itinerary advice

camelia · Member

itinerary advice

Michele Erdvig · Host

Roberta,

Welcome to my forum. I hope you have had a chance to look around and find some good info for your trip. See my day by day comments below:

Aug. 6th land in Dublin at 13.00. Pick up rented car. Drive to Rock of Cashel, visit it and check in B&B. Have an early night. * I suggest seeing Holycross on your way to Cashel. It is just a slight detour off the main roads. Then you will have no backtracking tomorrow.

Aug. 7^thvisit Holy Cross abbey. Drive to Caher, and visit the castle. Head to Blarney and visit the castle. * Are you spending the night in Kinsale?

Aug. 8^th& 9^thvisit Kinsale, Old Head of Kinsale, Charles Fort, Desmond castle. Drive along the coast to Mizen Head. On the way visit Lisselan gardens, Dronbeg stone circle, Galleyhead lighthouse.Tour the Mizen peninsula: Barleycove Bay, Three Castle Head. Drive to Bantry and visit the Bantry House * I assume you are staying in Kinsale on the 8th? Are you staying in Bantry on the 9th? The coastal drive will take a good portion of your day. You may not get to everything on your list unless you start early.

Aug. 10^thFerry to Garinish Island. Set off for Ring of Beara. * Are you staying on the Beara Peninsula or elsewhere?

Aug. 11^thSouth RING OF KERRY + Valentia Island * Fine. I assume you are staying nearby for the night?

Aug. 12^thcruise to SKELLIG ISLAND + drive in North RING OF KERRY * Fine. Are you overnighting in Killarney?

Aug. 13^thSpend the day at Killarney National Park * Fine.

Aug. 14^th & 15^thDrive northward to Tarbert and take the ferry to Killimer. Then go along Loop Head peninsula, Bridges of Ross, Kilkee and Moveen. Arrive to Doolin. * Are you spending the 14, 15, 16 & 17 in Doolin? If so, you might be able to consolidate some of the sightseeing and maybe add a night or two in Dingle in its place. The distances between most of your sightseeing is not great. The most distant from Doolin is Loop Head.

Aug. 16^thBoat cruise to cliffs of Moher (as Ive never seen them from the sea). Visit coastal Burren: Fanore, Black Head... * See above.

Aug. 17^thVisit the rest of Burren: Poulabrone portal tomb, Corcomroe abbey, Kilfenora high crosses, Burren perfumeryetc. * See above.

Aug. 18^thdrive to Clonmacnoise and visit the site * It is possible to see Conlmacnoise as a stop on your drive to Dublin. That would free up another day for something else. Perhaps an extra day in Dublin or elsewhere?

Aug. 19^th check in B & B near Dublin airport and have an easy day * Fine.

If you can give me the answers to my questions, I will be happy to help you fine-tune your itinerary.

Michele

camelia · Member

Hello Michele, so pleased to get such a prompt and detailed reply from you ! Thanks a lot!

Aug. 6th land in Dublin at 13.00. Pick up rented car. Drive to Rock of Cashel, visit it and check in B&B. Have an early night. * I suggest seeing Holycross on your way to Cashel. It is just a slight detour off the main roads. Then you will have no backtracking tomorrow. *Right. I'll take your advice.

Aug. 7^thvisit Holy Cross abbey. Drive to Caher, and visit the castle. Head to Blarney and visit the castle. * Are you spending the night in Kinsale? * It's more likely around Blarney... have you got any suggestions there ?

Aug. 8^th& 9^thvisit Kinsale, Old Head of Kinsale, Charles Fort, Desmond castle. Drive along the coast to Mizen Head. On the way visit Lisselan gardens, Dronbeg stone circle, Galleyhead lighthouse.Tour the Mizen peninsula: Barleycove Bay, Three Castle Head. Drive to Bantry and visit the Bantry House * I assume you are staying in Kinsale on the 8th? Are you staying in Bantry on the 9th? The coastal drive will take a good portion of your day. You may not get to everything on your list unless you start early. * I'm afraid too that it might take us a lot of time to do it all.. that's why I can't plan now where we'll spend the nights.. it'll be all very flexible... according also to the Irish weather!.. roughly I think to spend the night of the 8th around Baltimore and the following night near Bantry. Does it sound sensible? Any suggested bandb?

Aug. 10^thFerry to Garinish Island. Set off for Ring of Beara. * Are you staying on the Beara Peninsula or elsewhere? * Probably near Kenmare. Have you got any names of bandb?

Aug. 11^thSouth RING OF KERRY + Valentia Island * Fine. I assume you are staying nearby for the night? * I think of staying near Portmagee that's handy for the following morning departure for Skellig. Have you been on Valentia Island ?

Aug. 12^thcruise to SKELLIG ISLAND + drive in North RING OF KERRY * Fine. Are you overnighting in Killarney? * I think so, in the area near Killarney as we'd like to avoid the cities...

Aug. 13^thSpend the day at Killarney National Park * Fine.

