Bike? Hike? Drive? All of the above? HELP!

[jmulcahy]

hi! My husband and I are planning a vacation in the West of Ireland sometime in October. We'll fly into Shannon. We're interested in seeing the Burren, Connemara, the Aran Islands, Doolin, and maybe Galway. We're interested in the Gaeltact region especially and love dramatic landscapes. We really enjoy the small villages more than city life.

We've done self guided hiking tours before where our bags were brought from B&B to B&B (arranged by the tour company). We're considering something like that again, but we're not sure. It might be better to plan our own way and mix up hiking, biking and driving. Hiking takes you places you can't go otherwise, but it's slow going. Cycling is a nice alternative if we can find some quiet roads. Driving might be the best way to see some of the places we have in mind.

We're considering doing some self guided cycling, but I get pretty scared on busy trafficked roads and would like to avoid really steep hills, too, unless we're driving or hiking.

A tandem bike is also a possibility. Never tried one, but it could be fun. Has anyone tried one?

Also, I'm a photographer who has to lug contact lens solution around and my camera(s); otherwise I like the idea of just riding and hiking with my gear. Could get heavy, though.

Has anyone ever hired a cab to move their luggage from B&B to B&B?

Any tips on the best places in the west to bike, hike and drive? (Which to do where?)

Does anyone have any advice for us? I'm getting overwhelmed. We'll probably be in the area for about 8 to 11 days (we're flexible).

Thank you so much!!

[helena.ryan]

Hi, That part of Ireland is absolutely amazing, you'll love it!!

I would recommend hiring a car and driving from place to place, taking bike trips starting and finishing at your accommodation. I know it's not on your list but if you can fit Achill Island into your trip you should. I imagine it would be a great place to see by bike. I was there last year and was awe struck by the view from my hotel window, and that was before we even started walking around!

Galway is a great place for pubs and restaurants. There really is so much to see in that part of the country. The people are friendly and the food is like nothing you've ever tasted before, especially the sea food.

I wouldn't advise doing a guided tour because you will be brough to tourist-y places and you obviously want to see the real West of Ireland. Hire a car, plan a route and relax, it will be such a laid back holiday you have no need to worry. There are some very good websites if you google them and they should help.

And if you can fit in a day to drive the Ring of Kerry you really should. It's amazing!

Because of the time of year you will not get nice weather, there is very little chance you will manage to do the whole holiday without getting rained on a couple of times!!! But, thats just a good excuse to sit in a nice warm pub, beside an open fire with a bowl of seafood chowder looking out on the stormy Atlantic.

Oh you're so lucky!!!!

[lolly]

Hi I wouldn`t recommend hiring a taxi to move your stuff from B&B as here in Ireland taxi`s can take advantage of you. I think you`re better off hiring a car and then hiring bicycles in whatever town you stop in,a lot of them hire bikes for a few days, that way you can drive to certain locations and then cycle around. Most of the roads outside of the towns and are quiet deserted at that time of year, you will probably just meet the odd farmer and his tractor.
I would highly recommend visiting Clifden in Connemara, it is a beautiful little village and the views of the Atlantic from the "Sky Road" are fantastic