2nd Trip to Ireland

murphy · Guru

2nd Trip to Ireland

Loelle · Veteran Member

Hi everyone,

In 2008 I discovered this amazing site for my first trip to Ireland, and because of all the wonderful advice, my trip went off without a hitch. I am planning a second trip for next year and was hoping to get some more advice!

This trip I will have more time, and I am going with someone who has never been. I dont want a repeat of the trip I already took (which was mostly Southern Ireland), so we are thinking about looping around the northern part of the island.

We will be arriving from Scotland, unsure of whether we will fly or take the ferry, but I would like to start in Dublin so that we can rent a car there. We will be flying out of Dublin when we leave (to London.)

I am hoping to have at least two weeks, and our rough intinerary is below:

Arrive in Dublin, head to Belfast. Stay in Belfast for a night?

Visit Bushmills, and possibly stay around that area, I would also like to go to the coast and see the Giants Causeway.

Derry/Londonderry - would one night/two days be enough?

Donegal - not sure if we should stay here or just spend a day

Galway - this was my favorite city when I visited last time. I would also like to go on the ferry under the Cliffs of Moher again.

Drop off car in Galway and take a train to Dublin to spend the remaining days. (this was suggested to me last time and it worked perfectly)

My main concerns are:

1. Driving the rental car into Northern Ireland. Will I need special insurance? Are there any restrictions for driving in that region when the car was rented from Dublin?

2. What would be the best way to leave from Scotland, the plane or the ferry? I would love to take the ferry but I am afraid of the weather (just in the sense that it may not be as enjoyable as it sounds..) and also how much time it will take total.

3. Ireland in November...are we crazy? :)

4. Can anyone recommend B&B's in the areas listed above?

Anyway, thank you for taking the time to read this. You all were so incredibly helpful last time, my very first thought was to come straight here.

Thanks in advance!

tony2phones · Guru

Consider reversing the route flying into Shannon (easy car hire) and Galway as the starting point do the Northern arc dropping the car in Dublin.
You Have to tell the rental company you will be going through the North there are different insurance regs and if you have an accident there will be repatriation issues. Most rental companies have no extra charge (some do?) but if the worst case happened you would be covered.

Not sure the ferries will run under the cliffs due to weather but you could fit this in between Shannon and Galway.

Michele Erdvig · Host

I like Tony's idea for your route. I also think you might want more time in Northern Ireland.

1. Driving the rental car into Northern Ireland. Will I need special insurance? Are there any restrictions for driving in that region when the car was rented from Dublin? * As Tony said you must inform the car company. Some charge extra for going into NI, others don't. No special insurance other than what you get from the car hire co. needed.

2. What would be the best way to leave from Scotland, the plane or the ferry? I would love to take the ferry but I am afraid of the weather (just in the sense that it may not be as enjoyable as it sounds..) and also how much time it will take total. * Flying takes a lot less time and can be comparable in cost.

3. Ireland in November...are we crazy? :) * I would prefer October but if Nov is the only time you get, go for it.

4. Can anyone recommend B&B's in the areas listed above? * Check my Lodgings page.

Loelle · Veteran Member

Thank you so much everyone! I think we are going to move the trip up to September...sounds like its probably a better time to go! I also will look into changing the trip to start in Shannon, that makes the most sense and it seems to be the same cost to fly from Edinburgh to there. Thanks for the suggestion.

Michele, thank you for the helpful link for lodging.

That brings me to my next question...you said I may want more time in NI. Could you tell me, of the places I listed as sort of 'stopping and staying the night' which ones you mean? I am still in beginning stages of planning (and its so far away, it seems like years!) so I am not sure what sort of things there are to do on that route.

I think we want to go to the Burren, and to Connemara...those seem to be on the way to Sligo/Donegal, etc. Do you think we would need more than two days in Derry? It looks like there is a lot to do in Country Antrim, as well.

Any advice would be much appreciated. Thanks again, everyone!

tony2phones · Guru

How you split your time up depends on how long you have on the ground but with 2 weeks you have long enough to fit in 2 night stays at points along the Arc..We go to Clifden for Arts week (later half of September) 10 days festival coving everything from music and poetry to fine art and opera. so maybe a couple of nights there. Derry would not be on my overnight list but as a day between Donegal/Letterkenny and Portrush.

Michele Erdvig · Host

I like spending a minimum of two days in any one spot. That allows for day trips in the different areas. Like Tony, I would stop in Derry on my way somewhere else. I like Co. Down and Co. Fermanagh too. After the Antrim coast, I am especially partial to the Ards Peninsula.

Loelle · Veteran Member

Thank you! :)

CowboyCraic · Guru

I love the Adelphi in Portrush..a boutique hotel...but reasonable...

