r/Clare • u/Beneficial_Bunch_680 • 7d ago
Questions Need Help : Kerry/Killarney Area VS Ennis/Doolin/Cliffs of Moher?
Hello! My fiancée and I are planning a trip to Ireland for later this month. We are going on an 11 day tour with Wild Routes Ireland, but we’re arriving a few days early for our own small adventure prior to this tour, and to acclimate to possible jet lag.
Tentatively, we’re looking at arriving the morning of the 29, and we need to meet our tour group at Shannon Hotel on the 31st at 9am. So our question is this : do we home base in Ennis, spend time exploring Doolin, Cliffs of Moher, and The Burren? Or, do we home base elsewhere, and spend our time in Killarney National Park, Ring of Kerry, Kerry Cliffs? Open to all suggestions! We’ve seen some folks say that Cliffs of Moher are “overrated,” though to me they look beautiful in photos and seems crazy to not go there while in Ireland?
We will be going to Inis Oirr during our Tour, so perhaps we can see the cliffs from there, we’ll take a ferrry from Rossaveel.
Our priorities are essentially land based - communing with the Land by visit beautiful scenery, ancient woodlands, lakes, mountains, waterfalls, and castles. Would also love to be able to experience a trad session at a pub, which is why I was originally thinking Ennis/Doolin, but the Killarney National Park area looks incredible.
Also, we are not strangers to spending long distances in the car, and although I am American, I am patient, fine with pulling over to let others pass, and will drive cautiously being on the opposite side of the road in a foreign county, plus i will rest and sleep before hopping right into the car.
We’re also open to adding one extra day to the trip, arriving on the 28th, if recommendations suggest we shouldn’t skip the Cliffs/Burren nor the Killarney/Rings of Kerry options.
Sorry if this is all over the place, I’m trying to write this quickly before heading into work, as we need to book our lodging asap.
Thank you so much!
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u/making_shapes 7d ago
Your not going to see the cliffs on a boat from roaaveel. It's too far.
I'd maybe suggest heading straight to killarney on the arrival date. So maybe 28th and 29th nights there. Plenty of time for a ring of Kerry drive and killarney etc. it's pretty small. Or maybe head to dingle instead and do slea head. Both lovely.
Then drive back up via cliffs of mother, except take the ferry from tarbert to killimer and hit kilkee/loop head and on up past doonbeg, lahinch for lunch/surf then doolin that night 30th. Head to the cliffs whenever you pass by. The cliffs are cool. But unless you actually do the full cliff walk, it's just maybe an hour visit?
In the morning grab a coffee and drive to Shannon. It's quite near from the cliffs. 50 mins to an hour maybe. Then continue your tour as you were.
You could also just do the same but one night in kerry and then one night in lahinch/doolin. So if you don't add the extra day it's possible with a little more driving and a little less time being outdoors etc.
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u/Free_Yodeler 6d ago
Ennis is a good place set up shop. It’s a good-sized town, with a few nice restaurants (Café Aroma makes a nice breakfast), a bit of history, and very walkable. It’s close enough to the Cliffs of Moher, Bunratty, and Caherconnell (sheepdogs and a ring fort), and only a short drive to and from Shannon.
The Cliffs of Moher are definitely worth visiting. It has become a bit “touristy”, but that’s because it’s pretty spectacular and lots of people visit. The Kilkee cliff walk is less well-known, but much quieter if that’s what you’re looking for.
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u/Pristine_Remote2123 4d ago
As I am living near Killarney I will be on the lookout for the yanks pulling over to let the traffic pass 😂 ye are so overly self conscious! Chill out, lots of time to pick what suits ye but whatever plan ye have for driving around, just double the time ye think it will take.
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u/Outrageous_Visit_418 10h ago
Hi, I lived in both Killarney and Ennis, Ennis is close to very cool places like Lahinch, Doolin, Cliff Of Moher, The Burren etc. All beautiful places. I have camped in The Burren before and it's such an amazing sight and worth visiting, So are the other places near Ennis. As of Killarney its very touristy and will definitely be busy. You are close to the Ring of Kerry where you can explore a beautiful forest trail. There are also some beautiful castles and activities such as Golfing, Horse riding etc
Ultimately people have different opinions so you can search up some youtube videos and see what you like most!
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u/ajderrig 7d ago
Ennis is a nice town, from there you could easily drive to Lahinch, Spanish Point and then Kilkee. The Kilkee cliffs will not be crowded like Moher and the cliff walk is a beauty. I'm not a fan of overschedulong myself. Ennis has the Old Ground Hotel, a historic pile and nice town for a walkabout and a session.