Photo bug looking for best shots

jjerich · Member

Photo bug looking for best shots

Michele Erdvig · Host

Joe,

Welcome to my forum. Ireland is chock full of dramatic and wonderful places to photograph. I suggest you look at online photos to narrow your focus. I have a lot of my own photos online here:

Michele's Blog
Michele's Irish Shop

Also take a look at:

Rivals to the Cliffs of Moher are Loop Head (Co. Clare) and Slieve League (Co. Donegal). In Northern Ireland the Antrim Coast is superb and just inland is the Dark Hedges.

Start your research now and narrow down you itinerary. Let us know if we can help as you progress.

Michele

jjerich · Member

Thank you for the warm welcome and the suggestions. A starting point is exactly what I wanted. I'll be looking over the information you provided and I am sure I will have additional questions along the way.

One additional thing I am wondering about is how receptive Ireland is to campervans. When I did 10 days in New Zealand we rented a 7 meter camper for the entire time. New Zealand is very welcoming to campervans and have rest stops and campsites almost everywhere. It's just an idea but not everywhere welcomes that kind of travel.

Thanks again for your input. Can't wait to explore your suggestions. Have a wonderful day!

Joe

Michele Erdvig · Host

You really don't see a lot of camper vans in Ireland. Europeans tend to bring them over on the ferry. You would have to find campgrounds to stay at. Seems like New Zealand is way ahead of Ireland when it comes to camping.

tony2phones · Guru

Camper vans and Ireland? Expensive to Hire and run, Not suited to roads which are not the straightest or the widest in the world. Very few (well) organised camp sites with hookup and other facilities. (our (private) yard has a wash house and Hookup many camp sites don't). Far better to hire a car which is easier to manoeuvre, cheaper to hire and run and B&B's which would make for more pleasant, secure nights. Hostels might be an option at the same rate or less than pitching a camper van on Organised sites.

jjerich · Member

Thank you for the heads up on the camper van situation. It was just an idea I was kicking around. We planned to have lodging for most of the trip and drive a regular rental car but one of the sites I saw had a small camper van (about the size of a large SUV with no kitchen or bath just a sleeping area) and I figured if we spent too much time at one area and didn't have the time to get lodging ahead of time it would be a nice flexible option just in case.

Work has kept me busy and haven't had much time on here so that is why so long a time before my last post. Still a lot of research before putting together an itinerary but starting to narrow it down. Right now we just have the first and last part of the trip set in our minds. The current idea is that after our week in Dublin we would drive up to Belfast and explore the northern coast for 2 days. The last two days of our trip we will spend at the Castle in Waterford for some relaxation and pampering before the trip home. It's the middle that we still need to nail down. So many great places to see it's not easy to narrow down. But that is also the great part of it all.

Geno · Guru

Joe:

While I am not that impressed with the city of Waterford as a destination, I do have a friend who stayed at the castle near there and said it was incredible. I guess she was talking about the same place you are, as the structure is on a nearby island and accessible via a ferry. She said it was quite nice.

Geno

Michele Erdvig · Host

Waterford Castle is a gem. The city is so-so.

jjerich · Member

We are saving the castle for our final 2 days as a way of relaxing and pampering ourselves before the final flight home. Maybe do a picnic on the grounds, explore the island, etc. We had planned to both do massages as I had seen the Spa link on the page when I first looked at this location but when I double checked it today I came to find out the spa is just in the planning stages. They state that Presently we offer a limited range of beauty treatments and therapies in the comfort and privacy of your own room. Im not sure if that includes in room massages or not. Going to have to double check that one. Maybe we should consider just one night instead.

CowboyCraic · Guru

Joe,

If you go towards the end of April, you will be spoiled for choices...that is birthing season..and there will be lambkins and other small furry babies gamboling about...

Michele mentioned the Slieve League Cliffs...hands down...in my book...they rate far above the Cliffs of Moher...not as developed..a little more difficult to reach...but well worth the effort

You mentioned Belfast...if you are staying in Belfast..you can choose to take a day trip up the Antrim Coast and into the Glens..you could visit Strangford Lough and PortaFerry...The Ards will offer you Mount Stewart, Grey Abbey and Scrabo Tower..as Michele mentioned...the Dark Hedges is also phenomenal

Loophead is a favourite...both for its lighthouse...and towering rock formation off its edge that hosts a fantabulous seabird condo...if you've a long lense, you can get some great close-up shots...I use a 100-400 to get in close..but my 70-300 works well, too...just mind that you don't stand too near the edge on a windy day

Lough Derg will offer you a myriad of photo-must-stop moments...

I am a promoter of off-the-beaten path...so I would be amiss if I didn't mention the Seven Wonders of Fore...a Monastic Settlement situated in the Fore Valley in Co Westmeath...

Slan Beo,

Bit

Green Dragon · Guru

I loved Slieve League as well - fantastic views, climb all the way to the top! Glenariff will give you scads of waterfalls. I went to both places on my May 2011 trip. Mine is the greendragonartist page (thanks, Michele!) - extensive trip report and pics may help. GOod luck!