pepnjak

My husaband and I are flying into Dublin and we have 5 days to wander. We have rented a car and want to get out of the city,hike, fish and explore.(we will "do" one day in Dublin) This is actually our starting point to travel the coast of Croatia for 15 days in september.(cheaper to fly into Dublin than directly to Dubrovnik) ....we would like a country in or seaside lodging for two evenings with easy access to the airport.

Thanks, Patti Pep

JOHNOD

Try Greysones, just south of Bray and an easy ride from Dublin airport. Pretty seaaside village. Have fun

pontoon

Greystones.

GreenDragon

I also enjoyed staying in Dun Laoghaire -- it is south of Dublin, seaside suburb, but you can take the DART bus into Dublin when you wish. (better not to have the car in Dublin).

Just south is the Wicklow Mountain range, a great place to explore. I'd recommend Powerscourt Falls, Powerscourt house and garden (if you like formal 18th century gardens) and Glendalough Abbey, farther south. The mountains themselves are wonderful to wander in, which is what I did my first trip in Ireland -- I picked a road and just went

pepnjak

Thankyou for your suggestions. I have been online searching for lodging in Greystone.No luck. Any particular Inn? I can't find any. We have rented a car from the airport and the first two nights we are staying north of Dublin in Skerries(Redbank House). We will take day trips out from there and rest up from our flight. I wasn't sure if I should find one night out in the country,hike and explore and then drive to the coast for our last evening OR stay south of Dublin for our last two nights and "do" day trips from that location??I can't seem to get a handle on the distances and ease of driving/parking. Our flight does not leave until 4:30 pm on the 5th day to Venice(we can "do" a bit of Dublin that morning) where we will rent our car to explore the Croatian Coastline.Any help here would be appreciated. Thankyou Patti

pontoon

http://www.slievemorehouse.com/

pontoon

Can you clarify how many nights you have in dublin, 2 or 5? I would advise you stay south of the City as north Co Dublin is not as nice IMHO as South County Dublin.

pepnjak

We arrive at the Dublin airport 9:00am on September 6 and depart late afternoon on the 10th. I was thinking one day and the half day before our flight for Dublin. It depends how we feel after our flight from Seattle which day we will explore the city.(we are not city people)I chose north for the first two nights because the Inn is only 20 min from the airport and was on the coast.It sounds quite nice,the Redbank House and Resaurant in Skerries.I dont want to stay in the city and change rooms every night.We will be doing a lot of that in Croatia and not knowing where we will be staying as we will look for zimmers.

We will enjoy seeing the gardens, country side.We would like to hike and maybe fish in a stream??We love to walk, hike and bike!!! Our favorite is meeting the people.Again thankyou. This all helps so much!

pontoon

Skerries is a nice coastal town and the Red Bank is famous for it's high standards of food (it's been around for years) I'm sure the accommodation is good too. It's also a short train trip to the city centre. Good choice. There is better hiking south of the city but it is reachable by train. One city hike I always rave about is the Cliff Walk in Howth. This is a small peninsula south of skerries and a fishing village. There is a cliff walk that is a few hours round trip and takes in a lighthouse, several beaches and coves and great views of the city. Howth on the train-line too. It's not exactly the Pyrenees but for a city hike it's right up there. Let me know if you want details and I can direct you to the trail head.

pepnjak

Thankyou...the hike sounds wonderful and maybe the perfect thing to do after flying the entire day before! Would love to know where the the trail head is. Maybe we will hike part of the day and a bit of Dublin too. Since We have rented a car the next day(#2) we can take an excursion out,3rd day head towards our other lodging and I am sure we will come across something to do or tour on the way(maybe a garden ??)...and then one more outing on the fourth day from our lodging south of Dublin.We will then have a bit of time the 5th morning if we feel we need a little more city fix or enjoy some more sights as we work our way to the airport. I am booking at the earlier suggestion Slievemorehouse.THANKYOU SO MUCH !!

pontoon

Ok here goes. But just to clarify first: Skerries is on the north side of the city and Greystones equidistant on the southside and the Airport is in the northside. Anyway about the hike:

Catch the DART (Dublin’s local commuter train) to Sutton. Come out of the station and turn left towards Sutton Cross. Here you will find shops/ supermarket/ bank/ hotel etc. should you need to stock up for a picnic. Ask someone for the supermarket as it’s hidden behind the main street. Walk out of Sutton Cross via the right fork with the Marine Hotel on your right hand side. Walk for about 10 minutes and the sea will be on your right. After a grassy area the road turns to the right and follow the sea- take this road. If anyone passes you ask them if you are on the right way to Red Rock or the Martello Tower. Follow the road for another 10 to 15 minutes – you will pass Sutton Dingy Club. After a while the road narrows and turns sharply left and there is a gateway on the right hand side – this land is public and is where the trail starts. You will know you are on the right way as you pass the tower after about 10 more minutes.

As mentioned this is not the Pyrenees, but it is nice. If you have good weather you could swim in one of the coves along the way. Your destination here is the fishing village of Howth which is connected by the path. You kind of have to sniff out the direction but ask some of the people out walking themselves and they can direct you. If you need a break come off the track at the Summit and drop into the pub for drink.

