Q. My husband and I plan to go to Scotland and Ireland for our 20th Anniversary. Where are the best castles to see and tour? Thanks in advance!
A. Well, there's going to be some castle tour overloads but here are some which I have visited and loved, and some from recommendations that I've got from people I know and who have been there :)
Ireland
1) Kilkenny Castle - my favourite in Ireland by far, and the guided tour is well run with lots of informations about the castle. The Long Gallery is just awesome.
2) Dublin Castle - the chapel with its plaster imitation fan vault is quite spectacular really, and the state apartments are very elegantly decorated
3) Waterford Castle - this could actually be great for your anniversary celebration as the castle is located on an island and it's now a hotel so you can say you've live in a castle (even if just for a bit). I've only been there once for dinner with my relatives so I didn't really get to see the whole place.
4) Bunratty Castle - visit the folk park and while it's a bit kitschy to see people dressed in medieval costume and to participate in the banquet, for visitors it's really quite a lot of fun
5) Blarney Castle - this castle is famous for its stone at the top of the castle aka the Blarney Stone. Kiss this and you're supposed to have the gift of gab. The turning upside down bit to get to the stone may seem scary but it's fine really. The garden is lovely in the summer but I'm not sure what it's like in the winter.
6) Abbeyglen Castle - this is in Connemara and it's also now a hotel. While I've never been there, my friend said it's gorgeous. Then again, it's Connemara, which is a beautiful place to be in any case.
Scotland
1) The Edinburgh Castle - this is a must-go in my opinion, and it has a great view of Edinburgh all around!
2) Blair Castle - a bit of the way but it's stately and the landscape in Perthshire is also magnificent
3) Eilean Donan Castle - this is a Hollywood darling, having been featured in Highlander, Made of Honour and Elizabeth the Golden Age. Now, this one is really out of the way and rather unfortunately they're only open between March and November.
Happy 20th Anniversary!
Ireland
1) Kilkenny Castle - my favourite in Ireland by far, and the guided tour is well run with lots of informations about the castle. The Long Gallery is just awesome.
2) Dublin Castle - the chapel with its plaster imitation fan vault is quite spectacular really, and the state apartments are very elegantly decorated
3) Waterford Castle - this could actually be great for your anniversary celebration as the castle is located on an island and it's now a hotel so you can say you've live in a castle (even if just for a bit). I've only been there once for dinner with my relatives so I didn't really get to see the whole place.
4) Bunratty Castle - visit the folk park and while it's a bit kitschy to see people dressed in medieval costume and to participate in the banquet, for visitors it's really quite a lot of fun
5) Blarney Castle - this castle is famous for its stone at the top of the castle aka the Blarney Stone. Kiss this and you're supposed to have the gift of gab. The turning upside down bit to get to the stone may seem scary but it's fine really. The garden is lovely in the summer but I'm not sure what it's like in the winter.
6) Abbeyglen Castle - this is in Connemara and it's also now a hotel. While I've never been there, my friend said it's gorgeous. Then again, it's Connemara, which is a beautiful place to be in any case.
Scotland
1) The Edinburgh Castle - this is a must-go in my opinion, and it has a great view of Edinburgh all around!
2) Blair Castle - a bit of the way but it's stately and the landscape in Perthshire is also magnificent
3) Eilean Donan Castle - this is a Hollywood darling, having been featured in Highlander, Made of Honour and Elizabeth the Golden Age. Now, this one is really out of the way and rather unfortunately they're only open between March and November.
Happy 20th Anniversary!
What should I see while in Limerick, Doolin, or Kerry, Ireland?
Q. My friend and I are going for three weeks, and are both 23. Also if anyone has any advice about where to stay (someplace with charm- open to hostels, bed and breakfasts, or hotels as long as they aren't too generic), that would be awesome.
A. Limerick: Try and get for the weekend, the Milk Market is great, food stalls and live music. St John's castle is good, and Limerick's nightlife is pretty good in general. One pub I quite like is Nancy Blake's on Denmark Street. Bunratty Castle and folk park is about 15 minutes outside of Limerick on the way to Ennis, and that is well worth seeing. Also check out Limerick Printmakers, and the city gallery. Lots of B&Bs in Limerick, particularly around the train station and out the Ennis Road.
