Third Trip, Donegal and multi-day base dilemmas

SusanM · Member

Third Trip, Donegal and multi-day base dilemmas

Itallian Chauffeur · Moderator

Welcome back -- and glad to hear that another trip to Ireland is in the works! biggrin

AirB&B 'status' is likely only apt to change in metropolitan areas (Like Dublin) that have chronic housing availability. Even then, it is mostly the 'Illegal' (Unregistered) sites that are being "threatened". Regardless, self-catering stays of less than a full week will likely be hard to come by in July, no matter what -- as that is well within 'Peak Season'.

Here's ONE idea ---

But, lets recap -- You arrive on Friday, 12 May and plan to stay in Ennis. Beyond that, you have two full weeks (Sat - Friday) and then finish up with 3 'spare' nights (27-29) -- although, the night of 29 July needs to be based near Shannon for your flight home on the 30th.

So -- If your 'First Base' is around Ballyshannon, you are within that 1 1/2 hour range (each way) of Sligo, Enniskillem, and Glencolmbcille. That includes areas like Ardara, the Cliffs, Beleek and even the Ulster-American Folk Park.

'Second Base' might be in the vicinity of Burt (Grianan of Aileach) as the 1 1/2 hour 'rule' puts you within range of Glenveagh, Dunfanaghy, pretty much any part of Inishowen -- and as far East as the Giant's Causeway.

That leaves you with two nights in Belfast or, nearby -- and then, a bit of a 'dash' back to Ennis or Bunratty for your final night. That's a longish one-day drive -- and WELL beyond your 1 1/2 hour parameter -- but it IS within the realm of possibility. An alternative might be to 'steal' a night from 'Second Base' and shift along your Belfast area stay so that you can split the drive with an over-night somewhere mid-point.

SusanM · Member

Bob,

Thank you for the thoughtful and quick response! Good news is we get an extra extra night, with the last night being the 30th. Yay for our crazy wishes. My husband reminded me we also want to go back to the Connemara....I am still not seeing that on this trip, but maybe he can find time on the map. (Crazy laugh emoji here...we don't mind a long drive here and there. We drive 8+hours to see my family, sometimes with short stays.) In any event, one option that could work is shifting further north for long stop 1, then doing Enniskillen on the way back across from Belfast. Of course the fastest route from Belfast toward shannon is not through Enniskillen. I am a bit fixated on Enniskillen though after reading comments from Michele and from you in other posts that truly make Enniskillen seem a great spot all the way around. In any event, on the way back across we even could spin through Armagh (can do lots of things, not that we ought...) for pilgrimage purposes. Quick stop, keep moving. In any event, you have me thinking a bit differently on having the two long stops be in Donegal.

I will add that the son commented that he'd like to stay "in the country" or by the beach but NOT in a town since we live in a town. He wants something different from home! Fair point for sure.

On Ballyshannon area, are the areas around there/ Rossnowlagh "built up"? In other words, are they a Myrtle beach Ireland style or just more people but not crazy excess/built up? Not sure I am expressing myself well here, but anyway. I mean, after all I a the one who mentioned a water park...you don't have those without potential for a crowd.

Thanks and enjoy planning your own trip back.

Michele Erdvig · Host

Rossnowlagh is a very small beach community. Ballyshannon is more built up. I think your son might enjoy the Ulster American Folk Park. You could spend an entire day there. In the park you start in Ireland and see how the ancestors lived in cottages, schools and towns, then board a sailing ship to the new world and see what awaits you there!

Michele Erdvig · Host

Keep in mind that Donegal town (very small) is near Ballyshannon. Killybegs is quite small and you could choose a B&B overlooking the ocean.

SusanM · Member

Michele,

Thanks for the suggestion on the Ulster-American Folk Park. It had intrigued me already, and the "crossing" feature sounds like a great way to tell the story.

Now we are thinking of re-ordering going
- Ennis
- Athlone (really just so we can honor my dear octogenarian mother/history/odd things lover request for a FaceTime call from Sean's Bar- well and the husband wants to see Sean's too, one of the only specific requests he has made!) and the castle
- Rathmullan or Burt (Bob's note above) or thereabouts for about 5 days ( day trips, maybe to Giant's Causeway even since we would be"so close")
- Glenties area for 7 (may make for a longer drive to Enniskillen, but we will survive or go somewhere else instead)
- then 3 more nights as we make our way to the last night by the airport.

So while the Athlone to northern Donegal will be a long driving day (4 hours by Google, which I assume will mean about 5.5 without stops), we work our way back down. There will be some repeat roads (through Sligo), but also non-repeat options, and maybe we will go crazy and "zip" back over Clifden or just plunk down somewhere in Mayo. Thanks for the opportunity to think out loud.

Itallian Chauffeur · Moderator

How about something like this for the return to Shannon from Belfast: https://goo.gl/maps/g7eqP4qqpnK2 That M6 / M18 route intersects with Athlone and would make it an excellent 'mid-point'. It also routes you through Trim -- which is home to a terrific Castle! If time allows in Athlone, maybe a 'Viking' ship cruise down to Clonmacnoise? http://vikingtoursireland.ie/

It's good that you are saving the North for the last, as Marching Season hits it's 'Peak' on 12 July. It's NOT as bad as many seem to think, but it can certainly impact traffic flow, if you get 'caught up' in a March. https://www.solaceglobal.com/report/northern-ireland-2018-summer-marching-season/ is a BIT out of date, but gives a decent 'over-view'.

SusanM · Member

Bob, thank you much. We had deliberately adjusted our order due to marching season peak! Love the Viking ship idea. The son loves the idea too (although maybe the shorter journey up to Loch Ree). Meanwhile I need to figure out the cool map tricks you and Tony work on Google maps....I have purely functional/rudimentary skills with with it.