ccallen
Unregistered User
(7/8/03 9:47 pm)

Another itinerary question

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My husband and I are planning a trip to Ireland in mid-August for 9 nights. We would like to see the Southwest and West, but do not want to spend a lot of our time on long-distance drives. We are hoping for some relaxation but want to see as much as possible. My first draft of the itinerary is as follows:
Day 1- Doolin
Day 2-Galway
Day 3-Galway
Day 4 –Connemara/Westport
Day 5-Wesport
Day 6-Dingle/Killarney Area
Day 7 Dingle/Killarney Area
Day 8-Bunratty
Day 9-Bunratty


We would really like to see the Connemara area, Dingle and some of the Ring of Kerry. However, I am concerned these are not realisic given our timetable and the driving distance involved. Any advice would be appreciated.

gulliver
Unregistered User
(7/9/03 4:57 am)

itinerary

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Just came back from these areas and while we didn't drive ( we had a fabulous Land-rover tour of the off beaten areas of west and southwest Ireland) I'll give you my thoughts.
I will assume you are arriving into Shannon airport. Since you would like to visit Wesport and the Connemara, it would make sense to go there first and spend the night in Westport. I would stay in the Connemara and spend night 2 in Roundstone a very picturesque fishing village. Next night in Galway and the following night in Doolin. (Great pubs, pub grub and lively music)Grab a visit to the Cliffs which is a very short distance away.
I would then make my way to Killarney (which would be the greatest driving distance in one day)
I would spend 2 nights in Killarney and one in Dingle (one of my favorite towns with good restaurants, B & B's and loads of music) Loved the Beara Peninsula- very quiet,wonderful sights and very few tourist buses.
You would then have two nights to work your way back towards Shannon airport. I like Bunratty but two nights there would be boring. One night is plenty. The castle and environs are very interesting and Dirty Nelly's pub is a treat.
The west and southwest are our very favorite parts of Ireland. Have a great trip.

Michele Erdvig
ezOP
Posts: 1609
(7/13/03 4:35 pm)

Re: Another itinerary question

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Hi ccallen,

I do agree with Gulliver about spending a night in Connemara, and Roundstone is a favorite of mine along with Clifden. If you cut a night in Bunratty you can do this. However, I am concerned about the driving time from Westport to Dingle. It is too much for one day. If you change the order of your itinerary and go from Doolin to Westport then Connemara and Galway, the drive time from Galway to Dingle is much less.

As Gulliver said you can see Bunratty in one day, however it does make a good base for seeing various sites in Counties Clare and Limerick. It all depends on what your plans include.

Try changing things around a bit and let us know what you come up with. I will be happy to comment on your final itinerary.

Michele

ccallen
Unregistered User
(7/13/03 8:29 pm)
 
Another itinerary question

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Thanks for the responses. Michele, your book has been a great help so far in planning. Below is our revised itinerary. We are trying to see as much as possible without changing locations every night. We are flying into and out of Shannon.

Day1-Blarney (a must for my husband)
Day2- Killarney
Day3 - Killarney (drive out to Dingle)
Day4-Doolin
Day5-Galway
Day6-Galway
Day7-Roundstone or Clifden
Day7-Roundstone or Clifden
Day8-Bunratty

We contemplated staying in Dingle for the night instead of driving back to Killarney, but wanted to avoid packing and unpacking too many times. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Michele Erdvig
ezOP
Posts: 1619
(7/14/03 10:33 pm)

Re: Another itinerary question

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Hi ccallen,

I'm delighted to hear that my book is helping with your trip. I know that you are trying to stay in places for two nights where possible, which is what I usually recommend in my book. However, I would suggest spending at least one night in Dingle instead of doing it as a day trip from Killarney. If you skipped Doolin or spend only one night in Galway you can acomplish it. Or is Doolin on your husband's "must see" list also? I think a bit more fine-tuning will make for a perfect itinerary.

Michele

Wren
Unregistered User
(7/22/03 11:13 pm)

Another vote for Roundstone

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We stayed just outside of Roundstone at a B&B called Erisbeg Lodge for four days on our recent trip to Ireland. We easily could have spent even more time exploring the area, which is beautiful - fascinating eco-system, wonderful wildflowers and gorgeous deserted beaches (a bit cold for swimming, but great to stroll along.

The B&B is run by Jackie and Shirley King, who are wonderful hosts who love talking with you about the area. The rooms are compact, with simple pine furniture, comfortable beds - we had a king sized bed in our double, which was lovely. There are no t.v.s in the room, but we didn't miss that at all. They also have two friendly Connemara ponies (with foals while we were there) that roam the fields up above the house on Erisbeg Mountain.

We ate at three restaurant/pubs in Roundstone and they were all excellent. Some of the best fish we had on the trip!

All in all, I felt the time we spent there was the best of an already wonderful trip. It's the place I most want to return to!

Michele Erdvig
ezOP
Posts: 1642
(7/23/03 11:53 pm)

Roundstone Restaurants

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Hi Wren,

Did you eat at O'Dowd's in Roundstone? We would enjoy hearing which restaurants you enjoyed. I love seafood too and you were certainly in the right place for it. Looking forward to complete report when time permits.

Michele

Wren
Unregistered User
(7/26/03 12:14 am)
 
O'Dowds in Roundstone

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Yup,we ate at O'Dowd's one night, Beola one night and the restaurant at the Roundstone Hotel another. All were excellent. Turbot so fresh it tasted like lobster, wonderful salmon (my husband's favorite) and Connemara lamb were some of the highlights - and the Bailey's cheesecake was also a favorite. Our first night we ate at the internet cafe that is also run by O'Dowds - fish chowder, pints of Guinness and a plate of Irish cheeses made for a great end to a long day of driving. Haven't had a chance to get back to the trip report - I want to do justice to Connemara and the Burren!