By popular demand, here is a circuit of Eire beginning and ending in
Dublin. The best time of year to go to Ireland is in June or September
as it is less crowded than the peak months of July and August. The best
way to get around is by car as this allows you to stop in places that
are off the beaten track, plus many places are not connected by public
transport.
This itinerary includes towns, castles, bogs, coastal scenery, mountains,
valleys, streams, megaliths and remains of monasteries. To do this trip
justice, you would at least 10 days, but you could cut it down to say
one week. Each destination is not exhaustive ~ en route, you will
see many signposts identifying interesting places that are definitely
worth a look.
Dublin is a good starting point and you should spend at least
two days here. It is a very walkable city and there is a great deal to
see and do: museums, art galleries, shopping, a Guinness brewery, the
castle etc. For those interested in tracing their ancestry, the Heraldic
Museum is a must.
Drive west on the N4 and N6 from Dublin to Athlone, visit the
castle there and make this your base for a couple of nights, to explore
the Irish Midlands around the River Shannon and Lough Ree. You must visit
the remains of Clonmacnoise, Ireland’s most important monastic
site. From Athlone continue west on the N6 to Galway City on the
west coast, and base yourself here for a couple of nights. Galway is a
pretty city with narrow streets and a good nightlife. From here, you should
make a day trip north west on the N59 to Connemara, a beautiful
area of valleys, mountains, bogs, lakes and streams ~ chill out,
relax and savour that fresh country air!
Another day trip or longer visit can be made from Galway City by ferry
across to one (or all!) of the Aran Islands – Inishmor, Inishmaan
and Inisheer. From Galway, drive south to Burren via Dunguaire
Castle and prepare to do some walking. The Buren is an area, 25 miles
wide and 15 miles long situated between Kilfenora and Kinvarra. Here you
will find an amazing array of ancient walls, megalithic tombs, stone forts
and beautiful glacial landscape. To make the most of this, by all means
drive around in this area, but you must also get out of your car and have
a good wander! You should also make a trip south to the Cliffs of Moher
before heading south on the N85 and N18 to Limerick, a historic
city (featured in Angela’s Ashes), on the River Shannon.
From Limerick, take the N21 southwest towards Tralee (don’t stay here),
and to the Dingle Peninsula, Ireland’s western most point. Choose
somewhere to stay so that you can spend time exploring mountains, valleys,
streams, windy little roads, deserted beaches etc. This area is one of
the Beetle’s favourite parts of Ireland. A trip to the Blasketts
is also a pleasant way to spend a day. From the Dingle peninsula, make
your way south on the N70 to Killorglin, the start of the Ring of Kerry
which is 180 km and takes about 3-4 hours to drive without stopping, and
ends at Kenmare. It’s all about the Mountains of Kerry, valleys, dramatic
coastal scenery, castles and monasteries and is an absolute must! From
Kenmare, continue up the N70, north to Killarney where on a good day you
can see Macgillicuddy’s Reeks, Ireland’s highest mountains and stay the
night. From Killarney, head east on the N22 to Cork, making a quick
stop to kiss the Blarney Stone at Blarney Castle.
From Cork, head north on the N8 to Cashel to see the Rock of Cashel
~ a magnificent stone fort with 200ft high walls. From here, head
east on the N24 to Waterford, home of the famous Waterford crystal.
From Waterford, take the N11 back north to Dublin via Glendalough,
set in the wooded valley of the Two Lakes. If you are a fan of the TV
series, Ballykissangel, then you should also stop at Avoca before
going to Glendalough.
Please contact Beetle@globetrotters.co.ukfor
your suggested country itinerary although the Beetle regrets that she
cannot draw up itineraries for individuals.