To complete our UK tour i feel a visit to Ireland is a must. We have the option of flying in or taking our own car from England. Can anyone suggest some ideas if we had a week to spend travelling? Into coastal walks, surfing and quiet nightlife. Driving from our home to ireland will probably add £150 to the sums but i'm told car hire can be expensive. Does anyone know if backpacking after a flight is a practical way to tour parts of isle or must it be self drive?
Thanks in advance for any help

ttt

Where in Englan would you be coming from as the drive and the ferry can take a chhuk of time out of your trip and flying and renting a car may be easier. There are deals to be has check lots of places and the search here on the website.

OK surfing...Lahinch Co Clare is lovely and near the cliffs of Moher and some nice walks on the beach and surroundign area and good golfing as well. Also Ennis is the nearest big town and a lovely place to stay. Its all pretty low key and relaxed, nice restaurants and good music at night in the pubs. Also for Surfing some of my friends go to Westport and if you are a serious surfer I think Donegal may be good as well.

Oh and there is a surf school in Lahinch

It depends where you want to go in Ireland - most places are on buslines so you can travel without a car.

If you're in Ireland (as opposed to N.Ireland) you'll have your drivers seat on the opposite side of the car than you should and with driving on all those tiny and twisty roads that might be quite difficult.

If you check the bus schedule - http://www.buseireann.ie/site/home/ you can see how long it takes to get around.

Ireland and the UK Both drive on the left so its not different coming from Englans to Ireland.

The bus is too long and will not take you to all the kind of places you would need a car and also uyou cannot decide your itinerary or go earlier as you are on a bus schedule. Drive its much nicer