You must head to the Visitors Centre to purchase your tickets first, which is actually a bit far away from the Newgrange site. The Republic of Ireland-United Kingdom border, sometimes referred to as the Irish border or British-Irish border, runs for 499 km (310 mi) [1] [2] from Lough Foyle in the north-west of Ireland to Carlingford Lough in the north-east, separating the Republic of Ireland from Northern Ireland . Legend has it that a giant built the Causeway as a path to connect Ireland with Scotland so he could take part in a fight, and if you use your imagination you can almost picture the columns forming a bridge between the two nations. The Sky Road Loop (20 km / 12 miles) - a jaw-droppingly beautiful route. Ireland Road Trip Planner. They offer free bus transport with your ticket from the Visitors Centre to Newgrange, but we recommend taking your own car to the site. 2. In the quieter towns you can easily book a hotel. You will be amazed. Enniscorthy is a gorgeous heritage village that was also home to centuries of sometimes tragic history. Explore historic Belfast, cross the famous Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge, drive along the Wild Atlantic Way, and wander through the medieval city of Londonderry before driving back to the . This is the only figure 8 route on this list, but the shape allows you to stay in the same accommodation if you want to complete the trip over two days. The drive will take you through narrow roads that cut through this barren landscape to sheer cliffside views. On this trip, youre not far from Irelands highest mountain. I just translated it above as it may help others too. The drink-driving limit in Ireland is a Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) of 0.05. But instead of heading west to Strangford, you instead drive east to the tiny (and charming!) If youre taking a few days to complete this trip, be sure to pack for all weather. To complete the experience dont miss out on a traditional Viking dinner in the restaurant. If you include Croagh Patrick in your road trip on the last Sunday of July, youll be able to attend the annual pilgrimage known as Reek Sunday. Though the Sperrins arent the biggest peaks in Northern Ireland (the tallest of them all is Sawel Mountain, which measures in at 678 meters/2,224 feet), theyre great for anyone seeking outdoor adventures. The Ards Peninsula 4. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Weve been traveling the world together since 2008, searching for the planets best destinations and adventures. The route runs across the northern and eastern coasts of Northern Ireland for almost its entirety, and takes you to countless famous places. (Birkenhead) to Belfast. If you are in a city and need to find a campground check out Camping Ireland website. 01 February 2023 Northern Ireland is an epic destination for a road trip. Check out Muckross House and the gardens. Read on. You can easily be in Dublin in 2 hours, but its worth stopping off at the Neolithic site of Newgrange. 9. And for all you budding geologists out there, the Copper Coast is also partially a, Inishowen Peninsula-Kinsale; 2600km (1600 miles), The pinnacle of Irish road trips. From rugged mountains to spectacular sea cliffs, experience the best of Ireland's gorgeous scenery with these hiking routes. After some research we found out the best campervan company in Ireland is Bunk Campers, and we decided to get something a bit more luxurious for our journey. Thanks for sharing and the huge inspiration! The Slea Head Drive is located on Dingle, one of Irelands most spectacular peninsulas. From Kearney, follow the seaside all the way to Donaghadee, a pretty and popular tourist destination. . Wow, Amazing pictures and fantastic guidelines. But if you like pretty woods, ancient relics, and insight into heritage, youll likely love it. As youre now on the Wild Atlantic Way you can expect to see more than your fair share of coastal scenes, but this one around Slea Head is pretty special. Hello, I really liked the motorhome route through Ireland, we want to go in August but we only have two weeks including day of arrival and departure from the United States. The best short road tripStarts and ends in Clifden; 16km (10 miles). village of Kearney. Instead, you should head out of Belleek on the A46, which runs across the southwestern shores of Lower Lough Erne. This article was first published April 2021 and updated January 2023. Heres our guide, including tips, highlights and our full Ireland road trip itinerary. Travel through the spine of the Wicklow mountains as you follow this winding road shrouded in a dark history. It's small, beautiful and packed with things to do. Start your journey with a road trip from Dublin to Londonderry/Derry, stopping at places like Cooley Peninsula and Belfast. Take a boat out to the Aran Islands, a World Heritage Site where the locals speak Irish as well as English and ancient, ruined churches are just waiting to be explored. . Ireland is a perfect place to