Trip to Kerry & Cork

dutopia

My wife's mother and grandmother (not Irish) are coming to Ireland and we're taking them on a trip for a few days. My mother in-law has been before and went to Galway. Grandmother has never been to Ireland before.

Considering the age of my wife's gran, we will be driving and staying in nice hotels along the way. I'm planning: The Europe, Killarney (2 nights) - Inchydoney Island, Cork (1 night) - Foto Island, Cork (1 night).

I want them to see natural beauty, ancient sites as well as staying in some of the best hotels along the way. I can take them to the Rock of Cashel on the way home. I made a Google Map route of the trip:

Any suggestions? Alterations or additions? http://bit.ly/1LZOc6r

Is the trip to Mizen head worth it? Too far from Killarney?

Fr Tod Umptious

dutopia wrote: »

My wife's mother and grandmother (not Irish) are coming to Ireland and we're taking them on a trip for a few days. My mother in-law has been before and went to Galway. Grandmother has never been to Ireland before.

Considering the age of my wife's gran, we will be driving and staying in nice hotels along the way. I'm planning: The Europe, Killarney (2 nights) - Inchydoney Island, Cork (1 night) - Foto Island, Cork (1 night).

I want them to see natural beauty, ancient sites as well as staying in some of the best hotels along the way. I can take them to the Rock of Cashel on the way home. I made a Google Map route of the trip:

Any suggestions? Alterations or additions? http://bit.ly/1LZOc6r

Is the trip to Mizen head worth it? Too far from Killarney?

An alternative route to Inchydoney from Killarney would be via Kenmare (via Molls Gap) and Glengarrif.
Kenmare is a lovely town to stroll around and somewhete between it at Glengarrif is the Healy Pass which is supposed to be very nice.

The main road between Kenmare and Glengarrif is really nice but the Healy Pass is supposed to be better.

Miley Byrne

dutopia wrote: »

My wife's mother and grandmother (not Irish) are coming to Ireland and we're taking them on a trip for a few days. My mother in-law has been before and went to Galway. Grandmother has never been to Ireland before.

Considering the age of my wife's gran, we will be driving and staying in nice hotels along the way. I'm planning: The Europe, Killarney (2 nights) - Inchydoney Island, Cork (1 night) - Foto Island, Cork (1 night).

I want them to see natural beauty, ancient sites as well as staying in some of the best hotels along the way. I can take them to the Rock of Cashel on the way home. I made a Google Map route of the trip:

Any suggestions? Alterations or additions? http://bit.ly/1LZOc6r

Is the trip to Mizen head worth it? Too far from Killarney?

If you are going to Dingle then you should definitely continue out further and do the Slea head drive. It's not a very long loop but it has spectacular scenery out there and it would be a shame to miss it seeing as you will be in Dingle anyway.

dutopia

Fr Tod Umptious wrote: »

An alternative route to Inchydoney from Killarney would be via Kenmare (via Molls Gap) and Glengarrif.
Kenmare is a lovely town to stroll around and somewhete between it at Glengarrif is the Healy Pass which is supposed to be very nice.

The main road between Kenmare and Glengarrif is really nice but the Healy Pass is supposed to be better.

That's a great suggestion, thanks. Ever been to Mizen head? It seems a fair detour but if the views are amazing I'd say it would be worth it.

dutopia

Miley Byrne wrote: »

If you are going to Dingle then you should definitely continue out further and do the Slea head drive. It's not a very long loop but it has spectacular scenery out there and it would be a shame to miss it seeing as you will be in Dingle anyway.

Thanks! Didn't know about the drive at all, I'll update the route with that for sure.

two wheels good

I agree with comments about Moll''s gap route and Healy Pass.

Avoid N22 Kilarney to Ballyvourney. Tedious road when you could choose something scenic.
Alternative is l Killarney, Muckross Hse, View of the Lakes, Molls Gap, Kenmare. Lovely route
Maybe you plan to do this on a day trip from Killarney

As mentioned ... Healy Pass well worth the detour from Kenmare if you've time. Great views. Rugged mtns, remoteness.

