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bdokeefe


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15 day trip, relaxing journey wanted....
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Hello-  First off, thanks for this forum and your communities help.  I used the site frequently during our first trip to Ireland a few years back.  My wife and I flew into and out of Shannon and rented a car.  On that trip we stayed 11 days and spent 3 days in Dingle, then Kenmare, Kinsale, Waterford, Cahr and finally Doolin, all B&B's.  Great trip, but too much moving around.  We enjoyed walking through the countryside and old churches, stone circles and fairie forts.  Stopping into a pub for a pint and some grub.   Taking the small boat at Ross Castle w/ our bikes and ridding through the Gap of Dunlow was our favorite day.

So this time were heading over 15-30 May, flying into Dublin and out of Shannon.  Just the two of us again, the kids went with us to Germany 2 years ago.  Yeah!

Thurs (16th)-Sat  Dublin, bus to Hotel (Leeson Bridge Guesthouse)  Mostly just wander around, get our sea legs back, check out National Museum, Stephen's Green (where Miss Henry use to go sir), the 'Tart with the Cart', etc.

Sat (18th) Bus back to Airport, pick up car (Dooley, 13 day economy, $276, CDW w/ World Master Card), then head down to Powerscourt, drive through the Wicklow Mountains a bit, spend one night @ Trooperstown Woodlodge B&B, Laragh.

Sun (19th)-visit Glendalough, then head to Bantry, where we have O'Brien's cottage in Dromore rented for 7 nights.  We'll probably only stay 5 or 6 nights.  It'll still be inexpensive lodging, and the breakfasts at B&B's would require me to book an extra seat on the return flight if we only stayed in B&B's...way too tasty.  To paraphrase Michele, 'if the weather is poor, you can always just stay put in a self-rental and have a cuppa by the fire'.  The fire place @ O'Briens looks great.

We plan on touring the Beara penisula, seeing Garnish Island, go back to Bonana Heritage Park, explore Gleninchaquin park.

Sat (25th) 4 nights @ Fough East B&B in Oughterard.  We want to use this as a base for Connemara.

Wed (29th) Last night in Ennis.  

So, how does it sound?  With the cottage rental we have flexibility to add a day in Wicklow or take an extra day when we drive between Bantry and Oughterard.

  Do you know anyone who could give us a 1/2 day tour of some of the archeologic sites and history around Bantry?

Any oddball sites you can think of that are close to where we are staying?  Magic roads, hidden wells, 'thin places'?

The cottage rental mentions wood burning stove and a solid fuel range...is solid fuel different from wood, like peat?  We live up by Canada, and I burn 10 cord of wood a year to heat the house, burning peat would be interesting.    

Very excited, can't think of anything else for now.  I waded through many books and web sites in prep for our last trip....all that research is making planning for this trip so much easier.

Thanks.  

 



-- Edited by bdokeefe on Monday 28th of January 2013 09:20:12 AM

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Michele Erdvig


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With a week in Bantry I'm sure you will visit Bantry House and gardens. In the garden go up the flight of stone stairs for wonderful panoramic views of Bantry Bay. Some other places to visit:

Whiddy Island 

Bantry Bay Boat Trip

Gougane Bara

Drombeg Stone Circle

Mizen Head

Sheep's Head Peninsula

Inchydoney Beach

Kilnaruane Stone

West Cork

Hidden Ireland Adventures

Bantry Tourism 

http://www.corkcoco.ie/co/pdf/176095726.pdf 

http://www.rosscarbery.ie/member.php?id=mb87



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Itallian Chauffeur


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Welcome (Back)!  biggrin

Overall, I think your plan sounds DELIGHTFUL -- but then, I am a BIG fan of the Bantry area.

We self-catered on Sheeps Head for a week, in April of 2003 and visit the general area around Bantry, every year, since 1999.

Some general observations -- I WOULD make an interim stop between Wicklow and Bantry AND between Bantry and Oughtergard, if Relaxed Travel were my objective.

Both COULD each be driven in a day, but they would be LONG ones -- particularly the Wicklow-to-Bantry one!

I'll get together a list of places that are worthy contenders in the 'Thin Places' category and add them here, later.

Bob



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tony2phones


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Stops as above.. Wicklow to Bantry is a drive without sight seeing on the way.  Same for Bantry to Oughterard. Maybe catch the fleadh in Ennis it ends the 28th may so you would miss it on your last night, which might be better spent at the Oakwood Arms in Shannon if you have an early flight.

Walks in Bantry http://bantry.ie/site42/index.php/what-to-do/heritage-loop-walks

Of possible interest for the Oughterard leg.. http://ireland.activeboard.com/t50055177/n59-galway-route/   &  http://goo.gl/maps/iSQcB



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Maggie117


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Nice trip planned! I just looked at O'Brien's cottage in Dromore and it looks great!!! Love the photo of the red wine with two glasses on the outside table...Yum! Especially with a nice platter of cheese!!!

