Question regarding RS 14-day Best of Ireland tour

You may want to post this in the Ireland forum. Double-posting will increase your chance of a reply.

When I was in Dingle I went out to the Blasket Island (Greater?). The ruins are modern from the 1950s but interesting. Back on the mainland there is a museum dedicated to the Blasket Islands. This may be included in your RS tour.

Thank you Swan and Julie,

It looks like RS does go to the Great Blasket Center Museum on the first full day we are in Dingle. Looking forward to seeing that. I will follow your suggestion and check the rest of the forums for Ireland tips.

We enjoyed the Heart of Ireland tour (8 days) last October and we were in Dingle 3 days - which was GREAT! An entire day included a bus tour of the Dingle Peninsula which included a medieval church and graveyard near a pilgrim's path - and the fascinating "Gallarus Oratory" which may have been a chapel (no one really knows). The local tour guide was very knowledgeable.

We enjoyed having a little free time to explore Dingle and we'd love to go back someday!

Garrison

Thanks Garrison,
Sounds like the 8-day tour might be similar to the 14-day tour as far as Dingle is concerned. That is good to know! We wanted to see at least "Gallarus Oratory" and I am making an educated guess that our tour will stop there too. It sounds like Dingle is a favorite of many folks. Really looking forward to it!

I was on this tour aug 2014. My first RS tour and it was fabulous. You have 3 nights in dingle. Our group was split into at castle woods and Heston’s BnB. You drive along dingle penninsula(breathe taking views). You will see blasket island center, readjust monastery, Gallaudet oratory and kilmalkedar church one day. One day is one your own

If you have other questions, let me know

I am return this year again to Ireland to do the 8 day tour

Thanks, Kim - It sounds we will be able to see the various sites along the Dingle Slea Loop with RS. That is exactly what I was hoping for! I guess we don't need to book a separate tour on our free day to see those sites. We will spend our free day checking out the town, and maybe doing a boat tour or short hike.

My husband and I are also going on our first RS tour, 14-day Best of Ireland, April 27 departure. Is this possibly the same one you will be on? I have been curious to connect with some fellow travelers prior to the tour.

Hi Kathy,
Looks like we will be ahead of you. We are signed up for the April 22nd tour. We'll try to leave a few pints of Guinness for you! :-)

I did this tour last June 2017. There is one day in Dingle when you take a drive around the Slea head and visit several sites including the Oratory and the old Church ruins. You'll see plenty of beehive huts along the way. I don't think you need to book another trip to see the archaeological sites since there would be alot of overlap. You will have a free day in Dingle. I suggest doing the hike out of town along the harbor to the lighthouse and beyond.

Thanks, Rebecca - I think we will take your advise and use the free day in Dingle to hike around and enjoy the town. Sounds like the RS tour hits the sights that were interesting to us in the area around Dingle. They looked a bit too far to walk to from the town. I had the lighthouse on my list as a nice walk (unless it is pouring rain?). So much to see and so little time!!

Definitely take Rick's directions on how to find the lighthouse - just a turn or 2 I found tricky and then I can never get used to actually walking on what looks like private property! There is a well worn path once you get off the street.

My mistake on this walk was not taking any water (??? good grief)/snacks/lunch. I LOVED it out there! If we had had some supplies I would have walked further than the lighthouse. On the way back we also saw the Harbor cruise boats going out to see Fungi the Dolphin and wow....there he was coming out of a little bay on our side of the water! Fun!

Many people use Dingle for a laundry stop as well, so keep that in mind if you are not doing sink wash.

Thanks, Pam for the great tips for the hike to the lighthouse! I probably wouldn't have thought to bring along snacks or drinks so am glad that you suggested that. Everyone has had such great ideas for Dingle. Glad the RS tour gets to spend some time there.