"Chocolate box" towns & villages

RahenyD5

My American relatives are visiting this summer, thought I'd take them out of city to somewhere appealing for tourists. So does anyone know of a picturesque or tourist magnet town/village around Greater Dublin?

The best places are undoubtedly in West Cork/Kerry/Galway, it would be grand to know of any nearby places so to save us from having to head further west. The few places I have in mind are:

Malahide, Dublin
Dalkey, Dublin
Avoca, Wicklow
Enniskerry, Wicklow
Lexlip, Kildare

Any ideas?

Donkey Oaty

The train journey to Greystones is very picturesque.

The Backwards Man

Dalkey is full of Smarties

Tallaght is full of Whole Nuts

Swords is full of Flakes

Ballymun is full of Curly Wurlys

*if this is moved to a Dublin forum I apologise in advance.:o

Donkey Oaty

Also, what about the Dun Laoghaire/Howth boat?

Carlingford is beautiful if you want to go that far out.

Head to Glendalough by Laragh in Wicklow.

Arbiter of Good Taste

Definitely Howth - and do lunch in one of the places on the pier. Just lovely

kneemos

That place in Wicklow they did Ballykissangel or Glendaloghue in Wicklow.

wazky

kneemos wrote: »

That place in Wicklow they did Ballykissangel or Glendaloghue in Wicklow.

Avoca?

kneemos

wazky wrote: »

Avoca?

The one.

Donkey Oaty

Another idea - a bit pricey - but a day trip to Belfast on the Enterprise. Have lunch and a living history bus tour. Not chocolate box stuff, but they'll be telling everyone about it for years.

shedweller

Lismore in waterford is nice. Kilkenny has a castle and the streets look like postcard material.

Annasopra

Donkey Oaty wrote: »

The train journey to Greystones is very picturesque.

The cliff walk is amazing as well and there are lovely restaurants in Greystones

Also the cliff walk at Wicklow Town from the golf course to the lighthouse is stunning.

wazky

A stroll around Arklow at dusk is also picturesque.

byhookorbycrook

"Chocolate box" villages tend to be those planned by landlords so can be more like English places- e.g. Adare.
I'd bring tourists to Brú na Bóinne/Newgrange, Trim castle, the Hill of Tara, Glendalough and to the National stud and Japanese gardens.

kneemos

There's not much to see east of the Shannon in truth.Is there a motorway to Galway?

jamo2oo9

A weekend to Carlingford Lough should do the job for them

BillyMitchel

Climb Bray Head

darrcow

Navan

KERSPLAT!

Newgrange
Hill of Tara
Trim Castle

byhookorbycrook

Pretty villages exist in the east too. Dunmore East is lovely.

Míshásta

Temple Bar after closing time on a Saturday night.

Show them the real Ireland.

But better go with some of the more sensible suggestions already given.

Hope the weather is reasonable during their visit.

spank_inferno

Tourism, as in life.

Wicklow is where its at.

Arthur Beesley

Don't forget to stop off in Supermacs.

we'llallhavetea

darrcow wrote: »

Navan

:'D you're joking yeah?

dgt

darrcow wrote: »

Navan

I like your thinking baiii. Hang around the shopping centre during the day, enjoy the music being played by yer man beside the taxi rank. Bring them to such attractions such as Tara mines, Claremount stadium, the ramparts and the pool. There's even tours of the town, via the shuttle bus service round the eloquent and vibrant estates of Navan.
By night head to Clems and slowly make your way to the Palace. For those feeling fancy, drop into the central, a modern pub/restaurant/cafe all in one. Feeling peckish after all that dancing with the hen parties? Vicos grill for that battered sausage and chips after a night out. Sorted :cool:






In all seriousness, Slane is a good place to go (discovered a lovely cafe near the poets rest with the mrs today, worth a visit). Battle of the boyne, Skryne, Hill of Tara. I swear I'm not from Meath :pac::pac::pac:

orangesoda

The Griannan of Aileach fort in Donegal just outside Derry should get a mention.
You could make your way west from there, forget about the east

Acedia.

Inistioge is a small scenic village in County Kilkenny, Ireland. It is situated on the River Nore, 25 kilometres (16 mi) southeast of Kilkenny.

