could you take a look at my itinerary? We are renting a car. We are focusing on the western and northern parts of Ireland. We went to Dublin, Kenmare. Ring of Kerry, etc a few years ago.
Galway - 3 nights (Cliffs of Moher, Aran Islands, Burren) - would Doolin be a better base?
Westport - 1 night
Derry - 1 night
Portrush - 2 nights (Giants Causeway, Antrim Coast)
Belfast - 2 nights
Trim area - 1 night (Valley of Boyne, Tara Hill)
fly out of Dublin
I was on a guided tour. Take into account that driving is very slow when you aren't on the highway. Don't underestimate driving times.
Just my 2 Euro cents:
We love Connemara - Galway not so much. Our preference is to stay in or near the village of Clifden - a pretty little place without the grittiness of Galway and still central for explorations around the Connemara Loop, including the Sky Road just west of town and the short drive over to Cleggan and the ferry over to Inishbofin - really one of Ireland's better kept secrets. It's also handy for the drive over to Rossaveal and the ferry out to Inishmore. Personally I think it's a better option than Doolin, though others may disagree.
Rather than an enroute stop in Westport may I suggest switching to Donegal - would break up the drive a little better, plus allow you to visit Slieve League - more dramatic cliffs than Moher with about 5% of the crowds.
You could easily visit Derry as a day trip from Portrush (good choice there), thus allowing you to unpack once and settle in a bit rather than running yourselves ragged by moving every day or two.
Per your other post you were inquiring whether the Boyne Valley could be visited on your drive down from Belfast to catch your afternoon flight. Actually, it can (with an early start in the morning). Would be a long day but doable. That said, it would ease the logistics somewhat if you stayed near Trim or Drogheda the night before.
The drive times you'll see on the various mapping Apps are generally off by about 30%, especially if you're on one of the N roads. Once on the motorways it's not quite so bad, but do crank that into your planning.
And remember that road signage changes to mph once you cross the border into NI, and the money changes from the Euro to the Pound. I suggest trying to minimize any cash withdrawals in the North since their notes are only good in NI and can be a real pain to exchange if you visit Scotland or England in the future.
Agree with Robert-Inishbofin is a “hidden gem” and Clifden is a great base for the Connemara region.
Another thought: ensure that your rental car provider is aware that you'll be taking the vehicle into NI. It's usually pretty seamless but you don't want to inadvertantly void your insurance. Some providers have started charging a small fee for driving in the North too, so be aware of that.
Thank you! Good reminder on driving takes longer than planned. Our drive to Kenmare via Killarney took much longer.
