Talk Morgan Forums Community The Malvern Arms Ireland

I'm planning a circumnavigation of Ireland. I've way-pointed the places suggested by lightsphere in this thread and identified the following as worth visiting:
The Dark Hedges
Cliffs of Moher
Dursey Island Cable Car
Glendalough

I've included a walk to the summit of Carrauntoohil and Slieve Donard in the itinerary, but this is very much weather dependent.

As it hugs the west coast, the route takes in the Ring of Kerry and Ring of Beara. Looking at the map and Streetview, the east coast doesn't have the scenic interest of the west coast.

Suggestions as to what to look out for would be appreciated.

The Beara peninsula is breathtaking but ground clearance could be an issue at times. We found 'significant' grass growing in the centre of the narrow roads in a number of places.
The country of 40 shades of green is also known, as you'd expect, for a bit of precipitation now and again. We were in the Jeep - just as well, as we drove through a foot deep flood for a couple of hundred yards!
I don't know what your accommodation plans are but we found B&Bs to be warmly welcoming, characterful, excellent value, comfortable and generally very high spec. We used a Sawday's Special Places to Stay (Ireland) guide. I know though that many excellent B&Bs choose not to subscribe to Sawday's!
We were only in the south (of Dublin) and I was sorry to miss New Grange. It will be on my list next time.

The national museum in Dublin is well worth a visit too - especially if you think gold jewelry is a relatively modern north european affectation. We could not believe how old some of their exhibits are reputed to be.

Ken,
I might be wrong but I think I read that the Dark Hedges have been closed for cars due to pollution damage !!

Thanks terryg, I’ve bookmarked Sawdays.

Thanks Reg. You’re right!

Are you making the circumnavigation in your Morgan?

I agree that the west coast of Ireland is more interesting for driving tours. It's less settled and has some dramatic geology. In my opinion the most pleasant town in the west is Galway, and I always try to schedule at least one evening there.

On the east coast, you already know about the north Antrim coast. The attractions in the North are just as good as the South, and there are fewer tourists.

Reg mentioned that he wished he had visited Newgrange, north of Dublin. It is an unforgettable, world-class destination, and I'm looking forward to my third visit. However, it would take a full afternoon as you need to park at the visitor center and take a bus to the site(s).

If you get to Galway, do try and make it as far as clifden, derrygimlagh bog isn't far out of town and is fascinating for the Alcock and brown and Marconi stories.
Croakpatrick is also worth a visit and so is kylemore abbey.
The wild Atlantic way is a fantastic road, if a little bumpy in parts.

Yes!

Probably not enough time to visit Newgrange - so much to see on the west coast.

Thanks, robmog88. Suggestions noted - the Atlantic Way passes through Clifden so we’ll be passing Derrygimlagh Bog