Advice on Itinerary - newbie going for 11 days in June

Arianna · Member

Advice on Itinerary - newbie going for 11 days in June

Melissa5 · Guru

Hi Arianna,
Is this your first visit to Ireland? Have you tried bookmarking this useful tool in your toolbar: (You can use it to check driving times for Ireland):

http://www2.aaireland.ie/routes_beta/Search.aspx

When you say you are visiting family in "Skiberdeen", do you mean "Skibbereen"? If so, I'm jealous! I am planning my 2nd trip to Ireland, and I wish I could visit Skibbereen, and also Baltimore (nearby), at the very south of Ireland... I can't quite fit it into my itinerary. From my research, it sounds like a wonderful area to visit. If I were you, I'd spend at least 2 nights there, since you are driving all the way down there.

On our first visit to Ireland, we spent 3 or 4 nights on the Dingle peninsula...and we all wished we had another night there! We wanted to take a boat out to the Blasket Islands, but ran out of time.

My husband and I also enjoy traveling to Europe. Ireland is unique...I think "slow travel" is best in Ireland. In my opinion, it's convenient to plan a trip to Ireland in terms of counties. For a 12-day trip to Ireland, I'd suggest focusing on only 3 counties. That gives you 3 or 4 nights in each county, plus a night or two near the airports if you need it. Choose counties that are right next to each other.

Enjoy planning your trip to green, musical Ireland!

Michele Erdvig · Host

Arianna,

Welcome to my forum. Glad to hear that you got a lot of good tips here. You are very smart to be planning multiple-night stays in most places. One thing to keep in mind is that you can never see it all on one trip to Ireland. Choose your favorites and go with them. You will enjoy what you do see and never miss what you don't see.

Don't second guess flying into Dublin. If your husband wants to see it that is important. Everyone must have their own input on the trip.

Bravo! You have planned a good itinerary. Since it will take time to drive from Dublin to Skibbereen, I suggest you spend two night there and visit with family. One of those days will be a Saturday, which is generally good for visiting.

Do your 4 nights in Killarney. From there you can make day trips to Dingle, Ring of Kerry and even the lesser known Beara Peninsula. Don't miss Muckross House and Gardens. The Muckross Traditional Farms are interesting too. Another area day trip is the Gap of Dunloe. As you see there is lots and lots to see in the area.

If you want to see Bunratty Castle do not take the ferry. Instead take the main road north toward Limerick, take the Limerick tunnel under the river to avoid the city and you will see Bunratty Castle, then the cliffs.

It takes about 3 1/2 hours drive time from Galway to Dublin. If you keep the car be sure to stop and see Clonmacnoise along the way. Maybe even Belvedere House & Gardens. Check on drop off fees for the car and then make your decision.

You still have plenty of time to get my book. It will be a good guide for where to stay and make your lodging reservations.

Let us know if we can help in any other way.

Michele

Arianna · Member

Thanks to you both for your fast replies! :)

I am feeling better and better about the itinerary I planned out.

Michele, I just purchased your book but am looking to book lodging by the weekend - can you let me know how quickly you ship?

Also, just a few more questions for you:

1) What is your feel on seeing Connamarra? Can we squeeze it when we see Galway or is that too ambitious? And do you think it's worthwhile to see?

2) We should skip overnight in Kilkenny and just do a stop on the way to Skiberdeen? I was so looking forward to staying at the Lawcus Farm Guesthouse but I know I can't do everything unfortunately.

3) Are there any B&Bs in the Skiberdeen (forgive my atrocious spelling) or Baltimore area you would recommend?

Thanks again!

tony2phones · Guru

That green blur you were talking about seems to be comming over the horizon. No matter which part of Ireland you pass through you will not have enough time to see all that is there.

Give me the Connamara over many places every day but I am sorry you will just have to come back if you want to see more than a little of it. Keep your night in Kilkenny stick to your origional plan and enjoy yourself. Ireland will still be here when you come back.

chaika · Veteran Member

There is no way that I can see that a two-week visit will leave you satisfied! We were there last year 2 weeks, and next month another two weeks. There are still things on our list that we won't get to this time.

It may be too late for you, but we are flying into Dublin and out Shannon so as not to have to make that last-day drive cross country. OTOH, Clonmacnoise is one on our unvisited list. Next time. =:^)

CowboyCraic · Guru

Lawcus Farm is one of my favorite stops!

I have a few favorites in Skibbereen:

Grove House which offers both B&B and self-catering is one mile outside of town. It is a 200year-old manor house. Four-poster beds and a master chef in residence made me want to stay for a year!

Coolbawn Lodge which is on a working beef farm. Eileen's fresh baked goods and a steaming pot of tea made my day! Also worth noting, they provide king-size beds

Bunalun Farm is a bit more removed, 4km from Skibbereen, on a working beef/dairy farm that is over two-hundred years old. It is 15 minutues from Baltimore and the Creagh Gardens are just up the lane

Your originally posted itinerary is well thought out and evenly paced. I would stick to it without much deviation. One note, Bunratty Castle is a Folk Park and will be more than just a stop. It requires at least a few hours to do it correctly.

Put down the guidebooks and give your brain a rest. You cannot possibly see everything you would want in just one trip. That is why I am headed over in June for trip eleven. As Corey noted in another post, what you do see will more than make up for what you don't see. In Ireland especially, less is definitely more.

Slan Beo,

Bit

Michele Erdvig · Host

Arianna,

You can't see everything! Only you can determine if you want to fiddle with your itinerary to cut something out and add something else. I usually stay at PK Lodge in Skibbereen. You do have time for a day trip to Connemara and it is worthwhile.

Michele