Our family of 4, including two teenage boys, will be flying into Shannan in June and would like to spend most of our time visiting Dingle and the Cliffs of Moher areas before driving to Dublin. Should we spend 2 nights in Doolin and 2 nights in Dingle? Or, 1 night in Doolin and 3 nights in Dingle? We're thinking about staying at the Doolin Activity Lodge and might splurge and stay at someplace like the Castlewood House.
Posted by
Bloomington, IL, USA
9371 posts
It depends on what you want to do in the Cliffs of Moher area. Doolin is a tiny, tiny town, but it's close to the Burren and Galway, as well as the Cliffs of Moher. If you just want to see the Cliffs and drive through the Burren, one night should be enough. You might find more to do in the Dingle area overall, so you might want to do three nights there.
Posted by
Vernon, Canada
32350 posts
Dan, I really enjoyed Dingle (great Pubs and music!), so I agree with the previous post that 3-nights would be good there. However the "key" might be finding enough activities to interest teenage boys.
It's a very walkable town with a beautiful harbour. Some acitivities to consider would be tours of the Blasket Island Centre, Gallarus Oratory, etc. Also check out local day tours or walking tours.
Posted by
westminster, md, usa
196 posts
2 nigths in Doolin & 2 nights in Doolin.
Since you are flying in to Shannon (my favorite irish aerport)and depending on when you arrive in Ireland you could spend your first night in either the Bunratty area or Ennis Area. I would then travel up the Ennis Road toward Galway and after going thru a quaint little town called Gort. You can make your way to Kinviarra and take the coast road around the Burrin w/a stop at the Aliwee Caves, onto the Dolman, and then you should stop at the beaches in Fanore. I was in Ireland in 2006 and a friend of mine came over w/his two teenage girls and we actually spent over 2 1/2 hr exploring the beach(very natural); the sea life was fantastic! When everyone came home the girls advised that the stop @ Fanore was the best.. it was not on their itenerary. I would then travel on to Doolin.
see my next post
Posted by
westminster, md, usa
196 posts
If you get in to Doolin late afternoon and early evening you can make your way to Clifs of Mohr and then back to Doolin for dinner. You can practically spit from Doolin and hit the clifs. The next day you can take the ferry out to one of the three Aran Islands and spend the day there and then back to Doolin and some relaxing at this point you will need it! :)
Then the next mornin off to Dingle (An Daingean Peninsula)via Kilmer/Tarbert Ferry that crosses the River Shannon. A bit of warning the Gaeltacht area of Kerry has had signs reposted, but you should be fine if you get a good map. OCoileanin B&B is right in centre of town, as well as, Collins B&B. Within walking distance of Flahterys. Do not miss the 'Sciuird Archeaology Tours"; which does a tour of the Dingle Peninsula. It runs about 2.5hrs, however, when we mentioned RS we got like another 1/2hr. You can spend day two in Dingle just exploring Dingletown.
slan