Page 4 of Touring Ireland by Car by Car Rental Council of Ireland

touring ideas these suggested self-drive tours are intended to help you get the most from your motoring holiday in ireland distances given are approximate and are exclusive of detours tours give an indication of start and finish points for each day but you can decide to overnight at any of the towns you pass through and be certain of finding comfortable accommodation good food and a warm welcome ­ visit www.discoverireland.com for further information on what to see do why not call into one of the tourist information offices located throughout the country just look out for the symbol tour of ireland 10 days dublin ­ dublin 1610 kms 1000 mls day 1 dublin ­ tramore 190 kms 118 mls travel south out of dublin past the ferry-port of dun laoghaire toward the wicklow mountains and the pretty hillside village of enniskerry visit the grandeur of the powerscourt estate with its gardens deer herd and the highest waterfall in ireland travel on to the early christian settlement of glendalough set at the head of a lake in a scenic glen surrounded by the imposing wicklow mountains explore the extensive ruins of the 6th century irish monastery of st kevin and wonder at the life of the monks in such a beautiful but isolated location continue your journey south through avoca and the sea and holiday resort of arklow towards enniscorthy either travel the twisting lanes to new ross with its dutch-style houses or head further south to wexford and across the barrow river by the ballyhack/passage east car ferry north of rosslare ahead lies the historic city of waterford a name now synonymous with crystal and the sandy beaches of tramore the harbour scenes in moby dick an elizabethan mansion inside the walls was home to sir walter raleigh the town s mayor 1585-97 cork city beckons but first turn to cobh pretty town on a hill above the harbour doomed titanic s last port of call in april 1912 day 3 cork ­ killarney 151 kms 94 mls travel the short distance outside cork to blarney castle with its famous stone said to impart the gift of eloquence to all who kiss it travel through macroom onto the beautiful holiday resort of glengarriff from where you can take a boat and visit garinish island drive north to kenmare from kenmare either go into killarney circling the mountainous macgillycuddy s reeks and carrauntoohil the highest point in ireland spending the rest of the day in killarney or drive around the iveragh peninsula better known as the `ring of kerry travelling through sneem waterville cahersiveen and killorglin towards killarney achill island co mayo day 5 galway ­ westport 138 kms 96 mls continue north out of galway through connemara towards clifden capital of connemara travel through the pretty village of leenaun arriving at westport on clew bay with its 100 islands and scenic views of the north atlantic 10 day tour of ireland 4 strangford day 6 westport ­ donegal 194 kms 121 mls head north through castlebar ballina and inishcrone to sligo and its 13th century franciscan friary drive on to drumcliff burial place of w.b yeats travel further up the atlantic coast through ballyshannon to donegal visiting the imposing franciscan friary in rossnowlagh and donegal castle en route newry 5 day 4 killarney ­ galway 275 kms 171 mls drive north to the historic city of limerick with king john s castle the famous treaty stone and st mary s cathedral attractions close to limerick include bunratty castle and knappogue castle continue through ennis with its old abbey and the seaside resort of lahinch travel along the coast past the breathtaking 200m deep cliffs of moher enjoy ireland s premiere spa town of lisdoonvarna before driving through the bare limestone hills of the burren country to galway where tradition holds that columbus prayed before sailing to america day 2 tramore ­ cork 128 kms 80 mls this morning spend a little quality time in waterford with its splendid wide bridge and mile-long quay fronting the medieval centre for this was a viking stronghold and later a norman town second only to dublin in importance heading east from tramore turn-offs around dungarvan give access to more lovely beaches notably at stradbally and the an rinn peninsula where irish is spoken on now to youghal ancient walled seaport town location in 1954 for day 7 donegal ­ londonderry 200 kms 125 mls drive north through the villages of dunkineely ardara and glenties famed for their cottage industries and the production of donegal tweed continue along the coast to dunfanaghy nestling on a cosy inlet of sheephaven bay head south to donegal s chief town letterkenny from here you can extend your drive by taking a tour of the scenic inishowen peninsula.

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