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Seeing the West Coast of Ireland in Winter

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The benefits to seeing the west coast of Ireland in winter.The West Coast of Ireland is one of the biggest tourist attractions in the world (don’t quote me on that, I may have just made that up, but it could be true!). Regardless of facts, most tourists visit the west coast during the summer months. This is because in winter it can get pretty bad weather. It is usually pretty cold and  has a lot more rain over winter. Since we have never been a couple that follows the crowd, so we decided to go in winter and see for ourselves. Although some of the days we were there had pretty bad weather, the days when we had blue skies and zero rain made up for it.  I decided to share the other benefits to bucking the rules and exploring the west coast of Ireland in cooler temperatures.

One of the most obvious reasons, is that there are fewer people, less crowds and it is a lot more quiet. We also went when schools were still open – which means less kids. If you are a kid-less couple looking for peace and quiet – this is the time you want to go travelling!

Kinvara, County Galway, Ireland

With cooler weather means you can drink all the wine, so you can happily find a warm pub and settle in – guilt free. This is my most favourite reason to visit in winter. Sitting by the fire, glass of red in hand, it is absolute bliss.

Dunguaire Castle, Kinvara, County Galway, Ireland

I do also find that with cooler weather, you can walk for longer without overheating. I love a long winter walk – and so does Jack. Not to mention that the weather looks deceptively warm in photos with that crisp blue winter sky you tend to see during the middle of the day.

County Galway, Ireland

You will need to be mindful that some tourist spots may be closed over winter. But the plus side is that the tourist spots at are open throughout winter will be quieter to visit. If they are open in the winter month, they might have shorter opening hours – so check their website before getting your heart set on visiting a place only to find out it is closed when you arrive.

County Galway, Ireland

The good spots to stay are generally available, and if you are lucky, you will pay off-peak rates to book them. We managed to find an airbnb that we loved (but it is generally booked out most of summer).

Kinvara, County Galway, Ireland

Car rentals were quite affordable during off-peak winter season. The price for the week we did our road trip versus the week after (one week before Christmas) was less than half the usual rate. So you can really keep your budget down by traveling in off-peak season.

Kinvara, County Galway, Ireland

Christmas markets are not too big in Dublin, although this past year was a lot better than our first year here so perhaps it is getting better. However, the best Irish Christmas Market we have been to, has to be the one in Galway. The lights, the rides, all the little wooden huts… It reminded me of a smaller version of Edinburgh Christmas Market. Even in the rain, the christmas market in Galway was beautiful – if you are visiting in winter, then you have to check it out!

Galway City Christmas Market, Ireland

One of the biggest learnings we have discovered through our time here in Ireland is that you can’t let the weather stop you from making plans. Don’t let the cooler months stop you from exploring this beautiful country. My favourite reason for travelling to the west coast over winter has got to be the most selfish reason of them all, it means I get to share it with fewer people.

HAVE YOU VISITED THE WEST COAST OF IRELAND? WHEN DID YOU TRAVEL THERE – SUMMER OR WINTER?

Live Simply & Travel Slow,

~Meg~

p.s. If social media is your thing (snap! It’s my fave too!), you should totally follow me on Instagram.

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The benefits to seeing the west coast of Ireland in winter.

There Is More To The Blarney Castle Than Just Kissing A Stone

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Blarney Castle, Ireland: Hopefully this list proves helpful when you visit Blarney Castle, and you realise that this is so much more to see than just kissing a stone!

We recently went down to Cork for a long weekend getaway. The reason we went down was for two main reasons: firstly, my first ever irish friend lives there – we met 16 years ago when we were aupairs in America and I have been promising her a visit for as long as we have been living in Ireland (over a year overdue!); and secondly, so many people we have met all tell us to get to Cork, so we had to check it out for ourselves. The first thing we found out was that 3 days in Cork is definitely not enough time to fully see this town – there is so much to do! Case in point, Blarney Castle – if you think you just need an hour to hit up this popular tourist attraction, you would be so very wrong. We spent the whole day at Blarney Castle – there is just that much to do here. So much more than just kissing a giant slab of rock.

How to get there:

Blarney Castle is one of the main attractions in a small town in County Cork called Blarney. You can drive there, or take a bus (we took a bus from Dublin to Cork City, and then a local bus from Cork to Blarney. There are buses that come come in from Cork City every hour – the 215 bus is the one you need to look for.

Pro tip: If you are travelling with a leap card – you can use this in Cork!