Dont unserestimate the time needed for Dingla penninsula. It's a quite a trek to Dingle - esp if traffic is anyway busy.
Killarney to Castlemaine (and beyond) can't be called scenic.
Personally I'd omit this segment, unless you have time for:
- Slea Head
- OR Conor Pass
AND the weather must be good! Bad weather means zero visibility.
If you're passing Annascaul you have to drop in on South Pole Inn, Tom Crean territory. Only a few hundred metres detour to village.

If you're going to Mizen then go via Crookhaven. Nice spot for lunch
Glandore is a short detour for a nice lunch stop too (near Leap)

two wheels good

This might be controversial.. Give Healy Pass segment high priority. Omit the Dingle segment.

Then you have :
Killarney - Moll Gap - GLengarrif - Kenmare (Kenmare for lunch NOT Glengarrif)
Add Kenmare - Healy Pass - Adrigole - Bantry.

An advantage of the Healy Pass segment is that it is very flexile.
Easy to add coastal trips to Tuosist, Kilmacanogue.
Easy to extend it further if you've extra time; to include Eyeries - Castletownbere - Adrigole - Bantry.
Also possible to drop it if time is short.
Plus the views will be even better than Killarney - Dingle. (I did say controversial!)

Jeez, I migth even head west myself this weekend!

Ryan Mac Sweeney

Hi there
I have read your post. Yes I would highly recommend Killarney as there is plenty to see and do there. There is Muckross House and Gardens and Muckross Traditional Farms. She would love the farms as it gives her an insight into life in Ireland in the 1930s. Also the Killarney National Park with the Lakes of Killarney would be stunning and on a clear day you can see the Kerry mountains. Torc Waterfall is also another great place. Then in Cork you have Fota House and Gardens and there is a lovely cafe in Fota House for tea and cake. You can also take a trip to Cobh which is just a short drive away from Fota Resort. In Cobh you can visit the Titanic Experience, Cobh Hertiage Centre which is just by the train station and also St Colmans Cathedral which is up a bit fron the town centre but worth a visit. Also Midleton is a short drive away as it is a foodie and a visit to the Jameson Experience is another suggestion. Also Oceanworld in Dingle is another place to visit as well as the Dingle Penisulia

dutopia

two wheels good wrote: »

I agree with comments about Moll''s gap route and Healy Pass.

Avoid N22 Kilarney to Ballyvourney. Tedious road when you could choose something scenic.
Alternative is l Killarney, Muckross Hse, View of the Lakes, Molls Gap, Kenmare. Lovely route
Maybe you plan to do this on a day trip from Killarney

As mentioned ... Healy Pass well worth the detour from Kenmare if you've time. Great views. Rugged mtns, remoteness.

Dont unserestimate the time needed for Dingla penninsula. It's a quite a trek to Dingle - esp if traffic is anyway busy.
Killarney to Castlemaine (and beyond) can't be called scenic.
Personally I'd omit this segment, unless you have time for:
- Slea Head
- OR Conor Pass
AND the weather must be good! Bad weather means zero visibility.
If you're passing Annascaul you have to drop in on South Pole Inn, Tom Crean territory. Only a few hundred metres detour to village.

If you're going to Mizen then go via Crookhaven. Nice spot for lunch
Glandore is a short detour for a nice lunch stop too (near Leap)

Great info - thank you. Yes, maybe the trek to Dingle will be long, especially as we have to double back. I'll have to think about this.

dutopia

Ryan Mac Sweeney wrote: »

Hi there
I have read your post. Yes I would highly recommend Killarney as there is plenty to see and do there. There is Muckross House and Gardens and Muckross Traditional Farms. She would love the farms as it gives her an insight into life in Ireland in the 1930s. Also the Killarney National Park with the Lakes of Killarney would be stunning and on a clear day you can see the Kerry mountains. Torc Waterfall is also another great place. Then in Cork you have Fota House and Gardens and there is a lovely cafe in Fota House for tea and cake. You can also take a trip to Cobh which is just a short drive away from Fota Resort. In Cobh you can visit the Titanic Experience, Cobh Hertiage Centre which is just by the train station and also St Colmans Cathedral which is up a bit fron the town centre but worth a visit. Also Midleton is a short drive away as it is a foodie and a visit to the Jameson Experience is another suggestion. Also Oceanworld in Dingle is another place to visit as well as the Dingle Penisulia

Thanks for the great info! I've been to Muckross house before but not Muckross Traditional Farms, I'm sure they will love that.

