Landrover,boys,bikes,canoe,snorkels, where in Ireland?

njburke

Hi,
Looking for advice on a family holiday for the last two weeks in July in Ireland.
Rather than just turn up somewhere and then figure out what we'll do with the time I'ld like to get a list of activities.
Hoping for a family activity holiday for myself and my wife and three boys, 12, 9 and 5 somewhere on the coast.

I was hoping to get a mix of activities which we could choose on the day depending on the weather such as;
cycling, canoeing on a lake, sea fishing, snorkelling, hillwalking, I scuba dive so a couple of dives from a dive centre would be a must for me. Dinghy sailing would also appeal if there was a 5 day course for the elder boys and myself.


I'ld hope to overnight camp somewhere with the boys, my wife might opt out on that one. We do have full range of camping gear.

We'ld bring two vehicles, one of which is a landrover van which I can stuff to the gills and still fit canadian canoe on top.

We need to choose a base somewhere though, self catering rental house (nothing fancy, housing estate on seaside town would do).

Couple of places come to mind, Caherciveen, Kenamare, Kilkee, (we did Clon and Skib year before last but from a hotel).

I saw a guy lugging a trailer full of bikes and surfboards etc last summer, fancy having a go at the same.
Any suggestions on a location with good surrounding activites ?

NJ

CastlebarMan

Okay you could try this for a road trip.
Start in Westport, you could even base yourself here if you wanted.
The woman will like Westport here she will have the leisure centres, pubs and restaurants. Do three to four days here.
Then hit the road and head west to a village called Louisburgh, look for a camp site called old head camp site and caravan park 00-353-87-6486885. I really recommend this place. There is a pub up the road from the camp site as well.
This is right on the sea and you can canoe and explore forest, also you can take a day trip to Carrowniskey beach where you can learn to surf, check www.surfmayo.com
When you are done with that head for Leenane, you go through one of the most scenic drives in Ireland, through the DooLough Valley to Leenane.
Stay in Leenane for one night its very Scenic and raw. You could also check out http://www.delphimountainresort.com
Next on to Cliften, smaller version of Westport, again the woman will like this, trad, Irish culture, food and pubs.
Next stop Galway city ! That’s my five cents anyway. Also check out

CastlebarMan

Forgot this dive centre its on your your route
http://www.scubadivewest.com/index.php

Also forgot to say there are two sailing clubs in Westport and also when in Louisburgh the lot of you could head to Clare Island. I heard that a new adventure centre has just opened on the Island.

And another route would be hit Achill Island.

roundymac

http://www.discoverireland.ie/Things-To-Do/Activities-and-Adventure/Adventure/Activities
Try this site, you might get a few ideas from it.

Timfy

Everything you mention here... http://www.leenanevillage.com/tourism/todo.html

njburke

Cheers,
I had not though of the into the west option, I have stayed at the K2 and as I remember it there is an activity centre right opposite. Theres the lough as you drive out to Little killary and scubadive west.

Will check out the camping option. I don't fancy having the canoe nicked of the roof of the landrover, so I was hoping to find a place I could drop it off.

Apartments at the station house in clifden might also be an option, and of course theres always galway for the missus.

mmmh, will see about renting for a week somewhere, and fill in the other couple of days with B&B/hotel/camping

Niall

Timfy

If you decide on the the Leenane area you are welcome to leave your canoe at our house and pick it up / drop it off when you like.

njburke

@Timfy
Thank you very much for your offer, I'll PM you should we decide to go west.
Thanks again

njburke

Hi All,
I've sorted a week in a self catering apartment in sligo for the second week, I could pick the days so I didn't have to start on a Saturday.
Figured it would be handy for scuba diving in Mullaghmore, surf school for the kids and perhaps a bit of snorkeling or mackerel fishing. Its reasonably flat along the coast so cycling should be an option again with kids. Bundoran of an evening and maybe Lissadel or whatever if it rains.

For the first week, a hotel in Castlebar with an overnight camp for boys and myself at old head campsite, whilst my wife may just travel on to the sligo apartment or down to galway overnight.

Any tips for these two locations?

Not bad for about 800 euros for 12 days.
Who do talk to about the weather ?

NJ