Self Drive Tour of Ireland and Scotland...

vdt2000 · Newbie

Self Drive Tour of Ireland and Scotland...

Michele Erdvig · Host

vdt,

Welcome to my forum. Since you are leaving in two days you will need to re-think your plans quickly. I call what you are planning a green blur tour of Ireland. I will only comment on the Ireland portion of your trip since that is what the forum is about.

Can I assume you are arriving after an all night flight from the USA? Your profile indicates you are in California. If that is so, you will have jet-lag on your first day. You shouldn't be trying to drive for so many hours on day one. What is the attraction to Waterford? If it is to see the crystal making process, Waterford Crystal is in bankruptcy and is not currently doing tours. You can visit their showroom but it is hardly worth going out of your way for unless you and your wife are crystal crazy. There are plenty of shops where you can see nice displays of crystal. And Waterford City is nothing to write home about.

Since you are taking a ferry from Belfast to Scotland, it really makes sense for you to head north from Shannon. Not south. Can you go south and then north? Sure, but you will be in the car the whole trip driving from dawn to dusk. It will leave you little time for anything else. Your will average 35 mph in Ireland.

I know you want to do and see it all but reality dictates that with your short time available that will be impossible. How do you plan to fit in golfing at Ballybunion or anywhere else with such a schedule? Besides Ballybunion usually requires reservations well in advance.

I suggest on your first day you see the Cliffs of Moher and continue on to Galway for your overnight stay. After that head north so as to meet your schedule for being in Belfast.

I don't want to burst your bubble but just give a reality check to your plans.

For places to stay: http://www.irelandyes.com/lodgings.html

Map of Ireland so you know where things are located: http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/europe/ireland.jpg

I hope this helps to get you started out in the right direction. Enjoy Ireland.

Michele

vdt2000 · Newbie

You are not bursting my bubble in any way. This is what I need to hear - you are the expert. So in your opinion there is nothing that we are missing down south of Shannon - granted it is all gorgeous I am sure, but you know what I mean. We would like to see the stones that are in hexagons at the ocean also - where is that, North? (hopefully?) Are my segments too long do you think? If I were to go North from Shannon would we be on target for the time we are to be in Belfast (which can change on timing also - nothing is set in stone)?

vdt2000 · Newbie

Also

do you think then that we should just hang in Shannon the first day, rest, see the city and stay the night in Shannon or since it is 8am when we arrive (planning on taking sleeping pill and sleeping on the plane so we wake up normal am time) in Shannon, check it out a little then head off to the cliffs and the burren...then stay where, if this is the preferred option? Thanks so much.

Matthew

Itallian Chauffeur · Moderator

I've spent WEEKS in the SW -- it is an incredible place. That said, so is the NORTH. You won't miss what you haven't the time to see. confuse

You should save it for a second trip.

The hexagonal rocks ARE in the North -- it's called the Giant's Causway.

I did a similar, but slower paced trip, in June of 2007. The report is here:
http://ireland.activeboard.com/forum.spark?forumID=65127&p=3&topicID=12825158&page=1&sort=oldestFirst

If you're leaving Sunday, youprobably don't have time to read it all -- it's REALLY long -- but you could print it out and take it along as a quasi-Guide ... biggrin

I don't know of ANY Car Hire company that will allow you to take their vehicle into Scotland on the Ferry. You will probably need to pay to park it and then rent a car in Scotland. Dropping it off in Belfast and then renting another on return is probably NOT an option, either. MOST all companies charge a pretty MASSIVE 'Drop Off' fee on cross-border rentals.

You basically have a week to get from SNN to Belfast. If you are rested upon arrival, then go ahead and drive out to the Cliffs, then plot a route through the Burren before settling in (or around) Galway. If you're toasted, try to get an early check-in in either Doolin, Ballyvaughn or even, Ennis, to catch a nap and THEN visit the Cliffs.

From either location, on Day 2, head through the Conemara, ending in Westport.

On Day 3, make a bee-line for Donegal town. You can stop along the way at Knock, http://www.mayo-ireland.ie/Mayo/Towns/Knock/KnockShr.htm Drumcliff http://goireland.about.com/od/countysligo/gr/drumcliff_sligo.htm (Yeat's Grave) and have a late lunch in Sligo.

The next day, (4) drive out to Bunglas (Slieve League Cliffs), http://www.sliabhleague.com/ also checking out Killybegs and Glencolumkille. From there, drive via Ardara and Letterkenney, ending the day near Burt (Grianan of Aileach) http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~donegal/grainne.htm .

On Day 5, drive into Derry, take the bus tour, walk the city walls and then drive along the Antrim Coast through Portrush and Bushmill's and visit Dunluce Castle, the Giant's causway and the Carric-a-rede Rope Bridge, ending the night in Ballycastle.

Day 6, drive to Belfast, either inland, through Armoy, or the longer route, via the Coast. Tour Carrickfergus Castle and do the City Tour of Belfast and overnight.

Day 7, take the ferry to Scotland and the train to Glasgow or Edinburgh (My Recommendation).

This isn't a pace I recommend, but if it's what you want, I THINK it will work. There isn't much 'wiggle room', or alternatives in the case of bad weather, but ....

Pleasde let us know how it turns out.
Good luck! hmm

Bob

Michele Erdvig · Host

Matthew,

Bob has given you a plan that will work for your trip. As for "hanging out" in Shannon, there is not much there. It is an airport and very small town. Best to get on your way.

Of course you will be missing wonderful things in the SW. You will miss things no matter where you go and what you do see. Even if you had two months to explore Ireland you would miss out on certain great things. It is always a trade-off taking into consideration the time you have and what is physically possible to do within that time limit.

Instead of thinking about what you will miss in the SW, enjoy what you do see in the north. They will be equally as nice, but different. And the Antrim coast in No. Ireland is one of my favorites. The Giant's Causeway is there. Far fewer people see that than the SW so think how lucky you are.

Have fun in Ireland and Scotland. Let us know how it goes for you when you return.

Michele