The Ard is a beautiful place to get lost for a day...

as would be Strangford Lough...

If you find yourself in Fermanagh...just outside of Kesh is Drumskinny Stone Circle

You could pick any of the towns/villages along the Antrim Coast to stay for two nights and fill your time with exploring the glens...each has it's own special draw...my own choice there is usually the Londonderry Arms in Carnlough

Loelle · Veteran Member

Thank you everyone for your comments and suggestions!

After some research and some long talks, it seems our interests lie more in the southern part of the country, so I think we will be changing our itinerary to that area.

I have a few questions:

Of the following cities, which would be the one(s) to skip if we have limited time?

Limerick
Dingle
Killarney
Cork

We will be starting in the Galway area and making our way to Dublin. We are hoping for a mix of city and rural, with a couple of nights/days in each place.

I was in Killarney in 2008, and I loved it there. One thing I wanted to do that we didnt get to, was bike ride through the Gap of Dunloe. This, plus the National Forest (and its attractions) are the things drawing us to that area.

A friend of mine stayed in the Dingle area several years ago and still talks about it like its heaven, so I was thinking that might be a nice place to stay as well.

A tradition my friend and I have started when travelling together is ziplining - does anyone know of any zipline adventure courses anywhere in Ireland? I did a search online but the information is very limited. It seems there may be one near Cork, but I can't tell from the website if its an actual zipline course.

Also, last time in Galway I stayed at St Martin's B&B. I looked online and could not really find any information as to whether its still open or not? Can anyone confirm? I loved Mary and I would love to stay there again, if possible.

That's it for now...though I am sure more questions will arise. Anyway, thanks so so much, everyone!

tony2phones · Guru

St Marins needs a better web site if this is the place http://www.stmartins.ie/contact_us.html

Adventure sports in Ireland http://www.dayout.ie/things-to-do/groups/corporate-activities/adventure-sports

Not a big fan of Limerick would rather stay in Ennis as a base for Clare but as you are following the regular route anywhere between Ennis and Adare/Listowel would do to split the trip.

Loelle · Veteran Member

Thank you, tony2phones. Limerick was more to break up the drive between Galway/Dingle and/or Galway/Killarney. Its not on the top of our list, but we figured if we were already driving through...etc. Thanks so much for the links!! I will check them both out.

Would it be worth skipping Killarney and staying in Cashel/Cahir area to see the Rock of Cashel and the Bolton Library? Or would you say those are more of a 'on the way to xx you can stop' kind of places?

tony2phones · Guru

The Bolton Library..now that's not something on many tourists list (little impressed to be honest), Yes Cahir and Cashel are on the regular Cork north east run. Killarney is a place I love, Yes its full of tourists in summer but get off the main drag and there are locals bars with 80% Irish accents. Plus its a good touring base.

I am a little unclear on how you are planning the itinerary now? with 2 weeks you could pull the round the coast road trip but you seem to have moved to a south west corner tack?

CowboyCraic · Guru

I would have to agree with Tony in regards to Limerick. It isn't on my must stay list either.

The Tarbert ferry will still be running in September. You can use that to cut some driving time off your Dingle to Galway. The coastal route will take you past the Cliffs of Moher and there are several towns that could entice you to stop for a lunch and a stretch, which would mean not having an overnight in between.

As to St Martin's, Mary has never had much in the way of a website, to be sure but her hospitality is tops. She was still in operation as of last season, 2011.

Loelle · Veteran Member

Haha, thanks Tony. My friend and I are avid readers, and I had read about the library before, and its a place we would both like to see. I was unable to see it or the Rock of Cashel on my last visit.

I loved Killarney as well, and would really like to fit it in. We are *hoping* for a full two weeks in Ireland - this is still up in the air. We might only have ten days. We are starting in London, then to Edinburgh for a couple of days, then over to Shannon. We will rent a car there, go to Galway, maybe see the Cliffs or the Burren on the way? After Galway, we would go to Dingle (thanks CCraic - I believe you were the person who suggested the ferry on my last visit, and it really helped break up the drive, we will look into that again this time!) From Dingle, to Killarney... From there we would like to see Cork and/or Cashel, etc before Dublin.

If we were to go to Cork from Killarney, would we only need a day for the Rock of Cashel/Bolton Library on our way to Dublin? Or should we expect to spend the night in that area before we head to Dublin? While we dont want to spend the entire time in the car, we also dont mind being in the car for a while taking in the scenery and listening to music. So, if the drives are long, its not that big of an issue for us...its all part of the experience! :)

Oh and I am also curious - how scary is the drive from Galway to Dingle? I am a bit nervous about that one!

