Need help deciding in which towns to stay

Itallian Chauffeur · Moderator

Need help deciding in which towns to stay

BobK · Member

My wife and I will be traveling to Ireland for the first time this coming September. Flying in and out of Shannon. Renting a car during our 10 day 9 night stay.

We will be touring from County Kerry to County Galway.

We need some help deciding in which towns to stay, for what duration, and where to start after leaving the airport.

Some of the areas we would like to see:

County Kerry:

Gap of Duloe, Ring of Kerry, Dingle Peninsula,Connor Pass,Slea Head, Beara Peninsula,Molls Gap Skellig Ring.

County Clare:

Cliffs of Moher, The Burren.

County Galway:

Connemara, Sky Road Drive, and perhaps a trip to Achill Island.

Michell's book gave me a lot of info as did other posts at this website.

We do like to walk/hike and will take time to do that also, so it is possible that we won't see everthing we want. There are attractions I have not listed that we would probably stop to see.

Thanks fo the help.

Michele Erdvig · Host

You might consider going north first as Galway is closer to Shannon for your first day's drive.

Unless you want to do extensive hiking, etc. in the Burren you can certainly see the Cliffs of Moher (and will be driving through the Burren) on the drive south. Although some prefer to make an overnight stop in Clare.

Although I really like Kenmare, I also like Killarney a lot too. Either one is a good base for the SW. If you wanted only ONE base for the SW then Killarney seems to make sense for your list of "must sees". You could spend some time in Dingle and Killarney or just do Dingle as a day trip from Killarney. If you do it as a day trip it looks like you may need at least 4 or 5 full days there.

Will you have your last night near Shannon Airport?

BobK · Member

Thanks for your input.

We will be flying from the USA out of Newark Airport.

Right now it looks like Galway might be the bet choice for the first day driving. We will be staying near Shannon the last night.

Do you think 3-4 days is too long of a time period to spend in the Galway area. Thinking of maybe spending a couple of days in Galway and a couple in Clifden.

Thanks

Michele Erdvig · Host

Clifden is easily accessible from Galway. It is part of the Connemara driving loop. Was there something in particular that required a few days in Clifden? Some day trips from Galway would be the Aran Islands and Connemara. Each will take a whole day.

Seems like your longest list is for the SW. I would concentrate the most days there.

BobK · Member

No particular reason to stay in Clifden. When I look at an Ireland map, the Connemara area it seems as big as the County Kerry area we want to travel in. Clifden area seemed like a good town to stay in if we drove to Achill Island. It would also give us a chance to stay in a B&B that might be near a harbor or fishing village.

Our oriiginal intent was to stay at a B&B or hotel, now and then, that would be nearer to the water. that would be within walking distance to pubs or restaurants. I just assumed that a pub or restaurant that was nearer to the water would have the better seafood. For us it is a nice change to stay at a place in a small town that would be nearer the water, it is just a different atmosphere. That idea is true for County Galway or Kerry.

tony2phones · Guru

Arts Week is on in Clifden in September http://clifdenartsweek.ie/ we use http://www.dunri.ie/ not on the shore but great for town and a good price. http://www.thequayhouse.com/ would suit your shoreline requirements at a price over my wallet but an excelent place to stay.

CowboyCraic · Guru

I would choose Westport over Clifden if Achill is your goal...That being said, I would choose to stay ON Achill...the Bervie is my Achill Island choice... smile

Michele Erdvig · Host

The Bervie is right on the beach. You can listen to the waves on the shore all night while you are sleeping. It is walking distance to Achill Cliff House Hotel, which has the best mussels in Ireland. Everything I've ever eaten at that hotel is excellent.

BobK · Member

Great ideas for accomodation, thanks. Looks like the idea of staying on Achill Island is something we would enjoy. Nice place to stay, good for touring and hiking.

Concerning the Connemara area, how many days to stay in the area? Two or three days too much? If we need a day at the end of our trip near Shannon, using one day at Achill, 4 to 5 days around County Kerry, would you spend the remaining days in the Connemara? That leaves 2 to 3 days in the Connemara from our original 10 day, 9 night trip.

Would you stay in Galway city or somewhere else?

tony2phones · Guru

There are those who say you need at least 3 days to explore Dingle (lol), Connemara covers 3 times the area of that peninsula but 3 days would give the chance to see/do quite a lot. You could get some ideas from http://ireland.activeboard.com/t50055177/n59-galway-route/ (might get some more done later this year) and a bit of a map i did for someone staying in Ashford Castle. http://goo.gl/maps/L5ihu includes the Clare Island and Inishbofin ferry points which are posible options off the regular tourist routes.

I also recomend Ennis for the last night 30mins from the Airport but if you have 2 nights there you might get chance to go off piste over here into the less tourist East Clare and Lough Derg.

CowboyCraic · Guru

T'were it me, I would plan for two nights on Achill...the first night to settle in and the second night to recount your adventures of the day...Achill is small but it has many places that will turn hours to minutes

I would probably take a night from the Kerry stay and add it on to the in between , then split the nights with three in the Galway area... Roundstone, Spiddal are good "by the water" spots to stay but you would also do well to stay in Galway and veture out from there... and then your last two nights I would, as Tony suggests, stay in Ennis and use your last day to explore the East of Clare and Lough Derg. As he indicated, it is an oft overlooked area and that is a pity as it has so much to offer

BobK · Member

Tony and Cowboy Thanks for the suggestions. We will probably add a couple of more days to the Connemara area. Tony I think your posts were the reason I got interested in that area. For this trip I think we will spend our time in the areas I initially listed. We don't drive around just to make sure we see everything on our list. We have been known to spend hours at one spot because of the feeling we get, so if we miss something, well, there is always...the next time.

tony2phones · Guru

Galway to Sligo the Connemara and North Mayo is probably my favourite part of the island. We are lucky enough to live above Lough Derg on the Slieve Aughty with views from east Galway into Clare, across the Shannon into Tipperary, Offaly, down to Limerick and up over the fields of Athenry.

CowboyCraic · Guru

That does it! I am moving in with Tony! Sounds like you have teh best of views on all sides! biggrin

Bob,

The only thing you are cutting out is the Kingdom of Kerry by staying west and North. I think it is more than a fair trade. It is far better to focus more time on areas that are in closer proximity. That allows for more Faery led moments to places you wouldn't have the time to find. You want a sparkling lake...Do the Derg...she is grand and oft overlooked. That is a drive easily accomplished from either Ennis or BUnratty on the end days of your trip.