Advice for a Solo Traveller

Go with the day tours if you are not confident about driving by yourself.

Well, you don't want to be stressed out on your vacation so ultimately only you can decide if you want to try the driving on your own. I did not rent a car in Ireland, I made use of a bus/train pass, and stayed in larger places with good access to day tours such as Galway, Killarney, Dublin. I did, however, rent a car when I was in Scotland on my own, and did not find the driving difficult. It took about a day to get used to driving on the other side of the road and after that I was used to it. I actually found the drivers there a lot more courteous than in my neck of the woods, and I had no problems at all.

I haven't been to Ireland but I had trouble with the left-side driving in England a few years ago, and it was an automatic shift. It helped to have my wife next to me, navigating and also shouting "Left left left!" whenever I made a turn into the wrong lane (happened seldom but still too often). But others seem to make the transition easily after a little practice.

But driving slowly and carefully, even if there are people behind you, could be compatible with the leisurely place you prefer. Maybe less stress driving that way than dealing with bus and tour schedules.

I've driven in England and Ireland usually with an automatic but the last time I rented an manual. It's definitely different shifting with your left hand. I was there two weeks, picked up the car at the Dublin airport and drove to the Dingle peninsula, up and down the coast from the Cliffs of Mohr to to Garinish Island. My 12 year old grandson was with us. I killed the engine twice and he roared each time. Other than that it was uneventful. Much easier than I'd expected.

You can do a manual but since I think this is your first time driving on the 'wrong' side of the road I'd suggest you get the auto. When you are on small back roads just slow down when meeting another car. To me I would not want to try to really experience Ireland without a car but that's me.

Just remember that when you are sitting in the drivers seat you want the center line of the road to be right next to you. Don't think about right and left just the center line. Especially think of this when making turns onto another road.

The next time you go to Ireland you can get the manual. :)

Send me a private message if you would like the name/contact info for a good driver(we have hired him in the past, friends of ours later used him on our recommendation, and we were all pleased). He is based in Doolin, same area as the Cliffs of Moher.

You could do a combination of group day tours and then have him take you to see other things that make more sense to drive directly.....or for things that are offered on a tour but that might be more tailored or quicker to do with a private driver.

It's also nice to have a person who can tell you about the local life, what you are seeing, and a bit about it. He is dependable, on time, very kind and flexible (we could start/stop when we wanted to).

When we went...seems now maybe 4-5 years ago, when it was all said and done, I added up the costs and it was not much at all higher than if I had rented a car, paid for fuel, rental insurance, tolls, etc. and we had the comfort of having a local and not having to worry about driving on the wrong side of the road and finding our way (some of the rural road signs in Ireland are really confusing).

Thanks everyone for your feedback! I do like the freedom and independence of having a car instead of being confined by bus and tour schedules. Still weighing my options but, if I decide on a car, an automatic is probably a good idea. :)

Maggie, thanks for the idea about a private driver. I will think that over too!

I first came here, alone (I married a guy I met in Killarney!) and I drive ALOT. After the first 10 minutes, it's pretty natural. It would be a rare road that you'd be that scared - and certainly not a 2 lane bigger road (like an N road....). R roads are a bit narrower.... but still doable. The most important thing to know is that everyone that lives here KNOWS that it's likely another driver may be a tourist, and they themselves don't want an accident, so they will be gentle and gracious when you try to pass on a narrow road....

That said, have you thought about cycling? Or combining the two? I cycle alot (my husband doesn't know how to drive, actually) and you can see alot of the back roads well on a bike!

Solo traveling is the BEST!! I do it, often..... it's a great way to meet locals!

Susan
Expat living in Waterville/Skellig Coast - ring of Kerry....

If you can manage it, go with a driver. First of all, it frees you to enjoy the scenery. If you are driving and navigating solo, you won't be able to enjoy the ride and you'll be stressed. Second, chances are your driver will turn into your guide. I didn't meet a local in Ireland who wasn't eager to chat. You'll have a real back-door experience.

Your left hand will get used to shifting, but it does add a layer of something-else-to-think-about that you may not want. If I recall correctly, I felt more stress on the narrow roads in parts of England, more often hemmed in by hedges and walls than in Ireland. Do allow yourself time to make a wrong turn, or to stop and reconnoiter. It helps to plan out all the villages through which you'll drive, since the signage at a rural intersection might just point to the next town in each direction.