18 day driving trip around N. Ireland and Ireland

uconn · Newbie

18 day driving trip around N. Ireland and Ireland

Itallian Chauffeur · Moderator

Your initial, First Draft plan is fairly reasonable, but still leaves me with SOME concerns.

Leave Boston May 6th Bos- Heathrow.

May 7th - May 25th 2015 We will hire a car and do our own driving.

Arrive in Dublin 2.00pm then drive straight to Belfast.

The 2 hour drive to Belfast is over good roads and is ordinarily reasonable after an over-night flight, but the 'Via Heathrow' and NOT arriving until 2 PM may cause some exhaustion issues. Hopefully, your husband is able to catch SOME sleep.

Belfast May 7-10 3 days booked Ravenhill Guest House

Derry May 10 - 12 2 days booked Ramada Da Vinci's Hotel

These look fine. LOTS to see and do, in and around Belfast and Derry -- both with and without driving.

SLIGO May 12 - 14 2 days booked Down Yonder, Bed and Breakfast in Rosses Point or? WESTPORT? May 12 - 14 2 days not booked

Either is within reach. www.aaroadwatch.ie/routes says Sligo is about 85 miles from Derry and Westport is almost 150. Using Michele's 35 mph rule (or, MY more conservative, 30 MPH rule) Sligo is about a 2 1/2 - 3 hour drive, while Westport would take 4 1/4 - 5 hours. That means DRIVE time isn't an issue, BUT -- there is a TREMENDOUS amount to see and do, between Derry and Galway. A lot depends upon what sites you ultimately choose to visit in the area. As much as I LOVE Westport, given YOUR plans, Sligo would seem to make the most sense.

The rest of the trip seems reasonable -- Again, depending upon what you plan to visit, along the way. Were it ME, I would be tempted to include County Clare and NOT stay in Dingle (since it could be visited -- as a 'day-trip' -- from Killarney) -- BUT, that is based upon MY personal taste and it is YOUR trip!

uconn · Newbie

Thank you. That was very helpful.
Hopefully hubby will get some sleep. We used f. fliers on Virgin Atlantic for 1st class seats going to Heathrow, and Economy on the way home. We have never done that before! But always used Virgin At.

SLIGO it is. I will cancel the Westport thought.

I have seen many comments on other forums re visiting Dingle for a day trip. What town in County Clare, do you recommend and for how many nights if we decide to cancel the 2 nights in Dingle? We are driving from Galway. We will have 2 nights to play with. After that we have the 3 nights booked in Killarney.

I would like hubby to be able to relax one or two days. He needs to enjoy the views just as much as we will, and not have to keep his eyes on the roads. What towns would it make sense for us to take day trips by a tour company? Any particular company's?

Itallian Chauffeur · Moderator

I think you will find that you are spoilt for choice! biggrin biggrin

Belfast, Galway and Killarney are EXCELLENT bases for utilizing tours. Discounts are often offered when multiple tours are booked by the same provider.

Belfast: http://visit-belfast.com/things-to-do/category/sightseeing-tours

The Black Taxi Tours and the Hop-On/Hop-Off Bus Tours of the city are quite good. The HO/HO in Derry is also VERY enjoyable.

Galway: http://www.galwaytourism.ie/ptours-galway.html

Can't recommend a particular provider, as I always Self-Drive, but a trip to the Aran Islands (Typically, Inis Mor) makes an excellent day trip! You can take the Ferry or Fly. Shuttle buses are available to take you to either the Ferry Port or Airport from City Center: http://www.visitaranislands.com/transport-aran-island-ferries-flights-bike-hire Once ON the island, there are taxi and horse cart tours that can take you around. Other likely options are trips through Connemara, and/or the Cliffs of Moher.

Killarney: http://www.killarney.ie/where-to-go/local-attractions-amp-tours/

Small bus tours of Dingle, Big and small bus tours of the Ring of Kerry are just two of the most popular, Killarney-based tours. A tour of the Gap of Dunloe (Bus, Horse cart and boat) on a Fair weather day is perhaps MY favorite Killarney activity. I've used Deros Tours for the Gap Trip on THREE separate occasions and been VERY pleased, but there are multiple offerings. Deros also does Dingle, ROK and other trips, as well as offering private driver hire for customized tours.

http://derostours.com/new/

If opting to spend time in County Clare, the vibrant, working town of Ennis is relatively central and always appeals to me. Some day trip options: http://www.visitennis.com/see-what-to-do/day-trips-from-ennis/ There are even SOME tour options available -- http://www.clare-tour.com/tours/Coach_and_Bus_Tours/ Again, I have NO personal experience, but I have HEARD good things about: Barratt: https://www.4tours.biz/tours/information-day-tour/53/

For accommodations in Ennis: http://www.templegatehotel.com/ or http://www.flynnhotels.com/Old_Ground_Hotel_Ennis/ are well-regarded Hotels. For a close-in B&B, Grey Gables is Highly Regarded: http://www.bedandbreakfastworld.com/ireland/ennis/grey-gables-b-and-b/49970

Two of MY personal, 'Top 5' B&Bs in all of Ireland are not IN Ennis (but semi-nearby, in Bunratty http://www.headleycourt.net/ and Mountshannon http://bnbireland.net/county-clare-bed-breakfasts/clare-mountshannon-hawthorn-lodge.html ) Mountshannon is a bit far afied for touring West Clare (but, IDEAL for West Clare and Lough Derg). Bunratty is MUCH smaller and quieter and offers significantly less 'night-life' options, if THAT suits your taste.

Michele Erdvig · Host

Welcome to the forum and lots of great info from Bob. You should be checking with car rental companies now to see who allows divers over 75. Some do not rent after that age. You may have to get a letter from your doctor and insurance company that your husband is a competent driver and/or fill out forms. You may be charged a surcharge or b required to have extra insurance. Be sure all the red tape is sorted in advance.