Southern Ireland 7 day driving tour.
Discussion
I spent two weeks around Eire, admittedly some years ago. One of the few places where I've never felt any desire to return.
Lovely scenery across much of the country. Rather run down and old fashioned in parts, with limited facilities.
Boring drunks, limited places for evening meals.
Lovely scenery across much of the country. Rather run down and old fashioned in parts, with limited facilities.
Boring drunks, limited places for evening meals.
I took my bike a few years ago. Ferry to Larne, and basically followed the coast anti-clockwise until I got to Dublin. As a solo traveller I found the Irish really easy to talk to, and very friendly (though in some parts of NI I was very conscious of the fact I was riding an orange bike on UK plates!). The OH then joined me in Dublin for a couple of nights, and flew back while I rode back from Hollyhead. The scenery, especially along the north and west coasts was pretty spectacular in places, the roads in a decent condition, and very little traffic. The only bit I didn't really enjoy was Dublin - but then I'm not really a 'city' person.
The Leaper said:
tjl said:
Head to the west coast and follow some of the wild Atlantic way. Achill island and the dingle peninsula were places we loved.
Absolutely agree! Achill Island when we went:url]|https://thumbsnap.com/JBhIqVAl[/url]
Weather was like this for a week.
R.
Make sure you call in Matt Molloys in Westport for a night out too
I’m s definitely head west of the Shannon as quickly as possible!
My aim would be Galway for a couple of days/nights
A great little city with a real vibe and great restaurants and bars catering for all ages and tastes .. the place has a real buzz
Real mix of hotels in the centre at various price points
From there you can trio out down the Wild Atlantic way towards Clare maybe stopping for lunch at Ballyvaughan in the Monks for the chowder or at Kinvara with a good choice of eateries/pubs
Another spot would be Moran’s on the Weir for the oysters/seafood closer back to Galway
After Galway I’d head west into Connemara up towards Cong and then out to Leenane where just past on the road to Clifden is a lochside take-away trailer that has in loads of awards “misunderstoodheron.com” food is delicious and you can sit down overlooking the only fjord in Ireland
Carrying on towards Clifden there’s the “sky road” which has absolutely amazing views
Along the coast, if the weather is fine you can get a boat trip from Rossaveal out to Innismore one of the Arran islands .. well worth a day trip
If you want to stay in the middle of quiet man country there’s a great hotel in the middle of nowhere the Delphi resort which offers a great base for exploring the really stunning Mayo/Galway scenery .. and the beaches they are amazing and empty
Westport is another great spot .. busy and touristy like Galway and a good base to head further north from
The coast road from Mulrany towards Achill is stunning and you’re literally driving on the edge of Europe .. Achill itself is stunning and there’s a big hill with a radio mast on it you can drive up which offers 360* views that are just insane “Minaun heights” it’s just above Keel beach which is truly stunning
Winding your way north up through Sligo and into Donegal offers much the same and if you feel like pushing the boat out Lough Eske castle or Harvey’s point are great hotels just outside Donegal town
There’s so much to see tbf and I’ve just tipped the ice berg but the north west part of the WoW is outstanding and offers a lot
My aim would be Galway for a couple of days/nights
A great little city with a real vibe and great restaurants and bars catering for all ages and tastes .. the place has a real buzz
Real mix of hotels in the centre at various price points
From there you can trio out down the Wild Atlantic way towards Clare maybe stopping for lunch at Ballyvaughan in the Monks for the chowder or at Kinvara with a good choice of eateries/pubs
Another spot would be Moran’s on the Weir for the oysters/seafood closer back to Galway
After Galway I’d head west into Connemara up towards Cong and then out to Leenane where just past on the road to Clifden is a lochside take-away trailer that has in loads of awards “misunderstoodheron.com” food is delicious and you can sit down overlooking the only fjord in Ireland
Carrying on towards Clifden there’s the “sky road” which has absolutely amazing views
Along the coast, if the weather is fine you can get a boat trip from Rossaveal out to Innismore one of the Arran islands .. well worth a day trip
If you want to stay in the middle of quiet man country there’s a great hotel in the middle of nowhere the Delphi resort which offers a great base for exploring the really stunning Mayo/Galway scenery .. and the beaches they are amazing and empty
Westport is another great spot .. busy and touristy like Galway and a good base to head further north from
The coast road from Mulrany towards Achill is stunning and you’re literally driving on the edge of Europe .. Achill itself is stunning and there’s a big hill with a radio mast on it you can drive up which offers 360* views that are just insane “Minaun heights” it’s just above Keel beach which is truly stunning
Winding your way north up through Sligo and into Donegal offers much the same and if you feel like pushing the boat out Lough Eske castle or Harvey’s point are great hotels just outside Donegal town
There’s so much to see tbf and I’ve just tipped the ice berg but the north west part of the WoW is outstanding and offers a lot
Edited by Earthdweller on Thursday 22 February 13:10
Don't forget the east coast!
