From Dublin to Dingle - 10 nights and 2 kids - Suggestions please!

Irisheyes · Senior Member

From Dublin to Dingle - 10 nights and 2 kids - Suggestions please!

Michele Erdvig · Host

Irisheyes,

It looks good. You will probably want to stay in Killarney if you want to do the nearby things like Muckross House, Gardens & Farms, a jaunting car ride, Ross Castle, Killarney National Park, etc.

Michele

Irisheyes · Senior Member

Michele,
Thank you. What is jaunting car ride?

Irisheyes

Michele Erdvig · Host

Irisheyes,

A jaunting car is a horse-drawn vehicle. Great fun for the whole family. The following links have photos:

http://www.vacationkillarney.com/Jarvey.htm

http://www.caaonline.com/caa_content.asp?PageType=Dept&Key=15&MCat=29

Michele

Irisheyes · Senior Member

Thanks Michele.
Those look a bit touristy, I think we'd enjoy walking or renting bikes.
Irisheyes

Michele Erdvig · Host

Irisheyes,

It is touristy but fun. The drivers give commentary along the way and take you to the different sites. They wait while you do things such as Torc Waterfall, Muckross, etc. and then take you on to your next destination. But walking and biking is fun too. I just thought the kids might enjoy it.

Michele

Maggie L · Senior Member

I've only made two trips to Ireland thus far, but, in response to another post (Kevin's question), I've been mulling over in my head which things I would not have wanted to miss.

"Touristy" or not, right near the very top of the list is taking a jaunting car into the Gap of Dunloe.

Irisheyes · Senior Member

Thank Maggie and Michele. Perhaps I need to keep an open mind then.
Maggie, since you're a vet. member here, what do you think on my 10 day plan? Will I pass through Cork County on my way to Killarney?

Maggie L · Senior Member

I think your plan looks good --- not too heavy on the driving and a couple of nights in each main place! You'll pass through northern County Cork if you take N8 out of Cashel, down through Cahir, and southwest to Mallow (a pretty area, I thought --- we stopped for a nice little hike at Doneraile Park somewhere near Mallow). From Mallow, N72 takes you on to Killarney.

I read in Ireland of the Welcomes about the "Butter Roads" that run between Kerry and Cork. They looked like they would make for nice, scenic driving. I'll dig out the back issue and look at the article again. Maybe someone else is familiar with the route numbers for the Butter Roads.

Irisheyes · Senior Member

Maggie,

Thanks for the article suggestion. Actually, I DO HAVE the article. I'll check it out. I'm still needing a good map. Is it possible to add Cliffs after Dingle? I don't know the drive time.

IE

Michele Erdvig · Host

Irisheyes,

You could take the ferry across the Shannon and do the Cliffs of Moher on your last day, ending in Shannon. It will take most of the day but you can stop frequently for sightseeing.

You may want to pick up a Michelin map at your local bookstore.

Michele

Irisheyes · Senior Member

Got the map today. Thanks for the tip.

stannseniors · Veteran Member

Whatever you do - Don't miss the Cliffs of Moher....when we showed our friends the pictures (that really don't do it justice)...they were so upset they didn't go there!!

Michele, At Muckross House - if you walk down the lawn from the house and turn left you come upon a path---there is a sign, or two, saying that was the way to the waterfall....we walked about 1 hour and never came upon a waterfall....we turned back. Where was it?????

Michele Erdvig · Host

stannseniors,

It must be Torc Waterfall. Actually the best way to describe how to find it is to exit the parking lot of Muckross House onto the main road and turn right. It is a short way down the N71 on the left. There is a parking lot there but to see the falls you must hike up a pretty steep path. Nice views from the top. There is a map of the Muckross area on this site: http://www.wherekillarney.com/

Michele

Irisheyes · Senior Member

Oh my, the other thread is having a party for me in celebration of my airline tickets to Ireland. WOO HOO! You guys are too funny and thankyouverymuch, I am deeply honored. Yes to the pint, but hold the blood pudding. I'm not going near that with a 10ft. pole!

Michele, I'm pretty comfortable w/ our June itinerary, but I think it might need a little tweaking. I don't want to miss the Cliffs! Thanks for the reminder Stanseniors! Also, we've added ANOTHER night. So 11 nights total. We're doing 3 nights/2 full days in Dublin because the first (1/2) day is such a wash. No reservations yet. Also, we really want to limit the driving to probably 2-3 hours every other day. We don't plan on doing the ROK - too much driving. And I get car sick on windy, hilly roads.

