Ireland, 7 nights, driving holiday
Discussion
Evening,
Booked the ferry over to Belfast in the late summer, spending a week there with the car.
Looking for suggestions on things to see/do, not to see/do, nice areas to stay, good roads/routes, etc. Willing to drive to see as much of the whole island as possible. Not fussed about the north coast/Giant's Causeway; beautiful though it is, we went last year and life's short enough.
Interested in coastlines, pubs, food, wildlife, people. Not so interested in organised outdoor activities, the Troubles/modern history, shopping, special interest museums.
I'm thinking directly west from Belfast, hug the west coast for the nicest bits, try and get both Galway and Cork in within the week, but other than that I've no idea. If anything, Google provides too much information.
I'm not averse to relatively early starts and a few hours driving as long as the drive isn't depressing, there's something to see or do on the way and there's a decent pint at the end of the day.
(P.S., last time I asked for advice for a driving holiday on here, there was a pandemic which lasted a couple of years, so sorry in advance if I'm cursed).
Cheers
Booked the ferry over to Belfast in the late summer, spending a week there with the car.
Looking for suggestions on things to see/do, not to see/do, nice areas to stay, good roads/routes, etc. Willing to drive to see as much of the whole island as possible. Not fussed about the north coast/Giant's Causeway; beautiful though it is, we went last year and life's short enough.
Interested in coastlines, pubs, food, wildlife, people. Not so interested in organised outdoor activities, the Troubles/modern history, shopping, special interest museums.
I'm thinking directly west from Belfast, hug the west coast for the nicest bits, try and get both Galway and Cork in within the week, but other than that I've no idea. If anything, Google provides too much information.
I'm not averse to relatively early starts and a few hours driving as long as the drive isn't depressing, there's something to see or do on the way and there's a decent pint at the end of the day.
(P.S., last time I asked for advice for a driving holiday on here, there was a pandemic which lasted a couple of years, so sorry in advance if I'm cursed).
Cheers
To get Galway and Cork in assuming a return to Belfast in 7 days is going to be quite rushed but here's a suggestion:
Day 1
Drive Belfast straight to Westport.
Stay in Knockranny house hotel. Have a swim in the pool and massage in the spa after your long drive then walk down into town for dinner at An Port Mór and a few pints afterwards.
Day 2:
Drive down through Connemara to Galway city.
Scenic drive and not too far.
Wander around the city for the afternoon
Plenty of food and drink options.
Day 3: Long drive.
Drive down through Clare hugging the coast. Stop at Cliffs of Moher if you want and stop for lunch on the way. Head down to Killimer ferry and get the Ferry over to Tarbert.
Now head to Dingle for the night.
Very scenic mountain roads. A few nice restaurants and plenty of decent pubs in Dingle.
Day 4:
Drive from Dingle anti clockwise around the ring of Kerry to Kenmare. Amazing beaches, beautiful views.
Kenmare also has a few nice restaurants and hotels.
Day 5:
Up over the Caha Pass into County Cork.
Great driving road with mountain tunnels and fantastic views.
Stay in West Cork somewhere overnight.
Day 6:
Cork City
Day 7:
Head back to Belfast on the motorways. It's a long way and boring drive but you have done a good bit of Ireland in a Week.
Day 1
Drive Belfast straight to Westport.
Stay in Knockranny house hotel. Have a swim in the pool and massage in the spa after your long drive then walk down into town for dinner at An Port Mór and a few pints afterwards.
Day 2:
Drive down through Connemara to Galway city.
Scenic drive and not too far.
Wander around the city for the afternoon
Plenty of food and drink options.
Day 3: Long drive.
Drive down through Clare hugging the coast. Stop at Cliffs of Moher if you want and stop for lunch on the way. Head down to Killimer ferry and get the Ferry over to Tarbert.
Now head to Dingle for the night.
Very scenic mountain roads. A few nice restaurants and plenty of decent pubs in Dingle.
Day 4:
Drive from Dingle anti clockwise around the ring of Kerry to Kenmare. Amazing beaches, beautiful views.
Kenmare also has a few nice restaurants and hotels.
Day 5:
Up over the Caha Pass into County Cork.
Great driving road with mountain tunnels and fantastic views.
