One Perfect Week in Ireland...Day 5
Are you ready for your mind to be blown? Yes? Good - because you're getting on that scenic route. Day 5 takes you along the coast from Kinsale towards Killarney National Park, a mountainous region dotted with lakes, forests, waterfalls and...as we later found out, leprechauns.
I know this is a really crappy picture but it makes me laugh because this is kind of what its like being a passenger on the "wrong" side of the car, when your husband is driving stick shift with his left hand in Ireland.
Up until now you should have spent most of your driving time on the highway, which lets face it - isn't all that different from anywhere else in the world. As you leave Kinsale and head towards Killarney you will get off the highway and follow the coastal/scenic route. This is what a road trip in Ireland is all about.
You will have noticed that I've kind of glossed over the whole driving in Ireland thing, and that's because I didn't do it. My husband drove the whole time and was amazing at it, so no complaints here. The type of personality that makes you drive 5 mph under the speed limit and brake at green lights just in case, is well suited to keeping you safe in Ireland. <3 if you're reading this, honey.
Your first stop should be the Drombeg Stone Circle. Its kind of tucked away, and gives you the feeling that you're discovering it on your own. Which, we basically did, because as was the theme with our trip, there was hardly anyone around. In addition to the stone circle, there were stone huts and a communal cooking pit. The cooking pit was really cool - the neolithic people had a large trough carved for water, and would heat up stones then roll them in the water to boil it. Apparently they were able to boil up to 70 gallons of water in 15 minutes.
NOTHING will happen when you press/walk through the stones. You are not Claire Fraser.
Next, you should stop at the Altar Wedge Tomb and ohmigod I'm so embarassed of the pictures we took here. This is the only one I can show you because we were so giddy and disrespectful of this actual TOMB. Anyway, don't make the same mistakes I did, and treat these stone circles and tombs with a modicum of respect.
We really took our time getting to Killarney, following the coast all the way out and around Mizen Head Peninsula and exploring different stops along the way. Follow the coast, get lost, try some side roads and try to unclench your knuckles from the steering wheel from time to time because if you think this is bad...you have no idea (lol). You really can't go wrong and eventually you will end up near Killarney National Park, which is the jumping off point for (in my opinion) one of the most beautiful parts of Ireland. As an FYI: the scenic routes, viewing spots and historical points of interest are very clearly marked.
Note: I realize that this is probably just business as usual for these folks but omg how cute
Need to get caught up on Day 4? Otherwise, follow along with Day 6!
Up until now you should have spent most of your driving time on the highway, which lets face it - isn't all that different from anywhere else in the world. As you leave Kinsale and head towards Killarney you will get off the highway and follow the coastal/scenic route. This is what a road trip in Ireland is all about.
You will have noticed that I've kind of glossed over the whole driving in Ireland thing, and that's because I didn't do it. My husband drove the whole time and was amazing at it, so no complaints here. The type of personality that makes you drive 5 mph under the speed limit and brake at green lights just in case, is well suited to keeping you safe in Ireland. <3 if you're reading this, honey.
Your first stop should be the Drombeg Stone Circle. Its kind of tucked away, and gives you the feeling that you're discovering it on your own. Which, we basically did, because as was the theme with our trip, there was hardly anyone around. In addition to the stone circle, there were stone huts and a communal cooking pit. The cooking pit was really cool - the neolithic people had a large trough carved for water, and would heat up stones then roll them in the water to boil it. Apparently they were able to boil up to 70 gallons of water in 15 minutes.
NOTHING will happen when you press/walk through the stones. You are not Claire Fraser.
Next, you should stop at the Altar Wedge Tomb and ohmigod I'm so embarassed of the pictures we took here. This is the only one I can show you because we were so giddy and disrespectful of this actual TOMB. Anyway, don't make the same mistakes I did, and treat these stone circles and tombs with a modicum of respect.
We really took our time getting to Killarney, following the coast all the way out and around Mizen Head Peninsula and exploring different stops along the way. Follow the coast, get lost, try some side roads and try to unclench your knuckles from the steering wheel from time to time because if you think this is bad...you have no idea (lol). You really can't go wrong and eventually you will end up near Killarney National Park, which is the jumping off point for (in my opinion) one of the most beautiful parts of Ireland. As an FYI: the scenic routes, viewing spots and historical points of interest are very clearly marked.
Once you get there, Killarney is a bustling town that can feel a bit touristy. If you don't want the big city feel of Killarney, Kenmare (pictured below) might be a good option for you. It is about 30 - 40 minutes outside of Killarney, less crowded and more reminiscent of the small Irish villages you might be expecting. We ended up staying in a B&B right outside of Killarney because I knew I wanted to do a lot of hiking and driving around the National Park and didn't want a 40 minute drive on both sides of that. I would just find accommodations somewhere between Kenmare and Killarney and you should be good to go.
Need to get caught up on Day 4? Otherwise, follow along with Day 6!
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