This is close to a residential area and it’s more than likely you will pass a few people on the way. From Red Rock to Howth Village is about a few hours walk. If you do it on a Sunday there is a Farmer’s Market in Howth where you can pick up bread, cheese, wine, etc. and of course fresh seafood. On other days stop in Beshoff’s for their famous fish and chips if that’s your fancy.

In Howth there is a DART station so you do not have to walk all the way back to Sutton to make your way home. Enjoy.

chatham

I haven't stayed , but I've heard good things about King Sitric in Howth. It is at the end of the pier and I believe the walking path is behind it. The rooms look very nice and have water views. Karen Brown recommends it along with others. Why not look? My Best, Joan

pepnjak

Okay I am printing the information off for the hike.Looks perfect. I am still trying to spend our last two nights south of the city .I have emailed slievmorehouse several times trying to book using my visa or USD but have had no return emails. I will keep trying as it is the only recommendation I have for the last two nights of our visit!

We're from the Seattle Washington area so LOVE fish and chips!!

again, Thankyou! Patti

teacher33

I have to second the advice that Greystones is a wonderful place to stay. I lived and taught school there 40 years ago and go back frequently to visit friends. The town is right on the sea with a wonderful little harbor and the train goes right into Dublin on a regular basis.

Slievemore House may be booked up, hence no reply. The house is right near the harbor. I would look for their phone number on their website and call them direct; it is not terribly expensive early in the morning and is worth it to speak directly with them. Another option is Glandore House run by Penny and Malcolm Hall. the phone is 353 1 287 4364. If you want a hotel the Latouche is nice. they also have a website, but I have had trouble with getting a reply out of them via email and found booking directly by phone easier.

From Greystones it is an easy drive to Glendalough, an 8th century monastic ruin with round tower and nice walks around the lake. St. Kevin lived here b ut you can no longer go up to his hermit cave since they lost a few tourists on the steep climb up there. There is a good visitor center at Glendalough with an informative video and displays explaining the history and geology of the area.

Also second the motion about Powerscourt. The gardens are magnificent and you will recognize them from many calendar pages which include the view looking down the walk across the lake into the Wicklow hills beyond. Also on another part of the estate is the Powerscourt waterfall--the tallest in Ireland at 476 feet. By summer it can be just a trickle but it is a pretty walk. Today there are amenities there, but 40 years ago, it was pretty wild and you could be there alone. A friend and I got chased by wild donkeys for our peanut butter sandwiches.

If you are a fan of Ballykissangel on PBS, the town of Avoca was the filming place and is an easy drive from Greystones. Actually some of the shots of Kildargin on Ballykissangel were shot in Greystones.

Have a great time!

(Actually I am just back a few days from Dubrovnik--loved it)

pepnjak

I just called and have lodging at the Slievmorehouse!It sounds perfect.

Now I just need a place near the airport to stay the night before we head back to the States!

Teacher33, Where did you stay in Dubrovnik. Any suggestions for our Croatian holiday?

teacher33

pepnjak, I'm glad you succeeded in getting a reeservation for Greystones.

About Dbrovnik, I was on a tour (dirty word here on Fodor's, I gather). I am new to the forum. It was my first tour as I usually like to plan my own trips and tootle about on my own. It will be my last for a while. The fault was not with the tour but with me; I just found out I am not a "tour person"

Anyway, to answer your question, our group stayed out at Hotel President Dubrovnik which is quite a way out of town--end of #6 bus line, about 15 minute ride. The hotel was nice and I had a room with a balcony and watched some wonderful sunsets. www.babinkuk.com
I enjoyed the days I slipped off on my own. Once took a boat trip from the old harbor (outside Ploce Gate) around Lokrum Island and saw the walls from the sea. (a great relax on a 90 degree day.)

Also took a ride over to Cavtat. Lots of boats go from the old harbor--several choices of departure and return times. Cavtat is a pleasant little town. Wandered up the side streets, took a hike around the point, and ate at one of the restaurants on the seafront. Watched little and not so little boats come and go.

Our tour included day trips to Montenegro and Mostar. I was glad I went on them to see the turf, but they were long days. (8:30 am- 5:30 pm) I think I have read on some other posts that a tour company called Atlas Tours also provides trips to these places.

There are several Croatia threads just today.

I enjoyed the walk around the walls of the old city, poking into the little side streets up tons of stairs, looking around the market, popping into churches for some shade and prayer, the visit to the Rector's Palace, wandering around the streets in the evening and watching the sunset over the walls.

The guard which stands at the gates (with medieval outfit and lance) arrives in the evening. A drummer leads the guards their place--no big fanfare, but fun to watch. No one seems to gether just for the occasion, and I just happened to catch it one evening about dusk --8:30ish last week, so don't know if the time changes as the days get longer and shorter.

teacher33

I forgot to say, that IMHO the glass bottom boat ride was not a great value. I did one of their trips one day just to get off my feet. There wasn't all that much to see on the bottom. You are much better looking up and around.

pepnjak

teacher33,thankyou for your help. I am not a tour person either. I am sure the day will come!!Plans are coming together nicely thanks to all of the Fodors!Great sharing.Hope I will be able to help out someone else when I return.

itsmlf

I would agree that Skerries is a great place to be.....easy to get into the city by train or bus but Im always content to just stay there...lots of places nearby to see and things to do.