Hi all -
What is a good option for a two night stay between a night at Cashel and three nights in Dingle. I was trying to decide between Kenmare or Portmagee (for ROK, Beara Penn, Muckcross House, etc), Kinsale (for food and adorable harbors, etc) or Doolin (for Cliffs of Moher, Aran Islands, etc). OR is there somewhere else you would recommend??
We have no "must sees" just looking to soak up the sights and the culture! Thanks in advance!
What time of year ? Also that would give you one full day in the location ? Trying to see the Arans and the Cliffs of Moher adequately in one day would be really tough. Doable but very frantic. Cliffs of Moher are spectacular but tourist clogged and for my wife and I nowhere near as wild, beautiful or moving as the Cliffs of Kerry on the Skellig Ring very close to Portmagee and the Glen.
The Skellig Ring is incredible and the south side of the Ring of Kerry - Waterville - Caherdaniel - Sneem - Kenmare route has everything - incredible scenery, beautiful small towns, historic sights, pubs, shopping etc. Really anywhere from Portmagee down to Waterville and over to Kenmare is fantastic. Really depends on what specifics you want and how it fits into the trip to Dingle. We loved the Arans, Doolin and Moher but strongly urge the Skellig Ring and the south side of the Ring of Kerry by far over your other options. Nice thing is other than trying to do too much and not absorbing the best of Ireland - it's people and the small moments that turn out to be the most important moments you really can't go wrong.
I agree with the suggestion to stay in the vicinity of Portmagee. The Skellig Ring is indeed a good choice for a day's meander. The Kerry Cliffs offer picture postcard views of the Skelligs, and there's an inviting little chocolate factory about a half mile down the road that (for some of us at least) is a destination in its own right. Near the village of Ballinskelligs are the ruins of an old abbey - it's where the monks from Skellig Michael went when they departed the island. There's a nice stretch of beach there too.
The Skellig Experience visitor center just across the bridge from Portmagee is worth a stop, and Valencia Island in general is gorgeous.
Going in the other direction around the ring is the Gap of Dunloe - one of the prettiest little glens in Ireland. Might be a good stop for you as you proceed on to Dingle, and if you get there early (ie before about 9 AM) you'll be ahead of the tour buses filled with day trippers from Killarney and will thus have it mostly to yourself. Makes for a very pleasant stroll - lots of photo ops. A jaunting car ride to the head of the gap and back to Kate Kearney's would be an option if you didn't want to hoof it - especially if you get one of the local "characters" as your driver. Corny - yes, touristy - absolutely, but still great fun for all that.
Thanks! I was leaning towards the Portmagee/ROK option as well! We will be there in late April. We're going to spend Beltane in Dingle :)
