In late August, 2018, with a flight from Inverness to Dublin, we begin our travels in Ireland. After 3 nights in the big city we plan to train to Galway for 2-3 nights, exploring the area by foot and driver support, maybe joining a Rick Steves tour to see the area. From there, where (would you recommend 2 or 3 more days and night? Ultimately, we will cross to Wales and England. On the map, a sea crossing from Rosslare looks intriguing. I did a bit of research a while back, giving up and deciding avoid a logistictical gremlin by simply returning to Dublin by train for a flight to Bristol.
We have time. We are 67, raised in LA and transplanted to Spokane, Washington. First trip to Scotland and Ireland, second trip to England (a few days in London plus Stratford-on-Avon). What would you recommend and please tell us why. Thank you!
Posted by
317 posts
Greetings from Ireland
Sounds like an exciting adventure!
After Galway I'd recommend 2/3 days in either Dingle, Killarney or maybe Kinsale (these 3 if you don't mind driving or having a driver do a lot of driving for you)
If you prefer to stay more in one place then head up to Westport, Song (though 3 nights here might be too much) or maybe Clifden.
The ferry from Rosslare to Pembroke in Wales will be enjoyable and recommended, though going from Dublin to Holyhead in Wales might be logistically easier for you.
Let me know if you have any other questions.
Le meas/with respect
Stephen McPhilemy
Rick Steves Ireland tour-guide
Dingle, Derry and Dublin
Posted by
Oxford, United Kingdom
5456 posts
The ferry/train from Ireland to South Wales is now a very minority route - apart from real peak times typically fewer than 50 people per crossing continue on the train. Although fairly cheap it is slow, especially if it is only to get to somewhere in England.
Posted by
OP
Spokane WA
256 posts
Thank you for these insights and suggestions. We are not considering exploring the west side and flying to Bristol from Cork or Limerick, our sister city where we will try to meet up with the mayor for a cultural exchange.
Posted by
not here anymore
631 posts
Rosslare is badly placed if coming from Galway. But if travelling from Galway to Bristol and you want to fly then Knock airport is the closest answer.
https://www.ryanair.com don't forget to book space for checked bags, and you must check-in online before getting to the airport.
Or go by train via Dublin and get the ferry to Holyhead. from there train (every 2 hours) to Newport in South Wales. Change train for short ride to Bristol Temple Meads (Newport is across the river Severn from Bristol). You can book the whole journey Galway - Bristol (except transfer across Dublin) as one ticket http://www.irishrail.ie/fares-and-tickets/sailrail
(Ulysees and Epsilon are ships, Dublin Swift is a high speed catarmaran), price around €70. On very annoying feature about this booking site is that the british stations are not in full alphabetical order, the country is split into price zones with those closest to Holyhead first, Bristol is 3 or 4 zones out so you have to go way down the list to find it! Holyhead ferry terminal and railway station is a combined interchange.
Posted by
Waterville, Ireland
409 posts
I've only done the Rosslare ferry once, but done the Dublin to Holyhead dozens of times. One thing to note there are two types of ferries from some ports - a fast boat and slow. I've had the fast boat cancelled during bad weather but never the bigger, slower boat (even though glassware was crashing and breaking all around!). A good source for info on ferries and trains is Seat61 .com - a hobbyest who has the most extensive website on "how to" travel i've seen. He even has a video of the ferry so you can get a feel for it!
If you land in Holyhead, there's a train out that takes you through Chester, a great spot with beautiful old archetecture, stone walls, lovely old train hotel The Queen, and more, then train on to York which is of course, famous for tourism.
If you do Rosslare, there's actually pretty quaint villages around that area to stay in for a day to regroup before the boat. And you'll go through Wicklow going towards Rosslare from Dublin - a fantastic national park, there!
Have fun!
Susan
in Waterville
Posted by
OP
Spokane WA
256 posts
Thank you for describing the variety of options. Slow style travel, with intel to keep it going as smoothly as possible, is our approach. Each and all contributors have informed our "best layer plans" and we shall see how it goes. Perhaps we will have time to reply with the realities of our adventure next year. Safe and rewarding travel wishes to all. Steve&Vicki