We are landing in Shannon on Friday afternoon October 8th and driving to Westport. If we spendFriday evening, Sat and Sunday in Westport is that enough time to see all of Connemara and the sights of this region of Ireland? The next day Monday, we would drive to Doolin for one night and then on to Dingle for 4 nights that are already committed. On Saturday we head to Kenmare for 3 nights and then on to Kinsale for 2 and then back to Ennis for a flight on on Friday. Does all of this sound doable?

Any recommendations for Doolin lodging? Any recommendations for Westport lodging? Any recommendations for Kenmare lodging?

Is there time to see the Cliffs of Moher when leaving Westport and driving to Doolin?

Thank you from the Irish Novice

kpilling, how are we to help you if you don't ask questions?? Please don't apologize! We were all novices at one point.

In Westport we stayed at, and enjoyed Seapoint House, 6km outside of town, but on Clew Bay. http://seapointhouse.com/ . Not been to Kenmare or stayed in Doolin, although O'Connor's Farmhouse has gotten good press. http://www.oconnorsdoolin.com/ .

Doolin is very easy from Cliffs of Moher. Not sure of distance/location of Westport.

kpilling, 2 full days will be fine in relation to touring around the Connemara region from Westport.

Are you interested more in B&B's or hotels?

That drive from Shannon to Westport will be 2.5 to 3 hours. If you are flying from the US, that might be on the long side after the flight if you suffer from jet lag. Not impossible, mind, but long. Take it nice and easy, stop often.

I would think again about driving Shannon - Westport on Friday evening. Apart from the travelling time, the possibility of fatigue and the shortening hours of daylight in October, you will also face the Friday evening traffic getting through Galway city.
Solution? Perhaps take a night in Galway and proceed on to Westport on Saturday, driving out to Clifden and taking in Connemara en route, via Leenane.
Sunday could be given over to exploring the area north of Westport - Newport, Mulrany, Achill Island.
No problem including the Cliffs of Moher in your trip on Monday to Doolin.

I have stayed at the Boulevard Guesthouse a few times and have always enjoyed the experience. A very central location ...easy to walk to anywhere in town.

http://www.boulevard-guesthouse.com/

Have had family that have stayed at Boffin Lodge and it was recommended. Located on the Quay road..1/2 mile from the town.

http://www.boffinlodge.com/

If you are interested in hotels, I will be more then happy to give reviews on a few.

Enjoy your visit here.

Thank you all. Hotel recommendations would be terrific.

I would appreciate your input on my layout here.

Keeping in mind that I have to be in Dingle on the 12,13,14 and 15th of October.

We are landing in Shannon on the 8th of October and flying out of Shannon on the 22nd - what direction and time spent,would be the best itinerary for these locals?

Westport, Kenmare, Kinsale, Cobh, Dingle and Doolin?


Thank you all.

Direction really depends on you. I usually prefer to start out in the bigger cities (when travel is still fresh and exciting, and the crowds don't bother me so much) and leave the smaller villages to the end. However, Cobh is the only big city you've got, all the rest are small and charming.

Thats an awful lot of driving...... and I should know - I live in Ireland.

Here's what i suggest:

When you arrive at Shannon Airport, instead of heading north to Westport, head south to Limerick City.

From Limerick City I'd consider a night in Adare (a beatiful village in County Limerick).

Then on to Killarney - which by pure coincidence is my hometown. Killarney - whilst being the most picturesque and tourist friendly town in Ireland with beautiful hotels and restaurants - it is also the best starting/finishing point for the Ring of Kerry. The Ring of Kerry - if followed - brings you to the following rural towns in the Southwest of Ireland - Killorglin, Glenbeigh, Cahirsiveen, Waterville, Valentia Island, as well as Kenmare to name but a few.

Following on from Killarney - I'd suggest you head to Dingle for a night or two. When in Dingle be sure to take in the Dingle Peninsula.

Afterwards, from Dingle, consider heading to Tralee, via Annascaul (be sure to pop in to Tom Creans for a real good pint of Guinness) and on to Camp.

From Tralee, you could travel onwards to Tarbert, catching the Shannon Ferry (which crosses the River Shannon) to Killimer which is reasonably close to Shannon Airport.

If this sounds like a trip your interested in..... I'd be more than happy to suggest hotels/restaurants/etc.....

kpilling, there is a brand of Irishman known for his cuteness - and I think you have found one of them - the Kerryman.
Despite allowing you one night in the neighbouring county of Limerick, the other 30 counties of Ireland don't get a look in.
Nothing wrong with County Kerry, mind you......

Thank you for the ideas. But as I mentioned I am locked into 4 nights in Dingle and they are the 12,13,14 and 15th of Oct. So, since I arrive on the 8th in Shannon and must leave on the 22nd, I am looking for the most logical route and days to spend in Westport, Doolin, Kenmare and Kinsale/Cobh - all have to be planned around those 4 days in Dingle. So, should I go to Westport first, Doolin second, Dingle third, Kenmare fourth and Kinsale/Cobh fifth. Or is there a better direction to approach these areas? How many days for each? This is where I am having trouble getting my logical order lined up.