Planning your visit:

Try and get there early, this leaves more time to see everything, but also means you get in before the tour groups. Gates open at 9am all year round, but close early over winter, and stay open later in summer. So check the website before you get there so you get enough time to see everything.

Entrance Fee:

It costs EUR14 if you book online, or EUR15 if you buy at the door. Considering it’s a full day of things to do, I think the entry fee is well worth it.

Things to Do at Blarney Castle:

  • First up, the gardens are absolutely stunning. At the entrance you are given a little map of the grounds, which is handy because it shows you several walks you can do (and how long they will take), as well as attractions to see, and where to find them.
  • You obviously have to check out the Blarney Castle. And that is not just to kiss the Blarney Stone. The castle is actually pretty tall, I didn’t realise how high up you were going to be. The best part of this castle is that it is self-guided and you are free to explore every inch of the castle yourself. There are many rooms, and crevices, including a dungeon to explore – it makes it a great spot to take kids, there were a few while we were there and they seemed to love it.

The Blarney Castle, County Cork, Ireland[bctt tweet=”The best part of the Blarney Castle is that it is self-guided and you are free to explore every inch of the castle yourself.” username=”Thisisus_living”]

  • At the very top of the Blarney Castle, you will find the stone of eloquence, or the Blarney Stone. You have to walk up pretty narrow, windy and steep staircase to get up there. It was only when I got up did I realise how high we were! The top of the castle is lumpy and uneven, which made it a bit more frightening for someone like me, who is terrified of heights. At one point, I felt my knees lock, and I thought I might have to walk on my hands and knees. There was a lady ahead of me who was equally freaking out, which made me feel better that i was not the only one! Then if you want to be one of the thousands who have climbed the steps to kiss the stone – here comes the even SCARIEST part: you have to lie on your back, lean back, and kiss the stone upside down. So it is awkward and a little scary. But there is a large grate underneath so its almost impossible to fall completely down, and there is a very nice gentle there to help you. I ended up hugging him so tightly, but I think he gets it a lot. There is an option to take pics yourself (we both failed to do that – partly in being in the moment, and part in that the moment was over pretty quick!) or you can pay EUR10 a photo (which we decided against – to be fair they were not very flattering!).The View from the top of Blarney Castle, Ireland
  • Once you get back onto solid ground, then you can explore more of the gardens surrounding the castle. Another fun thing to do is to try walking up and back down the wishing steps with your eyes closed – it is said if you do this, and think only of one wish – that it will come true. I tried it, but it was a little wet so I did peak, but I didn’t break a leg so there’s that!
  • You can also walk through a fern garden – over 80 kinds of ferns, plus the tallest fern in Ireland. I had to chuckle, because with Rob’s jacket, he was almost camouflaged amongst the ferns.
  • Next to the fern garden there is an ice house. In my mind I half expected to find an igloo! But it is actually an old Victorian way of storing things in a fridge/cool environment. I found it quite interesting how they had to layer it in such a way to be effective. It is a bit hidden, we nearly missed it, but worth a quick look.
  • Next you can take a walk through the poisonous garden – perhaps watch the kids don’t eat anything!
  • On the grounds is also Blarney House, which almost looks like another castle – however this is only open in the summer months, guided tours are available.Blarney House, Ireland
  • If you are feeling energetic (and looking to get some more steps in) – then take a walk to the lake. It is an easy walk to do, and the view on the lake is just beautiful. They have just recently created a deck that goes out on the lake which will be great to check out.
  • There are loads of other things to see, like: the witch stone, badgers cave, dolmen, and the druids cave – plus a fairy garden!
  • After all that walking and exploring, I recommend a stop at the restaurant in the stables, The Stable Yard Cafe. The menu is small, but the meals are well priced and tasty. We shared a delicious soup and a pizza slice which totally hit the spot. There is also plenty of seating in old stable stalls, so you can find a quiet nook to relax a bit.

Hopefully this list proves helpful when you visit Blarney Castle, and you realise that this is so much more to see than just smooching a stone!

HAVE YOU KISSED THE BLARNEY STONE? IF NOT, WOULD YOU?

Unlock the simple life,

~Meg~

p.s. If social media is your thing (snap! It’s my fave too!), you should totally follow me on Instagram.

p.p.s. I try post varied content once or twice a month, to be sure you don’t miss out on the new post you should sign up and get all the news straight in your inbox – Sign up now!

