This is my first trip to the Burren-Dingle areas and my time is limited. Any help with my questions is very appreciated. (my focus is antiquities, great views, quaint villages/B&Bs). DAY 1: Drive Dublin to Ballyvaughan: is this about 3.5-4 hours? Which B&B for closeness to town, views, etc: Drumcreehyhouse or Cappabhaile House? (I choose Ballyvaughan because it seems to be more of a village than Doolin, yet still has pub music; and since we're driving to Dingle the next day it seemed a good compromise between my other choices Kinvara & Doolin). DAY 2: Drive Burren (Caherconnell Ring Fort/Poulnabrone Dolmen), 1 hour at the Cliffs of Moher then to Castlegregory on Dingle Peninsula and stay at the Shores Country House. Map say 110 miles & with Tarbert ferry should I figure 5 hours traveling time (plus stops)?? DAY 3: If nice, drive over Connor Pass, then Slea Head Drive and stay in Dingle town. For a B&B, I'm considering Greenmount or Emlaugh Lodge since Pax is full. DAY 4: Dingle to Ennis/Shannon: Not sure what to do on this day besides enjoy the views as we drive the southern route on the Penninsula to Ennis. Is Grey Gables B&B in Ennis a good choice, to have options for dinner in town and easy drive to airport in morning? Many thanks!!
Posted by
OP
Northborough
26 posts
Thanks Nancy. Yes, I will use the Tarbert ferry. For some reason I think that Bunratty Castle is too touristy for me- but I don't have any castles on my antiquities list, so is it worth visiting from that view? I'm less interested in shopping and more in the atmosphere of a quaint Irish town. Is Ennis too large for that? From my last trip to Ireland, the memories that stuck with me are the sheep/lambs in the roads, Staigue Fort (ROK), quaint Kinsale & it's pubs, etc. So that's the type of things I hope to see on this trip. My biggest concern is estimating travel time! I hope the hours I mentioned make sense.
Posted by
Bloomington, IL, USA
9363 posts
Some comments: Day 1 - Ballyvaughan is "more of a village" than Doolin, but Doolin is considered the center for Irish trad music in the west. Doolin is also minutes from the Cliffs of Moher. Since you are planning on driving through the Burren the next day, though, Ballyvaughan is a reasonable alternative. Day 2 - Are you planning to take the ferry from Tarbert toward the Dingle peninsula, or are you going around through Limerick? The ferry will cut off some drive time versus going around. Day 4 - The best option for an easy drive to the airport on your last day is to stay in the Bunratty area, six miles away. There are numerous B&Bs, shopping and dining - and you could see Bunratty castle.
Posted by
Pittsburgh, PA, USA
2723 posts
Dawn, I can only offer advice on a couple of your questions. Drumcreehy House is a very nice place to stay with an excellent breakfast. It is not that close to the town, though; I seem to recall that we had to drive to get dinner. (We stayed there in 2007.) Greenmount House is one of my all time favorite B&Bs. Dingle town is a wonderful place to stay. Have a great trip!
Posted by
OP
Northborough
26 posts
Thanks Carroll. I'm OK with driving from Drumcreehy House to town - although walking would be safer! ; ) Turns out Greenmount House wasn't availalbe - so I'm looking at Milestone B&B
Posted by
Indianapolis
288 posts
Dawn, I really enjoyed Ennis. I was only there for about a day and a half but found it very easy to get around on foot. I stayed at the Grey Gables B&B and loved it. Very well located with a private parking lot. The owner (I've forgotten her name) was very friendly, and the breakfast was wonderful.
Posted by
OP
Northborough
26 posts
Thanks Sharon - it's good to hear someone validate Ennis / Grey Gables is a good choice. Anyone want to comment on my estimates of travel time? I just heard from a Dingle B&B who is suggesting I keep going to spend 2 nights in Dingle rather than 1 night onthe north side of the Peninsula and one on the South. So I need to decide that.