Itinerary advice - 3+ days beyond Dublin

Posted by bothofus on 02/12/18 02:14 PM

Hello!

My husband and I arrive in Dublin via ferry from Wales about 3 p.m. on Wednesday, April 4. We depart Dublin on Monday, April 9 and currently plan to spend Saturday and Sunday nights in Dublin. Here are two "beyond Dublin" itinerary options we are considering and would like some advice.

Option 1
(Wed - half day) Day 1 - drive from Dublin to Waterford, stay in Waterford
(Thurs) Day 2 - explore and drive to Kinsale, stay in Kinsale
(Fri) Day 3 - explore and drive to Dingle Peninsula
(Sat) Day 4 - explore and get a train from Cork to Dublin approx 4 or 5 p.m.

Option 2
(Wed - half day) Day 1 - get a 5 p.m. train from Dublin to Cork (arrives at 7:30 p.m.), stay in Cork or pick up a rental car and drive to Kinsale
(Thurs) Day 2 - Explore Kinsale and Cobh and make our way to the Dingle Peninsula
(Fri) Day 3 - Explore Dingle Peninsula
(Sat) Day 4 - Explore more and get a train from Cork to Dublin approx 4 or 5 p.m.

Thank you!
Colleen & Brian

Posted by Tammy (aka Diveloonie) 🤿

Last Frontier aka Alaska 🏔️

02/12/18 06:01 PM

3561 posts

You add explore on these itineraries, but you will not have much time to explore. You will be driving. I don’t recommend either one of these options, too much driving. Slow down and do two night stays. This will give you one day in a location to explore. I would either head north or south from Dublin, but would not try to get to the west coast with so few days.

Posted by Anita

RIchmond, BC,Canada

02/12/18 07:15 PM

933 posts

I also would not do either of these options. You are trying to cover far too much ground in a very short time. It is best to narrow your focus and keep things simple, especially when you have so little time. Since you really only have three nights I would pick just two places, most likely Kilkenny and Kinsale, and spend two nights in one, and one night in the other. Places to see along the way: Glendalough, Kilkenny castle, St. Canice's in Kilkenny (climb the tower), Rock of Cashel (skip Cork), Charles Fort near Kinsale. Or, if you really want to stop in Waterford you could do one night Kilkenny, one night Kinsale, then one night Waterford then stop at Glendalough on your way back to Dublin on Saturday, or maybe you just want to drive up the coast and stop to admire the scenery. This is still going to be a lot of driving in my mind, but it is doable. This is a pretty basic itinerary suggestion, but I don't know what your specific interests are. I would definitely not try to throw Dingle into the mix, though, you would spend most of your time in the car if you tried that, and I would definitely not throw catching trains into the mix, either. You will cover more ground if you just get the car in Dublin and head out, and return the car to Dublin on Saturday.

Posted by bothofus OP

02/13/18 03:01 PM

4 posts

Thank you for the guidance! We are now considering a revised itinerary with a rental car and no train travel.

Do you have any lodging commendations that would allow us to stay in the same location for three nights as a base for the following exploration?

(Wed - half day) - drive south from Dublin along the east coast and make our way leisurely to a B&B or guesthouse
(Thurs) - Tour Avoca Handweavers & Mill and the Waterford Crystal Factory
(Fri) - Kilkenny castle, St. Canice's in Kilkenny (climb the tower) and Rock of Cashel
(Sat) - explore Glendalough on our way back to Dublin