Hello all,
I've reading so much on this forum and have learned a lot, but I thought I would try to get some direct input.
I´m going to be in Ireland from 25 of August to 8 of September.
I´m not used to travel alone, even driving on the right, in my own country and using my mother tongue. So this is a little adventure for me and any thoughts or suggestions would be so helpful.
My tentative plans include:
Arrive at the airport and drive straight to Belfast. This is my first doubt because my flight is arriving at 17h and I don´t know if I will have enough time to pick up the hire care, and arriving in time to Belfast. What's more, do you think spend there my first night it could get a bit rough? Could you give me others options?
The next day I´d head up direction Causeway Coast over the motorway. I´d stay there 2 nigths ( giant's causeway, rathlin island?,..)
Next Donegal for two nights also (peninsula of Inishowen, killyhoey beach,slieve league,..)
Then two nights in Connemara and after that two nigths in Doolin or any villages of the north Clare such as Kinvara, Ballyvaugham, Lisdoonvarna,etc.( Aran Islands, The Burren, Clifs of moher)
From Co. Clare to Dingle I could go along the coast using the ferry at Kilrush to cross the Shannon Estuary. I could spend 2 nights in Dingle and do the ring of Kerry. Finally one night in Kenmara before returning to Dublin. If I had time in the return I would visit Glendalough.
Could you give me some advice, it seems to me too much , but I don´t know which part of the country I must put out and in which spend more time.
It is pretty crazy return to Dublin from Kenmara on the same day?
I´d be grateful if you give me some B&B references
Thanks in advance
Teresa
You don't say which airport, so if it is Dublin airport, not Belfast; you could stop into Skerries or the like (30 minutes from the airport).
Unwind for the night, then into Belfast the next morn., after rush hour.
if you're at Belfast airport, check with the car hire company to see how late they are open, and head into Belfast.
(others may have better advice for this part of the trip?)
the rest of the trip has far too many stops as you will soon see. (my advice has always been to plan the trip, then throw away at least half of the plans if going to Ireland.) It'll be there next time.
I planned/booked the first and last night by booking b&b's online and that takes a bit of pressure off.
(I used a company called holiday hound, but I see they are no longer active.)
A google search for b&b's or for 'tourism Ireland' will find plenty of accommodations available for online booking.
Hello Burlthai,
Many thanks for your fast answer.
The airport I´m arriving is Dublin.
I' ll study the Skerries option for the first night. Do you know some B&B there?
Thanks
Teresa
We pretty much did the same route you're talking about but in reverse. Our trip began and ended in Belfast and we did the coast as far as Co. Clare only. We had three weeks.
Did Belfast, but would give it a pass next time.
Try three days in Donegal, Connemara and Doolin area instead of two.Two nights only really gives you a solid day to explore.
You could easily drive from Belfast, do the Giants Causeway for a couple of hours and continue on into Donegal in a day.
Thought about doing Dingle, but it got tossed along the way.
Good luck. Enjoy
Teresa:
I stayed at O'Leary's guest house one time, but I don't see a website for them, so not sure if they are still up.
(there's a pic of the b&b in my sig line if you click on the link.)
also stayed at Redbank House, high end though, more for a celebration. fabulous food there also.
Burlthai, thanks again.
I tried to find the O'Leary's website and neither could I, but I could see that there are several B&B in Skerries. For only one night I can stay in either.
Sadge, thanks to you too.
I think is a good advice to try to spend more time in the same place and to reduce the number of stops.
Two questions, If I spend my first night in Skerries, that I think is a good idea because I´m arriving late (17h) at Dublin airport, do you consider that I must go straight to Donegal and to leave Belfast and Giant's Causeway for a next time?
Coul you give-me some B&B references? If I'm going to stay 3 nights I would like not to stay at the wrong place.
Thanks in advance
Dublin to Belfast is only a couple of hours max. If arriving at 5 p.m. you would still be there before 8 (in theory anyway). You can also bypass Belfast altogether and head towards Antrim Town and stay off in that direction. They were doing lots of highway construction around Belfast last month and it took forever to get out of town.
Giant's Causeway to Belfast is maybe two hours as well. We did a coastal meander through Cushendon and it wasn't any time crunch really. Roads are in better shape in NI so you'll make better time.