Cobh is a worthy stop as well!

dutopia

two wheels good wrote: »

This might be controversial.. Give Healy Pass segment high priority. Omit the Dingle segment.

Then you have :
Killarney - Moll Gap - Glengarrif - Kenmare (Kenmare for lunch NOT Glengarrif)
Add Kenmare - Healy Pass - Adrigole - Bantry.

An advantage of the Healy Pass segment is that it is very flexile.
Easy to add coastal trips to Tuosist, Kilmacanogue.
Easy to extend it further if you've extra time; to include Eyeries - Castletownbere - Adrigole - Bantry.
Also possible to drop it if time is short.
Plus the views will be even better than Killarney - Dingle. (I did say controversial!)

Jeez, I migth even head west myself this weekend!

This sounds like a worthy change... thanks for your advice.

5p9arw38djv2b4

dutopia wrote: »

This sounds like a worthy change... thanks for your advice.

When are they here? Muckross Gardens is now closed for winter. As is Ross Castle. Try get a boat out on the lakes though, weather here is exceptional at the moment. Amazing day trip is to get the boat from Ross Castle up to the gap of dunloe, then horse and trap back yo Kate Kearney's.

Great choice of hotel in Killarney!!

dutopia

LadyLabyrinth wrote: »

When are they here? Muckross Gardens is now closed for winter. As is Ross Castle. Try get a boat out on the lakes though, weather here is exceptional at the moment. Amazing day trip is to get the boat from Ross Castle up to the gap of dunloe, then horse and trap back yo Kate Kearney's.

Great choice of hotel in Killarney!!

We'll be down on the 26th.

Closed?! Didn't really think about that... crud.

kerry4sam

LadyLabyrinth wrote: »

When are they here? Muckross Gardens is now closed for winter. As is Ross Castle. Try get a boat out on the lakes though, weather here is exceptional at the moment. Amazing day trip is to get the boat from Ross Castle up to the gap of dunloe, then horse and trap back yo Kate Kearney's.

Great choice of hotel in Killarney!!

dutopia wrote: »

We'll be down on the 26th.

Closed?! Didn't really think about that... crud.

^^^ Just for Clarity: The Muckross Gardens don't close per se.

You can see here about the closing dates etc for both the House and Farms .

The House will be closed by the 26th but the Traditional Farms will be closing on that date.

The Gardens remain open Thankfully as Beautiful for a walk

embraer170

How did it go?
I am looking for a 2 day road trip from Dublin next week but looking at the short days and weather forecast, I am having my doubts...

coylemj

embraer170 wrote: »

How did it go?
I am looking for a 2 day road trip from Dublin next week but looking at the short days and weather forecast, I am having my doubts...

OP is going down on Nov. 26th.

For anyone coming from the direction of Limerick (e.g. from Dublin) who's planning on doing the Ring of Kerry and especially the Dingle peninsula, I'd recommend that you top up with fuel between Adare and Abbeyfeale and definitely before you go west of Castleisland.

Fr Tod Umptious

coylemj wrote: »

OP is going down on Nov. 26th.

For anyone coming from the direction of Limerick (e.g. from Dublin) who's planning on doing the Ring of Kerry and especially the Dingle peninsula, I'd recommend that you top up with fuel between Adare and Abbeyfeale and definitely before you go west of Castleisland.

The Applegreen on the way into NCW is often very cheap.

If going to Dingle you could also top up in Tralee, its usually cheap there too.