BootsnAll Travel Community

Hi,

We are planning a trip to Ireland and London, where we will stay in Ireland for 7-8 days, rent a car and see what we can. What is the feasibility of staying someplace in central Ireland and day-tripping out to the coastal areas, as well as the interior? I really would prefer the "change hotels every 2 days" syndrome if I can.

Thanks,
Mitch

I think it's possible, but you'd probably have to leave early in the morning and come back late at night. The distances aren't too far, but I found that there weren't a whole lot of major highways- there are roads, but they tend to be winding, making it difficult to get anywhere fast. I remember taking a trip from Dublin to Cork that, distance-wise, would probably take me about an hour and a half in Canada. But because of the winding roads it took a little over 4 hours.

Also maybe don't look at staying in the interior-spend a couple of days in Dublin, then go out to the west coast and set up camp in one of the towns out there. I found the west coast to be more prototypical "Irish", so if that's what you're looking for, you might want to skip the interior.

I agree with Jester,the roads are winding and often scarily narrow, espcially when a bus or truck is heading at you in the opposite direction, and there is no way that you will make it out to the more popular scenic drives, such as the ring of Beara, or the ring of Kerry, which can take nearly a day to drive around. Go to www.tripadvisor.com, if you want a better idea of travelling distances.

Thanks for the feedback. I am glad I started looking into this early. Oh well, I will keep researching and figure out how best to handle a 7 day trip to Ireland. I know that I want ot avoid the big cites. They give me hives :-).

Thanks,
Mitch

Dublin is a big city.

We spent about 5 days in Southern Ireland, and loved it. Flew into Shannon, then headed over to Kilarney. A lovely, lovely town. We went to Blarney Castle from there, and then on our way back to Shannon went to Bay of Dingle. It was gorgeous, and not stressful. And the people were so nice!

Hi Mitch.

It's 2-3 days out of your week to see, but I heartily recommend the Aran Islands. Gorgeously desolate. Super low key. Ancient ruins and hardly anyone around.

And it's one of the larger cities in Ireland, but Galway is lovely too. It's not a huge city as far as cities go -- about 66,000 only. I was most impressed by the wild swans just swimming around freely, but perhaps I'm just easily impressed.

The Bay of Dingle and Kilarney/Ring of Kerry area are lovely.

For a week in Ireland, I would also suggest (as an alternative to the above) Galway, and the surrounding area. Connemara is lovely, and you can take a ferry to Inishmore, the largest of the Aran Islands. Whitewashed cottages, winding stone walls, iron age hill forts -- Inishmore was my Irish postcard fantasy come true.

EDIT: Ha, christina - jinx! - we posted this at exactly the same time.

Hmmm, good suggestions. I will check them out. I am getting into the frame of mind that we will need to limit the areas that we go to and just concentrate on a particular section of Ireland. No biggie, as long as it is beautiful and I get lots of great pictures (in probably lousy weather ).

Thanks,
Mitch

there are so many beautiful areas of Ireland -- I toured County Clare back in 2003 -- you could base yourself perhasps in Ennis and get out to the coast to see the Cliffs of Mohr, Doolin and it's traditional music scene, and up into the Burren. I went by bike - not sure what the travel times would be driving. the roads are very narrow and windy, no highways out there.

quote:

Originally posted by Mitch Baltuch:
I am getting into the frame of mind that we will need to limit the areas that we go to and just concentrate on a particular section of Ireland.

Do Western Ireland. Frickin' awesome.

Capt Steve mentioned it, but see the Cliffs of Mohr. I've got a great picture where it looks like I'm hanging off the edge of them. Just about gave my mother a heart attack when she saw it.

My condolances to your mother

Co. Wicklow is very easy to get to from Dublin and very beautiful. It's full of dubliners wanting a break from the city at the weeknds. It has some lovely beaches and some lovely hills.

The hostel at Glendalough, Co. Wicklow is good and the area is beautifu - two lakes, monastic ruins, good pubs just down the road, etc...

KG

you've got heaps of ideas here already, but just had to add my bit!

west cork is a stunning and (relatively) less-visited area of ireland. we travelled out from cork city along the coast as far as mizen head (the south-west tip of ireland) and back again. it took two days, at quite a leisurely pace.

there are lovely little villages like skibbereen and schull (where we stayed at a great place, the backpacker's lodge), grand ruined monasteries, stone circles... and one of the most beautiful coastal drives i've ever done was on the road between schull and mizen head. highly recommended!

I'm headed to Ireland in April and at first wanted to do the same as you, get a self-catering cottage and just travel to the coasts and such to see the sites. I realized that the travel time between the cottage and the places I wanted to see would limit me too much. I decided I wanted to see the west coast more then the central Ireland and have made my decision. Flying into Shannon, staying in Doolin a few nights then to Galway, Roundstone, Clifden, Inishbofin (Island), Letterfrack, Leenane and then down to Inishmore (largest Aran island) and take the ferry from the island back to Doolin to see the Cliffs from the ferry.

Nothing hard planned except the first few night stay the rest I will find places as I travel, spending as much or as little time in one place as I see fit while I'm there. I'm so excited to see Connemara!!!

Will anyone be in that area around that time (early - mid April?)

Raq.

quote:

EDIT: Ha, christina - jinx! - we posted this at exactly the same time.

Do I owe you a Coke?

quote:

Originally posted by christina-in-brooklyn:
Do I owe you a Coke?

Oh, gee, is that the way it's supposed to work? I guess I don't know the rules of jinxing.

It sounds like a great trip. I wonder what the difficulty will be in finding a place each night to stay. We plan to do our trip in the September time-frame and I don't know how crowded it will be.

Mitch

Hey Mitch,
I'm from Galway so my views might be a bit biased/based on experience whichever way you look at it! I'd have to say there isn't a huge amount of things to see in the midlands, maybe some peat bogs and castles but you'll get all that and more on the west coast. Granted it's a bit of a cliche sticking to the 'wesht' as we sometimes call it but to me it really is the most picturesque part of Ireland. Dublin fo night life , south east ie Wexford, Wicklow, Waterford for beaches but again that's all on the West coast too. Galway isn't a big city that would give you a rash, I'm sure you'd be staying pretty central and Quay street is a must. There's a hostel called barnacles on this street that I've heard is great. Location is second to none. It's near the Claddagh (and the swans ) and salthill (you have to walk the prom & kick the wall-it doesn't count otherwise!) Galway is the satellite town for all the sights on the west coast. I'd recommend Kilarney for seeing the south west. You can plan your road trip on www.aaroadwatch.ie/routes, it'll give you the quickest and most direct route with place neames all the way. You'll find a B&B (at least) in almost every town. September in Galway anyways means students go back to college and tourists begin to thin out again. It's a nice time to visit Ireland. If you're lucky, there'll still be sunshine, which seems to be likely judging by the effects of global warming so far! Hope I haven't bored you with the length of the thread! Good luck with the planning

Thanks for the information. That will be a big help and fits in nicely with what I have been planning.

Mitch

Mitch, I don't think you can have a bad time in Ireland. We rented a car and drove the whole cirle in about 14 days, not hurrying. It's about 1000 miles I think. I liked Kilkenny and Dingle Bay the best I think, but all of it was lovely.

I agree with Annie--the people are the nicest I've met anywhere, and I couldn't get enough of the music or the Guinness. (Guinness is good for you.) I could live there if they'd have me.