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Ireland - advice please

31 replies

TheShellBeach · 08/08/2023 22:25

DH and I are thinking of going to Ireland for the first time.
We're both in our 60s and like rural areas with lots of scenery best.
Where would you recommend?
We're going to take the boat from Campbeltown in Scotland, over to Ballycastle.
Then we'll hire a car and tour round for about four days.

OP posts:
TheShellBeach · 09/08/2023 21:37

RantyMcGee · 09/08/2023 19:07

Agree, I can’t imagine being able to hire a car in Ballycastle. I’m from the area so I’m biased but the Causeway coast is stunning. Donegal is too so you really don’t need to go far. As you’re already planning to be in Ballycastle you should definitely consider getting the ferry to Rathlin (if you can face another boat). Peaceful, great wildlife and beautiful scenery. When we went we met about 4 people all day.

That would be DH's dream.
Grin

OP posts:
Lookingatthesunset · 09/08/2023 22:49

Plenty of scenery up on the north coast. Ballycastle has a lovely beach and from there it's a short drive to the likes of Portstewart and Portrush, the Giant's Causeway, Mussenden Temple, Dunluce castle ruins, Carrick-a-rede rope bridge in Ballintoy etc. Morton's chip shop in Ballycastle is award-winning. It's not too long a drive to Derry - worth seeing the walls and the Peace Bridge over the Foyle river and the Derry Girls mural.

It's definitely worth taking a trip to Belfast, and beyond that there's Bangor in Co Down. From there you could see the likes of Annalong, Portaferry, Downpatrick, Kilkeel, or Newcastle where as in the song, "the mountains of Mourne sweep down to the sea"! When you are heading back to Ballycastle, make sure and drive the scenic coastal, stopping off at little villages like Cushendall, Cushendun, Carnlough. You could also stop off at the Glens of Antrim for more beautiful scenery.

For RoI, I love Co Clare, Galway city and Cork but they're probably too long a drive this time. Carlingford is beautiful if you want a sojourn over the border, and that's not too far from Newry/Warrenpoint.

Enjoy!

ShaunaM · 13/10/2023 22:51

What airport do you plan to fly to? The main ones are Cork, Dublin and Shannon

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Lookingatthesunset · 15/10/2023 18:33

ShaunaM · 13/10/2023 22:51

What airport do you plan to fly to? The main ones are Cork, Dublin and Shannon

Also Belfast City and Belfast International!

sonjadog · 15/10/2023 18:44

I doubt you can hire a car in Ballycastle. But you could take bus and train to Derry and hire one there, and then drive into Donegal.

MMBaranova · 15/10/2023 19:19

Ballycastle is a very pleasant place (not sure about car hire but where DO people go who use that fast ferry?). If you have four nights or so, be realistic and do a loop. More or less round NI, or extend into Donegal and Sligo, with a view to seeing what you liked and might want to explore further in the future.

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