Thank you

I'm working on our first trip to Ireland so I've spent many hours looking at the location of the places you want to visit. I know you are locked into Dingle but Westport seems to be so far away from your other choices are you also locked into going to Westport? From what I've read, you should plan on only being able to drive about 30-40 miles in an hour (or whatever it is in kilometers) in Ireland.

Doolin would be closest after arriving at Shannon, stay one night, then up to Westport for the other nights before going to Dingle. By going to Westport you are doing a lot of backtracking, and I checked at www.aaireland.ie which has a route planner and it will be a drive of 207 miles from Westport to Dingle taking 5 hours. I don't know if you consider that a lot of driving for that day. Deborah

Since Dingle is written in stone, I would go North first, then South, AFTER Dingle. I recommend though, that you spend the first night in either Galway, or (if Galway doesn't interest you at all), Oughterard.

If you feel up to it, you can see some of the SE reaches of Connemara and/or visit Cong. Then, Oct 9th, relocate to Westport for two nights,and drive down to Doolin (personally, I would chose Ennis)for the night of the 11th.

You'll want to be near Shannon -- Bunratty, Ennis or vicinity -- on the night of the 21st, though, as you'll need to arrive about 3 hours early to handle car return, Vat Back, Customs and Immigration, etc ...

The following is meant to enlighten ---
I'm NOT being 'Snippy'

Consider:

Arriving SNN on 8 Oct -- presumably in AM after over-night flight from US -- http://www.aaireland.ie/routes_beta/ --

says that Shannon Airport to Westport via Oughterard is 115 miles and they list a driving time of just over three hours. Their drive times are NOTORIOUSLY optomistic -- it should take you AT LEAST four hours and possibly MUCH longer. Personally, I think a trip duration of 5 hours might be realistic.

WHY? --

Because, if you land at 7 AM, by the time you clear Immigration, collect your luggage, pass through Customs and collect your Rental Car, it will be between 8 and 8:30 -- which, if you are from the US East Coast, will FEEl like 2 or 3 in the AM, to you. So, unless you slept like a baby on the plane (doubtful) you will be groggy and tired, driving on the "Wrong" side of the road, over unusual and unfamiliar roads, in a strange (and strangely laid-out) vehicle.

If you leave the airport parking lot at 8:30, you will approach Galway arout 9:30 or 10 - on a Friday -- so traffic will be heavy, and SLOW. Once through Galway, traffic WILL be light, but the roads are winding and narrow.


Hope this helps ...

Bob

Hotels within walking distance of town...Knockranny House Hotel is located just outside town (on the Castlebar side) http://www.khh.ie/

Hotels in the Quay area (Clew Bay)..1 mile from town and easily walkable or €5 taxi if you partake in a few too many..

Atlantic Coast Hotel http://www.atlanticcoasthotel.com/
The Harbour Mill http://www.theharbourmill.com/

In town..

The Wyatt http://www.wyatthotel.com/
The Castlecourt http://www.castlecourthotel.ie/
Clew Bay Hotel http://www.clewbayhotel.com/

Not familiar with the other towns, as I live in Westport, though I am sure others will have recommendations.

Except for your first day's drive while jetlagged all the way to Westport, I thought your itinerary was rather good. SeeDee and Itallian_Chauffeur beat me to the punch with that sentiment, and Itallian_Chauffeur has given you excellent specifics for first and last days.

If you were to make Galway (or Salthill outside)your first hotel stop before you make your way north, I think it would be a good "starter" day/night. As I've told others, even the buskers in Galway are pretty darn good musicians, so walking around while hearing that while you get yourself oriented is a darn good way to start your trip.

Thank you all for the good info. I have not been as clear as I should have been. Here is the actual itinerary.

Leave LAX on 10/6 arrive London 10/7 leave London 10/7 arrive Shannon 10/7 in the evening. We will be spending the night in Ennis.
10/8,10/9,10/10 - Westport
10/11 - Doolin or nearby
10/12,13.14,15 - Dingle
10/16,10/17,10/18 - Kenmare
10/19/10/20- Kinsale
10/21 - Shannon Airport area
10/22 - Back to London and on to LAX

Does this trip seem logical? Would you move any of the areas differently or spend more or less time in any one in particular. Keeping in mind that Dingle is locked in.

Sorry for the confusion.

Can anyone suggest an interesting B&B for our night on the 11th of October near Doolin? We want to try out the pubs for music in Doolin. Ennis or Bunratty or other atmospheric little village - suggestions.

I just got back from our trip. First time, and we arrived in Shannon around 9:00 a.m., picked up our rental car and staggered our way up to Doolin. If you are used to American cars, road signs, and general driving conditions (not to mention driving a car with a standard transmission on the left side of the road!), then I would set my sites squarely on Doolin for your 1st night. We got lost a few times in that short distance (it took us a bit to get familiar with Irish road signs and navigating our way through traffic circles), and I was glad we didn't have to travel any further than Doolin. We stayed at the Doolin Activity Lodge (which I can easily recommend). We made a short trip to the Cliffs of Moher, then walked to a couple of the pubs for meals/beers. For our last night in Ireland, we stayed at the Bunratty Lodge, which was also very nice and very convenient to the Shannon airport.
Regarding your itinerary, start with a night in Doolin, then drive up to Westport. You have a VERY long flight before you arrive, you will be exhausted, and finding your way up to Westport would most likely turn out to be a miserable experience. Make your first day as easy as possible.