My mom and I are going to Ireland 3/6 - 3/23 and one of those weeks is at Gate Lodge Cottage in Adare. We can't wait to just sit back and relax! This is also a return trip for us (3rd) and we don't want to rush around... Can't wait to get the fire going in the cottage... Sweet anticipation!

Have a great trip!

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Maggie Cosgrove
bdokeefe


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Tony, thanks, the route you link to sounds nice. I believe I saw another post you had w/ an interesting drive we were going to try.

Italian C- Where would you recommend to stop between Wicklow and Bantry? We have been to the Rock of Cashel and Cahir Castle already.

The Michelin map I have from our earlier trip in (in '07) showed part of the route between Dublin and Cork as a 'N' road. I see that they are now 'M' divided highway roads, also part of the way from Bantry to Oughterard....I was hoping that the driving would be quicker. Thanks for the advice.

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Geno


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If you want a wonderful pub in Bantry for a pint and great conversation, go to Ma Murphy's.  The man who owns the place, Bill Leonard, is a tremendous person and his daughter, Mary, is behind the bar.  Great people who love to chat.



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Itallian Chauffeur


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bdokeefe wrote: "Italian C- Where would you recommend to stop between Wicklow and Bantry? We have been to the Rock of Cashel and Cahir Castle already."

Were it me, I would follow the SE coast (more or less) utilizing the M/N11, to the N25 -- Wexford, Waterford to Cork.  Depending upon your interests, you could stay in the vicinity of either Cork/Midelton/Cobh, or stop off somewhere between Dungarvin/New Ross/Wexford.  Another option might be Kilkenny.  It's really hard to recommend a SPECIFIC place without knowing what interests YOU.   See: http://ireland.activeboard.com/t52431333/getting-ready-for-the-next-ireland-adventure/  for some ideas.

We spent a fair bit of time in the SE in June of 2011  and April of 2012.  Those trip reports have links to my Flickr photos, or HERE  Three are three pages of Sets.

Another, from April of 2006, includes our self-catering stay on Sheeps Head.

The M roads HAVE slashed driving times -- Between Dublin and Cork, Dublin and Limerick and Dublin and Galway, but the N and R and L roads are STILL rather slow-going.  But the size/condition of the roads is only one SMALL part of the puzzle.  Ireland is SO densely FILLED with antiquities, breathtaking vistas and just plain, natural WONDERS, that it is EXCEDINGLY difficult for a visitor to NOT slow down, rubber-neck and even STOP, just to drink it in.  I have spent MANY days, out touring about for 8-10 hours -- where we only 'covered' 150 miles!

As promised, some Bantry-centric sites:

Follow the Goats Path out of Bantry onto the Sheeps Head, to Kilcrohane, via Finn maCool's Seat, atop Seefin Mountain. 

http://mapcarta.com/18934704

Visit the layby (car park) along vaughn's Pass.  The views, on a clear day, are magnificent!  http://bantry.ie/site42/index.php/what-to-do/heritage-loop-walks

Take a drive into Kealkill and then continue along that road, to Gougane Barra

Drive the coastal N71 and visit Drombeg Stone Circle continue on, cross the one-lane bridge, between Glandore and Union Hall, to Clonakilty, to visit DeBarra's

Drive down to Baltimore, visit the harbor, have a pint at Bushes and perhaps take a cruise out to Clear Island  or Sherkin.

Drive through Skibbereen, visit the Famine Grave and then continue on, to Castle Townshend.  The Town harbor is worth the views of the swans gliding past the Castle.  Also along the way: Gurranes (the Five Fingers) and -- directly across the road -- Knockdrum Stone Ring Fort.

Drive into Drimoleague and turn North to locate Castle Donovan  and then, if you are TRUELY Bold, follow the bohreen along side of it, up the mountain, into the Melagh Valley.  Once into the valley, a left turn returns you to Bantry, but a right will lead you past Nowen Hill (where once, we walked upon the clouds!) and eventually lead you into Macroom.

All these could EASILY fill a week, so you will need to 'Pick And Choose' according to what interests YOU.

LOTS of Choices!

Bob

 



-- Edited by Itallian Chauffeur on Thursday 31st of January 2013 11:29:56 AM

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bdokeefe


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Thanks for the links. The scenery on the boat rides look amazing, but I'm afraid my stomach wouldn't take the adventure.

Have the driving times improved much in the past few years with more 'M' routes coming into being?


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Michele Erdvig


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My husband got "seasick" on the Shannon ferry once. I can understand wanting to keep your feet on solid ground.

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"Ireland Expert"  Michele Erdvig

Click links for Michele's Book or Custom Ireland Itinerary

Visit Michele's Irish Shop for unique Irish gifts and beautiful photos of Ireland.
bdokeefe


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Thanks so much! Great links, it'll be fun choosing from so many interesting options.

100 days and counting!

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