| |
|
Kenmare –
Killarney – Ring of Kerry
Friday, Sep.
21., 14-19 °C, a.m. rainy, p.m. sunny, 167 km
The morning started off rainy. Torc Waterfall near Killarney was
impressive after the rain. We had a look at Muckross House and Gardens
and visited the Traditional Farms which was interesting as they had
actors showing the life of the past and many farm animals. Once we
started off on the Ring of Kerry the weather improved. At 1:30 p.m. we
arrived in Cahersiveen and found a room at
Iveragh Heights B&B with a nice view. We spent the sunny
afternoon on Valentia Island, site of the first transatlantic cable.
They have some beautiful cliffs and a view of the Skellig islands. We
had a great dinner (Catch of the Day) at The Bridge Bar in Portmagee.
|
|
Ring of Kerry
– Killarney
Saturday,
Sep. 22, 18 °C, partly cloudy,178 km
We visited Cahergall Stone Fort, drove the Skellig Ring and walked the
dunes in Derrynane National Historic Park. Then we had a look at Staigue
Fort, stopped for lunch in the little village of Sneem and were back in
Killarney at 3:15 p.m. Spent the night at White Oaks B&B.
|
|
Killarney –
Dingle
Sunday, Sep.
23, 17 °C, partly cloudy, late p.m. rain, 139 km
The day started off cloudy. We hiked the Gap of Dunloe
for 1.5 hours, then we toured the Dingle peninsula. In Dingle we stayed
at Ashe’s Guest Accommodation. Dingle is known for the
dolphin Fungie that lives in Dingle Bay since 1983 and still is a
visitor attraction. We visited Dunbeg Promontory Fort and some Beehive
Huts. The view from Slea Head in the sunshine and the waves were
fantastic. It started to rain when we were back in Dingle. We had Fish &
Chips at the Marina Inn where some locals were playing traditional
music. At 9:30 p.m. we went to the
An Droichead Beag Pub for their traditional music
session.
|
|
Dingle – Listowel – Tarbert –
Cliffs of Moher –
Doolin
Monday, Sep.
24., 14 °C, a.m. rainy, p.m. sunny, 205 km
We crossed Ireland’s highest mountain pass, Connor Pass (456m) in the
rain, then stopped at Blennerville windmill, the largest windmill still
in operation in Europe. At 12 p.m. we boarded the ferry at Tarbert.
Unfortunately we didn’t see any of the
Shannon dolphins. At Spanish
Point we saw impressive waves and at 2:30 p.m. we reached the fishing
village of Doolin which is known for traditional music. We got a room
for two nights at
Churchfield B&B. Then we drove to the famous
Cliffs of Moher which we saw in the sunshine but there was a strong
wind. At 6:30 p.m. we were just in time to enjoy the end of an Irish
Music Singalongs at the Gus O’Connor Pub in Doolin’s Fisher Street.
|
|
Doolin –
Burren –
Doolin
Tuesday, Sep.
25, 14 °C, a.m. cloudy, p.m. sunny, 113 km
Today we visited the bizarre landscape of Burren National Park. We
stopped at Caherconnell Stone Fort and Poulnabrone Dolmen. Via
Ballyvaghan we reached Black Head. Here we did a little hike with
beautiful views to another stone fort on top of a hill. For dinner we
went to
McDermott’s Pub in Doolin and we watched the sunset from the end
of Fisher Street.
|
|
Doolin –
Galway –
Connemara
Wednesday,
Sep. 26, 14 °C, mostly cloudy, 227 km
Via Galway we reached the beautiful landscapes of Connemara. We drove
along small roads along the coast. Stopped in Roundstone and at the
John Alcock und Arthur Whitten-Brown Memorial at Ballinaboy, a
sculpture of an aircraft's tail-fin. The British aviators made the first
non-stop flight across the Atlantic Ocean from Newfoundland to Ireland
in 1919. Around 3:30 p.m. we
arrived in Clifden. Here we stayed at
Baymount House, right in the center on Sky
Road.
|
|
|