PIN THIS AND READ LATER:Blarney Castle, Ireland: Hopefully this list proves helpful when you visit Blarney Castle, and you realise that this is so much more to see than just kissing a stone!Blarney Castle, Ireland: Hopefully this list proves helpful when you visit Blarney Castle, and you realise that this is so much more to see than just kissing a stone!

The best way to see the Cliffs of Moher, the Burren and Galway in one day

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Here is a comprehensive list of what to expect when you visit the Cliffs of Moher, the Burren and Galway in one day. I know bus tours go against most avid travel bloggers code of authentic tourist travel, but we don't yet own a car, and so it makes it a bit of a challenge to get to these places. It's easy enough to get from Dublin to Galway on a bus, but getting out in the country and having the flexibility to stop at the various sight-seeing spots is not so feasible when you are using public transport alone. What is most important is choosing the right bus tour to take.A couple of months ago we took the Finn McCools bus tour up to Northern Ireland. We loved the tour so much, we decided to use the same touring company to explore the west coast of Ireland, mainly to see the Cliffs of Moher. The cliffs are on every ‘Must -see’ list when visiting Ireland. Since we have nearly been in ireland for a year, it seemed crazy that we had not yet gone across and ticked that off our list. I know bus tours go against most avid travel bloggers code of authentic tourist travel, but I honestly think that what is most important is choosing the right bus tour to take. We don’t yet own a car, and so it makes it a bit of a challenge to rely on public transport to get to these places. It’s easy enough to get from Dublin to Galway on a bus, but getting out in the country and having the flexibility to stop at the various sight-seeing spots is not so feasible when you are using public transport alone. If we had a car, then for sure I think taking it slow and driving it would be a great way to explore Ireland. But the great thing that tour busses offer is that they give you extra info as they drive you through to the various spots, and you can go and see them all within one day because your time is managed for you.

Here is a comprehensive list of what to expect if you take the Dublin to Cliffs of Moher trip with Finn McCools:

The only way you get to fit so much into one day, is if the bus takes off from Dublin early, at 7am sharp. So it’s an early wake up call. I recommend doing it on a day where you don’t have an early start the following day because it is a long day!

#ProBusTip: If you arrive early you can pick the best seats, plus the Finn McCool team offer free tea and coffee that you can grab before getting on the bus. 

Because you are travelling from the east coast to the west coast of Ireland, the tour does a good job of breaking up the drive by stopping a few times along the way. The first stop is a quick stop to give you a chance to grab some food and use the bathroom. 

#ProBusTip: Bring a picnic lunch from home – will save you cash, plus it’s  hungry work travelling on a bus all day – pack extra snacks!

The next stop is a stop that is not offered by other bus tours, you get 30 minute photo stop at Kilmacduagh Monastery. The 11th century monastery ruins are nestled in the countryside of Ireland, and I loved the windy roads we travelled to get there.

Irish Country Roads, Ireland

It was also an opportunity to see another round tower. There are over 100 round towers dotted all over Ireland. The were built in the 12th century, and it is unclear on their purpose. They were built to be tall and skinny, and some think the reason for them was so that monks could climb in and hide during the viking raids. Others think that perhaps they were used as bell towers. No one really knows for sure, and since we moved to Ireland, I have become strangely fascinated in visiting all of them. There are over 50 that are still standing tall to this day.

Kilmacduagh Monastery, Ireland

So far we have seen 3 of them: one close to home in Clondalkin (interesting exhibition that really tells you a lot more about them plus you can visit the Happy Pear vegan restaurant and store), the other in Glendalough, and now this one here in Kilmacduagh.

Sometimes you can pay good money to take a tour bus all the way to the other side of Ireland to see the iconic Cliffs of Moher, only for the weather to screw up your plans. But if you go with it and enjoy yourself anyways, you could watch the mist clear and your view gets better with time. A symbol for what life is like perhaps? – – – – #discoverireland #ireland #irishlife #luckoftheirish #irishblogger #Eire #irelanddaily #irelandgram #instaireland #visitireland #tourismireland #wanderireland #irishpassion #cliffsofmoher #mohercliffs #westireland #wildatlanticway #westcoastireland #thebestisyettocome #goodthingscometothosewhowait #livinginthemoment #simpleliving #slowtravel #slowtraveller #traveltuesday #tuesdaytravel #traveltips #traveltiptuesday

A post shared by Meg | Minimalism & Slow Travel (@thisisus_living) on

The next stop was to see the iconic Cliffs of Moher! Unfortunately the day we went it was a bit misty, but the stop was over 1.5 hours, and thankfully the mist lifted and we were able to still catch a glimpse of the cliffs in all their splendor. We walked along the cliffs, and then walked the other way so that we could get a better view of them. There is a small restaurant and an exhibition area at the visitors center. But I think the best thing to do at the Cliffs of Moher is to actually get out there and walk along them and see them with your own eyes. But don’t be too risky – we saw people jumping over the barriers to get the perfect selfie. In wet and windy weather, you are putting your life at unnecessary risk, not to mention there are signs everywhere telling you not to do it!Cliffs of Moher

#ProBusTip: entry to the Cliffs of Moher is included in the price of the bus tour!

