Am planning a 12 day trip in August. Am I better off just doing west coast and not going to Dublin and Wterford? The more I read the more I'm tempted to do it all- but I dont like made dashes. Love beautiful scenery, walking to moderate hikes, crafts and small towns nd villages. Any suggestions. This will be my first trip to Ireland. Mostly traveled US in past and love national parks here, especially Bryce Canyon, Arches, Capital Reef. Trying to give an idea of what I like. Any help would be appreciated

<BR>Hi Vicki, <BR>If you do fly into Dublin, I would suggest you only spend 1 day there...then head west. Tour the Ring of Kerry, and then the beautiful Dingle Peninsula and carry on further north to Clare...Cliffs of Moher and further north to Galway. If you want to go to even more remote areas, and if you have time, head further north to Donegal. <BR>But for your firt time and to keep it fairly leisurely, concentrate on Coiuntry Kerry, Clare and Galway. <BR>Lee

Thanks for taking the time to answer my inquiry. I really appreciate your help. <BR>Ireland sounds wonderful and I can't wait. Your advice is probably the way I'll go - just wanted someone to reconfirm that I'm "doing the right thing" <BR>Again- Many thanks

Personally, I'd head straight up to Galway, on to Sligo, then on to Donegal. Dingle is beautiful, but Donegal still has touches of wildness to it. You might even be able to escape the August tourists!

Even if you're not a city person I don't think a trip to Ireland would be complete without a visit of a day or two to Dublin. Wicklow, near there is lovely. The dramatic scenery of canyon country is not in Ireland, by the way, but there's a different kind of beauty.

Although Ireland is small, the driving times are not. I would skip Waterford completely. I love Dublin, but I suggest you focus on the West Coast. Fly into Shannon, rent a car. I recommend driving north from Shannon to Galway, stopping at Doolin for the pub music. From there go out to Inis Mor in the Aran Islands. Then head to Mayo, (Westport, Mulranny, Achill Island) and Donegal. You'll dream about those places for years.