I was on your amazing website and it is very helpful. I was wondering and hoping you would be able to guide me for I am lost.....
My two college aged daughters and I are traveling to Ireland in August 2013. For months I have been looking at itineraries from Dublin to Shannon which were great.....however, the flights that I found were less expensive arriving in Shannon and out of Dublin.
We will be in Ireland from August 7 departing the August 16th. We will be renting a car at the Shannon Airport and return it when we arrive in Dublin. would like to stay in Dublin for three nights before our departure.
That being said I am struggling on putting together an itinerary from the southwest of Ireland to the east..
If at all possible we would like to see the Cliffs of Moher, Bunratty Castle, Dingle Peninsula, River Shannon, Ring of Kerry, Blarney Castle etc.
Due to time limitations, we would like to do southwest to southeast. So here are my thoughts and please, please share your thoughts on the itinerary, so I may book our B&B's. Believe it or not we leave in two weeks.
Arrive Shannon - drive to Limerick or Bunratty, Bunraty Castle & Cliffs of Moher and stay in Galway (?) for two nights Day 3 & 4 Dingle - Dingle Peninsula and drive around Slea Head, perhaps River Shannon
Day 5 & 6 Ring of Kerry (?) not sure where to stay _________ Day 7 - Cork - Blarney Castle Day 8 Kilkenny - Rock of Cashel Day 8-10 Dublin
Dublin is the only location we will stay in a hotel. The girls and I would love to stay in B&B's where we can enjoy the country. All of your suggestions would be appreciated. If you believe the itinerary above can be improved, by all means help this Mom out. Also if you can suggest any B&B's in any of the locations above, we would appreciate it as well. Thanks so much,
without going over covered ground and leaving new suggestions open. If you do consider Beara rather than Invaragh then the link in the last answer on this link might help
If your flight is overnight you will be tired the first day, so don't try to do too much. I would possibly drive to Bunratty if it is not raining that morning. It's only about 15 to 20 minutes drive from Shannon. You could tour the castle and folk park that morning. Skip Limerick altogether and head to Galway after Bunratty.
Save the Cliffs of Moher until you head down to Dingle or do the Cliffs from Galway. You will enjoy it more if you are rested. If you want to use a tour bus for the Ring of Kerry then I would stay in Killarney. However, I would go with Tony's suggestion and drive the Beara Peninsula instead of the ROK.
What time do you arrive in Shannon? Many of the flights get in really early before much is open such as Bunratty Castle and Folk Park. That may determine your plan of action for your first day.
I agree that you should not over plan your first day. Jet lag does strange things to the body.