After scouring guidebooks, online forums, articles, etc and spending a good bit of time chatting with husband about what we really want (more a small time vibe of a trip with hiking, outdoors time, good music, good food and drinks), I have come up with an itinerary for our 8 night trip this summer (beginning of July). Nothing at all for this trip has been booked so I am totally open to thoughts. I definitely want to fly into Dublin and out of Shannon (or vice versa based on prices). So here are my thoughts. Included questions within....
Night 1- Dublin (we will probably arrive early and spend these two days exploring....I know I said small town and Dublin isn't but both of us want to go)
Night 2- Dublin - Pick up car on way out of town
Night 3- Kilkenny - I feel like Kilkenny is a great spot to get started on our trip with a smaller drive.
Night 4- Ballyseed Castle in Tralee. Ok this is my question area. Neither one of us really are tied down to the whole castle thing. I just put it in there as a way to break up the drive to Dingle. Is this breakup needed? Is there a better spot?
Night 5- Dingle
Night 6- Dingle - Note: I have tried my best to figure this out but there is no way in heck I can do Dingle and the Ring of Kerry/Killarney/Blarney Castle (ie. the typical tourist route). I have come to terms with this as my desire for Dingle is larger.
Night 7- Doolin - This is going to be the longest drive ever. I don't know if I should put the break up town here. We decided on Doolin due to it's proximity to the Cliffs (we want to hike there) and the Islands.
Night 8- Doolin
We were looking for a noon flight out to give us time to drop off a car.
Any suggestions/thoughts on this area of the country would be greatly appreciated!