Road trip round Ireland - suggestions wanted
Posted: Sun Mar 27, 2016 2:56 pm
I have 5 days in which to do a trip round Ireland. I need to start and finish in Belfast, leaving on a Thursday afternoon to be back the following Tuesday late afternoon. The dates are not flexible.
As I already know the north quite well, I would like to see more of the south. I've spent plenty of time in the Dublin area and in Cork so don't feel any great need to go back to either on this trip, and the idea is to see some of the beauty of the west coast, so I thought of an itinerary roughly including Sligo, Westport, then N67 round the coast and back towards Limerick. I don't think I'll have time to get to the southwest and do it justice.
I know the distances aren't large but the roads are slow and the whole point is to take it slow and easy, so I'm not sure how much ground to cover. I think it's really only feasible by car so I plan to hire one, but would be quite happy to sling a backpack over my shoulder and use trains and buses as not having to drive can be quite liberating.
Any hints and ideas would be welcome. Particularly, if I just drive until I feel the need to stop somewhere, am I likely to find accommodation without difficulty or do I need to pre-book? I'm happy with anything clean and comfortable, but not bottom end (dormitory/youth hotel stuff) and within reason don't have a price constraint, quite happy to pay €100 or so a night, which I think should be enough in smaller places although I know that doesn't get you anything decent in Dublin or Cork.
As I already know the north quite well, I would like to see more of the south. I've spent plenty of time in the Dublin area and in Cork so don't feel any great need to go back to either on this trip, and the idea is to see some of the beauty of the west coast, so I thought of an itinerary roughly including Sligo, Westport, then N67 round the coast and back towards Limerick. I don't think I'll have time to get to the southwest and do it justice.
I know the distances aren't large but the roads are slow and the whole point is to take it slow and easy, so I'm not sure how much ground to cover. I think it's really only feasible by car so I plan to hire one, but would be quite happy to sling a backpack over my shoulder and use trains and buses as not having to drive can be quite liberating.
Any hints and ideas would be welcome. Particularly, if I just drive until I feel the need to stop somewhere, am I likely to find accommodation without difficulty or do I need to pre-book? I'm happy with anything clean and comfortable, but not bottom end (dormitory/youth hotel stuff) and within reason don't have a price constraint, quite happy to pay €100 or so a night, which I think should be enough in smaller places although I know that doesn't get you anything decent in Dublin or Cork.