Thinking Southeast Ireland this time... Need some guidance

How long is your visit ? So you want the southeast ? So see Wicklow Mountains, Glendalough, coast visit the Saltees....see some beautiful lighthouses etc ? Lots to do there...need some time guidance.

I did a southeast "circle" of Ireland last summer.

We started (and ended) in Dublin and our first stop was in Cashel. We did a counterclockwise loop from Dublin. You might only want a night in Cashel because the town is doable in a day, but the Rock of Cashel is wonderful and it's a fun town with nice pubs at night. Kilkenny is another inland stop that might be worth putting into your itinerary. It has an interesting castle, a nice downtown area, and the tour of Smithwicks was fun too. If you stay at Kilkenny or Cashel for two nights you could do both towns over the two days with making one of them your "home base". Cashel was a smaller town between the two but both are small enough to walk to pubs from a b&b in town. I believe they are about an hour or so from each other.

When we left Cashel, we headed south to Kinsale and the owner of the B&B that we stayed at in Cashel recommended a drive called the "Vee Drive". We did part of this drive south from Cashel and it was very scenic.
Here's a link to more info about this drive. https://www.discoverireland.ie/Activities-Adventure/the-vee-drive-route-touring-route/46878
Kinsale is nice..worth two nights to travel around that southern area.

My highest recommendation for Southeast Ireland is Glendalough and the Wicklow Mountains. They are a little south of Dublin and a great stop if you are driving north into Dublin (or if you're heading south from Dublin..either works). If you enjoy walking out in beautiful green nature, there are some nice walks at Glendalough. The drive through the Wicklow Mountains is just heavenly.
Have a fun trip!

Oh, yes, of course! Probable 9 nights on the ground. Thank you!

If you can fit it in, drive through the Sally Gap in Wicklow for some stunning scenery.

If you go to the south coast there is some wonderful scenery, great lighthouses and hikes. We loved Tomnifinnoge woods in Tinahely......Tolkien 's Ents are real !!!! Also LOVED our trip out to the Saltee Islands seeing insane numbers of birds super close after a fun boat ride. So much to see and do in the east. Awesome of you to center on a somewhat neglected area.

Thanks, to all for your ideas. Just trying to decide if Kilkenny is a good base for 3 nights, or should I limit it to 2 and move on. Thinking to say in Dublin the 1st 2 nights, so my husband can rest(the driver) . Previously, I had wanted to skip the city altogether. Now thinking pick up the car after 1 or 2 nights in Dublin, head to Kilkenny for 2-3 nights, Then to Wexford for 2 nights, rounding it out in Glendalough. Turn the car in the night before we head back to the states.. Does this sound like a reasonable plan?

Consider the little market town of New Ross as a base. It's pretty in its own right and is central to several very pretty day trips, including down to the John F Kennedy Ancestral Homestead, Waterford, the Hook lighthouse and peninsula, etc.
There's a cute little car ferry at Passage East that might be fun on your way to Waterford one day - takes all of 60 seconds to cross.

In general, we preferred the west of Ireland rather than the east. That said, we had some good times in and around Wexford.

We stayed at the Killiane Castle and Countryhouse. It's too far from anything to walk. It's pretty unique, though. I would recommend it. In Wexford, we enjoyed the Thomas More Tavern. Tintern Abbey was interesting. Kilmore Quay has a nice beach.

My ancestors are from Waterford, so we did some exploring there. Powerscourt also has some family history, so we stopped there. Wicklow mountains are picturesque.

The most enduring memory of the trip was driving. Of course the roads are narrow and the rock walls are high. To add to the fun we passed every form of farm equipment, every kind of traffic obstacle, a dozen different types of wildlife, sheep, a herd of cows, pedestrians in crosswalks with prams and finally a marching band. It was like playing a video game.

Definitely a reasonable plan. And there is plenty in Kilkenny and within an hour, hour and a half drive time to fill 3-4 days....easily. it's a good base.

While there are many good things to see in Dublin it is a large city and it sounds like you prefer being out of the city exploring the countryside. I second that. Would much rather spend time in the Wicklow Mountains, Glendalough or around Kilkenny than any day in the city. But that just us.

Sounds like a very good plan and using a spot like Kilkenny for 3-4 days is a great way to maximize time, reduce travel stresses and have time for lingering, exploring and interacting. Have a great time !

Christy,

Kilkenny is scenic and makes a nice base. It’s pleasant to stroll around in the evenings and has good pubs and restaurants. I only spent one night there, but wished I had stayed at least for a second night.

I spent a good bit of one afternoon exploring Jerpoint Abbey, the Kells Priory, and the Kilree High Cross which are about 45 minutes away on the way to Waterford, which is an hour away if you want to visit museums there.

The Rock of Cashel is about 1.5 hours away in a different direction, so there are several nice day trips from Kilkenny if you want to explore the area.

Raymond

The Woodenbridge Hotel is centrally located in the Wicklow Mts, not far from Glendalough. If you ever saw the show Ballykissangel, it was filmed in the village a mile down the road. It's a wonderful hotel.