West of Ireland --- late August

dan71 · Member

West of Ireland --- late August

CowboyCraic · Guru

Dan,

You are backtracking way too much. I think you should reconsider and rent a vehicle when you arrive and do your trip thusly:

Day 1 arrive Shannon, pick up rental car, head to Dingle (2 nights lodging)
Try Blooming Wildflower Cottage in Dingle
Day 2 - Morning: Sciuird Archaeological Tour. Afternoon: Ferry to Great Blasket Island.
Day 3 - Portmagee - Skellig Michael Tour
Day 4 Galway
Day 5- Sligo
Day 6,7, 8 Donegal
Day 9 - to Bunratty

There will be less backtracking this way and you will get to see a good deal of what it appears you want to see in each of the areas. The drive to Dingle on the first day will not be bad as long as you stop often, eat light throughout the day and stay hydrated. Realize that the Skellig Michael tour will only run in good weather and that the tours fill up quickly so an early morning start is essential.

I would almost suggest that you choose not to do the Portmagee/Skellig Portion and instead opt for an extra day in Galway. That would hinge on whether your bike tour will take you to Galway, as well. If you added an extra day for Galway, you could visit Inis Mor, grab a pony cart & driver and see the archeological sights on Inis mor such as seven churches and the Black fort.

Tis food for thought. It sounds like a grand adventure!

Slan Beo (Take Care),

Bit

Michele Erdvig · Host

Dan,

Welcome to the forum! Bit's advice is spot on. It is still quite a bit of territory to cover in 8 1/2 days. You will do a lot of driving going from the very southwest to the very northwest. You may not get to everything on your list especially in Donegal. It is a large county and driving there tends to be slow once you get off the main roads. If you get some good weather I highly recommend Glenveagh Castle & National Park.

Michele

Mark D · Senior Member

Hello Dan,

My wife and I really loved our tour of the West of Ireland.

Our loop was very relaxing, and we enjoyed every moment.

Day One:
Land in Shannon-Oughterard
Visited Connemara Marble, recovered from jetlag in the beautiful town of Oughterard. Stayed in Oughterard.

Day Two
Oughterard-Cong,Lenane, Cliften-Oughterard.
Enjoyed "Quit Man Briidge" Ashford Castle, Killary Harbor, Kelmore Abbey
Connemara is definately a must see!
Day Three
Oughterard-Croagh Patrick-Westport
Enjoyed Croagh Patrick, Matt Molloys Pub, Westport Shopping Stayed in Westport.

Day Four
Westport-Ceide Fields-Ballina-Castlebar-Westport
Leisurely explored this area, with a tour of Ceide Fields

Day Five
Westport-Foxford Mills-Gurteen-Sligo ( stayed in Rosses Point)

Day Six
Sligo-Carrowmore-Donegal-Sligo
Really found Carrowmore to be interesting! Make sure you call ahead for a guide) Stayed in Rosses Point)

Day Seven
Sligo-Galway
Explored Yeats Country, visted Yeats grave site. Continued to Galway.
Enjoyed the day in Galway, Shopping, sharing pints, and took the Lough Carrib boat tour. Stayed in Galway

Day 8
Galway- Shannon Airport.

This was a tour, so driving could be slower. I am sure folks will chime in about the driving aspect. Also , you may want to stay closer to Shannon if you have an early flight. Ennis, Bunratty may be better for easy airport commute.

We sure did pack alot in , and did not do the "Green Blur"
I'm sure you could tweak it to meet your needs.
Just my experience, others will be more than willing to help !

Cheers!
Mark D.

Mark D · Senior Member

After rereading your post, I guess I neglected to fit in the "must do" places.
and traveling restrictions
Sorry for the confussion. I am sure you will have a wonderful trip, no matter what itinerary you choose.
Cheers!
Mark D.

-- Edited by Mark D at 09:50, 2007-07-03

dan71 · Member

Wow, I never imagined I'd get three helpful responses so quickly! I'm so glad I asked. Thank you very much, Bit, Michele, and Mark, for your advice. This newbie really appreciates it!

CowboyCraic, to answer your question, the bike trip includes a trip to Inis Mor, and it ends in Galway on a Friday night. If I leave Sunday morning, I'd have two nights + 1 day in Galway in Week 2. If that's enough, I could skip Galway in Week 1, and spend another day in Donegal. (Though, Michele, I appreciate the warning that I may not get to everything in Donegal. I'll try to be realistic.) Do you think 1 day + two nights in Galway is enough? I've read that the real thing to enjoy in Galway is the nightlife, and that the "daytime" sights can be seen in half a day. (Also I would really like to see Skellig Michael (weather permitting, of course)). But I'd really appreciate your thoughts.

One other question. I've heard (from varying sources) that Inis Mor is wonderful, or that it's disappointing because despite all the things to see, it's been rather "commercialized," geared mainly for large tourist groups. I've heard that Inismaan is more "unspoiled" --- though there might be fewer "sights," a visitor gets a better sense of traditional life on the Aran Islands. My interest was piqued by Synge's The Aran Islands, and a 1996 National Geographic article on the islands.

If so, then perhaps it'd be worth spending 1/2 of my day in Galway on a ferry to Inismaan. What do you think?

Dan

CowboyCraic · Guru

Dan,

The smaller Islands are defintely less developed. From Doolin you can catch a Ferry to Inis Oirr. Finding transport to the smaller islands is difficult. That is why Inis Mor has become a tourist destination. However, I have never found it to be too commercialized. Of course, I do spend most of my time away from the port of Kilronan. If you have a bicycle, then you will be well away from all of that in no time. There is so much beauty and history on Inis Mor, Seven Churches is phenomenal. The Black Fort on the lower end of the Island is far less commercialized than Dun Aengus, which doesn't make Dun Aengus less worthy of a visit. The visitor centre at Dun Aengus and the shops and tea room at its base are a treasure! The hike up the hill to Dun Aengus will have you marveling at the tenacity of spirit for anyone attempting to attack the fort, as well as for those who built and defended it.