Aug. 14^th & 15^thDrive northward to Tarbert and take the ferry to Killimer. Then go along Loop Head peninsula, Bridges of Ross, Kilkee and Moveen. Arrive to Doolin. * Are you spending the 14, 15, 16 & 17 in Doolin? If so, you might be able to consolidate some of the sightseeing and maybe add a night or two in Dingle in its place. The distances between most of your sightseeing is not great. The most distant from Doolin is Loop Head.

Aug. 16^thBoat cruise to cliffs of Moher (as Ive never seen them from the sea). Visit coastal Burren: Fanore, Black Head... * See above.

Aug. 17^thVisit the rest of Burren: Poulabrone portal tomb, Corcomroe abbey, Kilfenora high crosses, Burren perfumeryetc. * See above.

* You are probably right.. I planned 4 days to see Loop Head peninsula, to do the coastal drive to Doolin, to cruise to the Cliffs (takes about 1 hour and1/2), and visit the Burren. It sounds too many days... maybe you're right about Dingle, although I've already been there..
this will make us being to Clonmancnoise on the 19th and check in a B & B near Dublin airport for the night ready for the following morning to get the plane..

Many thanks for your help!

Roberta

Michele Erdvig · Host

Roberta,

I have many suggestions for excellent B&Bs all over Ireland. Go to my Lodgings page for more. My book has even more listings along with reviews.

Am I correct that you are going to "wing it" while in Ireland and just meander as you please with no particular B&Bs reserved in advance? Keep in mind August is high season. You will especially want reservations for Fri & Sat nights.

I suggest that for your itinerary, you plan on staying in some strategic areas for a couple of days at a time. For instance - rather than stay in Blarney and then Baltimore - it might make more sense to spend two nights in Kinsale.

Since you have already seen Dingle you might consider some other areas that you have not seen yet. Perhaps time for a trip back to the drawing board to redo your itinerary?

Michele

camelia · Member

Hi Michele,
I understand your doubts about finding on the spot the accomodations in August. honestly I have never had any troubles the other times I went (same month and busy places as well), sometimes we had to knock at more than one door... but that is part of the holiday too. I might book the Fri&Sat nights anyway...
As you suggested here you are my updated itinerary: (I underlined the improvements)

Aug. 6th land in Dublin at 13.00. Pick up rented car. Drive to Holy Cross abbey, visit it and check in B&B. Have an early night.

Aug. 7^thvisit the Rock of Cashel. Drive to Caher, and visit the castle. Head to Blarney and visit the castle.

Aug. 8^th& 9^th& 10th visit Kinsale, Old Head of Kinsale, Charles & James Fort, Desmond castle. Drive along the coast to Mizen Head. On the way visit Howe's strand & Coastguard Station, Lisselan gardens, Dronbeg stone circle, Galleyhead lighthouse. Tour the Mizen peninsula: Barleycove Bay, Three Castle Head. Drive to Bantry and visit the Bantry House

Aug. 11^thFerry to Garinish Island. Set off for Ring of Beara.

Aug. 12^thSouth RING OF KERRY + Valentia Island

Aug. 13^thcruise to SKELLIG ISLAND + drive in North RING OF KERRY

Aug. 14^thSpend the day at Killarney National Park

Aug. 15^th 16^thDrive northward to Tarbert and take the ferry to Killimer. Then go along Loop Head peninsula, Bridges of Ross, Kilkee and Moveen. Arrive to Doolin. Boat cruise to cliffs of Moher (as Ive never seen them from the sea). Visit stunning coast of Burren, drive on the R479: Derreen , Ailladie, Fanore, Gleninagh Castle , The Pinnacle Well, Black Head...

Aug. 17^thVisit the rest of Burren: Poulabrone portal tomb, Ballyvaughan valley, the walls of Cahercummaun, Corcomroe abbey, Kilfenora high crosses, Burren perfumery etc.

Aug. 18^thVisit Dunguaire Castle in Kinvara. Reach Clonmacnoise and visit the site

Aug. 19^thdrive to the north of Dublin and visit Malahide Castle & demesne. (that's 20 minutes from the airport) On the N6 we'll take about 2 hours. check in a B&B handy to get to the airport the following morning

Aug. 20^th have an easy morning and drop the car by 13.00 at the airport

What do you think Michele? Does it sound more doable?
thank you indeed for all your precious suggestions!

roberta

Michele Erdvig · Host

Roberta,

Since you have been before in August with no problems "winging it" then I am sure you will be able to do it again successfully. I just wanted you to be aware of the challenges of high season travel.

Because your itinerary is fluid I think the general outline will suit you. As you are travelilng along you can make your decisions as to how much to see each day depending on weather, how early you start, etc.

It might be handy to have a list of possible B&Bs that you like the looks at along the way. Most websites have directions on how to find them. Perhaps you will even be staying at some places you enjoyed on other trips.

Enjoy Ireland!

Michele

camelia · Member

thanks again Michele, I'll be in touch as we are back from Ireland and tell you about the holiday.

roberta

Michele Erdvig · Host

Roberta,

We would love to hear how your trip goes once you get back. And do let me know if you have any other questions.

Michele