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Post Info TOPIC: Itinerary feedback and Cork Coastal Route or Gougane Barra Advice


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Itinerary feedback and Cork Coastal Route or Gougane Barra Advice


Hello. I am a first time poster here.,  My husband and I are doing our first Ireland trip - mid 60s, reasonably fit, love the outdoors and nature, authentic, interactive experiences, new singer-songwriter and trad music. We have a 15 day itinerary. Spouse has a vision challenge which can result in vertigo when driving on very winding, narrow mountain roads without barriers and with sheer drops. For this reason we will have a driver after leaving Dublin.  We have 2 nights Dublin, 1 night Cashel (stopping in Glendalough on way and doing Rock of Cashel and Abbey Hore the next morning), 1 night Kinsale (Scilly Walk and Don and 9Am Barry tour before heading to Kenmare), 3 nights Kenmare (1 day doing Beara Peninsula and 1 day Jaunting - Boat Gap of Dunloe tour), 2 nights Dingle (stopping at Kissane Sheep Farm on way, planning to do the Dingle Distillery and Dingle Peninsula)1 night Doolin (Cliffs of Moher and Doolin Cave), 1 night Inishmore, 1 night Galway (Burren on the way, evening and morning in Galway City), 2 nights Carracastle (Afternoon Hawk Walk at Ashford on way. My husband's ancestors are from this area, staying on a farm and exploring his roots) and 1 night near Dublin airport.

Questions:

  • In Dublin trying to decide between Literary Pub Tour, Original Dublin Walking Tour and Hop on- Hop off bus
  • When leaving KInsale, trying to decide between Cork coastal route and Drombeg or Gougane Barra
  • Any general advice on the above itinerary, any recommendations for experiences and dining in those areas.

Thank you all.  I'm so looking forward to the trip and having a blast planning. 



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Amy A Clarke


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First and foremost --- Welcome to Michele's Forum -- and Congratulations on choosing a visit to the Greatest country in Europe!

You asked: 

  • In Dublin trying to decide between Literary Pub Tour, Original Dublin Walking Tour and Hop on- Hop off bus
  • When leaving KInsale, trying to decide between Cork coastal route and Drombeg or Gougane Barra
  • Any general advice on the above itinerary, any recommendations for experiences and dining in those areas.

Firstly, a General answer to your questions would be:  "You won't be disappointed with whatever you decide to go with!"  Or, as Michele has said -- "You won't miss what you don't see."  Ireland is SO densely packed with sights (and sites) that tough choices need must be made.  I've enjoyed over two dozen visits (averaging two weeks at a time) and still have a lengthy "Bucket List".

A bit more specific:

The HO/HO Bus provides 24 or 48 hours of use and provides an excellent 'Overview" of the city.  It also passes by, or nearby to pretty much all of the key Dublin attractions, which makes it a popular tourist draw.  The other choices seem a bit more a question as to WHICH appeals most, to YOU.  However, since you mention music and pubs, I always recommend The Cobblestones, in Smithfield (nearby to the Jameson Distillery) for the music and The Gravediggers, AKA  Kavanagh's (adjacent to Glasnevin Cemetary) for an atmospheric pint, after a walk through the history of Ireland. 

The Cobblestone (cobblestonepub.ie)      John Kavanagh The Gravediggers - Pub in Dublin (business.site)

If you are on Facebook Publin offers more in-depth information on ALL Dublin area pubs:  (2) Facebook  

As to your route from Kinsale to Kenmare -- Again, you really can't go wrong with either.  I've found both routes incredibly scenic.  However, have you considered combining BOTH?  

https://maps.app.goo.gl/1F331ZjFjLZLNvqDA

It doesn't add a lot of time -- and, since you plan on visiting the Bearra, the only part of the N71 you'll miss out on would be the relatively short stretch twixt Ballylickey and Glengarriff.  There's a nice little castle ruin along the way, in Kealkil you might find interesting, as well.  There's a delightful, single-lane bridge twixt Glandore and Union Hall that is a minimal detour from Drombeg that I enjoy.  It featured in an old movie called "The War Of The Buttons".  Views of the bay are quite scenic, in MY opinion.

Hope this gets you started!



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Bob

Help Us to Help You.  The more you tell us about your plans (dates, interests, budget), the better we can tailor our advice to suit!

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