Have to be in Dublin for business and my wife is joining me for an extra 4 days. Have a car reserved at Dublin airport for a Friday at 9 AM and wondering if I could make it to Dingle via Cashel for day 1. Do the Dingle peninsula for Saturday (day 2), dingle to Cliffs of Moher for Sunday (day 3) and then back to Dublin on Monday (day 4) to catch the flight home on Tuesday. Flying back home from Dublin is a must and I've never driven on the left before but am game. Any thoughts on proposed itinerary, other things to squeeze in and favorite places to stay would be much appreciated.
Posted by
Bloomington, IL, USA
9363 posts
Driving in Ireland can be very slow, much slower than you can imagine. This is particularly true of places like Dingle, where you are on small roads. Dublin to Dingle via Cashel, even without stopping to see the Rock of Cashel, is about a seven hour drive. Your Sunday drive from Dingle to the Cliffs will be close to four hours even if you take the "shortcut" via the Tarbert-Killlimer ferry instead of going around past Limerick. And from the Cliffs area to Dublin will be around four hours (again, with no stops at all). If you are set on seeing Dingle, and you are ok with spending most of your time in the car, this could work.
Personally, I would skip Dingle on this trip. There is so much beauty everywhere in Ireland, much of it far closer to Dublin. Consider driving to Cashel and then down to Kinsale instead. Or driving straight across from Dublin to the Cliffs area, then down to Kinsale, hitting Cashel on the way back to Dublin. Use www.viamichelin.com as a resource to determine routes and driving times (add 25% to the time estimates to get a more realistic idea). You can't really go wrong with whatever you choose.
Posted by
OP
2 posts
Thanks Nancy. I have my heart set on Dingle so I'd rather give up on the Cliffs of Moher if push comes to shove.
Posted by
Bloomington, IL, USA
9363 posts
Skipping the Cliffs won't shorten your drive to and from Dingle. You could still drive to the Cliffs via the ferry, then get as close to Galway as you can for the night. You won't need a lot of time for the Cliffs (max 2 hours, maybe less). That would leave you about a 3 hour drive on Monday. Since your flight isn't until Tuesday, you should have time to stop off if you see something interesting along the way.
Posted by
Vantage, WA
30 posts
I think you can do it. Just stay on the main roads as much as possible the first day and drive straight through to Dingle. The gas stations along the way have surprisingly good food so you could stop for a quick bite here and there. I would see the Rock on your way back to Dublin on Monday. That will make a pretty long day but you can probably get from Dingle to Cashel in 3 or 4 hours via Killarney.
Posted by
Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA
253 posts
I have been to Ireland 10 times. Don't push it. You will spend more time in the car than enjoying Ireland. I suggest you head to No . Ireland's Antrim coast for a couple days then head back to Dublin. Dingle scenery and experience is no better. What you are proposing is like flying in and out of NYC with a side trip to San Francisco.
Posted by
Seattle
191 posts
I love Dingle and have done a similar trip in a short time with friends that visited. You can totally do this trip and fit it all in, including the cliffs. The drive is very pleasant and is part of the adventure! Just be sure you have a good map.
Posted by
Vantage, WA
30 posts
Since you are on a tight schedule, and to lower your chances of getting lost (high probability if you are driving on any regional roads) I'd also recommend having Google maps and a GPS as backups. Make 100% sure your phone is unlocked. Mine was not, so we added GPS when we picked up our car and it was a lifesaver. You will find a variety of detailed maps at most bookstores.