This September will be my first trip to Ireland, and I can’t decide on my travel agenda. I don’t want to be constantly driving and packing and unpacking, so have booked three days in Dublin and three days in Doolin. And don’t know if I should then head north to Sligo, or south to Dingle for another three days? They both look lovely.
My family of ancestry is from Kerry, which makes Dingle appealing. At the same time, I’ve heard that Dingle is quite commercial these days. I love hiking and riding, and adore Yeats. Any opinions are most appreciated. Thank you.
4 Answers
Thanks, Wendy.
I’ll post my adventures when I return, and yes – please do contact me if you ever head north. I grew up in Los Angeles, and spent summers in Laguna, so know So Cal quite well. I’ve been here eight years, and adore it. But it’s taken time to find the jewels and hidden treaures, and I love to share them. This is a magical and beautiful part of the world, best experienced in spring or fall, as the vineyards turn gold and the wine crush begins. Heaven. And no time adjustments!
Thanks again for your help. Warm regards,
Colleen
Katherine’s web site is exactly the sort I’d put together if I had my own Ireland web site! We are in 100% agreement on that point for sure!
If I’m ever up your way I’ll be sure to email and ask a ton of questions! (The husband and I live in SoCal, down in sunny San Diego.) You’ll let us know if you get your NorCal web site up and running, yes?
Will you be flying into Dublin and out of Shannon? The time difference makes it hard on us West Coast travelers. I thoroughly approve of you flying into Dublin and hanging around the city for your first three days. You won’t need a car in Dublin (it’s hard to drive there anyway) so that will save you a bit in terms of cost. If you can fly out of Shannon back home, that will save you from having to backtrack to Dublin so if there’s a cost difference be sure to see which is not only less in price but what it’s worth to you in terms of a long drive across the country as well as staying in yet another B&B.
BTW, you will want to be a bit closer to Shannon airport than Dingle on your last day. The Bunratty area is a perfect spt, IMO, as you are a 10 minute drive from the airport but are still in a good area to see and do a good bit from a tourist’s POV.
OK, I’ll stop! You ‘ll have to let us know how your trip turns out though.
Cheers,
Wendy
Thanks,Wendy, for your input — this is a fabulous site.
I’ll have to find something similar for Northern California, so I can assist travelers to San Francisco and our beautiful wine country. So hard to make choices without knowing about distances, traffic, and crowd levels. So, kindest regards,
Colleen
Colleen,
My opinion would be for you to go to Dingle and here’s why…
You will be in Ireland in the shoulder season or at least the part of tourist season where things are winding down. Dingle is a busy place in the summer but by staying there in September you will not have nearly as much traffic in terms of people or vehicles on the roads, in town or on the beaches and trails.
I rarely go to Kerry in the summertime but the place still has all it’s enchantments in the Off or Shoulder seasons. You can definitely do hiking and riding in Dingle and there are some really great trails in the area in which to do so. Most tourists just pass through spending a day, maybe two at the most. But with more time you will have a better feeling of the peninsula, living more like a local and enjoying the slower paced activities as they do. (Katherine lists at least one equine center in Dingle on these web pages so be sure to look it up.)
Sligo is a great place to visit but one I would save for another trip. (Ireland gets into your blood so chances are you will return someday.) Your next trip you may end go in the height of summer or at least when it’s really busy; that is when Sligo, off the tourist beaten path, is the perfect place to visit.
Hope this helps with your decision!
Safe travels,
Wendy
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