We are leaving next week for our trip to Ireland and was hoping to get some last minute advice on driving routes. We are spending the first night in Kinsale and the next night in Kenmare. The plan is to take a leisurely drive in between. We have our 4 year old with us, so any outdoor attraction stops would be great.

After spending 2 nights in Kenmare and 2 nights in Dingle we are driving up to Ballyvaghan for our last 2 nights. We plan to take the ferry at Tarbert. Would it make sense to stop off at the cliffs on the way up? Is there an obvious route to take? That would leave the next day for any other exploring of the Burren we would like to do. The following day we are flying out of Shannon for Heathrow, leaving the next morning for Canada.

Thanks for any advice/input,

Betsy

Take the R 600 from Kinsale to Clonakilty. Take the N 71 to Skibbereen, Bantry, Glengarriff, and on to Kenmare. When you drive close to the coast you will have several opportunities to stop and take a walk along the beach.

The drive on the N 71 from Kenmare to Killarney along the edge of the national park is especially beautiful.

If the weather is clear when you get to Tralee, drive over Connor Pass on your way to Dingle. You may not get another chance to enjoy the view from the top.

Get an early start when you leave Dingle. After you cross the Shannon on the ferry, take the N 67 along the coast all the way to Lahinch and the R 478 from there to the Cliffs of Moher.

Thanks for the info!!

You will also have the benefit of clear roads because in March the R 600 was closed out of Kinsale for road work. But it's a beautiful drive from Kinsale to Clonakilty.

For some side trips off that route, I might suggest taking the R597 at Rosscarberry and head SW toward Glandore. Enroute you'll come to the Drombeg stone circle, a great little slice of ancient history in a field over looking beautiful farm land. There's also an old ruin of a house along the way set in a muddy field near a river (can't think of the name right now).

Glandore is a pretty little town sitting on a secluded harbor.

Other side trips would inlcude either a trip down to the fishing village of Baltimore or perhaps Castletownshend. Castletownshen (the castle) is a "hotel"/self catering place run by an eccentric woman. It's not open for public tours, but it's an interesting place to stay. Mary Ann's in Castletownshend prepares a great meal.

There are a couple of nice seafood places in Baltimore and the boats out to the island are fun, but you wouldn't have time for those most likely.

The drive you are taking is one of my favorites and there are lots of jumping off places. I think the Mizen Peninsula is amazing, a little wild and untamned (and not as much tourism) as the two major tourist peninsulas to the north.

Have a great trip.

Bill