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Itinerary - pruning

Posted by on

Is this itinerary too road-trippy, and if so, what should I cut? We are traveling in late April/ early May, and I don't mind spending up to 3 hours in a car - though I know some days will be much longer. Can I count on the higher (slower) estimates from Google maps for drive time?

Day 1 - arrive Dublin, sleep in Malahide.

Day 2 - pick up car, visit Kilkenny Castle and Rock of Cashel. Sleep in Cashel.

Day 3 - Visit either Midleton Brewery or Cobb, and spend afternoon in Kinsale. Sleep in Kinsale.

Day 4 - Muckross House and Moll's Gap. Sleep in Kenmare.

Day 5 - Ring of Kerry Loop. Sleep in Dingle.

Day 6 - Slea Head Loop. Sleep in Dingle.

Day 7 - Drive to Lahinch via Tarbert-Killimer car ferry. Sleep in Lahinch.

Day 8 - Cliffs of Moher. Drive to Galway. Sleep in Galway. Meet up with family member this afternoon.

Day 9 - Aran Islands. Sleep in Galway

Day 10 - Visit National Famine Museum and Rathcrogan. Sleep in Enniskellen.

Day 11 - Visit Derry and Portrush. Sleep near Giant's Causeway.

Day 12 - Visit Giant's Causeway and Dunluce Castle. Drive to Gobbins Cliff path. Sleep in Belfast

Day 13 - Visit Titanic museum. Sleep in Belfast.

Day 14 - Drive to Dublin. Sleep in Dublin.

Day 15 - Dublin

Day 16 - Leave

Thanks in advance for comments and suggestions.

Posted by
1857 posts

When using google maps it is recommended to add 25% to their driving times PLUS time for stops. Also factor in time for finding somewhere to park and then walk to where you want to be and back to the car. That can easily add on half an hour. Also plan in time for lunch...

The itinerary is doable but some of those days are action packed with a lot more than the up to three hours you are planning on spending in the car. Ring of Kerry on Day 5 is going to be a full day in the car unless you are not intending to make any stops for scenery etc.

A lot of one nighters are hard going.

I am a bit concerned that some days you are not allowing enough time for sight seeing. Planning to see both Kilkenny Castle and Rock of Cashel in one day, especially coming from Malahide is possibly optimistic. The National Famine Museum will take 3-4 hours. Gobbins Cliff Walk is not very long but is strenuous and will, take 2.5-3 hours to complete.

However having said all that it is difficult to see where to cut unless you rejig your itinerary.

Posted by
3227 posts

Oh dear, this is way too much driving. You will see Ireland mostly from your car. I would cut Northern Ireland. See it on your next trip.

Posted by
5 posts

The problem I am having is that the family member who is arriving on Day 8 really wants to see the Titanic museum in Belfast...

Both my spouse and I think the Gobbins Cliff path would be fun - but is it worth the extra 30 minutes in the car? Would the Carrick -A-Rede rope bridge be a good substitute?

Posted by
1857 posts

Could you cut out Northern Ireland and use two extra days in the Republic of Ireland and add an extra day to Dublin to visit Belfast and the Titanic Museum as a day trip from Belfast?

Posted by
763 posts

I really enjoyed the Titanic Museum and thought it was very interesting but, as someone already mentioned, that’s a really hectic pace and an awful lot of driving. Maybe cut out some of the areas to the south and spend the time on the west coast.

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