campervan. However it did end up being a bit rushed, and you could easily extend this to a month if you wanted to do all the amazing side trips and hiking excursions around. This is to avoid the tour buses, which are forced to drive in an anti-clockwise direction. Ive covered short drives, long drives, coastal routes, mountainous rides, and everything in between. We personally headed to Quigleys Point and stayed at the Foyleside Caravan Park as we needed power to charge our laptops, and we enjoyed the spot. Overall, this isnt the most exciting or exhilarating Sperrins route, but it has some quaint highlights, and plenty of cute, quiet places to spend some time. However, it can be easily adjusted to 10-day Ireland itinerary in case you have only this amount of time for your vacation. We are 6 and we would not like to sleep every day in the motorhome. Sperrin Mountains (Tyrone) - Northern Ireland's biggest mountain range. If you need to be in Dublin tonight then you can be in the city quite easily, but personally we recommend heading to the fishing village of Howth, only 30 minutes from the city. While its only a short drive today your timing will be dependent on the ferry schedule that gets you across the small harbour from Tarbert to Killimer. For such a small island, Ireland doesnt lack for beautiful spots to visit. With so many landmarks to see along this route, it can be hard to fit it all into one trip, but the beauty of this road trip is even if you rarely leave the car, youll still experience some of Irelands most beautiful spots. We ended up watching sunset from a water reservoir that looked out over the whole town of Keel, and finding a place to camp next to an inland lake close by. ClimbCarrauntoohil, Irelands highest mountain. If you want to attack some high-level intense hikes, this isnt the route for you. The North Sperrins Route 8. But for most people, the major highlight is of course the Giants Causeway. You then head west back to Newtownards and your loop is complete! Spend the night in Tralee after doing some of the best attractions around Dingle: Today isnt a long day driving, and you really have two options on how you want to head to Lahinch you could take the ferry, creating an excellent short cut, or drive out to the city of Limerick. So in this book, Ive gathered my 6 years of digital-nomadding experience and Ive used it to answer all your questions, soothe all your fears, and get you on your way. The second part of the trip is all about hiking, so lace up your walking shoes and immerse yourself in the verdant and breathtaking natural beauty of the . Ring Of Kerry & Skellig Drive (262km) Beginning and ending in Killarney, the Ring of Kerry drive is one of Ireland's most magical. the section in and around Spelga Dam. I recommend stopping in both Helens Bay and Groomsport. Because of that, Im, For cycling Scotland is one of the best destinations on the planet. Hey! This 7-day Ireland road trip itinerary is arguably the most classic route to take in the country and it will take you by some fo the most iconic sites, charming cities, and beautiful scenery that the country has to offer. The Giant's Causeway. back in the 1700s is absolutely remarkable, and while we are usually dubious of recreations, this was world class! Visit the ancient Neolithic site of Newgrange. From Cork take the backroads to Ballylickey, then head onto the Beara Peninsula. There are trains, trams and buses. This is one of the more unique ways to cross the choppy waters below and is definitely worth checking out. Detour: While youre already on the road, you should add one of Irelands highest mountain passes the Conor Pass to your list. Once youve managed to pry yourself away from Killarney (it might take a while), you have another epic drive to check out on your Ireland road trip. The road to Meencarrick has some beautiful, old village and surf beaches to check out. The best road trip in the EastTramore-Dungarvan; 40km (25 miles). As mentioned above, Newgrange is one of the real highlights of any Ireland road trip, and learning all about the massive passage tomb is splendid, especially when you consider its older than Stonehenge and the Great Pyramids! Youll find sheep grazing on pastures that butt up against the ocean. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from Qualifying Purchases. If you have time, do both. The castle is well worth visiting, but dont miss out on the views from Vinegar Hill, which was actually the location of a fierce battle between British and Irish soldiers in 1798. You can park your van by the dock and head out to get fish and chips, or if you want a perfect place to stay head into the only hotel in town (yes, the only hotel in town), King Sitric. Kylemore Abbey is not actually a castle. Here you can visit the quirky Ulster American Folk Park with its Irish and American homesteads and the truly impressive recreation of an emigrant ship. ), a heater (so good on those cold mornings) and a dining table to sit at. All thoughts, opinions and pints of Guinness drunk at Irish pubs are, as always, our own.