Itinerary check ... - Thorn Tree travel forum

Itinerary check

Replies: 13 - Last Post: 28-Mar-2008 08:38 Last Post By: Gusphanzer

jump to

Posted
14-Mar-2008 00:30
by: zzz_asleep

Posts: 35
Registered: 25/05/05

Itinerary check

Hi,

Below is my itinerary for my trip to Ireland this summer. I'm looking to find out if I'm really missing something (given the time that I have). Please keep in mind that I'll be travelling around by bus so I'm not as mobile as quickly as if I had a car.

Day 1-2 - Dublin
Day 3-5 - Belfast and daytrip with a tour company to Giant's Causeway and Derry (I was thinking Paddywagon)
Day 6-9 - Galway, Burren and Cliffs of Moher
Day 10-11 - Aran Islands (I was thinking of going to 2 out of 3 . . . )
Day 12-16 - Dingle, maybe Ring of Kerry. Basically relaxing.
Day 17-22 - Back to Dublin - Daytrips to Wicklow and Glendalough.

I'm aware I'm missing the whole middle of the doughnut, a nice chunk the Eastern coast and Cork. How much am I really missing out on?

Also, when I'm in Dingle, I was thinking of trying to rent a conoe or kyak and maybe check out some puffins. How hard is it to navigate the coast?

Finally, if I want to go hang gliding for the first time does anyone have any recommendations for a good place to go?

Thanks!!!

Posted
14-Mar-2008 00:44
by: Kyla25

Posts: 82
Registered: 20/07/04

1

Hi there,
Im from Ireland and i think that sound like a good trip. You are not missing much by skipping the midlands- and im from the midlands!(im probably gonna get grief for that!). You might want to leave a couple of nights for Galway as people generally really like it the city and it has a nice lively nite life.
The burren and CofM are beautiful but can be seen in a day on your way down the coast.
For the Aran Islands, Aran Mor might be enough(visit Dun Aengus) I 'd recommemd spending a nite on one island anyway.. There are tour companies in Galway that will bring you there and back.
Cork is nice too but dont worry about missing it.
I dont know about the rest of your Q's, google might bring up some such companies there..

Posted
14-Mar-2008 07:18
by: cailinglas

Posts: 12
Registered: 14/03/08

2

I think only go to one of the aran islands, they're each beautiful, but you'll find the same things, so just go with one for a one night stay. Beautiful scenery along ring of kerry, sounds like your a lone traveller? i would not attempt to navigate the irish coast on your own, never dependable but once you get to dingle, enquire and you'll be pointed in the right direction to an activity centre. I wouldn't worry about missing cork, instead from dingle or ring of kerry you should definitely go across to Kilkenny, then upwards to dublin (via glendalough if you like). Kilkenny and little village outside it, Kells, (there are two places called Kells in Ireland if your researching, don't get mixed up,there is another kells in co. meath.) Kilkenny is beautiful little city and try catch a hurling game there.

Posted
14-Mar-2008 10:26
by: sport

Posts: 2
Registered: 14/03/08

3

Hi there,
I agree with the other 2 posters above on the Aran Islands and Galway. Kilkenny would'nt hold much interest for me though. WRT your question about renting a canoe in Dingle......this is a non-runner. I dont know of anywhere in Ireland you can rent a single canoe (i.e. 1 canoe) - and for good reason, sea-kayaking is only an activity which should be undertaken by the experienced, for obvious reasons. I'm pretty sure that you could probably get a boat ride out to see Fungie, the Dingle Dolphin - if he is still around but the tourist office in Dingle should be able to fill you in on this.

Regards,
Me

Posted
14-Mar-2008 10:29
by: sport

Posts: 2
Registered: 14/03/08

4

Oh yeah,
Dont know of anybody who hang-glides in Ireland. There are a few people who do para-gliding but I dont know of any "Schools" that teach it. If anywhere, I would suspect lessons would only be available in Dublin/Wicklow and would be quite weather dependant and costly.

Posted
15-Mar-2008 08:25
by: saskja

Posts: 1,365
Registered: 06/07/05

5

Once in Dingle, I suggest spending you spend 1 day at Great Blasket Island. You may bus it (or hitch) to Dúnquin (or Dún Chaoin, more precisely) and then walk a bit until you reach the tiny ferry spot. Bring food, water and good walking shoes.