Inistioge has been the scene for a number of films, most notably Circle of Friends and Widows' Peak. The picturesque Woodstock Estate is located one mile (1.6 km) outside the village.

www.inistioge.ie

JJJJNR

Donkey Oaty wrote: »

The train journey to wexford is very picturesque.

Plus a stay in wexford over night would be good crack.

thegreatgonzo

The village at Lyons is nice but I'm not sure what you can do there

RahenyD5

A big thank you to you all for your suggestions!

Can't believe I forgot about Howth, it's only up the road from me, duh!

shedweller

RahenyD5 wrote: »

A big thank you to you all for your suggestions!

Can't believe I forgot about Howth, it's only up the road from me, duh!

You're welcome.

So thats slane out of the question then...???

anncoates

Ennis is a great spot: decent pubs and a picturesque central town with a good gateway to west Clare.

wil

thegreatgonzo wrote: »

The village at Lyons is nice but I'm not sure what you can do there

Have a cup of tea I'd imagine.

wil

And if you're off chocolate for lent bring them up to Tayto Park

aaabbbb

if youre heading to leixlip you may as well head to casletown house in cellbridge while you're in the area

feargale

orangesoda wrote: »

The Griannan of Aileach fort in Donegal just outside Derry should get a mention.
You could make your way west from there, forget about the east

If you go that far, while you're at it you may as well take in Rockall.

Sir Arthur Daley

Down west Cork Adrigole, Eyeries, Castletownbere.

John Doe1

Donegal is easily up there in terms of beauty with Kerry and the likes if not better:)

Donegal Town
Ardara
Rathmullan
Dunfanaghy
Killybegs

Take your pick (Not Bundoran!)

Also you can visit the highest sea cliffs in Europe (3 times higher than Cliffs of moher)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slieve_League

Mount Errigal is pretty impressive too
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Errigal

Witchie

John Doe1 wrote: »

Donegal is easily up there in terms of beauty with Kerry and the likes if not better:)

Donegal Town
Ardara
Rathmullan
Dunfanaghy
Killybegs

Take your pick (Not Bundoran!)

Also you can visit the highest sea cliffs in Europe (3 times higher than Cliffs of moher)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slieve_League

Mount Errigal is pretty impressive too
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Errigal

Oi don't slag Fundoran!

But naw don't waste the petrol going to Donegal...take them to Monaghan....The lovely wee drumlins and a lake around every corner. Take them to Glaslough Village with its gorgeous stone buildings and drive up to Castle Leslie where they can meet the effervescent Sir Jack Leslie while admiring his ancestral piles....ooop pile.

Honestly, you can't go wrong with a trip to Monaghan unless you end up in Blayney hai and even it has some pretty sights.

kumate_champ07

Mosney?

John Doe1

Witchie wrote: »

Oi don't slag Fundoran!

But naw don't waste the petrol going to Donegal...take them to Monaghan....The lovely wee drumlins and a lake around every corner. Take them to Glaslough Village with its gorgeous stone buildings and drive up to Castle Leslie where they can meet the effervescent Sir Jack Leslie while admiring his ancestral piles....ooop pile.

Honestly, you can't go wrong with a trip to Monaghan unless you end up in Blayney hai and even it has some pretty sights.

Ha just bad memories of almost swimming into a child's poo in waterworld:P

Glaslough is nice i must say.

Monagahan bus station is the best sight in monaghan by far if you like stale bread and and a crippling sense of depression.

Witchie

John Doe1 wrote: »

Ha just bad memories of almost swimming into a child's poo in waterworld:P

Glaslough is nice i must say.

Monagahan bus station is the best sight in monaghan by far if you like stale bread and and a crippling sense of depression.

But if you venture into one of the pubs you will be chatted to like a local and made feel like you have always belonged there.

We are a friendly wee bunch of hoors.

Aint Eazy Being Cheezy

Come to Drogheda.

You'll be welcomed off the bus by a friendly blow-in, with a cheeky "here give us a fag yea?" and a threateningly aggressive stance.

Make your way across the dual carriageway to sample the local McDonald's, it's the best one for 15miles. When you've had your fill (I recommend the McNuggets and the Shamrock Shake) you can nip in the Hole in the Wall pub for a pint of Hackenberg (€3.60)

Afterwards you make your way across West street, towards St Peter's Church, to see the severed head of St Oliver Plunkett, try not to get hit by a skateboarder as you mount the steps. When your bored of looking at an old relic (it's just Shank Godfrey, local councillor, canvassing) a trip down the ramparts for a leisurely stroll by the river is in order.