After the Cliffs of Moher, you get to travel along the wild atlantic way. This part of the tour is really picturesque and on a clear day you can see the aran islands.

The Burren and the baby Cliffs of Moher

We did a quick photo stop at the Burren, where you can see the Cliffs of Moher is the far distance. The Burren is a part of Ireland that looks nothing like the rest of Ireland. It is a huge area of hard limestone rock that looks like you are walking on the moon. Just be careful walking along the edge, it is a sheer drop!

The Burren

After this stop, we headed to the last stop, Galway City. Galway has been high on our list to get to. Rob stayed there as a student over 10 years ago, so he was keen to show me around this town he called home for a few months. I have to say that an hour is not nearly enough time to see everything Galway has to offer, so we decided to spend the time wisely by heading to a local pub and grabbing a pint. Perhaps we have been here too long – sitting in a pub feels like home. 🙂

Pub crawl in Galway City

We left Galway at 4:30pm, and then made the long trip back home. It was a long way back home, I almost think the trip requires another rest stop. We arrived back in Dublin at 8pm. A bus tour is a great way to get out and see a lot in a short time, but I definitely think it will be worth going back and seeing things a bit more slowly on our own.

HAVE YOU SEEN THE CLIFFS OF MOHER? HOW DID YOU TRAVEL THERE – BY BUS OR BY CAR?

Unlock the simple life,

~Meg~

p.s. If social media is your thing (snap! It’s my fave too!), you should totally follow me on Instagram.

p.p.s. I try post varied content once or twice a month, to be sure you don’t miss out on the new post you should sign up and get all the news straight in your inbox – Sign up now!

PIN THIS AND READ LATER:

Here is a comprehensive list of what to expect when you visit the Cliffs of Moher, the Burren and Galway in one day. I know bus tours go against most avid travel bloggers code of authentic tourist travel, but we don't yet own a car, and so it makes it a bit of a challenge to get to these places. It's easy enough to get from Dublin to Galway on a bus, but getting out in the country and having the flexibility to stop at the various sight-seeing spots is not so feasible when you are using public transport alone. What is most important is choosing the right bus tour to take.

Here is a comprehensive list of what to expect when you visit the Cliffs of Moher, the Burren and Galway in one day. I know bus tours go against most avid travel bloggers code of authentic tourist travel, but we don't yet own a car, and so it makes it a bit of a challenge to get to these places. It's easy enough to get from Dublin to Galway on a bus, but getting out in the country and having the flexibility to stop at the various sight-seeing spots is not so feasible when you are using public transport alone. What is most important is choosing the right bus tour to take.

7 Halloween inspired places to visit in Dublin

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If you are visiting Dublin in the month of October or over Halloween, here are some Halloween inspired places you can visit. The places are available to visit all year round, but just given that Halloween is coming up, I thought I would mention some places that may or may not be haunted. A few places that are spooky, but are also very interesting too - perfect for a Halloween night out.If you are visiting Dublin in the month of October or over Halloween, here are some Halloween inspired places you can visit. There is a Bram Stoker Festival that kicks off tomorrow and runs for 4 days and nights. Check out the website for a list of the activities that are on. In particular, I know we are keen to check out the Macnas Parade, happening on the 30th November from 6pm. It is free to watch the parade, it starts on Moore Street and weaves through Dublin shopping district.

[bctt tweet=”Did you know that Bram Stoker, an irish author who wrote the gothic novel Dracula, was born in Dublin! ” username=”thisisus_living”]

Then there are halloween inspired places in Dublin that are available to visit all year round,. I thought I would put together a list of the bizarre, haunted and spooky places that make for a perfect Halloween day or night out.

