Where to begin???

suzinfla · Member

Where to begin???

Michele Erdvig · Host

suzinfla,

Welcome to the forum! I'm glad you found it on your Internet searches. I am a BIG fan of Northern Ireland (and all of Ireland to be honest)! wink

You could easily spend all your time in that area and still not see it all.

I like your idea of a few nights in a several well-chosen places. However, I think Dingle is too far to go on this trip. You are talking extreme north to extreme southwest. With only 10 days I would not suggest it.

I think you will be perfectly happy if you stick to the province of Ulster. It will optimize your time, you will see some wonderful scenery and sightseeing and meet friendly people.

If you are like lots of other people, you will plan another visit to Ireland in the future and will see other areas. No 10 day trip can include it all. Plan carefully and you will be delighted with what you do see and have the time to enjoy it. You will not miss what was left out.

Michele

suzinfla · Member

Michelle,

Thanks for your quick reply, would it possible to ask for a little more direction or would that be encroaching.
I am torn about staying entirely in Ulster, on one hand it sounds as if it is less commercial and equally beautiful on the other hand many of the "must see" sights are in different reqions, (Cliffs of Moher, Rock of Cashel, Glenalough, Ring of Kerry.)

1. If we were to stay in Ulster could you provide some basic suggestions beyond the Antrim Coast, New Grange & Derry? The mountains and West Coast sound appealing.

2. If I were to head to two other regions what in your opinion is reasonable and most likely to give us a feel for the variety of Ireland?

Music is very important to our family and for my son living in Derry this summer we were hoping to be able to take him over the weekend to another part of Ireland as he will not have a car.

Thanks again.

Michele Erdvig · Host

suzinfla,

Northern Ireland is chock full of places to see, scenic drives, historic houses, castles, gardens, beaches, forest parks, etc. You should read up on it and also look at some websites such as http://www.discovernorthernireland.com/

This is my Northern Ireland Top 10 List:

Giant's Causeway
Mount Stewart House & Gardens
Dunluce Castle
Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge
Antrim Coast
Ulster American Folk Park
Hillsborough village & Castle
Castle Coole
Castle Ward
Marble Arch Cave

I understand that you have "must sees" in other areas. Hey, after 30 years even I still have some "must sees" that I have not gotten to because of weather or other reasons. My question is, do you want to spend a lot of time driving around just to be able to cross things off a list? Can you fit them all in? Absolutely! If you do, will you drive yourself crazy with a "green blur tour"? Absolutely! It depends entirely on the sort of trip you want - a marathon or a relaxed vacation. Talk with your husband and sons and see what sort of a trip they are interested in.

You will find comparable things in the north. Co. Donegal might fit the bill for another area to visit. One plus about staying in Ulster during the summer season is fewer tourists than in the extremely popular areas on you "must see" list.

Michele

Melissa5 · Guru

suzinfla, ah, you gobble up travel info like I do...a woman after my own heart. I read everything I could get my hands on before our first family trip to Ireland, and really enjoyed the travel forums. I ended up with 14 guidebooks on Ireland, a wonderful trip to the land of my dear Irish grandmother's birth.... And I nominated Michele's book as the best guidebook on the planet. She is the only travel advisor I know of who actually stays in all of the places she rates in her book...so we awarded her the Goldilocks of Ireland award!

Belfast was my must-see place, because my Irish grandmother grew up there. But Dingle was the place I dreamed of seeing. It sounded so very Irish. So I did plan a 15-night trip which took in areas between Dingle and Northern Ireland (up to Giant's Causeway). Michele is right, with 10 days you can't get from Derry to Dingle and enjoy everything in between. Even with 15 nights, I ended up wishing I had never gone further north than Belfast...it was just too much to go from Dingle all the way up to the Giant's Causeway, Bushmills, and Antrim Coast.

Build your trip out from the area you must see, which for you is Derry. I see you are flying into Belfast. We loved the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum, which is in Cultra, east of Belfast. It is good for all ages and you can spend an entire day there...allow at least 4 hours minimum and you won't see it all. It is less crowded than the Bunratty Folk Park. The Ulster Folk Park and Transport Museum includes a section on the Titanic, and many old trains...I think your 14-year-old-son might enjoy that. The Giant's Causeway is also a place that a 14-year-old boy would appreciate.

