Looking at the 14 Day Ireland tour in September. As seems common there is at least some free time at every overnight stop -- entire day 7 at Dingle Peninsula is free. Curious as to any personal recommendations. On day 7 two options presented are a 30 mile Dingle Loop bike ride, or sailing to Blasket Islands. Any knowledge of any either of these? Also interested in any suggestions regarding various times in the other locations. Note -- I drink little, and although I eat, and have never gone hungry -- food is not a high priority. More into history, architecture, and photography. Maybe culture events. Thank you.
Posted by
Atlanta
2510 posts
While I think the bike ride is a very attractive option, I think I would go to the Blasket Island Center. It is extraordinary! Excellent displays, videos, pictures that tell the history of the people who lived in this part of Ireland. Especially since you’re interested in history, go to the Blasket Island Center.
I did the Heart of Ireland tour in Sept. 2017 and I still remember the history I learned there.
Oh, I see on Day 6, you will tour the Blasket Island Center. I was wondering why that was omitted- but I’m wrong.
Now for your question, the bike ride and sailing to the island are both dependent on the weather. I probably would do the bike ride if the weather permits.
Posted by
Colorado Mountains, USA
7937 posts
Visited Dingle as part of a self-guided bicycle tour 8 years ago, so with my bike already with me, I rode the Peninsula clockwise one day. Visited the Blasket Island Center during the ride, but didn’t make a trip out to the island itself. Pedaling back towards Dingle town, there was a particularly challenging uphill section, but it was fulfilling making the climb, and then mostly coasting back to town. If you want to see great countryside and views out to sea, while getting your heart rate up and breathing a bit harder from the left side of the road, a bike ride fits the bill.
We’d already spent a night on Inis Mor island the previous week, so for what it’s worth, we’d already been able to have time on an island off the coast of Ireland, an island itself! Your tour will also go to that largest of the Aran Islands after Dingle, but a boat to Blasket would give you a chance to see mainland Ireland from an island.
Be ready for the possibility of some wind and/or rain, with either option.
Posted by
Granite Bay, CA
1930 posts
We went to the Blaskets while there in August. It was a wonderful day hiking all over the island. Gorgeous!!! I’d say that’s a great choice!!
Posted by
Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, USA
14731 posts
"We'll start our day with a crystal cutting demonstration from a master craftsman, then hop aboard our bus with our local expert to follow the famous Slea Head Drive, our vote for the most beautiful road in Ireland. We'll stop to tour the strikingly designed Great Blasket Centre, where we'll get an intimate look at the language, literature, and daily life of a traditional Gaelic Blasket community."
This is from the description of Day 6 which includes the Great Blasket Center. I wish I had realized this was our lunch stop because I would have taken a sack lunch so I could have spent more time in the exhibition. I was so surprised to see pictures of Butte, Montana in the exhibition. It was a location some of the Blasket Islanders emigrated to for the copper mines.
I walked out by the bay and lighthouse that free day. Again, wish I had thought to take a lunch and some water and just continue along the path! It was early on in my RS tour "career", lol, so didn't key in to these things as well. We did see Fungi the Dolphin swim out to the tour boats from our vantage on the cliffs! We had a bright sunny day with gorgeous blue skies on this day!
Posted by
Salem, Oregon, USA
2724 posts
I took this tour in 2008, when it had a slightly different itinerary, but the same free day in Dingle. On my free day there, the weather was nice, so I took a big long walk (first out to the lighthouse, then a wandering walk up the hill). Returned to town for a pint and a cultural experience. The guide helped buy tickets to the St. James Church evening concert - a great way to hear traditional music without the clink of beer glasses. Note that even if the weather is pleasant, the wind out on the loop can be fierce - if you're bicycling, that could be a real bummer, so make a plan B.
Posted by
Seattle, WA, USA ☔️
6790 posts
I was there last July (not on a tour). The Blasket island Center is nice, but going out to Great Blasket itself was one of the highlights of our trip. We had been on Inish Mor for 2 nights earlier in the week (and that was awesome), but Great Blasket came as a delightful surprise. We enjoyed perfect weather, hiked up one side of the island, and back along the other side (got my Irish sunburn that day). It was jaw-droppingly spectacular; I was wowed (and I'm not easily wowed). Wonderful photo options. Do not miss it. You won't be disappointed.