The Boyne river is well known in Irish folklore and mythology, for being the river with the most shopping trolleys dumped per head of population. I think it was 17 per person annually last count. You'll be doing well not to have been knifed for your valuables at this stage, so if you are still in possession of the coin of the realm you can look no further than the Green Door hostel off Poorhouse Lane to lay the head.

Also used as emergency accommodation by the HSE, some friendly 4am shouting and banter to be had with such local characters as Mad Mona and Black Friday.

When you settle your bill (€15/night) don't drink the coffee the train station is a short walk away to get your sorry arses back to Dublin. Don't forget to tell your friends.

Andrew_Doran

RahenyD5 wrote: »

Can't believe I forgot about Howth, it's only up the road from me, duh!

I've found that city dwellers quite like the cliff walk from the bottom up to the Summit Inn for a pint and something to eat, then bus or walk back down the tram tracks. It's not the sort of thing you expect to find in a city.

Les Ferdinand

Donkey Oaty wrote: »

Another idea - a bit pricey - but a day trip to Belfast on the Enterprise. Have lunch and a living history bus tour. Not chocolate box stuff, but they'll be telling everyone about it for years.

Ah yes.. I'd love visitors to my country to hear about bombs going off and Catholic and Protestants fighting.
I'd rather them just see Howth and Dalkey

John Doe1

Les Ferdinand wrote: »

Ah yes.. I'd love visitors to my country to hear about bombs going off and Catholic and Protestants fighting.
I'd rather them just see Howth and Dalkey

A lot of people would find that educational and interesting.

I much prefer Belfast to Dublin, it also has:

Titanic Museum
Botanic Gardens
Queens
Ulster Museum
W5
Belfast Castle
Queens Film Theatre
City Hall
Cathedral Quarter
Many funny, straight forward people

And you are only a stones throw from the glens of antrim

I would rather people see the real Ireland than some snobbish suburb.

If you are going somewhere on the east coast, go to carlingford.

Les Ferdinand

John Doe1 wrote: »

A lot of people would find that educational and interesting.

I much prefer Belfast to Dublin, it also has:

Titanic Museum
Botanic Gardens
Queens
Ulster Museum
W5
Belfast Castle
Queens Film Theatre
City Hall
Cathedral Quarter
Many funny, straight forward people

And you are only a stones throw from the glens of antrim

I would rather people see the real Ireland than some snobbish suburb.

If you are going somewhere on the east coast, go to carlingford.

Howth and Dalkey are snobbish?

Dublin has

Botanic Gardens
Trinity College
Many many museums
Dublin Castle
Temple Bar Film Theatre
City Hall
Cathedral Quarter
Many funny, straight forward people

jdawson

Anywhere outside Dublin.

orangesoda

Les Ferdinand wrote: »

Many many museums

and some contain very nice northern archeological finds. e.g. Broighter hoard which was found in derry

_Whimsical_

Galway city.
Maam Trasna in Galway
Lenanne in Galway
Kylemore in Galway

Those last 3 are one hour outside Galway city and you can pass through them in an afternoon. It is beautiful scenery, wild,what Americans expect of Ireland and very majestic in parts too. You can stop in Kylemore Abbey for coffee or lunch and a look around and head onto Clifden where there is a great atmosphere of a lively Irish village/town with lovely hotels and restaurants and live music at night.

There's always the Wild Atlantic Way if you need more inspiration. Donegal and Kerry are spectacular too. I don't think people come to Ireland for the chocolate box stuff. I think Ireland has more natural beauty and rugged appeal.
Another option for inspiration is a look on instagram I find.

thegreatgonzo

_Whimsical_ wrote: »

Galway city.
Maam Trasna in Galway
Lenanne in Galway
Kylemore in Galway

Those last 3 are one hour outside Galway city and you can pass through them in an afternoon. It is beautiful scenery, wild,what Americans expect of Ireland and very majestic in parts too. You can stop in Kylemore Abbey for coffee or lunch and a look around and head onto Clifden where there is a great atmosphere of a lively Irish village/town with lovely hotels and restaurants and live music at night.


.

Add Cong to that list. Especially if they've seen the Quiet Man film.

I don't think OP wants to go too far outside Dublin though.