Revised Itinerary Assistance

mjh · Member

Revised Itinerary Assistance

YaYa · Guru

mjh,

My first trip to Ireland I had to see Adare and stayed the night. I haven't since and really don't see the draw. Yes ,it has a few quaint cottages and tons of traffic. I don't know if it would be worth the 20 miles. I'd slowly go up to Cashel as there is so much to see there. I never got to Cahir and regret it. It's very near Cashel. Kemare and Dingle are two of my favorite places. You can't go wrong spending time there.

Good Luck, Joan

Itallian Chauffeur · Moderator

The AA mileage info is usually pretty accurate, but their DRIVING TIMES are notoriously optomistic. Since they are an Irish/UK Travel Club, they assume that you are a native driver, innured to the narrowness of the roads and weaned on the concepts of Roundabouts and right hand drive vehicles. Add in the fact that locals are decidedly less likely to be over-whelmed by the majesty of the scenery (since they see it every day), and there's NO WAY us poor tourist drivers can possibly keep up with those time estimates. Most reasonable folk divide the TOTAL MILES DRIVEN by 35 (and sometimes 30) to get an accurate idea of how long a given drive will take.

I like Option #1 better than 2. From Kenmare, you can day-trip south and tour the lesser travelled, but equally gorgeous Beara (and Healy Pass), or go into Killarney , possibly picking up the Gap of Dunloe Tour. www.derostours.com/rates.html

If you really want to visit Adare, you could add it in on the Dingle to Cliffs drive, particularly if you are feeling a bit jet-lagged on Day 1. You could actually make the decision "on the day". biggrin

Bob

mjh · Member

Bob and Joan, Thanks for your replies. Do you think adding Cashel to this trip is too aggressive? Seems too close to not try. Took your advice about dividing the distance from SNN and is about 2.5 hours which seems doable, but you folks know best.

Also, do you think the last day Dingle back to SNN will give us enough time to visit the Cliffs and Buren?

Thanks again, Mary

Itallian Chauffeur · Moderator

Cashel is quite do-able on Day 1. We drove SNN to Cahir (about 7 or 8 miles from Cashel) and stayed at Carrigeen Castle, in April of 2001. We REGULARLY drive from SNN through Cork City to a small village about 40 minutes NW of there, but that long a trip isn't for the faint hearted. biggrin

Dunno where you're flying from, how well you sleep on the plane, or even what time of year you are traveling, but Cashel is an impressive site and worth a look. Cahir has a nifty, restored castle and is close by, plus it's a pleasant little town. So, if on the odd chance you are full of energy and adrenelin and can't / don't want to sleep after touring the Rock .... yawn

We usually settle in about 2 or 3 in the afternoon on our Day 1 for a shower and no more than a two hour nap, then try to 'hang in' until 10 or 11 PM. That seems to be the best 'recipe' for avoiding any "jet lag" hangover, at least, for us.

Even with a 'detour' into Adare before taking the ferry, you should have plenty of time to visit the Cliffs and do a liesurely drive through part of the Burren. How much time / how much you see will probably be determined by what plans, if any, you have for your final night in Ireland. Now, through September, it will still be light out until after 9 PM (In June, it's more like 11, before it gets dark!).

Bob

-- Edited by Itallian Chauffeur at 22:27, 2007-04-25

-- Edited by Itallian Chauffeur at 22:31, 2007-04-25

oopsy · Senior Member

I would opt for 2 days in the Kenmare area over 2 days in SNN area. We spent 3 nights in Kenmare--didn't do the ROK--and could have spent days more.

xaimimgr · Veteran Member

Mary,

Your plan looks just like what I'm trying to put together for next year. Please post how it turned out.

Michele Erdvig · Host

MJH,

I vote for the first itinerary too. Cut out Adare from your first day and concentrate on Cashel (perhaps Cahir Castle & Swiss Cottage instead). If you are too jet-lagged you can do the Cahir portion on the drive to Kenmare. Keep the 2 days in Kenmare. You will love the village and surroundings. A trip I often recommend from Kenmare is to Glengarriff to see Ilnacullin Gardens and then through Healy Pass to see part of the Beara Peninsula. Or if you are not into gardens just do Beara. There is lovely rugged scenery there without the tourist crowds.

Michele

-- Edited by Michele Erdvig at 13:51, 2007-04-26

mjh · Member

Hello and thanks to everyone for your suggestions. I think we're going with the Option 1. We arrive in SNN from Atlanta on Sunday 6/10 so we should have plenty of daylight hours. I have made reservations for the 3 of us in Cashel at the Joyrockside House. Michele, the review in your book sold me on this B&B. I have an email out to The Shores for the 2 nights in Dingle. Now I just need to find something in Kenmare and the last night in SNN.

Thanks again,
Mary

oopsy · Senior Member

We stayed at Virginia's in Kenmare. It's a B&B above a restaurant on one of the main streets, so not as charming and picturesque as what some people prefer. However, WE LOVED IT! Neil and Noreen were absolutely incredible hosts. Very generous and helpful. They also served us the absolute best breakfasts of our trip. We spent three nights there and loved it.

oopsy · Senior Member

oops--Somehow I posted before I meant to do so. Anyway, Virginia's is not fancy in decor but absolutely great in hospitality. http://www.virginias-kenmare.com/

Our favorite attraction in the area was actually Gleninchaquin south of Kenmare, on the Beara peninsula. Stunning, stunning, stunning.
http://www.gleninchaquin.com/

Michele Erdvig · Host

Mary,

If you want a very nice B&B in Kenmare try Driftwood. The owners couldn't be nicer. If you want something very special and more upscale then Sallyport House is it.

In Bunratty I always like Bunratty Lodge and Headley Court for consistent quality.

Michele

mjh · Member

Michele, Thanks for the Kenmare suggestions. Still need to book 2 nights in Kenmare or Killarney. I emailed The Shores in Dingle and still need to hear from them. I was able to book the Bunratty Lodge for out last night. Also booked The Joy Rockside for the first night.