[/box]. Finishing up in Donegal hit up one of the excellent restaurants and down it all with a pint of Guinness. It is a monastery built on the grounds of the Castle. Just to the east of Strangford Lough, you have the Ards Peninsula, which is formed by the small inlet which creeps from the lough into the sea. Your trip is short but doesnt mean you cant see some awesome places. Then, be sure to traverse the precarious Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge that links the mainland with the stunning craggy outcrop of Carrick Island. The area around Ballina has some cool, old friaries, and once you get to Sligo youll find tonnes of outdoor adventures to enjoy. The next stop on your road trip around Ireland is Newgrange and Br na Binne, which are 45 minutes south from Carlingford. Such a beautiful country. Or whether you need a visa. Northern Ireland has many mountains, but I think these are the most interesting, rugged and action-packed peaks in the nation. Planning tip:We recommend taking at least two weeks to complete this road trip if you want to see as much as possible. To get between them, you need to drive your car onto a small passenger ferry, for one extra adventure. RT @IAMRoadSmart: In honour of St Patrick's day and to celebrate the heritage and culture in Ireland, why not take another look at the Northern Ireland road trip suggested in our Roads to Romance campaign, which includes all the amazing must-sees around Belfast. Looking for the 11 best drives in Northern Ireland? There is a lot to do and see. Its not just cool scenery theres also a bunch of history, with stone beehive huts peppered along the coast and the impeccable Gallarus Oratory adding to the awesomeness of Slea Head Loop. Before you begin this drive, make sure you explore Belfastits a brilliant city with excellent history, heritage and music. Enjoy the coastal road in Northern Ireland. The best road trip to experience old IrelandStarts and ends in Killarney (travel clockwise); 179km (111 miles). There are tour companies that will do trips up or down to place. When you do rent, make sure you can take the rental car/camper into Northern Ireland. Have a wonderful trip. Thanks so much Veronica. In addition to the main Causeway Coastal Route, there are nine mini loops which you can add to your itinerary for even more fun and adventure. Planning Tip: If you include Croagh Patrick in your road trip on the last Sunday of July, youll be able to attend the annual pilgrimage known as Reek Sunday. One of the most remarkable things about Newgrange is that the entrance passage is aligned to let in a beam of light during sunrise during the winter solstice. If you like the idea of visiting these sites but want to go on a guided tour instead to fully enjoy the experience, then get any of the following tours, they are highly-rated by travelers and include many stops along the way. The entire length of ocean roads in Donegal is great, but make a special detour to Malin Head, the northernmost point in the Republic of Ireland (even further north than Northern Ireland). Fall in love with the scenery around Glenveagh National Park. Hi Ashley, we had downloaded maps.me and the areas we need offline. It can get a little crazy sometimes. The rope bridge has existed for over 250 years for fishermen to reach the island which is home to a single fisherman's cottage. If you have time before settling in Donegal do the drive out to Slieve League, otherwise you can do it in the morning. Im planning a trip (in July) to Ireland- but will only have 4 days eek. Visit the Skelligs Two rocky islands off the coast of Ireland home to an old monastery, puffins, and was used as a film scene in the latest Star Wars movie. The Cooley Peninsula drive proves that not all road trips need to be long-distance. The Sky Road Loop offers some of the best sweeping views of the, Carrauntoohill-Mweelrea-Slieve Donard-Lugnaquilla; 865km (540 miles). If youre into hiking, or want to do some of the day excursions around the Ring of Kerry you might need to break up your trip into two or three days. There are nuns who live there now and it also has a beautiful walled garden. The Wild Atlantic Way will show adventurers both the natural beauty and the absolute craic that Ireland has to offer. And, as an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. We were really looking forward to visiting Belfast, and it did not disappoint. You can pick up a sim card with data for cheap and we used this. No part of this site may be reproduced without our written permission. There are Wild Atlantic Way markers at every point of interest along this incredible road trip to help you find your way, and you can follow the symbols attached to almost every road sign on the route so you dont get lost. The Sperrins region is in the western part of Northern Ireland, and features a huge range of mountains. Have a great trip. 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