Dream Ireland Travel Blog

Carrauntoohill is Ireland’s highest mountain standing at over 1,000metres which by international standards is low but on scenery and beauty it is among the best. My walk with my 14 year old son Cormac took place at the end of August a beautiful sunny day with no clouds. We opted for the well known Brother O Shea’s gully offering dramatic views with a few steep scrambling bits and then a simple walk to the top where a photo with the Iron Cross is the norm. Lunch never tastes as good anywhere else with sweeping views to Inch Beach and far reaching Kenmare Bay down to Allihies. Our route down was via the Heavenly Gates which I generally miss the entry and then have to retrace my steps. Again the views are inspiring and incredibly beautiful. A mandatory visit to Kate Kearneys Pub in The Gap of Dunloe finished a great walking day in Kerry and Ireland! There are  terrific options self-catering houses in Killarney area such as recently refurbished Muckross Lakeside Holiday Village.

Scuba diving in Kenmare Bay!! Yes alot of people think of the Red Sea, The Barrier reef which are for sure among the best but not easily accessible when you live in Ireland! Recently my son Cormac and his two friends attended a Scuba Diving Course for four days in Kenmare Bay. Their instructor was the great Paul Tanner, he is without doubt a highly qualified instructor who exudes confidence built up by many years in the water. To say that they had a terrific time would be an understatement. They laughed and learned at the same time and managed to score 90%+ in their end examination. It is now a skill they can use many times in the future and all three are anxious to enjoy it. National Geographic published an article about the amazing diverse underwater life that exists in the South West corner of Ireland. The relatively calm and sheltered waters of Kenmare Bay are an ideal base for the beginner or advanced. Full details of diving available on www.kenmarebaydiving.com and plenty of houses to rent in the area like Ardgroom and Kenmare Inbhear Sceine Holiday homes.

Doesn’t the clock tick away silently when you are caught up reading an exciting book? It captures our active mind and directs it from the pages to the chosen destination effortlessly. The beauty of doing this in a self-catering house is you select the peace and calm.You don’t have to think about all the jobs that you do at home. There is no busy hotel lobby with voices pulling your attention away. I’d imagine that writing in a peaceful quiet environment is very important. Maybe a quiet few days away in a scenic location will provide the space to discover the writer in you….! Try some of these places for real peace Mount Falcon, Near Ballina, Co Mayo. , Doolin, Co Clare

Recently one of our team stayed in a self-catering house with her husband and young daughter. She said it was terrific as they had freedom and weren’t worried if their little darling decided to exercise her vocal chords! Having your own fridge and kitchen facilities was like having 24 hour room service, the only downside was that Mom was the Room Service Manager but the upside was they didn’t get an extortionate room service bill on departure!! Fortunately plenty of our locations offer room delivery at very fair prices like Mount Wolseley, Co Carlow.

Caherdaniel beach on the Ring of Kerry, former summer home of Daniel O Connell provides the chance to partake in beach horse-riding…has to be in the Top Ten things to do in Ireland…while you can! Eaglerock Equestrian Centre will organise a fabulous 1 hour or 2 hour trek on safe horses. Caroline has been involved with horses for a century!! and there is nothing better than feeling the wind in your face as your horse gallops flat out on a stunning beach surrounded by deciduous oaks and rugged rocks. One sight that will always remain with me was a funeral passing at the top of the beach to the graveyard that can only be accessed at low tide. On a recent horse ride we saw two magnificent sea eagles on the beach. Make sure to book in advance, great places to stay nearby like Derrynane Hotel’s wonderful holiday homes, Waterville and Sneem.

There is not many better feelings than jumping on your bike and taking in the scenery of the Beara peninsula. Ardgroom has always provided a great stopping point in Harrington’s shop, cafe and post-office but best news of all for outdoor enthusiasts is the Ardgroom Holiday Village. It offers excellent accommodation and even boasts its own gym and fitness centre…just in case the Healy Pass and rolling hills of Allihies failed to tire those legs. A bit of down time in the evening? the Village Inn provides a great relaxing pint. Next day you will be flying on the bike!

Related articles:

• What to Know for a Long Distance Cycling Tour: Food and Safety (bicycle-training.suite101.com)

The saying goes give a man a fish feed him for a day, teach him how to fish and feed him for life! I caught my first salmon in 2001 which was more down to skill of my colleague rather than my fishing prowess but the thrill was all mine. Is there an inane feeling about catching a big fish? is it a primeval instinct surfacing thousands of years later? The famous River Moy has attracted famous and unknown fishermen to its banks. The great Tiger Woods is known to love the fishing there…has he got lucky there we don’t know! The Mount Falcon Estate provides high quality accommodation and fabulous self-catering houses. The fisherman in you will take you straight to the river but the family man will be heading for the wonderful walks or leisure centre. The variety of things to do is great and Mayo oh Mayo is so beautiful. As a tourist County it offers a huge amount and in my humble opinion is not fully appreciated. Whatever about the football for fishing or fun Mayo is hard to beat!

Is there anything more beautiful than walking around Muckross House and Gardens in the sun? The Killarney Triathlon started with a swim in the lakes at Dundag and finished with a run throughout the gardens and woodlands. The day was really stunning and it was great to see the number of people walking appreciating the incredible scenery. It’s a safe energising and great place to stretch the legs…and Muckross Lakeside Holiday Village is just across the road. The houses have been completely refurbished and now offer real quality accommodation in a great location.

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