hi,
I'm flying to Ireland (and Ulster) in a few days and i'll have a car on the island.
I'm trying to find places where there won't be too many tourists.
I'm thinking Beara peninsula and Donegal county ?
would that be a good choice ?
I'm trying to find alternatives to the ring of Kerry or Connemara (both super touristy).
does anyone have other ideas seeing that I'm interested in nature (better if both spectacular and tranquil) ?
thank you everyone for you help on this:)
Edited by: possopo
I would say that if anything, Donegal gets more tourists (or holidaymakers, anyway) than Conamara in the summer. Holiday destination for half of the North.
I spent a week in Conamara in June a couple of years ago and never saw anything that looked much like a tourist except in the mirror. Admittedly, I was staying in a pretty small place and in Clifden it would probably be quite different.
I do wonder would it make sense for you to go to both Beara and Donegal, which are about as far apart as it's possible to get in Ireland.
I think you could find the area around Joyce Country (south Mayo) and nearby parts of Conamara both spectacular and tranquil.
Counties Cavan and Fermanagh are also very scenic, though maybe not exactly in a spectacular way (rolling landscapes, rivers and lakes rather than steep mountains and rocky shores).
i agree with # 2 the conamara area is beautiful i go there most every summer from the states.
you can spend several days in the area just driving and stoping off for photo shots.
Drive around Conamara park and in and around the Kylemore Abbey and maybe run over to Cleggan to Omey island and drive across during low tide. I friend of mine has a boat there at Cleggan you can go fishing or maybe explore one of the islands with him.
(Bluewater Fishing) is John Brittian and his wife Sue owns (Sharamore B&B) between Cliffden and Cleggan.Good People!
The Delphi Valley is a awesome drive,Croagh Patrick is worth the climb if your up to it.
Westport hotel has the Grace O'Malley show on Wed nights i think? it is worth seeing!
Achill Island is a nice drive with a couple of beaches and scinic.
The Beara Drive is nice some say nicer then the ring of Kerry.
I find early Sept to be less crowded but Conamara is by far less crowded then Kilnarney area.
Last year i came down from the North from Antrim coast to the Conamara area then to Doolin and we stoped at Ballina-and stayed at Belleck Castle (nice place) and enjoyed that area but not as much as North-west of Galway.
You want feel smothered as long as avoid the larger cites.
Have a great time and i hope this helps!
