I have a wicklow recommendation for you and I have personally stayed at both. If you don't want to drive from Dublin you could stay at the Ritz Carlton in Enniskerry and they offer transportation. It's wonderful and in a beautiful location. On the opposite end of the spectrum is a a very charming small lodge with a wonderful pub attached. This would be an ideal location for you if you are interested in hiking. It's the Glenmalure Lodge. www.glenamalurelodge.ie. It is very quaint and charming with traditional atmosphere.

Safe travels..!

PJ...one more rec for beautiful places to stay with hiking nearby


Delphi Lodge in Connemara

<b>Refined Itinerary - comments appreciated</b>

After reviewing the guidebooks (again), sorting through all the trip reports (again), studying trail maps, driving routes and your helpful comments I now propose a more refined itinerary.

Your insight as to where we may have lost our minds in regard to this plan is more than welcome. Please keep in mind that we are not locked into a set number of days, don't want to rush, and need to get in some exercise every day. Thank you all for your help.


<b>Dublin</b> 4 nights

<b>Glendalough (Laraugh)</b> 2 nights
Tour Powerscourt on the way down from Dublin, tour Glendalough, walk on the Wicklow Way

<b>Kilkenny or Cashel</b> 1 night
Overnight stop on the way to the Kinsale area. Tour Rock of Cashel.

<b>Kinsale and area</b> 3 nights
Check out Cork, Charles Fort, hike areas of Lee Valley, Mizen Head, Sheep's Head Way. Consider 1 night Kinsale, 2 nights further along Mizen Head.

<b>Kenmare</b> 4 nights
Base camp for walks on Beara Peninsula and the Ring of Kerry,Skellig Rocks, Killarney N.P., Torc Waterfall, Muckross House, etc.

<b>Dingle</b> - 3-4 nights
Base camp for walks, possibly Great Blasket Is.

<b>Ballyvaughan</b> - 3 nights

Base camp for touring the Burren, built in "down time"

<b>Connemara</b> 3 nights: possibly 1 in Galway, 2 in Clifden
Call an audible regarding trip to Aran Islands.

<b>Ennis or Dublin</b> 1 night depending on flight time and departure city back to San Francisco.

Please check out my trip report from May 2011, as well - we stayed in Kenmare, Dingle and Ballyvaughan, so might have some tidbits for your trip.

We had a great stay at O'Donnabhain's in Kenmare, but they also run self-catering you might be interested in. Beara was delightful!

We stayed at Oceanville B&B in Ballyvaughan, and it was perfect - and next to the pub

Definitely see if you can do the Aran Islands - a hikers delight!

PJ...for your last night did you mean Doolin not Dublin? If you are flying out of Shannon you cannot do Dublin?!I have stayed in both Ennis and Doolin on my last nights out of Shannon. Ennis is a much bigger town and not as touristy as Doolin....but I love Doolin! There is a wonderful B&B there called Nellie Dee's. Walking distance to the pubs and very nice.

Kelbo...Thanks for checking up on what could be an error, but I did mean Dublin. At the time I posted this topic we had not decided on whether to fly out of Shannon or Dublin. Due to flight times etc. etc. we have now booked to fly out of Dublin. We've tweaked the itinerary a bit to include time in Connemara, will drive back to Dublin and spend our last night there.

If interested, I've posted our newly proposed itinerary here:
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...tween-them.cfm