If going to Inis Mór, it is well worth it to stay there overnight, as a 1-day trip is way too short to see everything (you arrive at lunchtime, and must leave by 5PM with the last ferry) and especially get a good feeling of this eerie place. Will be less crowded on a week day. Consider booking your accomodation well ahead of time if you're hostelling: the one big hostel by the pier fills up long in advance, there is another one that is a good 20 minutes walk uphill, and some extra small other hostels.

Galway ends up booked up solid from Thursday to Saturday if there is anything special (concert or whatever). Book ahead. And if you're a light sleeper, forget about the Galway City Hostel, across the street from the bus/train station - walls shake because of the Xtra loud music from the ground level disco starting Thursdays; you may also stay clear of Barnaccles, located bang in the middle of the pedestrian pub zone, where people happily and loudly drink on the street until very early hours.

From Galway, you may take a regular BusEireann bus to Doolin, which allows you to have a look over the Burren. The Aille River Hostel there is truly brilliant, as are 2 of the 3 pubs with daily music sessions. Doolin is only 5 miles from the Cliffs of Moher, which you may reach by foot if you will. Also, if you ever stay at the Sleep Zone Hostel in Galway, you may get to its sister hostel in Connemara for a ridiculous price (allows you to look over Connemara without paying for a costlier daily tour).

Tel je vis, tel je voyage: sans attaches, sans attentes, et avec bonheur
100 things to do in Scotland before you die
Why I will always go back to Scotland ...
... and Ireland...

Posted
21-Mar-2008 02:55
by: Gusphanzer

Posts: 13
Registered: 23/01/08

6

Cork seems like a nice place to live, but it's boring as hell to visit aside from the English Market which has amazing food. So unless you need to make a connection there, and have an hour or so to kill (in which case go to the Market), skip Cork.

Go to Dingle over the Ring of Kerry, they've got 53 pubs in town, the craic is great, and there are numerous ways to explore the peninsula. Despite my own spill, I highly suggest taking a bicycle around it (mind you brake on the hills because they are more perilous than they appear) because you feel like you've earned those views. Take a walk around the harbor as well, there are gorgeous views and near the lighthouse you can climb down on the rocks for more exploring. I'm not sure about kayaking or hangliding on the Dingle Peninsula, I don't recall seeing any places advertising but if you go to the Mountain Man shop on Strand Street in Dingle, they'll set you up or know someone who can.

Posted
22-Mar-2008 02:39
by: sarkogrocu

Posts: 18
Registered: 17/03/08

7

Just a piece of advice, if you are coming as far up as Derry, you should go to Donegal and see the beauty of the county.

Posted
22-Mar-2008 10:25
by: saskja

Posts: 1,365
Registered: 06/07/05

8

53 pubs in the tiny Dingle Town alone??? I think you are a bit mistaken, Gusphanzer. Here ... Galway has121 ...

Tel je vis, tel je voyage: sans attaches, sans attentes, et avec bonheur
100 things to do in Scotland before you die
Why I will always go back to Scotland ...
... and Ireland...

Posted
22-Mar-2008 13:55
by: zzz_asleep

Posts: 35
Registered: 25/05/05

9

Thanks everyone for the helpful hints. I think we (I'm traveling with one other person) will skip the kayaking because the only kayaking I've ever seriously done is on calm lakes . . .

As for the hang gliding, it was just an idea (and not one that I know I have the guts for). I don't mind missing it.

Sarkogrocu - In Northern Ireland, I was planning on taking an organised day tour to see Giant's Causeway and whatever else I can. Is that a good idea or is it better to bus? Also, given the choice of day tours, do I go to Giant's Causeway+Bushmills or Giant's Causeway+Derry. I'm traveling with someone who is neither super aware of Irish history nor a whiskey drinker.

Saskja and Gusphanzer - Honestly, I'm just looking forward to drinking in a hardware store . . . Do you know if they put away the saws when the alcohol is broken out? =o)

Saskja - Are the Blasket Islands that different from the Aran Islands? Also, I've actually been to Galway (I was in Ireland for the U2 concert at Croke Park) and stayed at Barnacles. I didn't mind it with earplugs. I actually found the swans louder than the drinkers.