    • Glasnevin Cemetery & the body snatchers watch tower tour. Fun fact about Glasnevin Cemetery: there are over 1.5million are buried in the cemetery, which is a greater number than people alive living in Dublin! If you believe a zombie apocalypse is coming, perhaps avoid living in Dublin! The tour cost EUR13, and it is rated one of the best tourist attractions in Dublin (according to Trip Advisor). I strongly agree with this rating, next to Kilmainham Gaol, this was one of my favourite tours to go on. You are taken around the cemetery with a tour guide, who runs through interesting parts of Irish History, along with the very many interesting people who are buried on the grounds. You also get to visit Daniel O’Connell’s crypt, it is said to be lucky to knock on his coffin – hopefully he doesn’t know back!Fun fact about Glasnevin Cemetery: there are over 1.5million are buried in the cemetery, which is a greater number than people alive living in Dublin! If you believe a zombie apocalypse is coming, perhaps avoid living in Dublin! The tour cost EUR13, and it is rated one of the best tourist attractions in Dublin (according to Trip Advisor).
    • The National Museum of Archaeology (Bonus: it is free to visit; no entry admission fees!) Not only will you be able to see artifacts dating back to 7000BC, there is a current exhibition on showing the recent discovering of bog bodies found in 2003 in county Meath. A bog body is a human cadaver that has been naturally mummified in a peat bog.
    • Fans of the TV series “Penny Dreadful” should visit the Natural History Museum in Dublin. This is the scene where Dr. Alexander Sweet (or Dracula as most of us know him to be) poses as a zoologist to seduce Vanessa Ives. This museum is also free to visit, no entry admission fees. Fans of the TV series "Penny Dreadful" should visit the Natural History Museum in Dublin. This is the scene where Dr. Alexander Sweet (or Dracula as most of us know him to be) poses as a zoologist to seduce Vanessa Ives.  
    • Malahide Castle Tour. If you are looking for a tour of a haunted castle while visiting Dublin, then I suggest going to Malahide. Not only is this Castle haunted, but the tour is very interesting, so worth a visit. The gardens are well maintained and beautiful to wonder through too. You can pack a picnic or grab some lunch at the AVOCA that is on the grounds too. Entrance fee is EUR12.50 for adults, book a time slot online to avoid disappointment. Also, if you are keen on running, there is a parkrun on the grounds, every Saturday morning (which is free to run).

  • St. Michan’s Church. This church was founded in 1095, and was the only church north of the river Liffey for over 450 years. You can go on a tour of the crypts below the church for EUR6 (tours are only available on a Saturday morning between 10am – 12:45pm; and may be cancelled at short notice as it is a working church). The mummies in the vaults of St. Michan’s Church are the remains of nuns, monks and rebels who have naturally been preserved  in the crypts due to the dry atmosphere, and limestone in the building foundations. It is quite a macabre tour to go on, but I found it hugely interesting. It is illegal to open up coffins, however these coffins have naturally decayed or collapsed open, thus you are able to view some of the mummies that are inside. The mummies in the vaults of St. Michan's Church in Dublin are the remains of nuns, monks and rebels who have naturally been preserved  in the crypts due to the dry atmosphere, and limestone in the building foundations. The perfect tour for Halloween in Dublin, Ireland
  • Visit Dracula Castle for the Bram Stoker Dracula experience. I am very excited to do this, we have tickets to go this Saturday, so I will update the post thereafter. Dracula’s castle is located a stone’s throw from Bram’s old house at 15 Marino Crescent in Clontarf, Dublin. Tickets are EUR25 for a show and a tour of the castle. I am told it is also a top rated Trip Advisor spot in Dublin. I just hope I don’t jump out of my skin screaming, as much as I love vampire movies – I hate been surprised!
  • Gravediggers bus tour (plus free haunted history walking tour of Dublin). We have not done this, but have had friends who said it is well worth the EUR25. It is a tour done by a “plague infested” tour guide, although I am told it is not too spooky – but very funny, and a tad informative. The walking tour is included for free (usually EUR13 if you book it on its own) and I am told this has a lot more history and information.

WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR HALLOWEEN THIS YEAR?

Unlock the simple life,

~Meg~

p.s. If social media is your thing (snap! It’s my fave too!), you should totally follow me on Instagram.

p.p.s. I try post varied content once or twice a month, to be sure you don’t miss out on the new post you should sign up and get all the news straight in your inbox – Sign up now!

PIN THIS AND READ LATER:

If you are visiting Dublin in the month of October or over Halloween, here are some Halloween inspired places you can visit. The places are available to visit all year round, but just given that Halloween is coming up, I thought I would mention some places that may or may not be haunted. A few places that are spooky, but are also very interesting too - perfect for a Halloween night out.