steveh
Unregistered User
(8/2/03 8:32 pm)

Itinerary in late sep / early oct

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Message: My wife and I are taking our first trip to Ireland the last week of September to celebrate our 10 year anniversary (and are leaving the kids with their grandparents). We fly into Shannon on Saturday morning and out of Dublin the following Sunday, so have 8 nights.

Below is our initial itinerary - interested in your thoughts. We like outdoor activities (horseback riding, hiking, kayaking, etc), small towns, a combination of upscale and B&B type lodging. We like to explore, have some adventure, find some good music and pubs, but don't mind a fancy meal or hotel now and then either.


Sat, Sun - Kenmare: Shelburn Lodge
Mon, Tue - Kinsale: Old Bank House
Wed, Thu - TBD - somewhere in between Kinsale and Dublin - riding?
Fri, Sat - Dublin: Merrion Hotel

Some questions:
1. We arrrive Shannon at 8am on Saturday, rent car and drive to Kenmare and stay at Shelburn Lodge for 2 nights. Is this two far to drive on first day? Been told it is 2.5 to 3 hours. Should we stay somewhere close to Shannon first day. Any suggestions? Any feedback on Shelburne Lodge vs. other places in Kenmare? Any thoughts on better places to stay in County Kerry?

2. On Sunday we plan to tour,hike around Dingle, Iveraugh or Bearra pennisula. Any suggestion about which? High points.

3. Any feedback on Old Bank House in Kinsale vs. others in Kinsale. We would like to go kayaking off coast near Kinsale - any suggestion.

4. Suggestion for country house, B&B, or farm that offers experienced horseback riding between Kinsale and Dublin. Somewhere in mountains?

5. Any feedback on Merrion Hotel in Dublin. Is two nights too much time? We leave Dublin for U.S. around 1pm on Sunday.

Michele Erdvig
ezOP
Posts: 1660
(8/3/03 1:48 am)

Re: Itinerary in late sep / early oct

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Hi steveh,

Congratulations on your 10th anniversary. What a wonderful way to celebrate it -- in Ireland! And leaving the kids home sounds romantic. My answers are below:

1. We arrrive Shannon at 8am on Saturday, rent car and drive to Kenmare and stay at Shelburn Lodge for 2 nights. Is this two far to drive on first day? Been told it is 2.5 to 3 hours. Should we stay somewhere close to Shannon first day. Any suggestions? Any feedback on Shelburne Lodge vs. other places in Kenmare? Any thoughts on better places to stay in County Kerry? ANSWER: Drive time to Kenmare is 3 hours or perhaps a little more, depending on your route. Whether you stay closer to Shannon is really a matter of choice. How do you handle jet-lag? Have you ever driven on the left before? Will you be able to get some sleep on the plane? The drive is doable and if you decide to go ahead with it I suggest stopping a few times to walk around and wake up or perhaps stopping for coffee and food. Shelburne Lodge is fine, however Sallyport House is a favorite of mine and the setting is superb.

2. On Sunday we plan to tour,hike around Dingle, Iveraugh or Bearra pennisula. Any suggestion about which? High points. ANSWER: I consider Dingle to be too far to do as a day trip from Kenmare. Beara would be ideal. Healy Pass is spectacular; Derreen Gardens near Lauragh has great woodland paths beside the water; you could take the cable car out to Dursey Island for a hike or take a boat to Garinish Island near Glengarriff and stroll around Ilnacullin Gardens. There is plenty of hiking in all the areas I mentioned. Check opening times for the attractions mentioned.

3. Any feedback on Old Bank House in Kinsale vs. others in Kinsale. We would like to go kayaking off coast near Kinsale - any suggestion. ANSWER: For kayaking: www.kinsaleoutdoors.com/m..._kayak.htm Old Bank House is very nice and right in town. Perryville is exquisite but very expensive.

4. Suggestion for country house, B&B, or farm that offers experienced horseback riding between Kinsale and Dublin. Somewhere in mountains? ANSWER: Finding a place that combines the two might be difficult. However, you could always stay at a nice place and go horseback riding from a local stable. Mount Juliet outside Kilkenny and Moyglare Manor near Maynooth combines the two but they are not in the mountains.

5. Any feedback on Merrion Hotel in Dublin. Is two nights too much time? We leave Dublin for U.S. around 1pm on Sunday. ANSWER: Two nights in Dublin is probably just about right for seeing the sights. But if you are not "city people" it might be too much. I haven't personally stayed at the Merrion but it is one of only a handful of Dublin hotels with a 5-star rating.

Enjoy your trip!

Michele