Day 1---Wed Oct 10---Dingle. Landed at Shannon @ 1330. After a stop at Aer lingus to file a claim for missing luggage, we picked up the dreaded rental car from Irish car rentals. The Opel Astra 4dr automatic was a perfect fit for us; three passengers and six pieces of luggage. The car rep was helpful and, to my relief, the price did not vary from what was previously agreed upon. We had no car problems whatever on this trip, and the little Opel was very good on gas. We set off down the R473 out of Clarecastle to Killadysert and the Killimer ferry. An hour and a half or so later we drove on to the ferry and made new friends right away. We had some wonderful talk with the local commuters, and even found a few folks from Minnesota who were as busy shooting photos as we were! Then down through Tarbert to the N69 and on to Tralee, through which we navigated very well despite it being rush hour by then(my navigator-brother and map reader-wife were spot on). We caught the N86 and drove non-stop to Dingle, reaching Cill Bhreac house by 1830. After checking in with Angela McCarthy( a genuinely wonderful person, I heartily recommend staying with her if you are in Dingle), we had fish & chips and a few well deserved pints at John Benny Moriarty's Pub uptown.
Day 2--Thu Oct 11. We did the Dingle ring on this day--Ventry, Slea Head, Dun Chaoin, Ballyferriter, Rathinane Castle, Gallurus Oratory. All so photogenic! After the drive we had seafood at the Mariner Inn uptown, and pints and to-die-for music at An Droichead Beag farther up the hill. It was so wonderful to park the auto and just walk about of an evening, meeting new folk and sampling the culture.
Day 3--Fri Oct 12--Killarney. We left bright and early for Killarney via the N86, R561, and the N22. Our destination was the Gleann Fia lodge, probably the most beautiful B&B we stayed in. Bridget welcomed us in even though we were very early by Irish standards. After a light snack-lunch, we toured Ross Castle and Muckross House and the garden. For the evening, we found a perfect car park on the north side of New St.---very handy for an evening spent dining in the High St. I'm out of time for now, Days 4-11 still to come. WC
Thanks so much for taking the time to write a trip report. I love reading them as I feel I'm back in Ireland and look forward to the rest of your trip.
Very nice trip so far. Thanks for sharing such a detailed report. Hotels/B&B's were sure nice. It does take you back again just reading about your trip. We leave in March 2008 for a month, and it seems so far away from now! Youngka
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Living in Oregon, like to travel, love going to Europe, Alaska and maybe one day China.
