6 of the best road trips in Ireland
21.07.2023 - 08:17
/ roughguides.com
The Republic of Ireland’s phenomenally popular Wild Atlantic Way takes in a dizzying 2500km coastal route from Cork to Donegal, but not all of us have three weeks to get behind the wheel – and no visitor to Ireland should miss out on the ribboning roads that skirt secluded mountains and the rolling farmland of the lush green hinterland. Rough Guides author Rachel Mills sets out to find six of the best road trips in Ireland that can easily be tackled in a day.
If one of these routes catches your eye, we can help! Our Tailor-Made Trips service will connect you with a local expert to plan a fully customised fly-and-drive excursion.
Head south of Dublin and make for the village of Bray, then take the R117 to the village of Enniskerry, drinking in the views of the Great Sugar Loaf mountain looming large on the skyline.
Don’t miss the formal Italian gardens and Ireland’s highest waterfall at Powerscourt Estate, before continuing your journey to Glencree and the Military Road (R115), which climbs towards the panoramic Sally Gap.
Stark scree slopes are all around, and the remote monastic site of Glendalough, “the valley of the two lakes”, is one of the most memorable stops in the Wicklow Mountains. Return to Dublin via the picturesque village of Roundstone, 220m above sea level.
Best for: city folk who want a rural experience.
Duration: an entire day.
Insider tip: the Wicklow Mountains National Park Information Office, at the eastern end of Glendalough’s Upper Lake, has details of local walks and runs free guided nature tours.
© Lukasz Pajor/Shutterstock
From Glengarriff, your route takes in the service town of Castletownbere, beyond which is the Dzogchen Beara Buddhist Meditation Centre, which has a café and blissful meditation garden that overlook the Atlantic.
At the very tip of this craggy outcrop into the Atlantic, you can ride the ancient cable car across to tiny Dursey Island. Continuing to the north of the peninsula, the start of the wild R575 has spectacular views of crashing waves on one side, and gorse-covered mountains on the other; remote Allihies has an interesting mining history and stunning loop walks.
Those who continue on the winding road to Kenmare miss out on the magnificent Healy Pass, a lonesome road of hairpin bends where the wind whistles through the rocks and unbelievable vistas unfold below.
Best for: coastal landscape junkies.
How long: an entire day.
Insider tip: overnight in Allihies, and spend a couple of days on the peninsula.
Dreaming of your trip to Ireland? You won't want to miss our guide to the best things to do in Ireland.
Healy Pass © walshphotos/Shutterstock
The shoreline of one of Ireland’s biggest lakes is dotted with sleepy countryside villages and towns. Start out at the south of