jwbbx
Registered User
Posts: 1
(1/7/04 2:05 pm)

First Trip Itinerary - Am I Crazy??

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I am planning a self-drive to Ireland in May. It's my first trip there, although it's not my first to the UK. Here's the Itinerary I'm thinking of - I wonder if anyone would comment on it?? Is it feasable??

Arrive Shannon and Drive to Galway
Overnight in Galway - see city and just relax
Day 2 - Drive to Tralee via Cliffs of Moher, Burren, using Tarbert Ferry. Stay in Tralee
Day 3 - Dingle Peninsula - Overnight in Tralee
Day 4 - Tralee to Kenmare via the Ring of Kerry - stay in Kenmare
Day 5 - Kenmare to Kilkenny (Not sure of route, but want to arrive in Kilkenny mid-afternoon) Stay Kilkenny
Day 6 - Day Trip Kilkenny-Waterford - Stay Kilkenny
Day 7- Kilkenny to Dublin via Glendalough
Balance of stay in Dublin

This of course is the skeleton, just to determine where we'll stay.

stannseniors
Registered User
Posts: 73
(1/7/04 4:23 pm)

long way

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I'm not too savvy on this stuff but Kenmare to Kilkenny will take you ALL day. We drove from Kilkenny to Cork. We left about 11 in the afternoon and didn't arrive in Cork until around 5pm (with one stop at Jerpoint Abbey)
You are talking all the way across the country - so i'd be curious to see how long everyone says it will take.
We did something everyday but my dsaving grace was to add one day of nothing inthe plans to either catch up or add something - that worked out great!

jwbbx
Registered User
Posts: 2
(1/7/04 4:43 pm)

Long way yes - but here's my thinking

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I figured it would be about 4 hours. My goal would be to get to Kilkenny in the early afternoon. The AA route planner calls it 138 miles, and I used the 35mph guide that seems to be the norm on the Forum. There has to be one day where we do the cross-country travel, I'm trying to group hotel stays so we're not constantly moving. Otherwise I could just do Kenmare-Waterford(overnight)-Kilkenny but that is just about as long. I don't know though if it's a more scenic trip or not.

wojazz3
Registered User
Posts: 333
(1/7/04 8:03 pm)
 
Re: First Trip Itinerary - Am I Crazy??

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Well, you're not crazy, maybe more driving than I would do, but it's a reasonable introduction to Ireland. I might do a few things slightly differently though.

I'm not sure if you have a particular reason for staying in Tralee, but it is not my favorite town/city in Ireland and personally I would MUCH prefer a stay at all sorts of different locations on the Dingle peninsula. I have a favorite place on the North coast about 20-30 minutes outside of Tralee ("The Shores") or you could go on into Dingle Town and stay there. There are plenty of places in Dingle to eat, drink and be merry to keep you happy for a couple of nights and then some.

On the subject if Kenmare to Kilkenny, it is doable, but will be a bit of a long day because you should probably stop and see a few things on the way. You might consider going to Kilkenny by taking the longer route and stop in Waterford and catch the tour, which I presume is the reason you are going to Waterford. Not much else to see there otherwise. The M25 east of Cork moves at a pretty good clip and the only painful part will be the traffic in Waterford.

The next day, do a tour that would take you to Cahir and Cashel then back to Kilkenny. Of course there are other options in and around Kilkenny. If it were me, I wouldn't go to Waterford at all (but I understand that many MUST), and do Cahir and Cashel on the way to Kilkenny and then some closer sites to Kilkenny the next day.

My question is how much is "remaining time" in Dublin?

Bill

jwbbx
Registered User
Posts: 3
(1/7/04 9:39 pm)

Re: First Trip Itinerary - Am I Crazy??

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Dublin is for 3 nights. We have a friend there who has volunteered to be local guide. We *may* also make a trip to New Grange from there, not sure yet.

Tralee was simply because it looked like a good stopping point for Day two. How much farther would it be to stay in Dingle?? I'm trying to take the cautions about too much driving seriously. I think I will make that a one night stop, (Dingle or Tralee) and then stay 2 nights in Kenmare. So Day Three becomes Dingle Peninsula ending up in Kenmare, Day Four would be Ring of Kerry back to Kenmare.

Edited by: jwbbx at: 1/7/04 9:46 pm


Michele Erdvig
ezOP
Posts: 2025
(1/8/04 3:22 am)

Re: First Trip Itinerary - Am I Crazy??

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Hi jwbbx,

So much to see and so little time! Your first night in Galway is fine. However, you might want to let the weather determine the day you visit the Cliffs of Moher. If it is absolutely lovely the day you arrive it would be better to see them while the sun is shinning and spend part of the next day in Galway. Be flexible.

I agree with Bill about Tralee. Not the most attractive place to stay in Kerry. Dingle town is perhaps another 1 to 1 1/2 hours from Tralee, depending on your route. But given that you will have driven from Galway to Dingle, you would want another day in Dingle to see the sights. It is a long drive even if you take the ferry.

Is the trip to Waterford a "must see"? I assume it is to see the crystal factory? Did you know that you can tour Galway Crystal Factory in Galway? Waterford Crystal is available all over Ireland for a standard price not just at the factory.

The drive from Kenmare to Kilkenny will probably take around 5 hours with no stops and depending on traffic, route, etc. The computer generated trip planners tend to underestimate travel times in Ireland.

Generally, you have lots of long driving days. Had you thought of skipping the Ring of Kerry for seeing some of the sights in and around Killarney? Of course it all depends on your likes and dislikes, and what you enjoy doing.

Get back to me with more info and we will all be sure to add our 2 cents worth.

Michele

wojazz3
Registered User
Posts: 336
(1/8/04 1:47 pm)

Re: First Trip Itinerary - Am I Crazy??

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I definitely agree with Michele on the driving thing. You'll be in the car a lot and I like being out of the car. I like the idea of doing something easier around Killarney. I also agree with Michele that two nights in Dingle is better than one, but you could feasibly do what you are suggesting.

As for a trip in the Kilaarney area that is a lot of fun, consider the Gap of Dunloe if the weather is good. You'll need a back up plan if it is not. The easiest way (though not the cheapest) is to sign up for a tour which provides transportation to Kate Kearney's cottage, then you can either walk or take a jaunting car (you'll have to negotiate the price of the ride with the driver) through the Gap of Dunloe and then a boat trip back through the Lakes of Killarney and a bus ride back to your car. It takes most of the day (about 9:00 AM - 4:00+ PM) and is an excellent adventure. You should bring rain gear and you will probably get a little wet unless you are REALLY lucky but this is fun. Here is a link to my page about the adventure.
www.geocities.com/obeirne...3_2/sneem2

Bill