Top 5 Irish Drives – The best scenic road trips in Ireland
Whether you fancy a holiday with friends or family full of castles, greenery, and fun adventures, or a weekend in nature to disconnect from your professional life, Ireland certainly has it all. have to. The Emerald Isle can both offer you some peace and quiet in the countryside, as well as make you love the bustle of its cities. And with the roads in good condition and the circuits relatively easy, you won’t have a hard time hitting the road. To give you ideas of routes to take by car in Ireland, here are 5 road trips to explore Ireland:
1. Dublin to Galway (208km)
Fly to Dublin and take the wheel on a magical journey through Ireland, passing some of the country’s most romantic castles and impressive fortresses en route to Galway. The first stop is the Martello Tower in Dublin, which is the former home of Irish novelist and poet James Joyce. On your way to Trim, break to see the largest castle in Ireland and the most important complex of Norman architecture in Europe, dating from the 13th century. Before arriving at your final destination, make a pit stop at Athenry Castle, a charming medieval walled town.
2. From County Kerry to Cork (100 km)
Kiss a magic stone upside down and you will gain the gift of eloquence. That’s what you can experience at Blarney Castle, located in the small town of Blarney in County Cork. Drive through County Kerry, past the mountains, and along the rugged coastline, until you reach this charming castle, the ancestral home of the McCarthy clan and the legendary Blarney Stone, known as the ‘Stone of Eloquence’. “. When you finally arrive in Cork, reward yourself after a hard day on the road with a pint of local beer made at the Franciscan Well Brewery located in a Franciscan monastery.
3. Dublin to Portlaoise (138km)
When you’re tired of partying in Temple Bar sipping pints of the famous Guinness, escape the city and head to the very natural Wicklow Mountains. Picnic at the foot of Powerscourt Waterfall, Ireland’s highest waterfall, in a scenic location surrounded by oak and pine trees. Hike through the Wicklow Mountains National Park and stop for the night in the charming village of Laragh. Take time to gaze at the tranquility of the Glendalough Valley, where you will find a 6th-century monastic settlement founded by St. Kevin. Immerse yourself in the magnificent landscapes and you’ll feel like you’re thousands of miles from the bustle of Dublin, yet only a few dozen miles away.
4. Donegal to Cork (2500 km)
The longest coastal tourist route in the world, the Wild Atlantic Way, is an iconic route that includes many points of interest and stunning scenery. You can rush out and do the whole route in a few days, but why not take your time and spend a bit more time on the road making lots of stops? Visit the Hell’s Hole, a long, deep, and narrow chasm where the swell rumbles and crashes, at Malin Head, County Donegal. Why not take the time to observe the Atlantic Ocean from the tip of the peninsula and the imposing lighthouse of Loop Head?
5. Belfast to Londonderry (250km)
Spend a few days exploring Northern Ireland’s capital, bustling Belfast, before setting off on the Causeway Coastal Route. Follow in the giant footsteps of the mythical Finn McCool, and see the famous Giant’s Causeway. This incredible staircase, allegedly built by McCool to defeat his Scottish rival Benandonner, comprises 40,000 hexagonal basalt columns and was actually formed by the surface cooling of lava more than 60 million years ago. Another site worth a stop is the 20 m-long Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge to Carrick Island, where you will find the ruins of medieval Dunluce Castle, gushing waterfalls in Glenariff Forest Park, and dazzling limestone cliffs.
All around Ireland at your leisure
A road trip in Ireland is a real adventure, and you are also free to take the course you like, for example, to go around Ireland in one direction or the other. But such a trip requires a minimum of organization. The idea is to rent a car in Dublin, after landing in the capital. It is by far the easiest city to arrive from France.