Galway to Dingle

My husband and I are travelling to Ireland next month. After rechecking our itinerary I am beginning to question part of it. We are renting a car and had planned to travel from Galway to Dingle in one day with stops at Cliffs of Moher, the Burren and possibly Kilkee and/or Bunratty. Is this too long a day with too much driving? If we broke up the day would you recommend staying a night in either Kilkee, Bunratty or Limerick?

That is too far to drive in one way, even without stops. Spend the night somewhere in Co Clare.

It depends on what you mean when you say you will stop in 'the Burren'. The Burren is a huge area, it can only really be seen by walking it. So if you intend to spend more than a couple of hours walking some of the trails (strongly recommended, its a fascinating place), then it is too much. If you just want to see a few touristy bits of it, then you'd do it fine in one day - although I assume you want to follow the coast road along Clare, rather than take the main road via Ennis and Limerick (the former is far more interesting and scenic). Just remember you have to be at the Tarbert ferry crossing in time to catch the last one.

I would not recommend either Bunratty or Limerick for an overnight (unless you want to do the Bunratty feast thing, which I'm told is tacky but fun). Kilkee is an ok sort of place, it has a few decent pubs and guesthouses but not many good eating places. But if you want to explore the Burren area I'd recommend staying in north Clare, somewhere like Doolin, Lahinch or Ballyvaughan, then drive down to Dingle. But Dingle is great, so if doing it all in one day gives you extra time there, then take that option.

The Burren is a huge area, it can only really be seen by walking it.
Having driven through the Burren once and walked parts of it once, I completely agree. You can see very little of genuine interest from a car. You need to get out of your car and explore on foot.

look at SHANNONFERRIES.COM
also check out Lartigue Monorail in Listowel, County Kerry
and in Foynes, County Limerick
the Flyingboatmuseum.
enjoy.

Edited by: yofletch

You could make the drive in one day, but you're looking at beautiful Ireland from the windows of a car. I would agree you should make a stop. The Burren does require some time to enjoy with a walk. You could stop in the Burren, there are lots of little b&bs in the small villages. Stop at Cliffs of Moher late in the day or the next morning depending on the weather. If you have a little upscale taste there's the Gregans Castle Hotel. If you stopped over at Bunratty there are the medieval dinners, or the Irish Folk Music dinner you could go to. Or just stop to check out the folk park and keep going south.

You definitely do need a stop. I would suggest The Bayview B&B in Kilkee. Find the details at http://www.townandcountry.ie and then as suggested above, take the ferry across to Dingle in County Kerry the next morning. Or if you decide to stay near Bunratty, then by all means consider The Shannonside B&B, details also at the link above. These are two of my favorite B&Bs in Ireland. I always stay at one or the other whenever I'm in County Clare.

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