One B&B in Donegal I'm recommending to folks is the Green Gate in Ardara. A bit pricey, but is in such a unique location you won't want to leave. Views you can't describe. Paul might be booked when you're there, but we stumbled in on a days notice due to a cancellation. Go for the Hobbit Cottage facing northwest if it's available.
I agree with sadge re: the beauty of Ardara.
I stayed north of there in Glenties, which is a nice part of the county as well, although my b&b wasn't really noteworthy.
when you're in the area, be sure to stop by Killybegs. I found it a very interesting fishing port; some great photo ops. as well.
Heading up to North West is a great option. If I were to recommend a route for this I'd say:
Belfast is 2.5 hours drive from the airport and even if you left at 7:30 from airport you could still be in belfast by 10 and in bed by 11:30 which should be enough to be bright and early for the following day should you wish to make the push for it. Where you would stay in belfast however is beyond me. There will be no trouble in belfast and there never is so dont worry about that. From there I would recommended heading to Cushendun for a bite of morning tea or lunch and taking in the village and the beach (and the caves!) before taking the scenic route up over the hills towards the likes of Coleraine and on to Derry. The coastal route has some of the best scenery in the world. It would be quite possible (however a bit rushed) to make it on to Donegal but a night in Derry and around the old city walls would be a good place to stop. From there you could move on to letterkenny and on through to Dunfanaghy. Taking a detour through Glen will give you scenery you never thought possible but your chances of getting lost are high. From Dunfanaghy a must stop is Ardara. Nancys is the place to go and get some nice lunch. It can be busy in summer but should have a good atmosphere in september. Many famous people have graced its doors and it has been owned by the same family for years. A very welcoming place indeed.Dont forget to visit the caves at Maghera Strand (Donegals best secret) and stop off at the Maghera waterfall. You will be amazed at the Maghera strand beach. After Ardara a worthy stop is smugglers creek inn which is near Rosnowlagh beach (near Ballyshannon). It does great seafood and is a popular haunt. I would also venture down in to Sligo and visit Yeats country. There is more than enough down there. Saying that you could go the other way around and go straight from Dublin to Dingle and the likes. Ive never been down there but heard it is a stunning place. Donegal however is my favourite place in the world. One thing to always bear in mind is that just because its 30 miles doesnt mean its a quick run. Roads in donegal can very easily turn in to one lane twisted roads. It can be hard to cover hundreds of miles each day. Motorways are scarce.
Thanks everybody. I am just arrived from Ireland , and it really was a lovely trip and a great experience.
Finally I decided go straight from Dublin airport to Belfast, I stayed there 2 nights and after I did the coastal route to Derry, where I stayed 1 night in Clarence House, I liked it, I found there good services, impressive breakfast and warm treatment. My next destination was Ardara in co Donegal, I stayed 2 nights at the green gate, SADGE said to me that "is in such a unique location you won´t want to leave" but in my case is the unique location where I would prefere don´t stay. Really it´s a beautiful place with amazinag views but I felt really annoyed with Paul, as I have tell you in a new topic. In Ardara I went to Nancys, it was not busy, I had dinner there and it had a good atmosphere. From Ardara I whent to Leenane, near Connemara and I stayed in the Sleepzone hostel. It is a well run hostel just in front of a fiordo. I recommend it. The next stop was Doolin, where I spent 3 nights at the Aille River Hostel. This is a well run hostel too. Smaller than the other and really confortable. In Doolin there are a lot of pubs with live traditional irish music. I coul visit also Aran Island, cliffs of Moher, the burren and others little villages near there very interessing too. From Doolin I went to Dingle only for my last nigth on the west coast. It is really a stunning place, but I had less than a day to explore it. There I had dinner in Out of the blue, a sea food restaurant which is a bit pricey but it is worth it. After ten days eating sandwiches, the fresh fish I ate seemed to me delicious. Finally fron Dingle to Dublin where I stayed my last 3 nights at the Trinity College. I stayed in a single room of an apartment. There you have the services of a hotel, with your kitchen and living room, with an impressive breakfast and specially all in the real centre of Dublin. I really recomment it too. If somebody need more information about some special place of my trip, you only have to ask me.
trusted partner