So, the question is, I think I need to re-think the Killarney stay or limiit it to just ONE night, so we can add the Cliffs in somewhere near the end. What do you think? Sticking to what I have already, what's the best option or approach ? I really wanted to at least drive thru a little bit of County Cork (family history). Kilkenny is also a "family history" venture, so I didn't want to change that part.

Also I noted w/ the Jury's hotel, isn't there a way just to email the particular hotel and NOT the entire chain? Emailing the entire chain didn't get a response.

Thanks in advance. I'll be checking in daily.... perhaps hourly!
Irisheyes

Michele Erdvig · Host

Irisheyes,

Hope you are enjoying the party! We aim to have fun here while planning our trips. I'm with you on the black pudding. Yuck!

You can do the Cliffs of Moher on your last day. Drive from Dingle to the Tarbert ferry. The kids will enjoy the ride across the Shannon. The coastal drive up to the cliffs is very scenic and you can stop along the way to walk the beaches if the weather is good. After the cliffs you can cut back down through Ennis and into Bunratty for your last night. I think the whole family would enjoy Bunratty Traditional Irish Night Ceili for your last night in Ireland.

Michele

Irisheyes · Senior Member

Thanks Michele,
I'll have to do a little checking on the times - we have a very early flight out, so we didn't want to be up too late the last night. I like the idea of taking a ferry though, the kids would enjoy that.

So, do you still think Killarney is a good choice, considering we're not doing the ROK. Sounds like there's still plenty to see and do.

Irisheyes

Michele Erdvig · Host

Irisheyes,

Killarney is going to be good for you because there is so much to see and do in the area, with lots of kid-friendly things.

As for the Ceili, I don't think you would be up beyond around 9:30 or so.

Michele

-- Edited by Michele Erdvig at 18:24, 2006-01-24

Irisheyes · Senior Member

Just to clarify Michele... I see it's a car ferry and takes about 20 minutes. Were you suggesting we take the car or just ourselves ?

Irisheyes · Senior Member

Michele,

Would you recommend the breakfasts at Jury's Inn @ Christchurch too? I booked our rooms there just this morning, and they had an option of with or without breakfast. 12 Euros for breakfast sounds a bit high, but it's Dublin. What do you think? I booked without for now, they said I could always add it later. Sounded like a good plan to me. Assuming we don't eat there, are there numerous places closeby?

Also, very helpful tip for your readers - you can google in the euro amount and it does an instance translation into dollars!

Irisheyes

Michele Erdvig · Host

Irisheyes,

For the ferry across the Shannon I am suggesting that you take the car and yourselves on the ferry. You will need the car to drive to the various sightseeing. You pay per car to cross.

As for breakfast, I think you should skip it at Jury's. I have heard it is not the greatest at the hotel. There will be plenty of other places you can eat. Don't worry, you won't go hungry.

Michele

Irisheyes · Senior Member

RE: From Dublin to Dingle - 11 nights and 2 kids - Suggestions please!

Michele Erdvig · Host

RE: From Dublin to Dingle - 10 nights and 2 kids - Suggestions please!

Date: 8:53 PM, 01/27/06

10 and 13

Michele Erdvig · Host

Irisheyes,

Bunratty Lodge has a very nice large family room with two bathrooms that will accommodate you all. This is the website: www.bunrattylodge.com I suggest you email Mary soon because this room will go fast. Another great B&B is Headley Court: www.headleycourt.net

Michele

Date: 12:29 AM, 01/28/06

I'd almost prefer to just do the ferry ( no car), see the Cliffs and come back to Dingle for a third night. The two B&B's you mentioned would be ideal for he last night. We'd extended to 11 nights total now. Decisions, Decisions.....

Michele Erdvig · Host

Irisheyes,

Get your map out! The ferry goes from Tarbert to Killimer. Then you must drive up the coast past Lahinch to the Cliffs of Moher. No way can you do it without a car. It is really not a good day trip from Dingle. You should do it on your last day (if you do it at all).

Michele

Date: 3:30 PM, 01/28/06

OH! I thought I'd see the Cliffs FROM the ferry. GOT IT! Yes, where is my map anyway. Thanks for all your help. =