Katiehab

My boyfriend and I are planning two-week trip to Ireland and Scotland at the end of May/beginning of June. This is our first big trip together, and his first real abroad experience. I want to make sure we both enjoy ourselves and want to travel again! Here's the beginning of what he and I were thinking so far, focusing on scenery and local culture. Help fleshing things out, and any alternate recommendations would be GREATLY appreciated! Keep in mind we're headed to Scotland for a week after the itinerary below:
Arrive into Shannon
Spend the night in the Burren
Cliffs of Mohr, drive to Dingle
Two nights on the Dingle Penninsula
Drive to Dublin stopping for a kiss at Blarney (a must do on his list) and a tour of the Rock of Cashel
Dublin for a day, then depart for Glasgow.
Is this doable? Fun? Should we try to squeeze in Kilkenny or Connemara?

BigRuss

The Ireland savants will know this better but kissing the Stone and getting to Dublin on the same day may be difficult or at least a long slog. Driving from Dingle to Dublin is 5 hours plus stops for food and petrol if you drive direct (see here: http://www.frommers.com/community/fo...lin-dingle-day - note to Fodors admins: please don't ban me for posting from the F------s board) and your route is NOT direct.

Hoping you prioritized Edinburgh > Glasgow.

Squeezing in ____ is not recommended. Not much down time on your itinerary to start off.

jent103

I wouldn't try to squeeze in any more. The Cliffs + driving to Dingle will take most of that day, so you really don't have much time to spare. As it is, your itinerary is fast but doable. Flying into Shannon and not driving far the first day is a good idea.

I can't tell - are you planning to spend a night in Dublin, or is your flight to Glasgow that evening?

jent103

I should clarify - along with Russ, I haven't done that Dingle-Dublin drive, so hopefully others will chime in on the feasibility. If you can do it, it would be a long day.

Katiehab

jent103: yes, we are planning a night. So far, we were thinking the following nights: Burren, Dingle x2, either Dublin or somewhere closer to the Rock of Cashel (which, based on the other comments sounds like the wisest choice), Dublin. Our flight to Glasgow is in the evening, so that would probably give us two half days in Dublin. Not ideal, but we prioritized Dingle. As long as he gets his tour of St. James Gate, and I get to ponder the Book of Kells, I think we'll both be happy.

amer_can

Don't sweat the small stuff, suck up the inconveniences and lots of smiles.. You will love the Emerald Isle, The Burren is very interesting, the dry packed vertical rock stone walls/fences a feat of effort and don't miss the Giant's Causeway and Newgrange if you can do them..Relationship endure very nicely if the 3 afore mentioned actions are looked after ( You may have do them by yourself as it may not be "guy thing" for your guy.)

jaja

You really don't get to "ponder" the Book of Kells." You stand in a slow-moving but definitely moving line so when it is your turn you don't get to linger. And you will only see the Page of the Day. However, it is something to always remember. The Long Room of the library is a wonder, too.

greg

Looks like you are from the US. If you watch the CBS TV program "The Amazing Race," while it is somewhat dramatized by selective scene inclusions, you will find that traveling abroad is a valuable opportunity to find out the relationship. You will have to make many decisions before and during the trip. Each will find out what each values and respect values important to only one of you.

BigRuss

Jaja is right about the Book of Kells - it's like the Crown Jewels, you don't quite linger.

Dunno how in the heck you'd get to the Giant's Causeway on this trip. It's in N. Ireland, not Ireland, and your path takes you away from it.

Tony2phones

Try Ennis as your base for County Clare the Burren and Cliffs The Fledh Nua is on the end of My and is great crack as an introduction to Ireland Festival. http://www.fleadhnua.com/

Southam

It's wise thinking to take the honeymoon trip before the wedding, to test whether the relationship will last for the long haul. In your case the strain would be less if you spent two weeks in Ireland and saved Scotland for the next time.
You could spend a night or two in Cork, handy to the Blarney Stone (aaargh!) and a reasonable drive to the interesting Cashel Rock. Cork is a good place to hear traditional music and the Jameson Irish Whiskey distillery has a scenic factory and capable tour just outside the city.

Rastaguytoday

Who can drive on the left side of the road? Who can drive a manual transmission? Are the drivers 25 or over?

These are only the simplest questions. They get harder as you investigate more.

Assume a max speed of 35 mph. Use www.viamichelin.com to get and idea of what it's going to take, and how much it will cost you.

Check out youtube and you can see what the drives are like, as people have taken videos from the car.

Don't get plane tickets until you can at least pass all the questions above.

jent103

You don't have to drive a manual transmission. Automatics are available, though it isn't a given and may cost you extra.

maxima

Think positively. Be flexible. Build in some down time, even time apart. Most of us do not spend 24/7 with each other for 2 weeks. So its perfectly ok to say I want to do X while you are doing Y,, lets meet back in an hour.

As for your proposed trip. decide what things are a must see and do, and what things/places you are each willing to forego in the event you are tired of driving or the weather isnt nice.. or whatever.
No one wants to hear later on that its the other's fault that you or he didnt get see whatever.

Dublin can be fun.. you can take the guinness tour, go to temple bar pubs, the national museum has some lovely paintings if that is of interest, lots of theater too....or you can just relax.

have fun.

marirose

re the Book of Kells.. Few seem to know that at Kells itself, pretty small town, there is a wonderful exhibition at the Church of Ireland, including a facsimile-copy of the Book that you can linger over and many other associated relics etc. Celtic Crosses, a round tower and the dwelling of Columbus in the town also

The exhibiton is staffed during the day; friendly ladies.

More ancient delights just outside the town also.

And Kells is pretty central and easy of access.

Katiehab

Thanks everyone!

We are saving the Giant's Causeway and N. Ireland for another trip.

I drive manual, which means I will also be driving on the left side or the road. We are in our mid 30s, so that's not an issue. It's also one of the reasons we're flying into Shannon... I want some country practice before hitting a city!

And Scotland is a go, although I agree two weeks leads to a better experience in a country. If any of you want to lend your advice on that itinerary, that would be very welcome: http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...xperience.cfm#

Ozymandias

Hi there,
It takes about two hours to drive from Dingle to Cork , the Blarney Stone is little bit outside Cork. This is very do able . There is a good motorway between Cork and Dublin . The rock of Cashel looks gorgeous but to be honest with you, it is worth stopping and touring the inside of Cahir Castle instead, Cahir is about 12 Kim's before Cashel. We were at both last week , you could do both, it will not take you long to do the rock at all.
I would not recommend leaving Dingle and trying to do all this and driving to Dublin in the one day, it would be exhausting . It takes about 2 to 3 hours to drive to Dublin from Cork.
You will love Dingle, make sure to see Slea head. There are fantastic views from the top of the Conor Pass ,although I would not recommend driving over the Conor Pass, as it would test any relationship!
I hope you have a great time here.

rosebuds

We are landing in Shannon from Boston and planning to head straight to our hotel a little past Galway. Does this sound doable? Thanks

Tony2phones

probably best to ask your own question, but SNN to Galway easy drive just over an hour. But what is a Little past Galway Fox News recently had North Donegal a little north of Galway!!

Michael_S

Don't drive in Dublin especially if your not used to large cities in Europe. It's better than Rome but no fun!