Please sign in to post.
Holiday Sale! Save 20% Storewide!

Indesisive solo traveler-help!

Posted by on

I'll be renting a car from the Dublin airport on Oct 2nd returning Oct 12th. So, 9 days to explore. It's my first time in Ireland and I'll be alone-most of the time. I arrive at 11:30am, but giving myself an hour to actually be on the road. I want to be spontaneous and follow my intuition, however, I think having some kind of itinerary is important. Here's what I'm thinking:
Dublin airport to Kinsale..(may feel the need to stay one night along the way if I'm tired. Kilkenny perhaps?)
Kinsale to Kenmare...Kenmare to Dingle...( I could save time and not go the Kenmare route, but more inland straight to Dingle from Kinsale.)
Dingle to Galway...
Galway to Co.Mayo (visiting a friend in Charlestown)
Possible trip up to Dunegal.

I don't want to be driving too much, but I don't want to miss out on some fabulous scenery. The weather forecast says clear/partly sunny for Dingle Peninsula, which would be incredible. Or I can save time, skip Dingle and stay inland traveling up through Puckaun area (which I understand is beautiful in the Fall) and Tipperary onto Galway, etc. I'm just a little concerned about having to be in the car too long as I want to get out and explore, see a castle or two or hike around.
I've read driving can be very slow in Ireland, especially for first timers. Am I biting off too much or should I just pick a few spots and stay longer exploring around each, for example: Kinsale, Galway, Mayo.? Any insights would be a great help to this very indecisive eager traveler!

Posted by
4087 posts

Sightseeing while driving alone? Off the superhighways, Irish country roads can be very narrow and twisty, often with no shoulders and with high hedgerows brushing the car doors. Not exactly relaxing for someone behind the wheel and working to remember which side of the road is which. So yes, I think you should study your driving routes in advance to maximize the tourism experience outside the parked car. (Some of the main highways, by the way, are indeed super, thanks to infusions of EU support before the financial meltdown.)

Posted by
44 posts

Rule of thumb that I read prior to our trip was you can expect to average maybe 30 to 40 miles in an hour....we found that to be pretty accurate. Unless you stay on the Motorways where you can be comfortable at 75mph you'll be passing thru some number of small towns and experience a number of traffic lights/ roundabouts and some occasional construction delays.

Posted by
36 posts

I would definitely try to not skip Dingle! Some of the best scenery in Ireland. There are places to pull over and enjoy the view as well. If you were thinking of going to Donegal, I would skip that and see the Dingle peninsula instead. I'm not sure if you were going to see the Ring of Kerry, which is also beautiful, but I preferred Dingle.

This topic has been automatically closed due to a period of inactivity.