2 Weeks round Ireland - suggestions

_Brian

Not heading abroad with caravan this year as an international trip has eaten up cash reserves.

We're planning to spend about two weeks at a number of sites round Ireland with our caravan.

The only things we have in mind are a site close to the greenway for cycling and we'd like to stop in Clare to bring the kids to the Cliffs of Moher.

Any suggestions welcome on other nice places that we mightn't have thought of.

Benbecul97

You wont go wrong with the Wild Atlantic Way!

In Clare, don't just see the Cliffs, go see the Loop head peninsula too, especially the Loop head lighthouse and the Bridges of Ross which are close to the lighthouse. You could base yourself in strandcampingdoonbeg.com for a few days. Its a lovely small clean site beside the sea, near White Strand blue flag beach and walking distance to Doonbeg village.

In Galway, actonsbeachsidecamping.com outside Clifden is in a beautiful natural setting right on the shore/beach. At a low tide you can walk (and see cars drive along the sand) to the nearby Omey island.

In Mayo, Westport House Caravan park is about 500m from an access point to the Western Greenway. Lovely site too with loads to see around Westport House, including the onsite Pirate Park, and it's close the Westport town too. Croagh Patrick is nearby too. At the other end of the Greenway there are two campsites in Achill - not stayed in either. Bear in mind the Greenway is 40k from Westport to Achill so you will need to factor that in depending on the kids ages and what they would be able for. Westport to Newport is 11km, maybe after a doughnut and hot chocolate they would be able to do the roundtrip of 22km! at a leisurely pace.

Further North in Mayo the Ceide Fields and the Sea Stack near Downpatrick Head and both near Ballycastle are well worth a visit. belleekpark.com in nearby Ballina is a nice campsite to stay at and close to Ballina town which is also a nice spot. Not far from Ballina is Enniscrone, which is another lovely beach and also has a campsite.

That should give you some food for thought and I haven't even mentioned Kerry, Sligo or Donegal! Have a great trip!

Mountainsandh

Keel Sandybanks in Achill is lovely. Lively enough with young surfer dudes in the summer, but a harmless kind of lively. It's right beside the beach, and there's a playground beside it.

+1 for Doonbeg, great campsite.

_Brian

For the greenway we'll be staying in Lough Lannagh, stayed before and it's now connected directly to the greenway which is a plus.
Thanks for suggestions in Clare.

NIMAN

Do your best to include Donegal, you won't regret it.

Benbecul97

_Brian wrote: »

For the greenway we'll be staying in Lough Lannagh, stayed before and it's now connected directly to the greenway which is a plus.
Thanks for suggestions in Clare.

No worries.
That must be a different greeenway because the Western Greenway doesn't go near Castlebar/Lough Lannagh. Unless there is now a new link to it.

_Brian

New link that goes onto the Country Museum too aparrently.

Mountainsandh

Also worth a mention for something not on the Wild Atlantic Way, but with a better chance of sunny weather : the new Waterford Greenway promises to be gorgeous. It is currently partly opened, but by completion should be 45 km long. Casey's campsite in Dungarvan, Clonea beach, is practically on it.

http://irishcycle.com/2016/04/04/preview-the-45km-waterford-greenway/

_Brian

Mountainsandh wrote: »

Also worth a mention for something not on the Wild Atlantic Way, but with a better chance of sunny weather : the new Waterford Greenway promises to be gorgeous. It is currently partly opened, but by completion should be 45 km long. Casey's campsite in Dungarvan, Clonea beach, is practically on it.

http://irishcycle.com/2016/04/04/preview-the-45km-waterford-greenway/

Good stuff.

Beenlost123

Make sure you travel around the kerry coast and stop off in killarney. Its a beautiful town and has some fantastic nature and mountains.

crabbypaddy

If you're going to the cliffs of moher I recommend staying at nagles in doolin.
http://www.doolincamping.com/

The craic at gus o connors is hard to beat too.
http://www.gusoconnorsdoolin.com/

Theres a much better view of the cliffs imo from the burren way starting here:
https://www.google.ie/maps/place/Cliffs+walking+trail/@52.9495284,-9.4736406,811a,20y,117.62h,44.8t/data=!3m1!1e3!4m6!1m3!3m2!1s0x0:0xbb6af177fefd97ec!2sCliffs+of+Moher!3m1!1s0x0000000000000000:0xfa86dbf395cc7be5!6m1!1e1

_Brian

NIMAN wrote: »

Do your best to include Donegal, you won't regret it.

We're heading off to Donegal direction May BH weekend, not sure where yet but that direction.

Beenlost123 wrote: »

Make sure you travel around the kerry coast and stop off in killarney. Its a beautiful town and has some fantastic nature and mountains.

We spent a Week in Fleming's of Whitebridge two years ago and toured Kerry. Ballybunion was the only miss and we might try and spend a night or two there.

se conman

If you are into nice walks and a bit of history, Castle Archdale outside Enniskillen is well worth a visit.

Nekarsulm

Have you tried the North Antrim coast?

_Brian

se conman wrote: »

If you are into nice walks and a bit of history, Castle Archdale outside Enniskillen is well worth a visit.

We visit Castle Archdale on days out, its not too far from us, great for bikes too. I've not heard great things about the management of the campsite though, heard it can be noisy at night. A friend was there one weekend and caravans with southern plates were targeted and water pumps taken from aquarolls which is very bad form.

_Brian

Nekarsulm wrote: »

Have you tried the North Antrim coast?

No actually, I'd like to head up but Mrs is tending towards West coast locations.

martinedwards

The west coast is stunning.

to look at, to stay, for long walks along deserted beaches, visiting castles and working windmills, and of course dolphin watching.......

we did Sligo to Tralee towing a six berth caravan.

given, it was 15 years ago, but going over the Burren towing that was a pig of a job, and I'm extremely experienced towing trailers.

15 years may have improved the roads, but if I were to to it again, I'd avoid actually driving down the west coast and use those excellent roads that look like the spokes of a wheel back to Dublin and out again!

_Brian

Towing the van doesn't daunt me, I'm experienced with a trailer and have plenty of experience with the van behind.
Individually we've done Lots of Ireland with narrow roads like Kerry and Donegal and of course our great roads here in Cavan are a breeze 😆,

Doing a trip by returning to Dublin or only on major roads would add extra time and mileage driving rather than holidaying.

We have a provisional route in mind now and I'll throw it up when we're more sure.

12 element

_Brian wrote: »

New link that goes onto the Country Museum too aparrently.

That greenway does not join up to the Westport/Newport/Achill Greenway just so you know. The Castlebar Greenway is 7km greenway from the town out to the museum.

_Brian

12 element wrote: »

That greenway does not join up to the Westport/Newport/Achill Greenway just so you know. The Castlebar Greenway is 7km greenway from the town out to the museum.

Thanks. I only realised that this week when looking at maps