To all: if I need to choose between driving the Ring of Kerry or around the Dingle Peninsula, which do I choose? Bear in mind that my base will be Dingle and I only have one day.

Again, thanks to all!

Posted
24-Mar-2008 14:30
by: saskja

Posts: 1,365
Registered: 06/07/05

10

Great Blasket Island is totally different from Inis Mór. Mind-blowing. More rugged, and when I went, MUCH less crowded than Inis M. Fantastic view over the D. peninsula coastline on a clear day. I did not visit the Blasket Interpretation Center in Dúnquin, I have read on other travel forums that it was well worth a visit.

Definitely the Dingle peninsula, over the ROK. Start as early as you can AM, before the tour buses. Bear in mind that weather is unpredictable in Ireland, and if your schedule is too tight, you might end up seeing almost nothing of the peninsula if it's pissing on the one and only day you can give it. I heartfully suggest driving across Connor Pass from south to north, and blind-fold the passenger when leaving the parking lot roughly in the middle of the pass, heading north : ) . Little sample here

If you are hostelling, I have enjoyed very much staying at the 300-years old Ballintaggart House, a little bit outside Dingle Town. Rooms, small (4-6 beds) and bigger dorms, and camping sites, well equipped kitchen. About 3 minutes from D. Town by car.

Tel je vis, tel je voyage: sans attaches, sans attentes, et avec bonheur
100 things to do in Scotland before you die
Why I will always go back to Scotland ...
... and Ireland...

Posted
26-Mar-2008 13:51
by: mariha2912

Posts: 181
Registered: 30/12/06

11

A small note : Derry to Galway in a public bus is very time consuming,as it's Ring of Kerry to Dublin. You may want to stop for a night or two in one or a couple of places in between. Between Derry to Galway you may like a stop to Donegal town or some of the small towns around.(Or maybe Sligo area?) Between Kerry and Dublin,I guess should be somewhere in the middle counties, but I don't have a suggestion as I haven't done this route yet...Someone else may have some idea on that...

Posted
26-Mar-2008 14:00
by: zzz_asleep

Posts: 35
Registered: 25/05/05

12

I'm sorry for not putting this in the itinerary, but we will be heading back to Dublin from Derry to meet up with some people and we'll be driving from Dublin to Galway the next day. Also, the same people will be meeting us later in Dingle to drive back to Dublin. Should we still stop off anywhere . . . even for a few hours?

Posted
28-Mar-2008 08:38
by: Gusphanzer

Posts: 13
Registered: 23/01/08

13

It may have been a bit of the "blarney" but I know for a fact that GoKerry site is way off. I was just in "tiny Dingle Town" two weeks ago and I can garuntee you that it has way more pubs than just 7 and that I have the utmost confidence that the number which was quoted to me, 53, is accurate or about so. I bet Galway's got more pubs than 121, after all Killarney certainly does!

Subscribe to the latest messages in this branch.

Your Recent Threads

Announcements

Website speed - Facebook...
Posted By: VenessaP -- 07-Oct-2009 16:30

Latest Community News

	Speaking in Tongues Messages: 66,147 Last message posted at: 22-Nov-2009 18:36
	On Your Bike Messages: 28,933 Last message posted at: 22-Nov-2009 10:16
	Travel Tech Messages: 27,853 Last message posted at: 22-Nov-2009 10:56
	Kids To Go Messages: 25,776 Last message posted at: 21-Nov-2009 23:38
	Like a Sore Thumb Messages: 22,513 Last message posted at: 20-Nov-2009 14:04
	Trekking & Mountaineering Messages: 21,985 Last message posted at: 21-Nov-2009 18:22
	Travel on a shoestring Messages: 20,864 Last message posted at: 22-Nov-2009 12:14

Destinations

Europe: Destination information

Europe is a bit of a one-stop-shop. Whether you want to plug into ancient history, paint like Picasso, bake on the beach, pose on the slopes, or shop till your credit cards are a mere vapour, there's ... more »

Shop Online