Ireland’s best road trips to experience in your lifetime

A land of rugged natural beauty, charming villages and miles of coast and countryside, the island of Ireland, split into the separate Republic and Northern Ireland, offers plenty of terrain to explore.

Just a short flight or ferry from the UK mainland, Ireland isn’t short of tourist attractions, from Blarney Castle to the Giant’s Causeway, alongside the capitals of Dublin and Belfast – both of which offer a distinct flavour of city break.

With a wealth of rural terrain, the Emerald Isle’s most appealing landscapes are often most easily accessed by car. Luckily, a robust network of roads help make exploration of the island’s verdant interiors and dramatic coastlines both simple and enjoyable, from the thousand miles of the Wild Atlantic Way to the isle’s little-known rural boreens.

So, whether you prefer the rolling hills of the Irish countryside, the plunging cliffs of its coast or the vibrant atmosphere of the cities, there’s an Irish road trip to suit. Below, we’ve rounded up a list of some of the best.

Wild Atlantic Way

This 1,600-mile route is Ireland’s most famous road trip, taking in coastal scenery, natural landmarks and cities and towns including Galway and Donegal. It starts in the Inishowen Peninsula in the north, running south until it finishes in Kinsale, a quaint, southern, coastal town with colourful streets. It is divided into 14 stages, lasting anywhere from roughly 90 miles to almost 150.

Highlights along the Way include the Slieve League cliffs and the Cliffs of Moher, the rock formations of Downpatrick Head and towns including Kinsale. You’ll come across dozens of stunning beaches, from Keem’s Bay to Dunmoran, while also seeing miles of coastline and sections of cliffs including the stretch along the Atlantic Drive.

The Ring of Kerry

This loop is located on the Iveragh Peninsula and starts and ends in Killarney. It takes in some of Ireland’s most beautiful mountainous and countryside scenery, as well as lakes such as Lough Leane. Natural sites such as the Gap of Dunloe, Rossbeigh Beach, Moll’s Gap and the island of Skellig Michael await you on the 111-mile tour, as well as the Killarney National Park.

Unmissable highlights…