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Northern half loop from Dublin

Posted by (Raleigh, NC, United States) on

My wife and I are planning to do an 8-day driving loop from Dublin in mid September, and we want to include The Cliffs of Moher, Connemara, Derry, and Giant's Causeway. I'd like some advice on this plan - particularly the feasibility of day one - should we consider that night in Doolin? Should we press on to Sligo or Donegal on Monday? I don't love the string of 3 one-night stands but It seems hard to avoid.

  • Sat - Arrive to Dublin 7AM, drive to Cliffs of Moher and through the Burren (sleep in Galway)
  • Sun - Aran islands (sleep in Galway)
  • Mon - Through Connemara to Westport (sleep in Westport)
  • Tue - on to Donegal - Slieve League (sleep in Donegal)
  • Wed - Derry - Giant’s Causeway - (sleep in Bushmills)
  • Thur - Carrick-a-rede rope bridge, Bushmills distillery, drive to Dublin (sleep in Dublin)
  • Fri - All day in Dublin (sleep in Dublin)
  • Sat - Flight from Dublin in the AM
Posted by
9371 posts

You should be fine going on to Galway on Day 1. If your flight arrives in Dublin at 7:00, it's going to be at least 9:00 before you are underway toward Galway (about three hours), then another 45 minutes or so to get to the Cliffs. That puts it at about 1:00 p.m. or so before you reach the Cliffs. You might spend an hour there, then head back north through the Burren. Providing you got some sleep on the plane and you have accomodation already sorted in Galway, it should be doable.

Posted by
24 posts

Thanks Nancy, that helps me feel much better about the first day. I think I'm going to consolidate my Tue/Wed stays to somewhere in Antrim to cut down on one night stands. That leaves me with whether to stick with Westport, or to keep going to Sligo or even Donegal town for Monday.

  • Sat - Arrive to Dublin 7AM, drive to Cliffs of Moher and through the Burren (sleep in Galway)
  • Sun - Aran islands (sleep in Galway)
  • Mon - Through Connemara (sleep in Westport or Sligo)
  • Tue - on to Derry and to Antrim (sleep in Antrim)
  • Wed - Antrim coast sights (sleep in Antrim)
  • Thur - through Belfast to Dublin (sleep in Dublin)
  • Fri - All day in Dublin (sleep in Dublin)
  • Sat - Flight from Dublin in the AM

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