Requesting feedback on SW Ireland itinerary
 

My husband and I are planning our first trip to Southwest Ireland for early September 2007. We'll be spending 12 days and 12 nights total. We're excited to experience the beautiful scenery, local music & culture, and great food.

We would appreciate any feedback you more experienced Ireland travelers might be able to provide, expecially regarding our timeline. We have three extra days/nights built into the trip and we're not sure where best to spend them.

Suggestions for activities/sights not to be missed are also very welcome. We're in our early 30s, by the way.

Many thanks!


Arrrive Tuesday, Sept. 4, Shannon airport (8:30 a.m):
Take bus to Galway (we didn't think we'd need a car in Galway). Spending three nights at the Four Seasons B&B. Will do a bus trip to the Cliffs of Moher on one of the days.

Friday, Sept. 7:
Take bus from Galway to Shannon airport and pick up rental car. The next planned stop is Dingle. Should we plan to stop and stay a night somewhere on the way to Dingle, or drive straight through?

Friday night:
Not sure yet if it will be Dingle or someplace on the way.

Saturday through Tuesday morning:
Stay at either Greenmount House or Captain's House in Dingle. Planning to rent bikes, go hiking, take boat out to the Blasket Island if weather permits.

Tuesday:
Travel via rental car to Kenmare

Tuesday night through Friday morning:
Stay in Kenmare-- B&B yet to be determined (possibly Hawthorn House?). Planning to drive to Killarney National Park for some hiking if weather permits, and do biking & hiking around Kenmare.

Our return flight leaves Shannon Airport on Sunday, Sept. 16th (11 a.m.). We're planning to return the car that morning around 8:30. We'd like to stay somewhere nearby the night before our flight.

Thanks again, all!

I would suggest renting a car upon arrival and not going through the hassle of taking a bus. Most people select Galway for its proximity to surrounding sights...which you would probably enjoy more exploring on your own in a car. You could enjoy a drive through part of the Burren on your way to Galway on your first day, take a trip to Aran Islands one day and tour the Connemara on one day (the Sky Road outside of Clifden in scenic as well as the coastal road from Clifden to Roundstone). We also enjoyed a quick stop in Cong. There is a path behind the Abbey ruins that you can take all the way to Ashford Castle...we just went a short way to the monk's fishing hut. We stayed in Westport...one of our favorite scenic drives was between Westport, past Croagh Patrick through the Doo Lough Valley to Kylemore Abbey. I personally didn't find Galway city itself a place I would ever need to return to, but it is a central location.

Then Friday you could explore the Clare coast or Burren area, see cliffs and stay in Doolin for a night before heading to Dingle.

Drive down the coast to the ferry. Take the Connor Pass to Dingle. In Dingle you will want to drive the Slea Head loop and some of our group enjoyed horseback riding which was easy to arrange for a couple of hours. The boat out to see funghi the dolphin was a fun trip. Dingle has great pubs, music, and shops...Dingle is our favorite. We didn't go out to the Blasket Islands but enjoyed the center.

The Greenmount House gets lots of favorable comments here. The Captain's House looks nice and is in a great location...easy to walk everywhere in town. It was our first choice (had checked it out on our last trip) but it was booked.

While in Kenmare (or second favorite) I would suggest spending a day exploring the Beara Peninsula, especially Healy Pass. We also enjoyed a trip out to Garnish Island. A day touring the Gap of Dunloe was also a highlight of our trip.

We enjoyed our stay at the Hawthorne House this past June. Cannot beat the location...walk everywhere. The hostess was very friendly. Not fancy but comfortable.

If you enjoy historic sights, I would suggest spending Friday in Cashel visiting Cahir Castle and Rock of Cashel (we also enjoyed the Swiss Cottage close to Cahir). Then heading to Bunratty for your last night. We all enjoyed the Castle and Folk Park...and a pint at Mac's Pub. The family group wanted to do the banquet...which was a nice last night, corny, but fun activity...the folk night held in a barn at the park sounded fun too. Bunratty is quick, easy stay for last night.

I second Chip on the car. That way you can do things on your schedule, not the bus schedule. I stayed at Hawthorn House in Kenmare a couple of years ago and would certainly recommend it. A great location and very nice hostess. As for where to stay near Shannon, there are a bunch of B&B's and guesthouses near Bunratty Castle, about 10 minutes from the airport on the N18.
Have a great trip.

I also second the idea of getting a car on your first day. Galway is great but on day two you can hop up the coast to Roundstone or Clifden and experience the Connemara. The drive from Galway to Dingle is not hard so go direct, Dingle is on everyone,s must do list. Plan on two nights. For your spare nights I would think about the Beara and the Mizen, lovely sea views, rugged coastline and small villages. By the way the I think that a bus trip from Galway to the Cliffs will take longer than your walk around the Cliffs. If you spend any time in Killareny walk the Gap of Dunloe. You will really get a feeling for the beauty. Have fun

If you would really rather do the bus to Galway the first day, you can take a daytrip to the Aran Islands one day and a mini-tour bus tour of some of the Connemeara on the other.
I WOULD recommend that you pick up the rental car in Galway, though and drive through the Burren and see the Cliffs, enroute to Dingle, via the Killimer-Tarbert Ferry over the Shannon and a North to South drive over the Connor Pass. It's a longish day, but an easy drive, broken up by lots of options to stop and oggle along the way.

I would think that two nights in Dingle would suffice. That would free up an extra night for a liesurely drive over the VERY scenic N71 along the SW coast, with an overnight (or two) in Skibbereen or Clonakilty. There are Great hikes (both easy and advanced)on the Beara, Sheep's Head and Mizen Head, and they are all worth some time.
Alternately, you could pass by all that and stay over in Kinsale. That would put you in a good position to visit Blarney or Cobh, or simply to easily transition to Cashel and Cahir for a night or two. From THERE, it's a short, easy drive to Bunratty or Ennis for your final night.

Bob

Thanks so much for the ideas!

I've talked to people who loved Galway; I supposed that's why I thought we'd happily spend three days there. After reading your suggestions, we're considering adding the rental car for those days. Our other thoughts on not getting the car immediately were 1)saving a little money, and 2)not having to adjust to driving on the left while jet lagged. :)

Any specific comments on what there is to love/not love about Galway??

Looks like we might add an extra day in Kenmare so we can go to Killarney and see the Gap of Dunloe. We're looking at a tour with Deros Tours that would allow us to walk the gap, then take a boat to Ross castle. I'm really excited about that one.

Galway is a nice city with a couple of interesting historical sites but it's not like London. It's pretty small and the city center is easily walkable. It's a good place to spend evening for entertainment and dining, but 3 full days in the city seems like too much.

Bill