Stay in West Cork somewhere overnight.
Day 6:
Cork City
Day 7:
Head back to Belfast on the motorways. It's a long way and boring drive but you have done a good bit of Ireland in a Week.
My €0.02.
Inishowen - Take the ferry from Magilligan Point to Greencastle.
Drive to Malin Head and visit the abandoned telegraph stations.
There's the Doagh Famine Village. Now bear with me. I thought the same. I don't want to visit a poxy museum and put on the Mr Grumpy. But Mrs V. and The Vikingettes were wearing the trousers so we went. It was fecking brilliant. You start with some included tea/coffee/biscuits as though they were welcoming you to their house. Crazy to think they didn't get electricity there until the mid 80's.
Slieve League - there's a nice cafe/visitors centre on the approach road (and toilets). Drive to the lower car park and open the gate to drive to the upper car park. Absolutely spectacular and I so want to go back. In contrast we headed south towards the Cliffs of Moher, came over the crest of the mountain, saw the 500 coaches and 1 million people and drove straight on!
If you visit the Dingle Peninsula make sure you drive on the Conor Pass.
Also look at the Wild Atlantic Way website as you'll be following a lot of that.
But if it rains or is foggy as it often is, you won't see too much on the drives!
Inishowen - Take the ferry from Magilligan Point to Greencastle.
Drive to Malin Head and visit the abandoned telegraph stations.
There's the Doagh Famine Village. Now bear with me. I thought the same. I don't want to visit a poxy museum and put on the Mr Grumpy. But Mrs V. and The Vikingettes were wearing the trousers so we went. It was fecking brilliant. You start with some included tea/coffee/biscuits as though they were welcoming you to their house. Crazy to think they didn't get electricity there until the mid 80's.
Slieve League - there's a nice cafe/visitors centre on the approach road (and toilets). Drive to the lower car park and open the gate to drive to the upper car park. Absolutely spectacular and I so want to go back. In contrast we headed south towards the Cliffs of Moher, came over the crest of the mountain, saw the 500 coaches and 1 million people and drove straight on!
If you visit the Dingle Peninsula make sure you drive on the Conor Pass.
Also look at the Wild Atlantic Way website as you'll be following a lot of that.
But if it rains or is foggy as it often is, you won't see too much on the drives!
+1 on vikingaero's suggestion for Malin Head. Mrs Wooster and I went a few years ago. We got there just before closing and they kept the place open for us, with no other visitors there.
I'd also recommend the Arann Islands if you get the chance. We flew from Connemara Airport over to Inishmore (a 7 minute flight) and spent the day there. Lying down on the edge of the cliff at Dun Aonghasa and looking straight down to the wild Atlantic waves was quite an experience.
I'd also recommend the Arann Islands if you get the chance. We flew from Connemara Airport over to Inishmore (a 7 minute flight) and spent the day there. Lying down on the edge of the cliff at Dun Aonghasa and looking straight down to the wild Atlantic waves was quite an experience.
vikingaero said:
My €0.02.
Inishowen - Take the ferry from Magilligan Point to Greencastle.
Drive to Malin Head and visit the abandoned telegraph stations.
There's the Doagh Famine Village. Now bear with me. I thought the same. I don't want to visit a poxy museum and put on the Mr Grumpy. But Mrs V. and The Vikingettes were wearing the trousers so we went. It was fecking brilliant. You start with some included tea/coffee/biscuits as though they were welcoming you to their house. Crazy to think they didn't get electricity there until the mid 80's.
Slieve League - there's a nice cafe/visitors centre on the approach road (and toilets). Drive to the lower car park and open the gate to drive to the upper car park. Absolutely spectacular and I so want to go back. In contrast we headed south towards the Cliffs of Moher, came over the crest of the mountain, saw the 500 coaches and 1 million people and drove straight on!
If you visit the Dingle Peninsula make sure you drive on the Conor Pass.
Also look at the Wild Atlantic Way website as you'll be following a lot of that.
But if it rains or is foggy as it often is, you won't see too much on the drives!
If you're going via magilligan, go for a drive on the beach at BenoneInishowen - Take the ferry from Magilligan Point to Greencastle.
Drive to Malin Head and visit the abandoned telegraph stations.
