I am working on final details for our trip to Scotland and Ireland in June and would appreciate any suggestions. Trying not to over plan or pack in too much, so we enjoy what we are experiencing! We will be traveling with our 4 kids - ages 15-21.
We will spend the first 4 nights in Edinburgh - recovering from jet leg, exploring the city and possibly a day trip or two. We fly back to Dublin on a Friday morning and spend two nights there. No definite plans yet for Dublin but most likely Book of Kells, literary pub crawl, Gravity Bar for Guinness(probably not tour), Grafton St for shopping and pubs, St. Stephen's Green, museums? Hop on hop off bus might be good to get around first day and check things out. I have lodging at Buswells, Schoolhouse Hotel or Ariel House. Haven't decided which one to keep yet - Ariel House is the most affordable for our family, but I like the location of Buswells. They only had a double room, a double compact room and two singles available, but still leaning that way due to location.
We will depart Dublin Sunday - picking up our rental car (VW Caravelle) at the airport. We plan to drive to Killarney stopping at the Rock of Cashel for a couple of hours. I realize this will be a long day - perhaps 8 hrs drive with the stop? Considered Glendalough too but I imagine this would add a lot of time. I am really open to suggestions here, but wanted to get near Killarney as we would like to spend time in the park the next day. Currently, have lodging at The Lake Hotel in Killarney.
Monday - explore Killarney National Park - we love to hike, but perhaps bike rentals to see more of park in one day? Is Gap of Dunloe part of the park? Depart for Dingle late afternoon.
Monday and Tuesday nights in Dingle at Heaton's Guesthouse. I have planned a private tour up Connor's Pass and around the Peninsula with John O'Connor's Coastline Tours for Tuesday. Thought my husband would enjoy a break from driving and a better chance to enjoy scenery. Other suggestions for Dingle? Horseback riding on the beach? Great Blasket Islands Ferry - my husband doesn't handle rough seas though? Really looking forward to just relaxing and enjoying Dingle from what I have read about it. Note - we are planning to skip Ring of Kerry this trip I think and enjoy the peninsula scenery. I'm sure my kids would like to experience Skellig Michael, but just don't know how to fit it all in one trip.
Wednesday - depart Dingle for Cliffs of Moher, The Burren. Other things to take in on the way to Doolin? Staying in Doolin at Doolin Hotel. Would love a ferry to Aran Islands, but think probably too much for one day of could not get there early enough from Dingle unless we went straight to Doolin, took ferry and then did Cliffs late afternoon. I think it would be an early departure from Dingle to do this and seems like might need to save this Aran Islands for another trip. I'm not sure what other things to see or do in/near Doolin?
Thursday - depart Doolin in around 9 am to Cong - (planning about 2 1/2 hrs?) -Hawk Walk at 1 pm at Ashford Castle. I'm not sure if you can explore much of castle or grounds if you are not staying there, but we have a castle stay in Recess at Ballynahinch so will head there after our Hawk Walk to check in around 3 and enjoy experience there. Need to check out Quiet Man Bridge at some point as one of my husband's favorite movies :).
Friday (last day and lots planned) - would like to explore Clifden, Sky Road, Twelve Bens, Kylemore Abbey. We have our final night's lodging in Ennis at The Old Ground so we will check in there late afternoon and then we have tickets to the Doolin Folk Festival Friday night. It may be a late night driving back to Ennis from Doolin, but wanted to at least be a little closer to Shannon airport for our 9:15 am flight Saturday morning. I think about 30-40 min to Ennis from Doolin and same from Ennis to airport?
Thank you for any suggestions!