The best places to see and things to do on a three-week road trip around Ireland? JOAN SCALEShas the answers
Three weeks to tour Ireland
My boyfriend and I are planning a three-week trip around Ireland this summer. We will be travelling by car from July 20th. Neither of us has seen much of the country and our route, so far, is basically travelling around the coastal counties in a clockwise direction from Dublin. What must-see spots, villages, festivals or drives do you suggest? We’re looking for easy hikes, and perhaps the occasional horse-ride/ other activity. Our budget is fairly limited so we plan to bring camping gear as an alternative to hostels/B&Bs. What websites would you suggest to source cheap but decent accommodation?
SB, Dublin
What a brilliant trip and one that many people would love to do.
There is a great list of camping sites on camping-ireland.ie. When you need a solid roof over your head, you will find that hostels are good, cheap and friendly places to stay: see hostelbookers.com, hostelworld.com and anoige.ie. For B&Bs try try bandbireland.com.
Every town and village in Ireland has something for you to see or do. Take your time, talk to people and you will enjoy it more. It is festival season and you will be able to take in one or two on your route: see discoverireland.ie. During your trip the following festivals are on: Spraoi in Waterford city; Independence, a boutique music festival in Mitchelstown; Killarney Summerfest; Galway Races; Ballyshannon Trad Fest; Greencastle Regatta, and more.
For horse-riding, there are plenty of stables around the country: see discoverireland.ie for a list of stables and maps of Irish looped walks.
Here are some places worth seeing: Glendalough, Roundwood and Enniskerry in Wicklow are lovely villages. Wexford is famous for its beaches, so definitely a walk on the sand there. Travel up the Nore to see the medieval city of Kilkenny, where there are great pubs with good music.
The Copper Coast in Waterford often gets over looked and Cork, Ireland’s biggest county, is famous for its coastal towns and scenery. No trip around the country would be complete without an island visit, and from Baltimore in west Cork you can visit Cape Clear, Sherkin and Heir islands – why not camp on one?
Kerry has so many places to see that you could spend weeks there. My favourites are Kenmare, the Black Valley and Inch Strand. Drive the Ring of Kerry for some great scenery.
You could skip Limerick by taking the Tarbert to Killimor ferry that leaves you in Co Clare or travel around the coast into Limerick city. Bunratty Castle and Folk Park are fun to visit to see Irish heritage.
In Co Clare, visit Lahinch for the surfing and fun, the Cliffs of Moher for the views, go to a music session in Doolin for music, hop inland to see Lisdoonvarna and take either the Corkscrew Hill road or the coast road into Ballyvaughan, both lovely drives.
Stop a while in Galway to experience this busy city and then drive to Connemara. Don’t miss Roundstone or Clifden. From Clifden take the Sky Road for a spectacular drive. You could also see one or two of the islands here with ferries from Cleggan and Roonagh to Inish Bofin, Inish Turk, and Clare Island.
Into Mayo and the drive to Mulranny is gorgeous. Go to Achill Island for beautiful beaches and then head to the Ceide Fields to see the Neolithic site. A stop in Westport would be lovely for Croagh Patrick.
On your way to Donegal pass through Sligo – it’s got great scenery and is largely unspoiled. Sligo town has some good pubs and music sessions. A walk up Knocknaree gives you a chance to see Queen Maeve’s cairn and the greenness of Yeats country.
In Donegal Bundoran has been the holiday centre of the northwest for years, but just give it a little look and then move further north towards Rossnowlagh and Ardara and continue up the coast for spectacular scenery and great beaches. You can also see the Inishowen Peninsula and then take the ferry from Greencastle to Magilligan Point in Derry for a visit to that city (discovernorthernireland.com).
The drive along Derry’s north coast is interesting. Stop at Downhill Demesne to see the iconic Mussenden Temple, a Roman beauty on the cliff top. As you drive Antrim’s Causeway coast stop at Dunluce Castle, the Giant’s Causeway and Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge.
Following the coast around will bring your to the small towns of Cushendun and Cushendall and where the glens of Antrim sweep down to the coast. Continue all the way to Belfast, where you should stop for a night or two to explore the city. Take the road towards Newcastle and continue along the Down coast towards Warrenpoint and Newry.
Avoid the motorway at Newry by taking the Carlingford Lough road and explore the Cooley Peninsula. Stay a while in Carlingford where there is music most nights in the pubs. You are only an hour from Dublin now on the M1, but take the coast road and discover the little villages along the way.
GO ASK JOAN:E-mail questions, with your name and address, to jscales@irishtimes.com