Now that this season is sadley coming to an end , we are thing of our trips for the next. I Have been to Ireland a couple of times "years ago" fishing in my youth. ! We would like to go camping, probably on one site and have trips out and about. Just wondered if any of you folks had been, whats it like and can you recomend any sites ?
Cheers regards Dave
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
I would recommend Mannix Point in Co Kerry. I just wouldn't know where to start when telling you how good it is but read the reviews. Also, I blogged on my holiday there if you want to follow the link, there's a few photos too.
Love your blog Victoria- especially like your ingenious 'festival loo'. Never even thought of camping in Ireland but seems a great idea, may have to look further into it for next year
Cheers joolzbob, I was really pleased with my festival loo - saved me taking the Kampa Khazi.
If you ever do head over to Ireland let me know via the blog, we could have a mini meet.
Ireland had been quite expensive for three or four years, and although it's still quite dear, I've noticed the prices have gone down considerably. The campsites benefit from a lower VAT (all tourist related businesses are, from restaurants to ten pin bowling) and in most cases they're passing them on to the customer.
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
victoria,
How narrow are the roads leading to Mannix Point?
This is somewhere we like the look of and as we are really limited as to how long we will be able to get away next summer thought that we could go there.
We have been to the Anchor which is at Castlegregory, on the way from Tralee to Dingle, but have not been to the area where Mannix point is.
Bearing in mind the length of our caravan at 7.8m would we get there?????
Nee Naw I saw an American style RV on the site so I think if they can get in, you will be able to as well. Honestly you'd love it, it's a really well thought out site. The guy who runs it is an experienced camper and his right hand man set up the first motorhome club in Ireland in the sixties. So they really know how to run a site from a customers point of view.
I find that the Ordnance Survey Ireland websites interactive map is better than google earth or google maps. Although street view is handy because you can 'drive' down the lane towards the campsite, but not in to the campsite. That should help you figure out of you can get your caravan in or not.
I've just remembered that I took some photos of the laneway (great view from there). I'll post the photo when I get to work tomorrow
To get to the campsite you're going on the 'Ring of Kerry' from the north side, which is incredibly scenic. The roads are usual two lane carriageways, you don't need to pull in when someone is coming from the opposite direction. I heard that in summer the caravans, RV's and motorhomes (of which there are plenty)are sent around the Ring of Kerry in an anti-clockwise direction so that any wider than average units don't ever meet on the road. The last section, just before the campsite, is going through the centre of a large village called Caherciveen. It has the usual obstacles of parked cars on each side of the main through fare and of course one badly parked car buggers the whole thing up. As I already said, there are a lot of large units of one type of another making it through successfully.
The lane leading from the main Ring of Kerry down to the waters edge where the campsite is, is probably about 400m long (at a guess) and is a slope, a long gentle one. It is not tarmac'd, but it is in good repair. When you reach the end of the lane you turn right into the campsite, but it is not a sharp right. I was pitched on the other side of a low bank right at the entrance and watched (and waved off) many a caravan leaving. Although I'm a tenter my parents are caravanners so I have some idea about the requirements of a large unit.
I found the pic I wanted to post on (I though it was on my work computer) so here it is, the lane to the site is the one on the right. The weather station occupies the land to the left, and in the distance you can see Valencia Island.
Here's the link to the OSI interactive mapviewer. The map is really useful but does not extend into NI. The options on the left are handy for looking at historic maps as well as ortho maps, the 2005 one being the most recent and detailed of the lot as technology has improved. http://maps.osi.ie/publicviewer/#V1,591271,743300,0,10
Hoedown, I see from your blog that you went to the Apple in Tipperary. I was going there this summer until the reviews fir Mannix Point caught my eye. I might go next year, what did you think of it?
Victoria...as Nee Naw says The Apple is a quaint site, but good value for money. Below is how we reviewed it when we got home.
"This is a really quiet and peaceful site even when full and it was nice to sit out in the evening and enjoy the free apple juice, which we were given on arrival as well as taking advantage of the farm shop. The raspberries and plums were delicious and we had a lovely walk around the orchards.
There are toilets, showers, washing-up sinks and picnic tables in a barn which are a bit out-dated, but they are spotless with plenty of warm water. We were a little unhappy with the birds flying around us whilst washing up or showering.
The children seemed to be well-catered for, a play area as well as tennis courts.
There is plenty to do in the surrounding area, so could stay here for longer. We visited the Rock of Cashel, Cahir Castle, Swiss Cottage, all within a half-hour's drive, but it is also ideally placed for an overnight stop for ferries or travelling further, either north or south. "
We found that the hard-standing pitches were mainly around the perimeter, and the tents just pitched haphazardly in the middle. Obviously there were also a lot of trees around. Another bonus was free wi-fi.
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: Southern Ireland
. Never even thought of camping in Ireland but seems a great idea, may have to look further into it for next year