I have never done a simple day trip over to Inis Mor, as I prefer staying for at least 2 nights. It is after the last ferry heads back to the mainland and the quiet takes hold, that you truly appreciate what it is to be on Inis Mor.

Either add the extra day to Dingle or an extra day to Donegal and leave Galway to the Bike tour time frame. The Slieve League Cliffs are a must in Co. Donegal. I find their rugged beauty vastly more appealing than the Cliffs of Moher.

You could also add a night in Portmagee, perhaps at Calafont B&B, which would allow you to explore the Kerry Coast as you went the first day, visit Skellig Michael the second, have a good nght's rest and then had for Sligo. The breakfasts that Mary serves up are unbelievable and Mary & Paddy can arrange your Skellig tour for you.

It is a long run for 8 1/2 days, from one end of the coast to the other. I am not sure that I would want to do that and then cycle for a week. However, by doing a minimum of two night stays in each area it would cut down on the effect of all that car time. Irish roads are smaller and take much more concentration than here in the states.

Slan Beo,

Bit

dan71 · Member

Thanks again, Bit. Now I'm getting concerned about avoiding the "Green Blur" that Mark mentioned. I also don't want to tire myself out before the bike trip.

Michele and Bit, is it including both south (Dingle, Portmagee) and north (Sligo-Donegal) that you think is overly ambitious for 8 1/2 days? If that's the case, then perhaps I should choose one or the other, but not both, and add a little in nearby areas to round out the 8 1/2 days. Difficult to choose, though. . . both areas sound so wonderful in my guidebooks! cry

Let's see. . . if I choose the south, I'm already seeing the Dingle Peninsula, and Skellig Michael. I could spend a night on one of the Arans. The bike tour starts in Bunratty, goes thru Portumna, the Burren, Doolin, Inis Mor, and Connemara, ending in Galway. Do you have any other places to recommend in the Southwest? (In general, I prefer places that aren't mobbed by tourists.)

Thanks again!

Dan

Michele Erdvig · Host

Dan,

I agree that concentrating on just one area would be a much more relaxing experience for you. In the southwest I love the little town of Kenmare. From there you have easy access to the fabulous Beara Peninsula. You can even do some of west Cork from there, such as Mizen Head, Bantry and Gougane Barra.

Another town you might enjoy is Skibbereen.

Michele

CowboyCraic · Guru

Dan,

Yes, it is in doing both areas that you are over extending. It CAN be done but at the very least you will feel road weary each night when you get back to your lodgings. I would suggest a southern loop. Save Donegal for another trip. There will be another, trust me, you will find a way!

Day 1 arrive Shannon, pick up rental car, head to Dingle (3 nights lodging)
Day 4- Portmagee (2 nights Lodging)
Day 6 - Kenmare (2 nights lodging)
Day 8 - Cashel (1 night lodging)

This would give you a nice loop, and reduce your tourist hazard, give you plenty of time to relax and absorb Ireland, and give you plenty of breathtaking moments.

How does that look?

Slan Beo,

Bit

dan71 · Member

Bit,

I think that looks like a good schedule --- I like the loop idea. Hadn't thought of trying to take in Cashel --- that might be very interesting. I guess I'll save Donegal for the next trip (perhaps combining it with Belfast and/or Sligo).

Michele, thanks for your advice, too. I really appreciate it, and I'm glad you have this forum. I should mention this is my second trip to Ireland --- the first, four years ago, was to Dublin, with a day trip to Dun Laoghaire. On the ferry from Holyhead to Dublin, I met an Irish girl who made me promise to go to the West of Ireland, to see "the real Ireland." Time to fulfill that promise!

Dan

Mark D · Senior Member

Hello Dan,

You are lucky to have someone "make you promise" to visit the West.
Although, I have not visited anywhere but the North West, you certainly won't be disappointed. Words cannot describe the beauty, and the kidness of the Irish people. Something I will never forget.
My wife wants to see the other three corners of the country we missed, personally, I would not be mind returning to Westport, Galway,Donegal.

Cheers!
Mark D.

CowboyCraic · Guru

Dan,

Co. Donegal is well worth a week in and of itself. You would do well to do it and Northern Ireland in one two week trip. I would suggest that when you mak that trip, you do a self-catering cottage in Co. Donegal for a week.

The West of Ireland is definitely different from Dublin and the Pale. You will find there a whole different pace. I think you will understand why that promise was exacted from you once you begin your drive on the Dingle Peninsula. As for Cashel, I have never understood why so many people bypass the Rock of Cashel in Favor of Blarney Castle.

I hope you have a most excellent adventure. You will get a good taste of the Connemara region on the bicycle leg of your trip. I will look forward to your trip report when you return.

Slan Beo,

Bit

Michele Erdvig · Host

Dan,

I am glad the forum is helping with your trip. There are some lovely forum members who are very generous with their time and expertise. I often find that Cashel is a good stopping place when looping around Ireland. On the way there be sure to see Cahir Castle. It is one of Ireland's best.

Michele

dan71 · Member

Thanks again, Michele, Bit, and Mark! I really appreciate the recommendations. I'll give you a trip report when I return.

Dan

Michele Erdvig · Host

Dan,

We wil be lookin forward to your report. Let us know if you have any other questions.

Michele