Touring the island - Recommendations?

Mr.Maroon

I’ve been thinking about touring Ireland for a few days during the summer (maybe two separate trips) and I’m looking for some recommendations to include on the trip(s).

I’ve done/seen a lot of the main tourist stuff already so I’m looking for lesser known hidden gems outside the major cities – but feel free to recommend anything just in case I missed something.

I’ll be driving and I’m planning on travelling alone and I’m in my mid 30s – so no need for kid friendly or hectic night life suggestions.


EDIT - I just realised I should of posted this thread in 'Things to do in....'

Nigel Fairservice

Keem and Keel beaches on Achill island are fantastic. I don't even like beaches all that much and I'm from a county full of them but I love these two. It's a lovely drive around Achill/Mayo.

Mr.Maroon

Nigel Fairservice wrote: »

Keem and Keel beaches on Achill island are fantastic. I don't even like beaches all that much and I'm from a county full of them but I love these two. It's a lovely drive around Achill/Mayo.

This reminds me I should have stated I'm from the Connemara region so I've been in every nook and cranny in Galway and Mayo.

Totally agree though - Achill Island is an excellent place to visit.

BobbyBobberson

Have you done the North coast? You could go across to Dublin and up to Belfast then drive along the coast and back down via Donegal? Lots of great pubs, beaches and walks, tours, activities, restaurants etc.

uck51js9zml2yt

Bears peninsula up into kenmare and the ring of Kerry. Take in the skellis or blankets on the way.

HeidiHeidi

BobbyBobberson wrote: »

Have you done the North coast? You could go across to Dublin and up to Belfast then drive along the coast and back down via Donegal? Lots of great pubs, beaches and walks, tours, activities, restaurants etc.

Take in Tory and Arranmore islands while you're at it. And Glenveagh isn't exactly a secret, but it's utterly fabulous and well worth a visit.

Addle

Was going to suggest the skelligs too.
Was pre Star Wars days when I was last there, but definitely the most amazing day trip I've ever been on, anywhere in the world!
Was lucky to have great weather and company too.

BobbyBobberson

HeidiHeidi wrote: »

Take in Tory and Arranmore islands while you're at it. And Glenveagh isn't exactly a secret, but it's utterly fabulous and well worth a visit.

Yup! Also if you stop in Belfast do the black cab tour and titanic museum.

HeidiHeidi

And I've never been there (yet) but the Sliabh Liag cliffs in south Donegal are the highest sea cliffs in Europe and are supposed to be amazing. High on my to do list.

Balmed Out

Glengarriff and a spin to Garnish is a favourite trip of mine in sunny weather.

byhookorbycrook

Beara is stunning. Doesn't get the crowds that the Ring of Kerry does.

http://www.bearatourism.com/

You could start a with a day travelling from Kenmare to Glengarriff via the N71 Keep an eye out for Lorge Chocolate near Bonane if you like chocolate. This route brings you through the rock tunnels.In Glengarriff, as mentioned you can get over to Garnish and en-route you will most likely- depending on the time of the year, see seals .

If that's not your thing, continue on down to Beara on the R572. You could do the tiny ferry to Bere Island, if you have lots of time, but being honest, bar its historical significance, it doesn't have an island feel at all. There are any number of historical site/sights dotted around Beara. Some of the more interesting ones (to me) below.

Derreenataggart Stone Circle near Castletownbere
http://www.megalithicireland.com/Dereenataggart%20West%20Stone%20Circle.html

The Hag of Beara was somewhat disappointing in real life considering her fame but worth seeing if you are down that far.

https://www.thewildatlanticway.com/hag-of-beara.html

McCarthy's Bar- the one on the cover of the book of the same name is in Castletownbere, if you fancy a photo op. and mussels.

The ruins of Dunboy castle, from where O' Sullivan Beara started his ill fated march and now graveyard to what was to be a massive luxury hotel incorporating Puxley Mansion are close as you leave Castletownbere, keep an eye for the dilapidated gate lodge.
The link below mentions a curse but doesn't mention the local young people who drowned close by when their car slipped into the water but there's a definite feeling of sadness and loss there, I think.

https://apassportaffair.com/ravaged-abandoned-burned-osullivan-curse-puxley-manor/

There are lots of craft workers and more artisan food producers dotted around Beara too- worth a google if that's your thing.


