OK, strange question for you past Ireland travellers. I am going to
drive Ireland from May 22 to June 6, in a circuit roughly around the
coast. I know from my Scotland trip in May of last year that the
beautiful views and vistas do not look the same travelled clockwise as
opposed to anticlockwise. So does anyone have advice for if I should
first drive north from Dublin, through N. Ireland, round to Galway,
Limerick, Cork... or head south first? To me, this is a real issue,
and I know it is all good. But I also know I'm driving Scotland
clockwise one day to see what I missed having driven anticlockwise the
first time through. Thanks, Dan

--
Dan Stephenson
Photos and movies from US Parks and all over Europe:
http://homepage.mac.com/stepheda

Dan Stephenson <[email protected]> wrote:

    >OK, strange question for you past Ireland travellers. I am going to
    >drive Ireland from May 22 to June 6, in a circuit roughly around the
    >coast. I know from my Scotland trip in May of last year that the
    >beautiful views and vistas do not look the same travelled clockwise as
    >opposed to anticlockwise. So does anyone have advice for if I should
    >first drive north from Dublin, through N. Ireland, round to Galway,
    >Limerick, Cork... or head south first? To me, this is a real issue,
    >and I know it is all good. But I also know I'm driving Scotland
    >clockwise one day to see what I missed having driven anticlockwise the
    >first time through. Thanks, Dan

My first thought is that clockwise is better, but that opinion could
be subject to revision dependent on the total time you propose to take
for the trip and any specific targets that you have.

--
PB
The return address has been MUNGED

On Fri, 31 Dec 2004, Dan Stephenson <[email protected]> wrote:

    > I know from my Scotland trip in May of last year that the
    >beautiful views and vistas do not look the same travelled clockwise as
    >opposed to anticlockwise.

When I bicycle the British Caribbean I prefer clockwise. That puts me on
the road edge closer to the water.

Don <donwiss at panix.com>.

In article <[email protected]>, Padraig
Breathnach <[email protected]> wrote:

    > Dan Stephenson <[email protected]> wrote:
    >
    > >OK, strange question for you past Ireland travellers. I am going to
    > >drive Ireland from May 22 to June 6, in a circuit roughly around the
    > >coast. I know from my Scotland trip in May of last year that the
    > >beautiful views and vistas do not look the same travelled clockwise as
    > >opposed to anticlockwise. So does anyone have advice for if I should
    > >first drive north from Dublin, through N. Ireland, round to Galway,
    > >Limerick, Cork... or head south first? To me, this is a real issue,
    > >and I know it is all good. But I also know I'm driving Scotland
    > >clockwise one day to see what I missed having driven anticlockwise the
    > >first time through. Thanks, Dan
    >
    > My first thought is that clockwise is better, but that opinion could
    > be subject to revision dependent on the total time you propose to take
    > for the trip and any specific targets that you have.

Good point, I should have been more explicit. From May 22 to June 6,
that will be 16 days of actual driving. I do not plan to stop in any
one place for more than a visit. And I like to visit castles and
abbeys and standing stones - things that take an hour or three, not all
day. And I like to stop to take photos of the striking scenery. And I
can drive in this touring mode for 12 hours all day - no kidding. I
circuited Scotland, including Orkney, Lewis & Harris, and Skye, that
way, in a similar period of time. June 6th would be going back to the
Dublin airport to catch a flight to Gatwick and then back to the USA.

--
Dan Stephenson
Photos and movies from US Parks and all over Europe:
http://homepage.mac.com/stepheda

In article <[email protected]>, Don Wiss
<donwiss@no_spam.com> wrote:

    > On Fri, 31 Dec 2004, Dan Stephenson <[email protected]> wrote:
    >
    > > I know from my Scotland trip in May of last year that the
    > >beautiful views and vistas do not look the same travelled clockwise as
    > >opposed to anticlockwise.
    >
    > When I bicycle the British Caribbean I prefer clockwise. That puts me on
    > the road edge closer to the water.
    >
    > Don <donwiss at panix.com>.

Ooh, now that is an excellent point.

--
Dan Stephenson
Photos and movies from US Parks and all over Europe:
http://homepage.mac.com/stepheda

Dan Stephenson wrote:
    > OK, strange question for you past Ireland travellers. I am going to
    > drive Ireland from May 22 to June 6, in a circuit roughly around the
    > coast. I know from my Scotland trip in May of last year that the
    > beautiful views and vistas do not look the same travelled clockwise as
    > opposed to anticlockwise. So does anyone have advice for if I should
    > first drive north from Dublin, through N. Ireland, round to Galway,
    > Limerick, Cork... or head south first? To me, this is a real issue,
    > and I know it is all good. But I also know I'm driving Scotland
    > clockwise one day to see what I missed having driven anticlockwise the
    > first time through. Thanks, Dan
    >
Your post reminded me of "Last of the Donkey Pilgrims" by Kevin O'Hara.
Kevin went counterclockwise. It is a great story. I'm sure you'll get
some good ideas from that book.
--
------------------------------------------------------
* * * Mastering Independent Budget Travel * * *
http://www.enjoy-europe.com/
------------------------------------------------------

Dan Stephenson <[email protected]> wrote:

    >In article <[email protected]>, Padraig
    >Breathnach <[email protected]> wrote:
    >> Dan Stephenson <[email protected]> wrote:
    >>
    >> >OK, strange question for you past Ireland travellers. I am going to
    >> >drive Ireland from May 22 to June 6, in a circuit roughly around the
    >> >coast. I know from my Scotland trip in May of last year that the
    >> >beautiful views and vistas do not look the same travelled clockwise as
    >> >opposed to anticlockwise. So does anyone have advice for if I should
    >> >first drive north from Dublin, through N. Ireland, round to Galway,
    >> >Limerick, Cork... or head south first? To me, this is a real issue,
    >> >and I know it is all good. But I also know I'm driving Scotland
    >> >clockwise one day to see what I missed having driven anticlockwise the
    >> >first time through. Thanks, Dan
    >>
    >> My first thought is that clockwise is better, but that opinion could
    >> be subject to revision dependent on the total time you propose to take
    >> for the trip and any specific targets that you have.
    >Good point, I should have been more explicit. From May 22 to June 6,
    >that will be 16 days of actual driving. I do not plan to stop in any
    >one place for more than a visit. And I like to visit castles and
    >abbeys and standing stones - things that take an hour or three, not all
    >day. And I like to stop to take photos of the striking scenery. And I
    >can drive in this touring mode for 12 hours all day - no kidding. I
    >circuited Scotland, including Orkney, Lewis & Harris, and Skye, that
    >way, in a similar period of time. June 6th would be going back to the
    >Dublin airport to catch a flight to Gatwick and then back to the USA.

I sit here at the beginning of January, a thunderstorm outside, and
consider a summer holiday plan which I would not follow myself (more
driving than I would want to do).

I could spend many hours on this. I'll confine myself to a few
suggestions. I assume that you have, or can find, a map.

Some of the better visits in Ireland are managed by the Office of
Pubic Works. When you find yourself at one, buy a Heritage Card. It
covers admission to all sites, and comes with a good guide to them --
a bargain buy.

Don't spend much time on the actual coast in the east -- it's mostly
not very scenic, at least in comparison with the south and west.

From Dublin, head south through the Wicklow Mountains. Some waypoints:
Sallygap; Glenmacnaas; Glendalough (monastic site); Glenmalure. Then
across the Wicklow Gap to Blessington (Rossborough House). To Kilkenny
(castle and cathedral) and Jerpoint (ruined abbey) to Waterford
(Norman tower). Lismore for the castle and cathedral. West Waterford
coast, especially Ardmore, and work towards Cork. Divert to Fota
Island close to Cork.

West Cork along the coast -- definitely clockwise. Go all the way to
Allihies at the tip of the Beara Peninsula (pray for good weather).
Through the Healy Pass into Kerry and make for Killarney (terrible
town, but lovely places around it). If you want to do the Ring of
Kerry, do it anti-clockwise. The Dingle Peninsula is an out-and-back
trip. Stop in Ardfert on the way for the ruined cathedral).

The rest of the way to Limerick is okay, mostly unspectacular. Some
people think King John's Castle in Limerick a good visit; I'm not one
of them.

West Clare has some good scenery. I don't think it matters greatly
what direction you travel.

You don't mention city stops, but Galway is a lively and enjoyable
place. You might consider a day trip to Inismore, the largest of the
Aran Islands.

Connemara is, to my taste, magical and worth a couple of days. The
light there in May is special. Out from Galway by the coast to
Clifden, and ramble to and fro a bit (I can make further suggestions
if you wish). Then through Leenane into Mayo and on to Westport,
Newport and Achill island. By the coast to Sligo (visit Carrowmore
neolithic cemetery). Some nice local tours around Sligo.

Donegal is a problem: it offers a choice of good tourist routes to
allow you to work towards Derry. Explore, but don't miss the Blue
Stack Mountains.

I don't have strong opinions on Northern Ireland. The Glens of Antrim
are nice, and the Ards peninsula is scenic. As you move back south, do
the circuit of the Cooley Peninsula which you can use as an
alternative to the main road between Newry and Dundalk (stop at
Carlingford). Between Dundalk and Dublin, get off the motorway at
Drogheda to visit Newgrange and Knowth, and Monasterboice to see some
of Ireland's finest Celtic crosses.

That okay for starters?

--
PB
The return address has been MUNGED

"Padraig Breathnach" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...

<snip>.

    > Some of the better visits in Ireland are managed by the Office of
    > Pubic Works.

I realise that it is a typo, but it made my day!

JohnT

"JohnT" <[email protected]> wrote:

    >"Padraig Breathnach" <[email protected]> wrote in message
    >news:[email protected].. .
    ><snip>.
    >> Some of the better visits in Ireland are managed by the Office of
    >> Pubic Works.
    >I realise that it is a typo, but it made my day!
Glad to be of service.

--
PB
The return address has been MUNGED

In article <[email protected]>, Padraig
Breathnach <[email protected]> wrote:

    >
    > I sit here at the beginning of January, a thunderstorm outside, and
    > consider a summer holiday plan which I would not follow myself (more
    > driving than I would want to do).
    >
    > I could spend many hours on this. I'll confine myself to a few
    > suggestions. I assume that you have, or can find, a map.
    >
[...]

    >
    > That okay for starters?

Wow, that is some great info. I'll mark it all down on my big road
atlas. Thanks much!

    > --
    > PB

--
Dan Stephenson
Photos and movies from US Parks and all over Europe:
http://homepage.mac.com/stepheda