There's the Doagh Famine Village. Now bear with me. I thought the same. I don't want to visit a poxy museum and put on the Mr Grumpy. But Mrs V. and The Vikingettes were wearing the trousers so we went. It was fecking brilliant. You start with some included tea/coffee/biscuits as though they were welcoming you to their house. Crazy to think they didn't get electricity there until the mid 80's.
Slieve League - there's a nice cafe/visitors centre on the approach road (and toilets). Drive to the lower car park and open the gate to drive to the upper car park. Absolutely spectacular and I so want to go back. In contrast we headed south towards the Cliffs of Moher, came over the crest of the mountain, saw the 500 coaches and 1 million people and drove straight on!
If you visit the Dingle Peninsula make sure you drive on the Conor Pass.
Also look at the Wild Atlantic Way website as you'll be following a lot of that.
But if it rains or is foggy as it often is, you won't see too much on the drives!
Culdaff is a nice village to stay in near malin head.
Got a decent pint of guinness when we stayed in Carrick near Slieve League, wee run down looking pub opposite the flashy looking one on the main street, good trad session on at night.
Cahersevin is a decent village for doing the ring of kerry/dingle.
Could you not get a ferry to Dublin? Sounds like you’re more keen on the Republic than NI.
Definitely do the Ring of Kerry. Truly beautiful providing it’s not foggy!
I would suggest from Dublin (or Belfast) head to Galway and hug the coastline down south. Personally I would avoid Cork City and simply stay on the coast.
Definitely do the Ring of Kerry. Truly beautiful providing it’s not foggy!
I would suggest from Dublin (or Belfast) head to Galway and hug the coastline down south. Personally I would avoid Cork City and simply stay on the coast.
From Belfast I’d head to the north coast and across the top and into the Republic in Donegal and then work down from the top through Sligo, Mayo and into Galway following the WaW
It is stunningly wild and beautiful and really needs to be taken slowly and at a leisurely pace
From Galway I’d head back up to Carrick on Shannon and then Enniskillen taking in the inland waterways of Leitrim and Fermanagh then pick up the motorway to run back upto Belfast
I certainly wouldn’t be looking at trying to go further down than Galway, Cork is a big trek down from Belfast
It is stunningly wild and beautiful and really needs to be taken slowly and at a leisurely pace
From Galway I’d head back up to Carrick on Shannon and then Enniskillen taking in the inland waterways of Leitrim and Fermanagh then pick up the motorway to run back upto Belfast
I certainly wouldn’t be looking at trying to go further down than Galway, Cork is a big trek down from Belfast
Earthdweller said:
From Belfast I’d head to the north coast and across the top and into the Republic in Donegal and then work down from the top through Sligo, Mayo and into Galway following the WaW
It is stunningly wild and beautiful and really needs to be taken slowly and at a leisurely pace
From Galway I’d head back up to Carrick on Shannon and then Enniskillen taking in the inland waterways of Leitrim and Fermanagh then pick up the motorway to run back upto Belfast
I certainly wouldn’t be looking at trying to go further down than Galway, Cork is a big trek down from Belfast
He could go a little further down to Limerick It is stunningly wild and beautiful and really needs to be taken slowly and at a leisurely pace
From Galway I’d head back up to Carrick on Shannon and then Enniskillen taking in the inland waterways of Leitrim and Fermanagh then pick up the motorway to run back upto Belfast
I certainly wouldn’t be looking at trying to go further down than Galway, Cork is a big trek down from Belfast
MYOB said:
Could you not get a ferry to Dublin? Sounds like you’re more keen on the Republic than NI.
Definitely do the Ring of Kerry. Truly beautiful providing it’s not foggy!
I would suggest from Dublin (or Belfast) head to Galway and hug the coastline down south. Personally I would avoid Cork City and simply stay on the coast.
I loved the seaweed baths at Ballybunion if you're doing the Ring of Kerry Definitely do the Ring of Kerry. Truly beautiful providing it’s not foggy!
I would suggest from Dublin (or Belfast) head to Galway and hug the coastline down south. Personally I would avoid Cork City and simply stay on the coast.
https://www.ballybunion.ie/things-to-do/attraction...
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