If you want to do the cable car to Dursey, you need to be there 1st thing in the morning as it can only carry a few over and back each time, so you can either overnight in the area or else get up at silly o'clock from elsewhere. Friends have stayed at Dzogchen Beara a Buddhist Meditation Retreat Centre, but it wouldn't be my thing. You could go for a more secular option in Allihies.
Allihies was once part of a copper mining industry and you will see mine engine houses and warning to keep away from open mine shafts dotted throughout the area. There's a tiny little museum which give you an idea of how the industry worked. Like on the Copper Coast of Waterford, Cornish men were brought over to work the mines, you will still find some Cornish names in the area.

Leaving from Allihies/the Dursey cable car, you can return to Kenmare over the Healy Pass, which looks like one of those childhood Scalextric car tracks .
https://www.kenmare.ie/members/healy-pass-circuit/

ETA if you are interested in Carlow/Kilkenny/Wexford/Waterford or the Dingle peninsula and the kind of stuff above takes your fancy, I can do similar for them

Mr.Maroon

Excellent suggestions guys. I've got a lot of Googling to do!

I've driven the north east coast before when I was young but it was a bit rushed and my time in Belfast was mainly spent in pubs.
I wouldn't mind taking a slower trip up there again to include some Game of Thrones sites and see the Titanic museum. The black cabs tour sounds good too.

The Beara peninsula sounds interesting. I've never been down there before. Does it get as busy as the Ring of Kerry in the summer?

Mr.Maroon

byhookorbycrook wrote: »

ETA if you are interested in Carlow/Kilkenny/Wexford/Waterford or the Dingle peninsula and the kind of stuff above takes your fancy, I can do similar for them

Any suggestions for the Carlow/Kilkenny/Wexford/Waterford region would be great.

Nigel Fairservice

Mr.Maroon wrote: »

Excellent suggestions guys. I've got a lot of Googling to do!

I've driven the north east coast before when I was young but it was a bit rushed and my time in Belfast was mainly spent in pubs.
I wouldn't mind taking a slower trip up there again to include some Game of Thrones sites and see the Titanic museum. The black cabs tour sounds good too.

The Beara peninsula sounds interesting. I've never been down there before. Does it get as busy as the Ring of Kerry in the summer?

Beara is quieter than the Ring of Kerry. It's not marketed as well as the RoK.

PoorFarmer

Was in Beara a couple of weeks back with the OH (a Kerry woman who believes there is nowhere better than Kerry). Her first time there so we stayed in Kenmare for a couple of nights. Went Priests Leap road from Bonane, beautiful views of Bantry Bay if you get the weather but not for poor or nervous drivers.
Personally i think Beara has much more rugged feel than the Ring of Kerry route and very few sandy beaches if that's your thing. One thing that struck us is that you can sit for hours by the sea without seeing a person or hearing a car. That doesn't happen on ROK.

Anyway, she was highly impressed and that means alot.

holly8

Mr.Maroon wrote: »

I’ve been thinking about touring Ireland for a few days during the summer (maybe two separate trips) and I’m looking for some recommendations to include on the trip(s).

I’ve done/seen a lot of the main tourist stuff already so I’m looking for lesser known hidden gems outside the major cities – but feel free to recommend anything just in case I missed something.

I’ll be driving and I’m planning on travelling alone and I’m in my mid 30s – so no need for kid friendly or hectic night life suggestions.


EDIT - I just realised I should of posted this thread in 'Things to do in....'

SLIGO, SLIGO, SLIGO .. I'm not from there but when I visit and/or pass through, I always think it is one of the quieter, more undiscovered counties - Yeats Country, Ben Bulben, Mullaghmore, Glencar Waterfalls, Coney Island, fab beache ... you could do it all on your way to Belfast!

byhookorbycrook

Mr.Maroon wrote: »

Excellent suggestions guys. I've got a lot of Googling to do!

The Beara peninsula sounds interesting. I've never been down there before. Does it get as busy as the Ring of Kerry in the summer?

Beara is not even remotely close to being as busy as the Ring of Kerry - big tour buses can’t travel quite a lot of it , so there generally aren’t any at all . The guidebooks hardly mention it , so like Sheep’s Head , it’s got plenty room ! The typical tourist wants to go to the Guinness Store House , Clifffs of Moher and Ring of Kerry and not much else , unless it’s a Games of Throne tour !

