I will be in Ireland for 10 days in mid-August with my husband and two 16 year-olds. Arriving on overnight flight from New York and will spend 2 nights in Dublin. We then have 7 days/6 nights to tour southern Ireland by car and get back to Dublin for our return flight. Tentative itinerary out of Dublin would be Powerscourt, Glendalough, spend the night in Kilkenny. Then on to Kinsale via Rock of Cashel for two nights. Drive from Kinsale to Dingle with a stop in Kenmare and spend two nights in Dingle. Would also like to see Muckrose House while in the area. That leaves us with one additional night. Can we fit in the Cliffs of Mohr/Burren and stay in north Clare our last night before driving back to Dublin the next day or would we be better off skipping Clare :( and spending another night in Kerry or Cork or somewhere between there and Dublin? Also, is there time to fit in Ring of Kerry, two nights in Kinsale too much? We want to see some historical/tourist attractions but mostly want to experience the scenery, the people and the food! Any advice/suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Posted by
Texas
518 posts
We just finished a trip similar to what you are doing, only we had 15 days. I have a few suggestions: 1. Be SURE to have GPS, preferably your own that you know how to use ahead of time. Roads are not really marked at all except in the towns. 2. I'd personally skip Dublin all together. The countryside holds much more adventure.
3. Skip Muckross House. You can see better big houses here in the US. Killarney Nat. Park, however, is spectacular. (Muckross House is actually in the park.) 4. It will take you 4 hours to drive from Dingle to the Cliffs of Moher, if you use the ferry at Tarbert to cross the Shannon. If you go by Limmerick, it will take longer. The cliffs are very touristy many big tour groups - but they are impressive. (You can see the cliffs in about 1-2 hours once you get there.) The burren is a very interesting geological area and quite different from what you will see other places. From the cliffs to Ballyvaughan takes about 45 minutes, just for an example of time. So doing the cliffs will basically take you a day if you leave that morning from Dingle.
Posted by
Texas
518 posts
5. Slea Head drive on Dingle took us about 8 to 9 hours, stopping to see all the sights Rick Steves lists in his book. 6. Driving from Dublin to Cashel will take about 2 hours on the motorway, then about another hour on from there to Kinsale. Your GPS is going to be your best friend.
7. Other than the motorway, be prepared for small curving roads with no shoulder. You will average about 35 to 45 MPH. You are going to have a wonderful trip no matter what exactly what you see. Be sure to take a coat and rain gear.
Posted by
OP
New York
3 posts
Thanks, Thomas,
I am considering leaving the Cliffs for another trip when we have more time to spend in the area and spending another day in the south. Perhaps checking out the cookery school and restaurant in Ballymaloe. Did you book ahead for your accommodations? Thanks, again.
Posted by
Texas
518 posts
Hi Ann, We did book ahead. Booking ahead keeps us on track. All the nice places in Kinsale and Dingle were full, but there are many places along the road in the countryside that had vacancy signs. Hope you have a wonderful trip.
Thomas
Posted by
OP
New York
3 posts
Thanks!