County Wicklow is one of my favourites. You've got Avoca, Glendalough and the Meetings of the Waters for the scenery, Arklow for maritime museum, Wicklow town for the Gaol and Bray for the traditional seaside town. There's a great beach at Brittas Bay and because the rainclouds generally move west to east, the weather tends to be drier and sunnier.
County Wicklow is one of my favourites. You've got Avoca, Glendalough and the Meetings of the Waters for the scenery, Arklow for maritime museum, Wicklow town for the Gaol and Bray for the traditional seaside town. There's a great beach at Brittas Bay and because the rainclouds generally move west to east, the weather tends to be drier and sunnier.
Earthdweller said:
I’m s definitely head west of the Shannon as quickly as possible!
My aim would be Galway for a couple of days/nights
A great little city with a real vibe and great restaurants and bars catering for all ages and tastes .. the place has a real buzz
Real mix of hotels in the centre at various price points
From there you can trio out down the Wild Atlantic way towards Clare maybe stopping for lunch at Ballyvaughan in the Monks for the chowder or at Kinvara with a good choice of eateries/pubs
Another spot would be Moran’s on the Weir for the oysters/seafood closer back to Galway
After Galway I’d head west into Connemara up towards Cong and then out to Leenane where just past on the road to Clifden is a lochside take-away trailer that has in loads of awards “misunderstoodheron.com” food is delicious and you can sit down overlooking the only fjord in Ireland
Carrying on towards Clifden there’s the “sky road” which has absolutely amazing views
Along the coast, if the weather is fine you can get a boat trip from Rossaveal out to Innismore one of the Arran islands .. well worth a day trip
If you want to stay in the middle of quiet man country there’s a great hotel in the middle of nowhere the Delphi resort which offers a great base for exploring the really stunning Mayo/Galway scenery .. and the beaches they are amazing and empty
Westport is another great spot .. busy and touristy like Galway and a good base to head further north from
The coast road from Mulrany towards Achill is stunning and you’re literally driving on the edge of Europe .. Achill itself is stunning and there’s a big hill with a radio mast on it you can drive up which offers 360* views that are just insane “Minaun heights” it’s just above Keel beach which is truly stunning
Winding your way north up through Sligo and into Donegal offers much the same and if you feel like pushing the boat out Lough Eske castle or Harvey’s point are great hotels just outside Donegal town
There’s so much to see tbf and I’ve just tipped the ice berg but the north west part of the WoW is outstanding and offers a lot
Leenane is lovely. When we were there we stopped by the fjord and watched otters...amazing! And I can agree about the Sky Road. We based ourselves in Clifden for about a week, after attending a wedding in Naas Cathedral.My aim would be Galway for a couple of days/nights
A great little city with a real vibe and great restaurants and bars catering for all ages and tastes .. the place has a real buzz
Real mix of hotels in the centre at various price points
From there you can trio out down the Wild Atlantic way towards Clare maybe stopping for lunch at Ballyvaughan in the Monks for the chowder or at Kinvara with a good choice of eateries/pubs
Another spot would be Moran’s on the Weir for the oysters/seafood closer back to Galway
After Galway I’d head west into Connemara up towards Cong and then out to Leenane where just past on the road to Clifden is a lochside take-away trailer that has in loads of awards “misunderstoodheron.com” food is delicious and you can sit down overlooking the only fjord in Ireland
Carrying on towards Clifden there’s the “sky road” which has absolutely amazing views
Along the coast, if the weather is fine you can get a boat trip from Rossaveal out to Innismore one of the Arran islands .. well worth a day trip
If you want to stay in the middle of quiet man country there’s a great hotel in the middle of nowhere the Delphi resort which offers a great base for exploring the really stunning Mayo/Galway scenery .. and the beaches they are amazing and empty
Westport is another great spot .. busy and touristy like Galway and a good base to head further north from
The coast road from Mulrany towards Achill is stunning and you’re literally driving on the edge of Europe .. Achill itself is stunning and there’s a big hill with a radio mast on it you can drive up which offers 360* views that are just insane “Minaun heights” it’s just above Keel beach which is truly stunning
Winding your way north up through Sligo and into Donegal offers much the same and if you feel like pushing the boat out Lough Eske castle or Harvey’s point are great hotels just outside Donegal town
There’s so much to see tbf and I’ve just tipped the ice berg but the north west part of the WoW is outstanding and offers a lot
Edited by Earthdweller on Thursday 22 February 13:10
R.
The Leaper said:
Leenane is lovely. When we were there we stopped by the fjord and watched otters...amazing! And I can agree about the Sky Road. We based ourselves in Clifden for about a week, after attending a wedding in Naas Cathedral.
R.
It’s pretty stunning in all weathers really and a gratuitous shot of the roadster in Leenane and on Galway bay at Furbo and near Cong R.
Plus a bowl of chowder and a Galway hooker
Edited by Earthdweller on Thursday 22 February 16:52
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