Personally I loved Dunluce castle...it is a place for romantics with a rich imagination...that is me...

We didn't see the park which Michele recommends, the Ulster American Folk Park, but I'm sure that is a great one too.

Besides Derry and Belfast area, venture into someplace close by...I didn't have time for County Donegal but from what I have seen of Ireland that is on my list for our next trip. I don't have driving distances handy here, but with 10 days I wouldn't venture too far.

I also loved County Mayo and Westport as a base. It is a less-touristy area, which was wonderful. (but I believe County Donegal is also equally less touristy.)

Enjoy your trip to Ireland. I travelled with my husband and 2 young adult daughters. They appreciated seeing a mixed variety of some cities, some small villages, and beautiful natural sites. Teens usually want to see something which will "wow" them, such as the Giant's Causeway or the Cliffs of Moher when it comes to nature...they become bored with gardens usually. I'm not saying you should skip the beautiful gardens. I'm just saying, balance things...so each family member has something to look forward to.

Teens like cliffs, but I am positive there are surely some impressive cliffs in the north...the Cliffs of Moher aren't the only cliffs in Ireland!

Teens do NOT like riding for hours in a car and being told to unplug their ipods and enjoy the scenery....they tune out in the car. They will enjoy the trip more with less driving.

suzinfla · Member

Melissa,
Thank you so much for your thoughtful reply. I have had time now to accept Michele's seasoned advise on limiting the range of our travels. I have been reading more and more about Ulster and find there will be more than enough to do. I am particularly pleased to see a variety of outdoor adventure activities which I should keep my 14 year old son engaged. While our plans remain fluid, my idea now is approximately,

3 days in the Derry area, (allowing for the Antrim Coast and Belfast)

3 days in Donegal, including horsebackriding on the beach and maybe surfing for the guys( if they can handle the frigid waters) and a drive to the Slieve League Cliffs which sound magnificent.

And perhaps 3 days traveling down (from Derry) toward Dublin. I would really like to get to Newgrange.

Michele, if you see this post would you let me know if you think Dublin and Newgrange are within range from the Derry area? And whether that would could be done in maybe 2 days? Our base will likely be a friends home located between Derry and Belfast. I realize I may need continued reality checks as to the breath of my ambitions:)
Thanks[list

-- Edited by suzinfla at 09:08, 2007-06-04

-- Edited by suzinfla at 09:10, 2007-06-04

Itallian Chauffeur · Moderator

I will be in many of the areas you are considering, but not until the end of June, so dunno if my observations after I get back will be of much use, but ...

Check out: www.welovedonegal.com for info on Donegal. Glencolmcille would make an excellent addition to the Cliffs visit.

Cliffs: www.sliabhleague.com/

Glencolmcille: www.glenfolkvillage.com/index.html

Donegal: www.donegaltown.ie/

Derry / Londonderry: www.derryvisitor.com/
They sent me an EXCELLENT Guide Booklet and Map in the mail that I requested online. Only took a little over a week. LOTS of good info in it.

Hope these help,

Bob

suzinfla · Member

Bob,

Thanks for taking the time to share the above links with me. It was your itinerary that inspired me. Your days in Donegal sounded exciting and you yet you still included Newgrange. Thank you also for calling my attention to Glencoimcille, it too looks very special. I am having so much fun planning this trip and reading about this enchanted island, I can't wait to go, but I am afraid as soon as I get home I will want to return.

Bob what a special blessing to be able to attend Mass where you family has married.

Thanks again,

Suzanne

Michele Erdvig · Host

Suzanne,

If Newgrange is very high on your "must see" list then you could take the three extra days for it. I was just there and if you want to see everything you will probably need a good solid 4 hours for Newgrange, Knowth and the visitor's center. You should consider driving down on one day (doing some sightseeing along the way). Then visit Bru na Boinne as early in the morning as possible on the next day. You could drive back after that or spend another night in the area and drive back the day after. There are other interesting things to see in the area like the Hill of Tara and Trim Castle.

I had a look at the Trim Castle Hotel and it is new and seemed nice. Some rooms have balconies. Go to their website (if interested) as they have weekend and mid-week specials if you book online.

Listen to Bob & Mellissa's advice. They have been to Ireland and know what they are talking about.

Michele