Kinloch

Hello Experts, I wondered if I could get some input on a proposed itinerary for end of August 2012. Have been reading trip reports and info on ireland. This is what I have come up with but I would like some input.
Day 1 - Arrive 10 am. I know I will get comments about allowing for jet lag but I am a medical professional who worked lots of night shifts. I have travelled all over the world, I never jet lag so don't worry about that. Plan Newgrange, Kells Tombs, Knoch Abbey Gardens and maybe a short hike in Mourne mtns. Plan to stay in Kilkeel to Annalong area but have not found a B and B I like the look of. Drive 170 km
Day 2 - Mount Stewart Garden, Glenariff Falls, Giants Causeway, rope bridge, dark hedges,
stay in port rush. Drive 135 miles
Day 3 - drive across Inishowen ( having trouble finding out about the ferries, is there a website) Glenveach park, sleeve league, stay north of sligo. Drive 160 miles
Day 4 - All day horse back riding trip
Day 5 - Queen Maeve and megalithic tombs, Kylemore Abbey, Cong Abbey, Sky road, Brigids Garden stay in Galway. Drive 245 km

I would like suggestions about high points i missed or things to take off itinerary. Also any favourite places to stay? budget for accommodations is for B and B's, not Bushmills!! Thanks Kinloch

Tony2phones

Lough Foyle ferries
http://loughfoyleferry.com/

We use Avarest Guest House in Portrush.
http://avarest.com/

You will need a good camera to get something to remember, a good map and a really good relationship with the wheel of your hire car.

NoCaliGal

I take it you LOOOVVVE driving. It seems like a lot of miles or kilometers to drive each day. I'm not sure where you're from, but I wonder if you know that these roads are often quite small, windy, and just plain slow to drive. It seems like a whirlwind tour in 2 countries which should be taken slowly.

Kinloch

Thanks for your thoughts. I know I am trying to cover a bit of distance but not really two countries since after this part of the trip I will have 4 days in Galway for a conference and then 8 more days to travel to the south. I am much more familiar with driving in northern scotland and the outer hebrides but I assume it will be quite similar. To tell you the truth I really want to see the Giants Causeway and the north shore and that is the furthest point of the trip, the rest is just fill in. i guess we will have to see how it goes the first day. Allyson

kelsorosie

You won't that much done in a day. Each of those places take a day to enjoy, you need to take your time or it will be a rush and unenjoyable sorry

sugarmaple

I'm a bit confused. I've been poring over itineraries for weeks now, and many have the same rough outline that Kinloch is planning, save for the last day of 245k, private people, books, and tour companies.

I've seen a ton that are Dublin - Belfast - Derry - Sligo, for example, generally 1 night in each place. I know that isn't this itinerary, but the end result is the same, Sligo by the 3rd or 4th night depending on if one overnight's in Dublin.

It's not my intention to hijack this thread, but the devil is in the details, and I'm wondering why some posters will get a thumbs up for this sort of plan. Where in Kinloch's plan do you see a problem - all the days or just one or two?

I'm planning my own trip, so I'm really interested. It's fine to look at a map, but on the ground is a whole different kettle of fish, and it's great to benefit from practical advice.

Tony2phones

It is not so much the getting from one place to the next it is also to do with amount of sightseeing in the plan. Some hard to find, narrow winding road places, the guarantee that getting lost will be a factor.

I have put together similar Itineraries for people, Belfast-Portrush along the coast road.- Donegal via Derry or Letterkenny. Sligo is not that much further but fitting the Slieve League into the mix as well makes for a very tiring day.

Day 5 is a regular mash of roads and backtracking that takes no consideration of the time to see the places listed. I might consider tying Day 4 into the mix staying in Clifden after taking the coast down and riding out from Cleggan.

janisj

sugarmaple: Organized tours can squeeze in much more that one can driving themselves (and more that they should IMO). Passengers are trapped in the coach and the driver presses on.

On many scenic roads in Ireland you will do VERY well to average 35mph/55kmph . . . so that 245 KM can easily take 5 hours behind the wheel/car time w/o any stops.

sugarmaple

Thanks to both tony and janis - that's what I'm looking for.

with apologies to the OP, I'm very, very interested in your assessments of Twiggers itinerary - does it sound like something you would do? Or recommend to a first-time visitor?

I've got 15 nights, and that plan really sounds appealing to me, but not if the reality is too much time in the car,and too much stressing about getting to the next town late and anxious.

Cheers

sugarmaple

Goodness, I hope it's not bad form to ask for comments on another poster's itinerary?

Certainly no offense intended....

Tony2phones

I have been round Ireland twice in the last 10 years taking 14 days each time. It is possible but you must accept that you can't see everything, you have to decide where you are going to cut corners, where you are going to slip in a two night stay. Be repaired for some long days and late check in (6 or 7 pm) Be flexible about planning, the more on the list the more there is to miss.

Twiggers is running through the trip on here and the TA Ireland forum, makes good reading for those considering similar trips.

Kinloch

Thanks for jumping in Sugarmaple as I have gotten some help out of the chat you generated. I was hoping for some input into what to put in and take out.
Day 3 - i should leave in inishowen and the park but take out sleeve league?
Day 5 - i was hoping some one would jump in with which of these might be preferred sights. Cong abbey vs kylemore. Skye road instead of sleeve league on day 3, which is the more interesting drive? Brigids Garden is in for sure but doesn't look like a long drive from Galway. Maybe I could sneak out of conference one day and buzz back up from there. K

Tony2phones

For The Connemara section this might help
http://www.tripadvisor.ie/ShowTopic-...ty_Galway.html

For day 3 it is either, or. Maybe stay in Ardara and see the Slieve before Sligo.

I don't know what Equestrian plans you have for day 4 but as said I would aim for Clifden and Cleggan Beach riding. http://clegganridingcentre.com/

littlejane

Hi Kinloch

Personally I would drop Brigid's garden - what is the reason for having it on your list? The others are all "real" attractions, Brigid's garden to me is just something creative that someone did with a few acres to attract tourists who would pay for admission and coffee - a nice idea if you are stuck for things to do in Galway and you are there for a week, but not by any means a must-see.

Cong Abbey and Kylemore Abbey are totally different, so it's not really a "one or the other" proposition. If you wanted to cut out some time one option would be to do Kylemore Abbey but cut out the sky road to Clifden, and just come straight down the Inagh Valley to Galway from Kylemore. It's only 12 miles from Kylemore to Clifden if I remember correctly, so depending on what route you have planned you can play that by ear on the day, if time is short you could cut it out. Kylemore is one you can just stop by and park in the car park if you want, no need to do the full visit unless you have a particular interest in Victorian gardens etc