Second Trip to Ireland

puneet · Member

Second Trip to Ireland

Itallian Chauffeur · Moderator

Congrats on having become another Ireland Enthusiast! biggrin

Some clarification, though, please ...

Arriving Belfast at what time (AM or PM)? From where -- over-night flight, or short, inter-Europe?

Do you want to 'PARK' in a self-catering for a week, or do B&B for 2-4 nights per location?

Is there any desire to REVISIT any particular locations, such as Donegal or Antrim Coast?

What time of day would you depart from Belfast? This will determine how 'Close-In' you need to stay, on your last night.

Bob

Itallian Chauffeur · Moderator

OK. aww

I went back and read your profile, so let ME clarify MY posting ... confuse confuse

Will you be arriving in Belfast RESTED, after visiting someplace else in Europe, or at the end of a REALLY long flight (or GROUP of flights), DIRECTLY from India? doh

This will help in trying to figure how far you can reasonably expect to travel, on Day 1 ...

Bob

puneet · Member

Hi Bob

Good to hear from you, appreciate your reply.

The plans/bookings are not in place yet, we have two options taking early morn flight and reaching belfast ard 8:00am or noon flight eaching ard 2:30, most likely would opt for reaching Belfast ard 2:30pm (could plan according to your suggestions)
Moreover it is goin to be a rested/short flight as we'll be flyn in from London,Heathrow on BMI, so do not mind driving for 2-3 hrs

We'll be doin B&B's - The people are so warm and friendly, would love to enjoy the hospitality smile

We don't mind revisiting the same locations, as feel there's so much to explore, just wanna visit the most scenic parts.

On our way back to London, we intend to take the 15:40 flight, so a couple of hrs distance would be comfortable.

Cheers
Puneet

Itallian Chauffeur · Moderator

You can use www.aaroadwatch.ie for route planning. Enniskillen is 83 miles (133 kilometers) from Belfast International Airport. Sligo is 128.5 miles (207 kilometers). Drive times would probably be between 2.5 and 4 hours, over mostly good roads.

This inland route would cover new terrain. If you opted for Enniskillen, Omagh is nearby -- home to the Ulster-American Folk Park   http://www.folkpark.com/ which is meant to be quite interesting and informative.

Near Sligo is Carrowmore    http://www.heritageireland.ie/en/North-West/CarrowmoreMegalithicCemetery/   and Carrowkeel   http://www.viswiki.com/en/Carrowkeel_Megalithic_Cemetery

Some additional thoughts, to get you started:

Since you mentioned Achil Island, consider a couple of Days in Westport and then a couple in Clifden. Besides Achil, there is Croagh Patrick and the Coffin Ship Monument     http://www.dunningspub.com/croagh_patrick__ireland.htm          , Michael Davit Museum     http://www.museumsofmayo.com/davitt.htm      , Turlough Abbey   http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/70785         , the Museum of Country Life    http://www.museum.ie/en/about-us.aspx      ( the ONLY National Museum of Ireland that is outside of Dublin) and, though a BIT of a stretch, Ceide Fields     http://www.museumsofmayo.com/ceide.htm         .

Bob

Michele Erdvig · Host

Puneet Jain,

Welcome back to my forum for your second trip to Ireland. As I recall you had a small child along for your trip last time. How did that work out? Will your child be coming along for this trip too?

I like Bob's idea of spending your first night in Enniskillen. It is just the right distance for your first day's drive. If you go to my Lodgings page I have recommendations for the area.

From your comments it seems that you enjoy the more rural aspects of Ireland. Have you considered staying on Achill Island? There is a wonderful guest house there called the Bervie that is right on the beach. It is a fantastic getaway with most friendly hosts. You can also do Achill from Westport if you don't want to stay on the island. You can read my review of Bervie here: http://www.irelandyes.com/excerpt.html

There is plenty to do and see from Clifden.

