I will be arriving a few days before the RS Best of Ireland tour. I have the big sites covered. A tour I was suppose to do just fell through. Any ideas of what I should do? Can you get to Newgrange on your own (all tours booked)? Any fun things I missed?
Posted by
Mountains of S. Oregon
742 posts
When you say "tours are booked" are you referring to the Newgrange website or various day trips from Dublin? There is no way to tour (or barely even see) Newgrange by private car. All tours start at the Visitor's Center and involve a 5 minute ride on the site's bus, which requires a reservation. There may be a small opportunity for picking up a vacancy at the last minute due to a cancellation, but I wouldn't be comfortable counting on that in mid-summer.
Other suggestions without knowing your interests or what's "covered" would result in a lot of repetition. Dublin has scores of interesting things to do, many off the beaten path.
Posted by
Lincolnshire, UK
2282 posts
I assume you have seen this website for Newgrange?
Assuming the Mary Gibbon's tour is fully booked you can still visit if you are able to hire a car for the day AND if there are spaces available to book a tour on that day. After 9th August, most days still seem to have some slots available. You do have to prebook and can't just turn up at the Visitor Centre on spec. You can only book up to 30 days in advance.
As well as Newgrange itself, there is also Knowth chambered tomb. You park at the visitor centre and are then taken by a coach from the Visitor Centre to either Newgrange of Knowth for your tour. If you have chance, it is well worth trying to do both as they are quite different.
Posted by
Mountains of S. Oregon
742 posts
Also, if you do a rental car, stop by the Battle of the Boyne Museum - very informative if you're a history buff or with Irish roots.
Posted by
Massachusetts
7 posts
We purchased tickets for Newgrange here and booked a tour with Touristy. Touristy worked with us to get us to Newgrange and built a tour for us along the way. There were many private car options, but we needed to change hotels and move a sizable amount of luggage around. Touristy was best able to meet our needs.
Also, if you are a traveling solo or as a couple, it is worth sending an email to Mary Gibbons indicating dates and the size of your party to ask about availability. We were told they were booked up, but to check back by email after a couple of days to see if availability opened up.
Posted by
190 posts
If you can get a reservation slot at Newgrange which you can sign up for online, then you can definitely go on your own via train and taxi. As others have said once you get to the Visitor Center, all the transport is included.