introvertadela

Hi everyone, I'm planning my solo trip to Ireland and I have a rough gauge of things I want to do and where to base myself and wanted to check whether its feasible. I'm 29 and a woman traveller who have travelled alone before in Europe.

I will reach Dublin on 29 Apr before 11am. Originally the plan was to fly out of Dublin but after reading some advice online, I'm inclined to fly out from Cork on 13 May in the late afternoon onwards. I will be using public transport to get around and I have 14 nights. I would do day trips out either through bus tours or private tours.

My must-see places are Glendalough, Cashel, Ring of Kerry, Cliffs of Moher, Connemara, Gap of Dunloe and Giants Causeway. It would be nice to see Charles Fort and Dingle Peninsula. I like nature, walking, alone time, drinking, local culture and history.

The rough plan is:
29 Apr - Arrive in Dublin
2 May - Leave Dublin and head to Galway
6 May - Leave Galway and head to Killarney
10 May - Leave Killarney and head to Cork
13 May - Head to airport

Please let me know what are your thoughts/suggestions on how I can improve my itinerary. I am unsure of the days I’m spending at each base and whether I should really fly out from different airports. Technically, I can still fly out from Dublin. Thanks!

Tony2phones

Glendalough can be done on a tour from Dublin. As can the Giants Causeway although that's a long day

Connemara with either Cong for the Quiet Man or Kylemore Abbey can be done from Galway as can the Cliffs of Moher. You could get the bus out to/past Clifden to do some walking/cycling.

Killarney has access to the Gap of Dunloe the national park and other walking/cycling options. Tours include the ring of Kerry or the Dingle peninsula

Charles fort, Kinsale. Cobh and fota, Blarney, Cahir/Cashel are all reachable from Cork.

No need to return to Dublin unless the flights really are considerably better.

introvertadela

^Thanks! I took what you said and put it into a rough schedule:

29 Apr - Arrive in Dublin
30 Apr - Glendalough (day trip)
1 May - Giants Causeway (day trip)
2 May - Leave Dublin and head to Galway
3 May - Connemara/Kylemore Abbey (day trip)
4 May - Cliffs of Moher (day trip)
5 May - Clifden (day trip)
6 May - Leave Galway and head to Killarney
7 May - Gap of Dunloe/Ring of Kerry (day trip)
8 May - Dingle peninsula (day trip)
9 May – Killarney National Park (day trip)
10 May - Leave Killarney and head to Cork
11 May - Cashel (day trip)
12 May -
13 May - Head to Cork airport

Does that make sense? I seem to have a free day in Cork which I could move to a different area to get more time in nature. I live in a city-state so I want to get my feel of nature before I return.

Macross

https://wildrovertours.com/

I have been to NI before on a more leisurely pace but last trip my friends really wanted to see the causeway so we did the wild rover tour. It was the best day. It was so clear we could see Scotland that day. You can do the black cab tour or the Titanic tour before heading to the coast. I would say go for it. Great tour guide and driver.
In Galway try Galway tours, they are excellent.

bilboburgler

You are cutting Dublin a bit short, also getting into a bus straight after a long flight is going to extend any jet lag. I'd start with a day walking Dublin then do the tours. That takes out the 12 May gap nicely.

Nature in Ireland will find you.

Tony2phones

You haven't given Kinsale and Charles fort time in Cork, or Blarney which has some of the best castle grounds.

Your plan looks basically fine as is there are always tweaks you can mix in there.

introvertadela

@Macross: Thanks! I have wildrovertours on my list and will add Galway tours to it. And I definitely want to do the black cab tour when I get there.

@bilboburgler: I'm arriving on 29 Apr in the morning so I will have 29 Apr to walk around Dublin before starting the tours.

@Tony2phones: I would prefer Blarney over Kinsale and would put that in.

Is it worth it to do a private tour around Ring of Kerry or Dingle Peninsula? I saw that South Kerry Taxi has those private tours that you can get a car and driver for the day. Its expensive for 1 person though, €225 for 8 hours.

Tony2phones

Why would you pay for a private driver to get places you can see via a standard tour? Actually €225 is cheap for 8 hours, private driver/guides normally start at €400 (€50/hr)

I generally give Lally tours for Galway area but the tours are all generally much of a muchness.

bilboburgler

Dublin has a nice little college, a fine art gallery, the Guiness experience, some very odd shops and great prison visit. That is before you time in food, whatever fancy stuff is going on etc. I'd give it another day.

http://www.visitdublin.com/top-10-dublin-attractions

The zoo .... well...

introvertadela

^I think its more being able to see the off the beaten path things around that area. When you put it that way, I can see how thats cheap.

Will keep Lally Tours in mind too.

introvertadela

@bilboburgler: I see what you mean. I definitely want to see the Book of Kells and St Patrick's Cathedral. I'm just not sure how to fit in another day in Dublin though. Though technically I can arrive a day earlier or leave a day later.

