Hello to all... A couple of friends and myself have booked a trip to Ireland for the end of July and we would love some constructive criticism of our itineray! We have a total of 8 touring days in the country and we are looking for a balanced level of nature & city life. Thus far, our itinerary looks as follows:

Day 1 - Dublin, spend night in Dublin.
Day 2 - Early AM drive to Cashel, then wind up in Dingle to spend the night.
Day 3 - Tour Dingle Pensla., Spend the night in Dingle again.
Day 4 - Early AM drive to The Burren, tour Burren, Spend the night in Doolin.
Day 5 & 6 - tour Connemara and stay two nights in Clifden.
Day 7 - Galway City and stay overnight.
Day 8 - Dublin

Any suggestions welcomed!!! Thank you!

Looks good to me. you've done a good job with your research. Have a great trip.

I think the day you drive from Dublin to Dingle via Cashel will be an extremely long driving day. Other than that, it looks okay.

Don't miss driving the Sky Road while you're in Clifden. You'll enjoy that entire area--very different.

I agree with Irisheyes about the long day from Dublin to Dinlge, but apart from that it sounds good. My only alteration would be to suggest day 5 Galway and stay in Galway city. Day 6 Clifden, Day 7 Westport, Day 8 Dublin. This would ensure you don't backtrack, get to see more or Connemara- as it changes in landscape from south to north - Take in the fjord at Leenane, and Doo Lough (the region streches from outside Galway city to just south of Westport). The drive from Westport to Dublin is a little longer than the Galway/ Dublin road (45mins) but a better quality road. Enjoy.

Pontoon - so are you saying we should not do an overnight (or two) in Clifden, as we have planned?

Thank you to all of you for your insight! Two more questions:
1. do you feel we should spend that night in The Burren/Doolin, or would it be best to stay overnight in a major city instead?
2. How do you suggest we alter that Day 2 so as not to have that much travel and yet not alter the itineray completely where it would throw off the remainder of the days?

Good questions. I think day two is a necessary evil - but ultimately worth it. It's not toooo long but as you say get an early start and you should be there in time for dinner (including stops). If you wake up on day 5 in Doolin you will have to go through Galway City and the southern part of Galway county to get to Clifden. Day 6 tour some more Connemara and back to clifden. Day 7 Back (mostly along the same route) to Galway city. Day 8 go to Dublin. For me that's too much backtracking and driving time. Here's an alternative: Wake up on day 5 in Doolin. Short drive to Galway city- spend all day in Galway city and sleep there. Day 6 drive to Clifden, stopping in O'Dowds in Roundstone for lunch or Ballynahinch Castle for coffee, take the back road through Roundstone towards Ballyconeely and have a dip on the white beaches there. On to Clifden. Stay there. Day 7 Travel north past Kylemore Abbey, onto Leenane and into Westport. Stay there and take the Westport Dublin road home on day 8. Westport is bigger and nicer [imho] than Clifden and will allow you see the northern part of Connemara without having to go back to Clifden at the end of the day's trip... if you know what I mean.

Agree with Pontoon. But from Clifden to Westport be certain to take the "scenic" route, that is the road of the great famine walk. I don't have my map here to give you the name or number, but it's not the main road--you take the N59 to Leenane, and then from Leenane you take the road that weaves back left (west) along the north side of Killary harbour then goes north to Louisburgh. It goes past the Delphi Lodge and along Doo Lough lake. Very desolate and moving--read up about the famine walk ahead of time. Takes longer, but worth it.

I totally agree with Holldoll- that drive was one of our favorite parts of our trips. At one spot, you can look down a valley with a waterfall and a trout stream. Beside you, one mountain in trees, one mountain barren and rocky. In the distance, you can see the ocean. We were blessed by having a rainbow over it all. Beautiful!

Doolin was a lot of fun, too. Enjoyed the pubs, the scenery and the music.

The trip looks great! Have an awesome trip

You are all SO HELPFUL! I truly appreciate all your tips!! Let me know if you think of anything else!!

GinaL378, If you stay in Clifden be sure to look up Ramie and have him take you on a boating/fishing excursion.He lives near the old castle.

The road holldoll is talking about is 'The Trail of Tears' or the r335 and it starts just north of Leenane at the sign post for AAsleagh Falls (just beside the fishing lodge and just past the Rock Bar). Read up on the history of this road b4 driving it. If you stay in Westport book ahead to La Bella Vita - the best food in Westport [IMO] http://www.adlib.ie/ocean/oceandetail.asp?ID=2039 Also the Wyatt is a nice hotel.

Hey xxx30 - you said if we stay in Clifden (which we plan to do), that we should look up Ramie to take us out boating/fishing... that sounds wonderful and we would love interaction with the locals... But, who is Ramie? Is he a fisherman that takes tourists out for the day? And how does one find him?

I hate to be a bother to all of you again, but one more question - any advice on some great restaurants that serve Authentic Irish fare (and not too pricey)? I am not the type to go to Paris and eat Italian.... So recmdtns welcome for authentic food in: Dublin, Cashel, Dingle and the peninsula, doolin and the burren, Galway City, Clifden and Connemara?