We are planning a 2 week trip to Ireland beginning August 23. We are 60 years old, and typical tourists. We are not big on museums and history, and prefer quaint towns and villages. We are starting with 3 nights in Dublin. We want to spend a few nights in Dingle and drive the Peninsula. We do not care about the Ring of Kerry, or kissing the blarney stone. First question is whether Cork and Killarney are woth much time, and if so, can we see them as day trips while staying in Dingle, or should we spend a couple of days in Cork as well? I want to avoid checking in and out of hotels as much as possible, so prefer to be settled in just a few places. After Dingle, we will spend a few days in Galway, and perhaps Connemara, before heading back to Dublin to fly home. Also, do you have any recommendations about a castle to stay in for one night? Thanks very much for your help.
Itinerary in Ireland
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Please get a Michelin Green Guide, which will give you all the detailed information you would need for the sights.
I'm using that as my primary book for my trip in Ireland, beginning August 14.
Yes, I supplement with other books, but this book helps me set an itinerary, which includes spending a night in Dingle.
I personally think it is too far to day trip from Dingle to Killarney. We stayed in Killarnay, Dingle, and Galway and also chose not to do RoK and didn't care about the Blarney Stone. Have a look:
http://ukfrey.blogspot.co.uk/2011/08/ireland.html
Killarney would have been a better base than Dingle as a Touring base, whilst you can do Dingle from Killarney along with the National park, Muckross house and grounds, The Gap of Dunloe and down round Beara. Dingle is a base to tour Dingle. You might be able to fit some of Muckross or the park but no point driving from Dingle to see Killarney.
With 2 weeks you could have your 3 days for Dublin and 3 for Dingle. That leaves 8 days, so maybe a couple for County Clare a couple for Galway to do the Arans. Two more for the Connemara and two between there and Dublin Airport.
Thank you so much for your replies. I am really amazed at the generosity of people who are willing to help those like me who are novices.
If you like, check out my trip reports (I've been 4 times). Like you, I prefer the smaller villages, and have never been interested in kissing the Blarney stone
Cork (county) is very interesting - I love the Ring of Beara, which is a lovely day trip from Kenmare. I've done Killarney National Park as a trip from Dingle, but we were traveling to our next stop (Kenmare) that night. It was a lovely day that included a walk through the Gap of Dunloe and back.
If you like charming villages, and can fit in Aran Islands to your visit, do so - we stayed 2 nights last trip, and want to go back for more!
Killarney is a nice town and the National Park is absolutely amazing. Since you said you are typical toursists, a jaunting car tour of the Park is a must then! More than the town itself, you could spend a day exploring the attractions in the surrounding areas: Ross Castle, Knockreer House and Gardens and Muckross Estate.
As you are basing yourselves in Dingle Town, I would suggest you to visit Slea Head, here you have the greatest concentration of ancient sites in County Kerry. You could also stop at Inch Beach, it's 5 km long and a walk on the beach is a pleasant way to enjoy the scenery. You also have a pub-restaurant-cafe there.
In Dingle Town, I'd recommend a boat tour along the bay to see the famous dolphin Fungi!
Driving from Dingle to Cork would take you approximately 2 hours. Cork is a nice city, the English Market and the Butter museum are definitely worth a visit. I would suggest you to visit Cobh and Kinsale (gourmet capital of Ireland) as well, they are not far from Cork City.