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Base camp for Ireland

My husband and I will be visiting the UK and Ireland next year. We are thinking of flying from London to Shannon. On our list is the Dingle Peninsula, the Ring of Kerry, Galway and Cliffs of Mohr. Where would be a good place to base our stay? Any other suggestions on places to visit?

Posted by
1878 posts

You will need multiple bases given the ground you want to cover. The ideal places to stay are Galway itself, Ennis in County Clare, Kenmare, and Dingle Town if you have at least two nights for each. (Some would say Doolin in County Clare but both times that I have been there, the weather coming in from the sea was extremely adverse). I would not use any of those as a base for visiting any of the others. I guess you could go to Cliff of Moher from Galway, Rome2Rio says it's one hour each way. But you probably need to add 25% to get a good idea of how long it would take, and I would prefer not to have the rental car in Galway. It is very easy to take the bus direct from Shannon to Galway and back, foregoing the rental car for that part. How much time do you have? I would aim for at least a couple of nights per stop, three is better on one or two of those stops, particularly Dingle. I highly recommend Rick Steves Ireland, that's what my wife and I used on our 2016 return visit to Ireland.

Posted by
3226 posts

Another vote for Dingle in County Kerry, I have stayed in Westport in county Mayo, Clifden in County Galway and Ennistymon in County Clare, Dingle is my favorite.