Doolin is basically a village, and yes there are lots of hostels, I'm sure you can book online - in fact, if you're going soon, you really should book ahead as it's a very popular holiday destination. See the nearby Cliffs of Moher, also the Burren, the Ailwee Caves (Bring a warm jumper, it's cold deep in the earth). Most local musicians tend to go to nearby Lisdoonvarna for music sessions, I highly recommend the Roadside Tavern, they also do nice meals. If you have time, and the weather is good, you could also go out of one of the Aran Islands for a day. When in that part of the country, I tend to stay at Rooska House Bed & Breakfast in Lisdoonvarna.
Kerry - where exactly are you staying? Killarney is a very touristy town, but Muckross House and Park is beautiful, beside the lakes and with the mountains as a backdrop. Dingle is also very popular, as many people do the Ring of Kerry. Personally though I'd recommend doing the Healy Pass on the Beara Peninsula, if the weather is good you'll have some superb Sound of Music moments, as the sound carries up from the valley floor on the Kerry side.
Doolin is basically a village, and yes there are lots of hostels, I'm sure you can book online - in fact, if you're going soon, you really should book ahead as it's a very popular holiday destination. See the nearby Cliffs of Moher, also the Burren, the Ailwee Caves (Bring a warm jumper, it's cold deep in the earth). Most local musicians tend to go to nearby Lisdoonvarna for music sessions, I highly recommend the Roadside Tavern, they also do nice meals. If you have time, and the weather is good, you could also go out of one of the Aran Islands for a day. When in that part of the country, I tend to stay at Rooska House Bed & Breakfast in Lisdoonvarna.
Kerry - where exactly are you staying? Killarney is a very touristy town, but Muckross House and Park is beautiful, beside the lakes and with the mountains as a backdrop. Dingle is also very popular, as many people do the Ring of Kerry. Personally though I'd recommend doing the Healy Pass on the Beara Peninsula, if the weather is good you'll have some superb Sound of Music moments, as the sound carries up from the valley floor on the Kerry side.
What is the best time of year to visit Ireland?
Q. My husband and i are trying to plan a trip for next year to go over there, and wanted to know if anyone could help with what time of year to go? what to do? should we do one of the coach tours, or just wing it on our own staying at some b&b's? Help Please!
A. Weather:
For the best weather Late August/early Septmber are warm and dry more often than not.
To do:
What to do depends on what you are into: www.failteireland.ie or www.google.ie for tours and that in different places. I would say go walking and don't pay for tours when you can buy lonely planet or similar for the cost of one tour.
The impressive things to see in Ireland as far as I am concerned and from what I've seen (others will give you great suggestions as welll).
Clare - Cliffs of Moher
Limerick - Bunratty Castle, Foynes Flying boat museum.
Kerry - the list is too long but go by Conor pass to get there if you can.
Cork - again so much but West Cork I think is fantastic for scenery.
The list is too long to go through each county.
Accomodation:
Look at what they are charging online at www.ebookers.ie for instance, then call the hotel and negotiate. The worst that can happen is you pay the price online anyway!
Transport:
Coach tours sounds like some kind of nightmare. Hire a car or use public tranport. Public Transport will take you everywhere you need to go if you plan it. www.buseireann.ie or www.irishrail.ie.
The driving time from Dublin to Killarney for instance is five hours which can be done in a day, so the country is small enough to see alot in a small time.
I think you should hire a car, take off on the road and deal with it as it comes. I did that for two months last year driving 6000 miles around the US from Chicago to LA and it was good fun.
And above all, I hope ye have a great time.
J
For the best weather Late August/early Septmber are warm and dry more often than not.
To do:
What to do depends on what you are into: www.failteireland.ie or www.google.ie for tours and that in different places. I would say go walking and don't pay for tours when you can buy lonely planet or similar for the cost of one tour.
The impressive things to see in Ireland as far as I am concerned and from what I've seen (others will give you great suggestions as welll).
Clare - Cliffs of Moher
Limerick - Bunratty Castle, Foynes Flying boat museum.
Kerry - the list is too long but go by Conor pass to get there if you can.
Cork - again so much but West Cork I think is fantastic for scenery.
The list is too long to go through each county.
Accomodation:
Look at what they are charging online at www.ebookers.ie for instance, then call the hotel and negotiate. The worst that can happen is you pay the price online anyway!
Transport:
Coach tours sounds like some kind of nightmare. Hire a car or use public tranport. Public Transport will take you everywhere you need to go if you plan it. www.buseireann.ie or www.irishrail.ie.
The driving time from Dublin to Killarney for instance is five hours which can be done in a day, so the country is small enough to see alot in a small time.
I think you should hire a car, take off on the road and deal with it as it comes. I did that for two months last year driving 6000 miles around the US from Chicago to LA and it was good fun.
And above all, I hope ye have a great time.
J
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