Mr.Maroon

byhookorbycrook wrote: »

Beara is not even remotely close to being as busy as the Ring of Kerry - big tour buses can’t travel quite a lot of it , so there generally aren’t any at all . The guidebooks hardly mention it , so like Sheep’s Head , it’s got plenty room ! The typical tourist wants to go to the Guinness Store House , Clifffs of Moher and Ring of Kerry and not much else , unless it’s a Games of Throne tour !

That's what I like to hear. No big tour buses and loud Americans.

Beara is going on the list.

Mr.Maroon

holly8 wrote: »

SLIGO, SLIGO, SLIGO .. I'm not from there but when I visit and/or pass through, I always think it is one of the quieter, more undiscovered counties - Yeats Country, Ben Bulben, Mullaghmore, Glencar Waterfalls, Coney Island, fab beache ... you could do it all on your way to Belfast!

I've spent some time around Easkey before and really liked it.

byhookorbycrook

Ok Carlow /Kilkenny etc.
Carlow definitely does not get the tourists, I'm throwing in places just over the Kildare border too.

Castledermot and Moone High crosses are superb examples of their kind. Moone in particular. (We used one of the images on our wedding invites- I'm a high cross nerd)
Good food to be had in the Mad Hatter café in Castledermot too.

http://www.megalithicireland.com/High%20Cross%20Moone.htm
http://www.megalithicireland.com/High%20cross%20castledermot.htm

If you are in either place, it would be a shame not to swing over to Kilkea, birthplace of the polar explorer Shackleton- his house is just behind the tiny church at the castle gates. The castle itself is now a swish hotel. but you can usually walk around it and possibly have a drink in the bar. It is said to be haunted by the "Wizard Earl"- a Fitzgerald doomed to ride out his horse every 7 years until the horse's silver shoes wear away and he can be absolved of his evil doings to enter heaven.



http://shackletonmuseum.com/about/
https://www.irishcentral.com/roots/history/the-wizard-earl-of-kilkea-castle

Towards Carlow, you have the spectacular ruins of Duckett's Grove, a mock gothic ruin, once occupied by the old IRA , home to a banshee and the reason for a court case where a mother cut off her daughter to the smallest inheritance " the angry shilling."Despite what this link says, you can now walk through the building in day light hours.


https://theirishaesthete.com/tag/ducketts-grove/
Then you have the Browneshill Dolmen- which has the largest capstone in Europe.
http://irisharchaeology.ie/2016/04/brownshill-portal-tomb-co-carlow/

A personal favourite is the gardens of Altamont, the walk by the lake is just beautiful,
https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/lifestyle/outdoorsandgarden/up-and-away-in-beautiful-ballon-at-altamont-gardens-834036.html

Carlow Castle is worth a look too,though has been somewhat spoiled by the blight of flat blocks.
http://curiousireland.ie/carlow-castle/

Milford is one of the most photographed places in the county, the mills supplied electricity to make Carlow one of the first inland rtowns to have electricity in Ireland- the mill still supplies power to the national grid today. There's a weir and canal, drawbridge and lock in close proximity too.

http://www.igp-web.com/Carlow/Milford_Mills.htm

Near the Royal Oak, you will find one of the newest whiskey distilleries opened here, Walshes- home of Writer's Tears.
http://walshwhiskey.com/

Close by is Old Leighlin a tiny village, once home to a huge monastic community and where there was a synod convened in 630 that set out how the Easter date should be calculated across Europe.
The cathedral isn't always open though, so you'd need to check.
Just up the hill there is a holy well, reputed to have a cure for eye troubles and with a traditional "rag tree."

Kilkenny city is very touristy, so perhaps best avoided, except for a bed. There's a lovely walk you can do along the Barrow from Graiguenamanagh (Duiske Abbey might be worth a look) to St. Mullins
https://www.independent.ie/life/travel/ireland/walk-of-the-week-st-mullins-to-graiguenamanagh-co-carlow-26722617.html


Jerpoint Abbey is on the bus route, but the nearby Long Man of Kilfane- a stone carved effigy of a Norman knight is somewhere you will probably have to yourself.
http://www.megalithicireland.com/Kilfane%20Church.html


The gardens at Kilfane are also close by
http://www.kilfane.com/

Inistioge is a very pretty village - most recently featured in the Dunnes Christmas ad and home to Woodstock - the Irish one!

http://www.woodstock.ie/

Kells Priory has become better known in the last few years but won't be jammed like Kilkenny castle and is a great stop.
http://www.megalithicireland.com/Kells%20Priory%20Kilkenny.html

Waterford and Wexford next!