Ireland in six days

percy212

I have a guest from the US visiting for 6 days in April. She wants to see giants causeway and the ring of Kerry (definitely getting the car serviced). Can anyone recommend a good route between the two sites that might include some other places of interest. Being a yank she wants to see "castles" and possibly "sleep in one". The starting point is Mullingar or Dublin airport.

Shaque attack

My two cents would be that if you can influence the itinerary you should! Crazy amount of driving for such a short trip.

I've been to both places and I would not be pushed on going back to the giants causeway at all but the ring of Kerry is class. I'd recommend trying to stay in the southwest for the 6 days and maybe going up to the cliffs of moher instead to get your fix of coastal scenery.

If the two spots are must see's for ye then I'm not sure what your best route is but best of luck with it all the same!

percy212

Thanks Shaque. I am trying just that approach at the moment Killarney up to cliffs of moher finding a sleepable castle somewhere along the way....Just trying to cover all eventualities in case I cant weasel my way out of giants causeway....

Shaque attack

Fair enough, it can be hard for people to appreciate that whilst not a huge country it still takes an awful long time to get from one end to the other!

If you did manage to get going from killarney up to the cliffs I'd say Knappogue castle would do the trick for the type of visit your after.
It should have all the traditional elements and I think there's a Knappogue distillery so you'd be able to tick the whiskey tasting box too if that was your thing.

yew_tree

If she want's to sleep in a castle then none better than Ashford Castle
http://www.ashfordcastle.com

Could be pricey tho

Blingy

Kinnitty castle. Suitably eerie and dusty however a lovely stay and delicious food. Even has a resident 'ghost'!!!

drumswan

Its hardly a crazy amount of driving over six days? People from outside Ireland are used to road trips, this one would be an hour or two a day. We have an amazing road network too.

percy212

Prices aren't too scream inducing for April...its a birthday occasion so it may just warrant a place like Ashford :-)

yew_tree wrote: »

If she want's to sleep in a castle then none better than Ashford Castle
http://www.ashfordcastle.com

Could be pricey tho

percy212

A ghost. I love that idea!

Blingy wrote: »

Kinnitty castle. Suitably eerie and dusty however a lovely stay and delicious food. Even has a resident 'ghost'!!!

percy212

Good point. I need to spend some quality time with my GPS.... It may not be as arduous as I think

drumswan wrote: »

Its hardly a crazy amount of driving over six days? People from outside Ireland are used to road trips, this one would be an hour or two a day. We have an amazing road network too.

roundymac

drumswan wrote: »

Its hardly a crazy amount of driving over six days? People from outside Ireland are used to road trips, this one would be an hour or two a day. We have an amazing road network too.

It is a crazy ammount of driving for a 6 day trip. You'll be in the car for most of the time. You'll only have a hour at most to view the places you want to go and see. Ring of Kery you should allow a day at least to do this properly, Mullingar to Killarney aloow at least 3hours just to get there, then there's the return journey plus add on whatever length of time it's going to take you to get to the Giants Causeway from there and return to Mullingar/Dublin. You'll spend most of the time on the road.
Plenty of sites for hotels, try Manor House Hotels, it gives a list of 25 castle hotels, it won't allow me to add a link so you'll have to search it your self.

percy212

The more I think about it, the more I want to stick to the south and west. The trip should be some fun, not a race Thanks for the hotels tip.

roundymac wrote: »

It is a crazy ammount of driving for a 6 day trip. You'll be in the car for most of the time. You'll only have a hour at most to view the places you want to go and see. Ring of Kery you should allow a day at least to do this properly, Mullingar to Killarney aloow at least 3hours just to get there, then there's the return journey plus add on whatever length of time it's going to take you to get to the Giants Causeway from there and return to Mullingar/Dublin. You'll spend most of the time on the road.
Plenty of sites for hotels, try Manor House Hotels, it gives a list of 25 castle hotels, it won't allow me to add a link so you'll have to search it your self.

Iwernia

http://slieveleaguecliffs.ie/gallery


Slieve League is a must for real cliffs not like the smaller cliffs in Moher, and also FREE to visit and park, what do you know there is a castle nearby also.

http://www.solishotels.com/lougheskecastle/