Connemara
Roundstone
Kylemore Abbey
Killary Harbor Cruise
Dan O'Hara's Farm (if your child might be interested)
Cong
Galway
Aran Islands
Inishbofin
Clare Island

Michele

youngka · Guru

Puneet -- good for you, you have gotten the desire to return and so soon! It probably will be hard to not return over and over again. smile

We stayed at the Buttermilk Inn in Clifden (www.buttermilklodge.com)
-- which was really nice and wonderful breakfast and hosts, we also ate lunch and dinner at a place called Off the Square, not far from the Buttermilk. Our best dinner and place to go was the hotel -- everyone is so nice and the meals are great. We enjoy the little town of Roundstone to check out shops, and visit Malachy Kearns who makes the Bodhran (www.bodhran.com) for quite a few years. The gift shop is really full of nice gifts and suveniors. Just our the front of the shop, walk straight to a little side road and there is a really nice pottery and jewelry shop....We were in Roundstone about a week ago and my husband really enjoyed the lamb stew at the hotel -- big white one-Roundstone Hotel in the Pub.......Kylemore Abby is supposed to be a place to see -- we still have not been able to go-----yet. Westport is a neat little town with such neat canals and nice ocean accessable area. Aran Islands are a must -- Inis Mor -- just take the ferry - make a reservation -Rossaveal (Ros an Mhil) to Inis Mor www.aranislandferries.comand a very nice place to stay is Man of Aran Cottage ....http://manofarancottage.com/ I know this is a lot of info, but check some of these places out and check the map for location/s. Good Luck! Have a very nice trip!! youngka

-- Edited by youngka on Wednesday 27th of May 2009 03:13:56 PM

puneet · Member

Hi Michele, Bob, Youngka

Extremely sorry, as haven't been able to reply to your valuable posts, as had some serious stuff going on and our trip was almost over, even before it started.....
Somehow have managed to sort out things and we might be able to plan our trip, would be clear by tommorrow........but now the problem is that we don't have any time at all and are in a real fix cry

You guys seem to be the only hope and hopefully things would get brighter with tommorow's sunrise smile

...........

Michele thx for ur post - surely we love to be nearer to the rural side and ur idea abt Achill Island seems really nice - Bervie is a nice option but would really like to have more accomodation options.
Also seek options for stay in Clifden - One option we were considering was Sky Road, but seek ur opinion about Leenaun or Recess (If we remember it correctly from our last trip-these were very scenic places with just a few hotels/guest houses)
Thx to posts by Bob we certainly would love to do Croagh Patrick and also places like Aran,Clare Islands

Our dates are 11th June (reaching belfast from london 8.15am) to 18th (8:00pm flight to london) and the itinerary seems something like this :
11th - Sligo
12th/13th/14th - Achill Islands
15th/16th/17th - Clifden

The problem here is that atleast once we'll have to do a 6hr journey to belfast.....Plz suggest

It'll be a big favour if you could guide us, by suggesting the routes and how to incorporate the must see places on these routes, Things TO DO and suggest some nice B&B's

We are really short on time and are a bit panicked, but hope with ur help we are able to save this trip and make it a memorable one.

Luk fwd to hear from you real soon, Thx - Puneet

Itallian Chauffeur · Moderator

Given your time constraints, I think I would reverse the stays in Clifden and Achil. I believe the drive, Achille to Belfast would be marginally quicker and easier than Clifden to Belfast, while the Sligo to Clifden drive won't be too horribly bad.

Also, if you want to see a lot of different things, then Westport might make a slightly better base than Achil, but it IS a gloriously beautiful location.

As I am leaving VERY soon, as well, I'll leave you in the capable hands of Michele and the rest of the IrelandYes Irregulars ...

Safe and Joyous Journeys ... biggrin

Bob

Michele Erdvig · Host

Puneet,

Are you making any reservations for accommodations or just getting them when you are there? I sense that you want a list of places and then will choose when you are there. You will find good lodgings on my Lodgings page. If that is not enough for you look at my Links page under Accommodation. You will find many places through those links. Also, the local tourist offices will find you something for a small fee.

I have already recommended Bervie on Achill Island. In Westport Cilcomman Lodge or Boffin Lodge are nice. In Sligo Iorras or Yeats Lodge. As I said you will find many of them on my Lodgings page.

You are correct that some of the places you are interested in are rural and remote with few accommodation choices.

Sky Road is a lovely drive. There are a few places to stay on it. Clifden has many more choices though. Try Buttermilk Lodge.

I have already given you a list of things to do and see from Clifden in a previous post. Perhaps you can print it and take it with you?

For Achill:

Westport
Atlantic Drive
Deserted Village
Keem Bay & Strand
Minuan Mountain

Since you are just driving through and overnighting in Sligo you probably won't see a lot of the area. Some places if you have time:

Rosses Point
Parkes Castle

Enjoy your trip.

Michele