As you drive through Ireland, you’ll be sure to spot something of interest. Even a short spin out of a city will give you unexpected views – whether it’s a sprinkling of villages, a mountain rising in the distance or an expanse of lake flocked with birds. From the comfort of your own car, discover the whole of Ireland and what it has to offer – north to south, east to west.
And it’s only a two-hour hop across the Irish Sea by ferry, so you can bring your own car with you and pack everything you need, even the dog. That means no worries about weight restrictions or the hassle of carrying luggage at either end of the journey. And you can bring any sports equipment you need for a fun-filled family holiday.
Irish Ferries offer two routes and up to eight sailings daily. Drive on at Holyhead, north Wales, travel on “Ulysses”, the largest cruise ferry on the Irish Sea, or “Dublin Swift”, the fastest vessel, speeding you to your destination in 1 hour 49 minutes, and roll off straight into Dublin’s fair city. Or for easy access to Ireland’s sunny south-east, choose the more southerly route from Pembroke in south Wales to Rosslare in County Wexford, travelling in style on “Isle of Inishmore”.
There’s a perfect driving route for you that you will love exploring. The Wild Atlantic Way is the world’s longest defined coastal touring route – drink in its spectacular scenery wherever you are along the road, from Cork through Limerick, Galway and Donegal.
With a car, you are spoiled with a plethora of driving itineraries. From Rosslare, a scenic drive south-west will give you the chance to marvel at the mountains of Killarney, and enjoy the expanse of woodland, lakes and waterfalls that make up the national park. Make sure you pop in to Muckross House while you’re in Kerry. This is an exquisitely preserved 19th-century mansion with beautifully designed gardens, and there’s a traditional farm alongside it that takes you back almost a century to see how ordinary families managed their daily routines.
Take a trip in your car to the Rock of Cashel in County Tipperary, the home of the kings of Munster prior to the Norman invasion, and admire the stunning mediaeval architecture perched on a jag of limestone in the Golden Vale. There are more modern additions too, including a library which hosts talks and exhibitions.
From Dublin, it’s a short drive to County Cavan, offering the perfect opportunity to get your fishing rods out as you settle in for a day at Belturbet and make the most of its location on the banks of the Erne.
With all the natural beauty on view, it’s easy to forget that towns and villages relied on heavy industry for their income. In Leitrim, stop at the Sliabh an Iarainn visitor centre to find out about the iron industry and coalmining, and how the people who lived here went about their work during the Industrial Revolution. Of course, there’s still plenty outdoors to enjoy – look at Drumshanbo’s beautiful Lough Allen, where you can fish for pike, trout and roach, or simply take in the views as you hike around one of its walking trails.
If you’re in the mood for something a touch more physical, Ireland’s only tree canopy walk should be your next pit-stop. It’s in Lough Key forest park, and you simply walk through the branches and enjoy the views. Once you’re finished and have your feet back on the ground, you can wander around the rest of the park and find some of the hidden treasures on the estate, a sanctuary for horticulture and wildlife.
Take a detour west to see Boyle Abbey, at the foot of the Curlew Mountains. This was home to the first Cistercian monastery in Ireland – its impressively preserved architecture dates from the 12th century.
Ireland’s rightly famous for its excellent food and drink – and you can get back to nature and taste some of its finest produce at one of the beekeeping centres. Mill Lane Beekeeping in Drumcroman, a short drive from Drumshanbo, sells all sorts of homemade goodies including, of course, its honey. If you’re inspired to give beekeeping a go yourself, you can pick up all the gear there.
Before you leave the area, nip up to Cleighran More, next to Lough Allen. This is where you can find St Hugh’s Holy Well and its bright orange water. Scientists would say the unique colour is because of its high levels of iron content; others might favour a more mystical explanation. Either way, this is a great place to enjoy a picnic and look out across the lake.
Whatever you decide to add to your list of must-sees, make sure you take plenty of time. Cruise the coastal paths and tour the villages of Ireland – there really is something for everyone.
Top tips on driving in Ireland
To drive in Ireland, you will need either a full valid UK driving licence. Make sure you have all your documentation with you, just in case.
It’s easy to cross on one of Irish Ferries’ regular crossings and take your own car. Choose from up to eight departures a day.
Just like the UK, there are plenty of service stations on the motorways across Ireland if you need a break – but you could always try a bit of spontaneity and head into a nearby village. If you’re travelling between Dublin and Cork, for example, take a detour into Cashel or Fermoy for a refreshment stop. The best of Ireland can often be found off the beaten track.
Cars in Ireland drive on the left-hand side of the road, just like at home. So driving is a familiar and comfortable experience.
But, perhaps a touch more confusingly, the Republic of Ireland uses kilometres, while Northern Ireland uses miles as its measure of distance (and miles per hour for speed).
Signposts in Gaeltacht (Irish-speaking) areas are written in Irish (Gaelic).
In Ireland, passengers are required by law to wear seat belts at all times in the front and back of the vehicle. No excuses.
You have to pay tolls for some motorways. Most don’t take credit cards so make sure you’ve got some small coins on you.
It’s wonderful to drive across Ireland, but younger passengers might start to get a bit impatient, wondering when they’ll be allowed out of the car to run around on the beach or to play in the woods. Wherever you’re going, make sure you prepare for the journey by stocking up on books and puzzles, and loading tablets with the children’s favourite films. Don’t forget to charge the tablet too, otherwise there will be tears.
Nevertheless, journey distances in Ireland are much shorter than in the UK. Most journeys take a couple of hours at most, so you are never far from a beach, woodland or the craic.
If you’ve got a bit more time to prepare before you set off, put together an I Spy quiz for them. There’s plenty in Ireland for you to see out of the car window, so why not turn it into a game, and see who can spot landmarks first? It keeps them distracted – and it’s educational too.
And don’t forget there’s free wifi on board all Irish Ferries services.