CCraic - thanks, I am glad to hear that Mary is probably still in business. I am really hoping to stay there again!

tony2phones · Guru

If you are flying in from Edinburgh consider Knock as the arrival airport and drop down through the Connemara maybe use Westport or Clifden for your first night. There is nothing scary about driving in Ireland (unless you are trying to keep up with me on the Bohreen and forestry) if you can drive at home you can drive here. The ferry saves no time now the Shannon Tunnel is opened and I only suggest it now if folk are aiming to explore south west Clare and Loop Head Peninsula. My favourite view of the Dingle peninsula is across the Shannon estuary from Loop Head.

Michele Erdvig · Host

I would cross Limerick off the list too. When in the Cork area I usually opt for either Blarney or Kinsale. That way I don't have to battle the one-way streets and traffic grid-lock in Cork city.

You could drive from Killarney and/or the Cork area via Cashel to Dublin and be able to see the Rock of Cashel and Bolton Library on the way.

Loelle · Veteran Member

Perfect, thank you both so much! We will have to discuss what we want to see the most and plan around that. The all day cruise could be fun, I was supposed to do that last time but we ended up being too late (didn't calculate time for the windy drive from Galway!)

I am on the fence about going to Cork at all, to be honest. I haven't done a ton of research yet, but I am not sure that I am seeing much that interests me there...

-- Edited by Loelle on Friday 30th of November 2012 03:29:52 PM

Loelle · Veteran Member

Ok great - we will skip Limerick then! Thanks everyone.

Glad to know that Cashel can be done on the way to Dublin, that fits perfectly :)

While at the Cliffs I would like to possibly see the Doolin Caves and the Aran Islands...are all three things do-able in one day? I am hoping to take the ferry under the Cliffs instead of just walking to the top, that will only be if time permits.

Michele Erdvig · Host

The Aran Islands takes a whole day. You can fit the cliffs, boat ride. I suppose whether you can see the cave or not depends on your timing.

CowboyCraic · Guru

Unless you are planning to overnight in Doolin, I don't see all of that fitting in one day.

Doolin Ferries does have a full-day Cliffs Cruise which takes you to Inis Oirr and under the Cliffs. However that is a ten o'clock departure and a four o'clock return.

Like Michele, I would chose a smaller town outside of Cork City herself for my lodging. I find that is one of only a few places taht stresses me out, whether I am a passenger or the driver, trying to navigate the streets.

Michele Erdvig · Host

There is a one hour boat cruise of the cliffs: http://www.cliffs-of-moher-cruises.com/

CowboyCraic · Guru

You might consider exchanging an overnight in Doolin where you you had Limerick...and then instead of Cork, perhaps either adding a night to Killarney or, since Cashel and Cahir seem to be a focal, consider traveling from Killarney to Cashel and overnighting there before taking on Dublin.

tony2phones · Guru

The boats sail (if they sail, weather dependant) at 10 am so in honesty better to stay close than in Killarney. Portmagee is a nice little fishing village and you could do worse than visit Valentia Island. Little bits of Ireland that escape the mass tourism of the Dingle and Doolin jelly molds. You could actually stay on Valentia, it's been a few years but Atlantic Villa B&B in Kinightstown was a nice enough stay.

-- Edited by tony2phones on Monday 3rd of December 2012 07:34:23 PM

Michele Erdvig · Host

There are really no "cities" nearby. The closest larger towns would be Killarney and Kenmare but would require an early morning drive to the ferry. As Tony suggested stay out on the Ring of Kerry. I like Brookhaven Country House in Waterville. You could try Carraig Liath House on Valentia Island or Ferry View in Cahirciveen.

Make alternate plans in case the weather or seas do not cooperate.

Loelle · Veteran Member

Thanks - I think that's what we are going to do. I think that also, we might end up skipping Edinburgh entirely...we are just finding too much we want to do in Ireland :)

We are thinking about going further south from Dingle and trying to get to Skellig Michael. I have only managed to find the name of towns you can take the ferry/boat from to visit the island. Can anyone recommend a city to stay in in that general area?

Thanks!

Loelle · Veteran Member

Fantastic, thanks!

Ok, one last question for now...is it even possible to rent a car that is an automatic? I can drive a manual but my travelling companion can't. I would prefer to split up the driving, but it doesn't seem that an automatic is an option on any of the sites I have checked.

tony2phones · Guru

All rental companies have Auto options they cost a lump extra as would the extra driver...Go to the rental companies direct..95% of complaints about hire cars in Ireland come from people who "Thought" using bucket shop agents would save them a bit of cash..problem being nothing of the essential "extras" is included in quotes from these people.

Michele Erdvig · Host

You can definitely rent an automatic. Manuals are more common so automatics cost more to rent. If you are looking at online booking engines, I recommend instead you phone a few companies to find out how much their automatics are.