I’ve enjoyed reading the RS forum for many years and I’m so excited to finally be planning a trip again, it’s been way too long. My sister and I will be taking our kids (10, 12 & 20) to Ireland for 9 days in early August. We are all newbies to Ireland except for my 20yr old daughter who has family in County Mayo on her dad’s side. The first part of our trip is pretty well set, but I am hoping to get some input on the last part of the itinerary. We are flying in and out of Dublin. We like slower travel but definitely need to have fun things planned for the 10 & 12 yr. olds. I’d say our main interests are history (but not necessarily museums), nature/hiking/animals, and food. Here’s what I have planned so far:
Arrive in Dublin (9am) - train or bus to Galway
DAY 1-3: Stay in Galway (self-catering)
Activities: pick up rental car, boat trip to Inishmore, see my daughter’s family
DAY 4: Drive to Dingle via Cliffs of Moher - from what I’ve read I know this will be a long day but we would like to do the Doolin Cliff Walk if possible.
DAY 4-6: Stay in Dingle (self-catering cottage near Murreagh)
Activities: Slea Head drive, horseback riding, see Dingle town, Sea Safari boat trip (my niece wants to see puffins)
DAY 7: This is the part I need help with. I do have a hotel booked in Kenmare for this night.
DAY 8-9: Stay in Dublin.
We’ll basically have one full day to sightsee in Dublin before flying home.
Here are the different options I’ve come up with for Days 7 & 8. Ultimately I think I’d like to return the rental car and take public transportation back to Dublin.
Option 1: On Day 7, leave Dingle and go to Killarney NP on the way to Kenmare. Stay in Kenmare and then on Day 8 go back through Killarney NP, see anything we weren’t able to fit in on Day 7, return the rental car at Kerry Airport and fly to Dublin. There is an evening flight.
Option 2: Basically the same as Option 1 but on Day 7 drive more out on the ROK ending in Kenmare, then go to Killarney NP on Day 8 on the way to Kerry Airport.
Option 3: See Killarney NP on Day 7, stay in Kenmare, and then on Day 8 drive to Cork, return the car and take the train to Dublin.
I’ve come up with these options because we can return the rental car to either the Kerry or Cork airports. What is the drive from Kenmare to Cork like? Is there somewhere to stop that would make this option more appealing?
OR should we just drive from Kenmare to Dublin and figure out an interesting stop along the way? I think I am just trying to avoid a long car trip that day and I’d rather not drive in Dublin since this will be our first time driving on the left side. Thank you in advance for any help!