Tony2phones

When in Killarney you could consider renting a bicycle to get to some spots. Have you looked at Mór Active Tours for Killarney/Kerry?

introvertadela

^I'm not the best cyclist which means I can cycle on a straight road and that's it. Not yet, but I've been looking at tours which include walking/hiking/kayaking.

introvertadela

I'm about to book my flights and the prices have increased. If I fly in and out of Dublin on my original dates, its around USD300 cheaper. If I stick to Cork, its more expensive.

I can save money by flying out of Dublin but I would have to spend money to take a train to Dublin and do a night there since its an early morning flight. That would cost me around USD150 and my last day to explore.

Any thoughts?

Tony2phones

There are express bus's from Cork to Dublin Airport

http://gobe.ie/
http://www.aircoach.ie/timetables/ro...irport-express
http://www.expressway.ie/routeX8.php

You could aim for a Dublin airport Hotel for your last night? You could reverse the whole trip and get an express bus to Cork to Start and finish the itinerary in Dublin?

Where were you aiming to from Cork? would Shannon work?

introvertadela

Oh, could definitely do a Dublin Airport hotel on that last night. Morning flight is at 9am.

I've tried these variations:
- In Shannon, Out Dublin
- In Cork, Out Dublin
- In Dublin, Out Shannon
and the prices are the same as In Dublin, Out Cork (+/- USD3).

Haven't tried In Shannon, Out Cork or vice versa though.

But I do like the idea of reversing the whole trip and taking an express bus to Cork from the start (plane lands at Dublin at 9am).

introvertadela

So I've booked my flights and I'm flying in and out of Dublin. I'm arriving in Dublin on 29 Apr at 3pm and flying out of Dublin on 13 May at 9am. I will take the direct bus to Cork once I land in Dublin. So my route goes:

29 Apr - Arrive in Dublin and head to Cork
30 Apr - Cashel (day trip)
1 May - Blarney (day trip)
2 May - Leave Cork and head to Killarney
3 May - Gap of Dunloe/Ring of Kerry (day trip)
4 May - Dingle peninsula (day trip)
5 May - Killarney National Park (day trip)
6 May - Leave Killarney and head to Galway
7 May - Connemara/Kylemore Abbey (day trip)
8 May - Cliffs of Moher (day trip)
9 May - Leave Galway and head to Dublin
10 May - Giants Causeway (day trip)
11 May - Glendalough (day trip)
12 May - Dublin
13 May - Head to Dublin airport

I have taken out Clifden and am heading to Dublin earlier. I will miss walking around Clifden but would like a day in Dublin.

Is there any areas I should stay in for Cork/Killarney/Galway/Dublin? I'm looking at airbnbs mostly but don't mind hotels/bnbs/guesthouses. I'm also wondering if I should splurge and book a 1 night stay in a castle somewhere but I'm not sure when I can fit it in.

introvertadela

^Though I'm wondering whether I should stay in Killarney or just stay longer in Cork/Galway or head to Limerick or Ennis.

Tony2phones

The itinerary looks fine as it stands. Holidays are about enjoying what you can see/do and not worrying about things you might have missed. don't second guess yourself or over plan.

I don't use AirB&B's and don't recommend any accommodation I have no personal or trusted knowledge of. The problem you have is the Single Suplement charges which most places impose.

Cork is usually a problem because folk need parking. You need to be near the Transport system. possibly the Blarney Stone Guest house on Western Rd..

Killarney I would suggest Sunnybank Guest house or the Eviston House Hotel.

If you want to put in a Castle Hotel you could consider Ballyseede possibly Dromoland on the night of the 5th breaking the Kerry~Galway split.

Galway, possibly Petra House or one of the others on College Rd, keeping you handy for Eyre Sq and transport/tour links.

Dublin depends on Budget but the Travelodge Stephens green is one good option

introvertadela

^Thank you! I've taken rooms on the roads that you have suggested the guest houses at.

I'm booking my transport and tours now. And I'll be done with all the planning and just have to get myself there. I plan to buy the tickets for transport between the cities online.

I'm going to be exploring some places on my own and taking tours for others. I'm just wondering if anyone has any thoughts on the below. I've indicated which ones I'll be doing on my own and which ones I'm getting a tour:

30 Apr - Cashel (day trip) - own trip
1 May - Blarney (day trip) - own trip
3 May - Gap of Dunloe/Ring of Kerry (day trip) - tour
4 May - Dingle peninsula (day trip) - tour
5 May - Killarney National Park (day trip) - own trip/tour (suggestions?)
7 May - Connemara/Kylemore Abbey (day trip) - tour
8 May - Cliffs of Moher (day trip) - tour
10 May - Giants Causeway (day trip) - tour
11 May - Glendalough (day trip) - tour