you have planned.

Nothing on in Ennis that should take up accommodation? where are you looking at staying?

http://www.clarelibrary.ie/eolas/com...urrent/cal.htm

Since last night, I've heard from a couple of places, that are available - Westbrook House 140E, and Newpark, no price yet), and am waiting on Ardilaun for availability.

In Clifden we can do Hillside for 160E or Dun Ri, 140. I'm leaning towards Dun Ri, as it's clean and close to town.

Any thoughts on any of these?

Will stay as planned.

Dun Ri always gets my recommendation, Hillside is fine but a car ride home after a pint or Glass of wine and I like to have the craic (news and banter rather than the falling down drunk perception of the word) in the evening.

All the Ennis Accommodation is way out of town.

I have always had a good experience with Grey Gables but others seem to have issues. So. Glenmora would be a good option http://www.glenomrahouse.com/ or the Temple Gate has some good offers. http://www.templegatehotel.com/index...FURP4QodaVkAWg

Thanks for that information. I've sent an email to Glenomra, and Temple Gate is full.

My husband would like to enjoy a pint or two and the craic without concern about driving, so in town is better and for that reason, I'm going to book Dun Ri.

Cheers

Might be a GAA match in town??

Have you tried the Ashford Court Hotel in Ennis? We stayed there a few years ago when it changed owners and it was fine.
http://www.ashfordcourtboutiquehotel.com/

Actually looks like Ashford Court has Closed.

I was wondering about that - it's showing completely booked until at least October, 2013!

Hopefully Glenomra will give me a positive reply.

I've been thinking over your idea, Tony, to take a night from north of Clifden and put it between Dingle and Dublin, and it appeals to me.

How about either of these options:

Derry, Sligo, Westport, then 2 Clifden, etc., and 1 night Kilkenny or Wicklow area between Dingle and Dublin.

or

Derry, Sligo (or perhaps a bit further on), then Clifden etc. and 2 nights either Kilkenny or Wicklow in order to see Cashel and Wicklow mtns.

The more I think about it, the more I like this - just an opportunity to see another part of the country.

Thoughts?

I hope if you're around and about when we're in Ennis, I can stand you a pint or two!