20 days itinerary

Suzieannie · Newbie

20 days itinerary

Itallian Chauffeur · Moderator

Welcome to Michele's Forum! biggrin

In case you don't know -- your last name is strong in North Cork! biggrin biggrin biggrin See: http://www.millstreet.ie/blog/?s=kelleher&submit=Find I know the area well. smile

As to your questions -- Only you can decide what sites are most important to you, but we would be glad to help. I am assuming that you will have a car? What is your general fitness level? When you mention 'head North to Donegal', did you plan on visiting/touring Northern Ireland along the way? Or, is the plan to visit sites between Donegal and Dingle after Dublin and Trim?

I am a fan of old monasteries, castles and Neolithic sites -- and an absolute fanatic on the subject of Round Towers . . . My 'Go To' site for research on those topics is: http://www.megalithicireland.com/index.html For example: You are spending two nights in Trim, in County Meath. Megalithic Ireland shows that there are 71 sites in the County (and a number more, nearby). My personal recs for the area are Newgrange, Hill of Tara, Fourknocks, Loughcrew, Trim and Kells. A little further afield, Monasterboice and Mellifont Abbey are rather spectacular, as well. Two nights won't allow you to visit a fraction of what is on offer. It takes time to visit and enjoy each site, too. For example, once you get to the Visitor's Center, Newgrange has occupancy restrictions and takes of minimum of two hours -- IF you board the Shuttle immediately (rather than waiting up to 1 - 1 1/2 hours!) and longer still, if you also plan to see Knowth. It is best to arrive early in the morning to avoid disappointment and delays. http://www.newgrange.com/visitor.htm

Ireland is jam-packed with interesting sites, breath-taking vistas and majestic monuments of by-gone eras. It is my personal opinion that there is NO place in Ireland that isn't worth a visit --But, time constraints, weather conflicting opportunities make for very hard choices . . . Michele often says that you won't miss what you don't see. The key is to prioritize and organize. Try making a list of 'Must See' and leaven it with a list of 'Like To See'. Once you have that, a route almost draws itself. Sadly, there will be some 'outliers' that may need to be left out. It makes for some Hard Choices. furious furious

Or -- Like MANY of us here, you can always plan to make this the first of MANY visits! biggrin biggrin

-- Edited by Itallian Chauffeur on Tuesday 2nd of August 2016 09:18:24 AM

Suzieannie · Newbie

Thank you for your response. Yes my great grandfather hailed from Count Cork. I also have numerous family who arrived in Boston during the great hunger from Cork Sligo and Claire. I am not planning on tracking these roots My husband and I are fit but also older. We hike regularly and are experience in outdoor activities. We will have a car and do not plan on touring Northern Ireland. We hope to see much of what you mentioned near Trim. We are thinking of then driving up to Donegal near Dunfanaghy and stay two ir three nights. While there hike through some of Glenveagh N P. See poisoned Glenn and Errigal Mt also are of interest is horn head. Then we thought we would drive to Ardara and check out Slieve League. If we do that we will have spent half our trip. So how long does it take to get to Dingle and what are the must see? Some say Croath Patrick. some say sligo and its ancient sights are a must. One person said just drive sraight to Galway which they said would take all day to get too

I'm thinking maybe we are trying to see too much, trying to cover too mush ground.

And already see I'll have to go back. thanks for the link to the ancient sites. I'll check it out. We were planning on seeing all of new grange but perhaps we will try to save time and only see one sight. Which do you think is best?

Itallian Chauffeur · Moderator

Here's some random thoughts:

Night 1 -- Dublin 1 night

Night 2 - 3 -- Drive to Trim 2 nights

Night 4 - 6 -- Drive to Dunfanaghy 3 nights

Night 7 -8 -- Drive to Sligo via Ardara and Donegal Town 2 nights

According to https://www.theaa.ie/routes Driving time is 2 hrs and 41 minutes, covering 168 kilometers (approx. 104 miles) I would call it closer to 4 hours PLUS stops. LOTS to see and do along the way -- and to see once there. http://www.sligotourism.ie/category/Attractions

Night 9 - 11 -- Drive to Westport, Clifden or Galway for 3 nights Depending upon which interests you more.

Night 12 - 13 -- Drive to Ennis 2 nights Gives you a good base to visit the Burren, Doolin, Cliffs of Moher, Kilkee, Kilmacduagh and the rest of West Clare http://www.clare.ie/do-list/

Night 14 - 15 -- Drive to Dingle 2 nights

Night 16 -- Drive back to Dublin for night before flight. 1 night

This offers up some lee-way as it covers only 16 nights -- Leaving you a couple of nights to 'play with'. You could 'plug them in' to add an extra stop (stay Westport AND Galway -- or between Dingle and Dublin) OR tack an extra day/night into a some of the other stops.

Not really an itinerary -- just the 'rough start' of a plan . . .

Michele Erdvig · Host

This route planner will give you a better idea of how long it takes to get from place to place: http://www.theaa.com/route-planner/classic/planner_main.jsp It is giving 5 hours 47 minutes from Donegal town to Dingle. However a better rule of thumb is to divide mileage by 35, which is about 8 hours.

I definitely recommend stopping en route as Bob suggested. Driving 8 hours straight in Ireland is too much. Lots to see and do on such a route.