Ok I've been posting like crazy for the last couple months, and everyone has been so wonderful with advice...I feel bad for asking for more! But I'm going nuts planning. I should add this is my first big trip planned alone without my parents :-p (I'm 23!) We are planning on driving from basically the Beara Peninsula base to Kinsale on day #1 let's call it, (really day #5 and day #3 of driving on the "wrong side!") and walking around Kinsale and maybe driving to Cobh.
Day#2, we would like to see Rock of Cashel, castle in Cahir, (and Blarney? too much I think?), but not sure if we should stay in Kilkenny, or could we go back to Kinsale in one day? Day#3 we need to end in Cork. What do you think about Kinsale as a base for this situation? Thanks :)
Posted by
California
27 posts
I have driven in one day... Kinsale to Cobh (took the 5 minute ferry - much better than dealing with Cork City traffic - nice rural roads to ferry) then off to Blarney Castle (personally overrated and expensive but my traveling buddy wanted to kiss the stone - yuck) then to the Rock of Cashel then to Waterford. We left at 9am and spent sometime at each location and arrived in Waterford around 4pm. It was a long day but it is doable. From Blarney castle, I took the N20 to Mallow and turned on the N73 to the nice large motorway M8. This is the road you want to take back to Kinsale (M8 to the E30) you will be just outside of Cork and it will be quicker than any other road. That should make the drive more bearable. So yes, you can have Kinsale as a base. Just plan on having that long day of driving. If you wanted to see Kilkenny in addition to all of your stops, I would then say stay in Kilkenny for the night. Also, driving on the wrong side - just remember the center line of the road is always on the drivers side (just like here in the states). It takes about a day to get used to it. Also, if you can afford it, get an automatic. This will be less stress since you wont be shifting gears with your left hand. That too takes some time.
Posted by
Bloomington, IL, USA
9363 posts
I don't see any advantage to basing in Kinsale in the situation you describe. You could stay in Kinsale one night, then head north to Cashel and Cahir, working your way back to the Cork area via Cobh. Why go all the way back to Kinsale, committing yourselves to driving all the way back,when you could stay in someplace like Kilkenny, seeing something new? I would suggest this: Stay in Kinsale, then head north to Cahir and Cashel, stay in Kilkenny that night, See Kilkenny, Midleton (if you are interested in the whiskey distillery) and Cobh the next day (stay in Cobh). Then you will be in the Cork area on your day #3.
Posted by
Acton, CA, USA
5 posts
If you end up staying in or near Kilkenny, I'd like to suggest the Lawcus Farm Guesthouse. It's a bit in the country and Mark and Ann Marie are such wonderful hosts. We loved our time there!