Ireland is the Perfect Road Trip
Visit Ireland by ferry for the road trip of your dreams. Stunning landscapes, mythical places to visit, and easy driving routes await you when you road trip Ireland from France via the new Hibernia ferry route from Boulogne-sur-Mer.
You simply can’t beat the beautiful Irish countryside, and the rugged coastline provides fairytale sights and legends to explore. If you want to experience the best of nature tourism, as well as delicious food and drinks and a culture that will welcome you with open arms, an Irish road trip is the answer to all of your holiday questions. Let’s take a look at the options for road tripping in Ireland, and we’ll share our top tips to make your trip extra special.
Drive from France to Ireland
Travelling from France to Ireland is a simple process with the new Hibernia Line ferry, which will take you and your vehicle directly from Boulogne to Ringaskiddy port in Cork, Ireland. This bypasses the UK, so there’s no need to worry about leaving the EU, and takes you directly to the heart of Ireland’s magical South Coast. From here, there are several options to explore the Emerald Isle, and all of them will provide you with wonderful culinary and cultural experiences.
The ferry takes just 21 hours, and you’ll travel in comfort with more than 350 well-equipped cabins. You’ll begin your trip in style on board, and when you arrive in Ireland, you can simply drive off the ferry and start your adventure.
Ireland has a complex history, and it is packed with opportunities to make special memories. Whether you want to focus your trip on discovering famous landmarks, unpicking the legends or enjoying the heritage crafts created here, you’ll be spoilt for choice when you start your road trip in Cork.
Making Your Travel Plans
If your road trip to Ireland is a long-held dream, you’ll probably have a good idea of the places you want to explore. However, if you’re just beginning to plan your trip, perhaps the Wild Atlantic Way will tempt you. You can travel the entire route or pick a few stops to explore at your own pace. First of all, you’ll need to decide whether you’ll be travelling in a camper van (your own or hired) or whether you’ll be travelling by car and stopping in at boutique hotels and guesthouses along the way.
The first thing to think about is who will be joining you on your road trip. Planning for yourself and a partner or friend is a totally different kettle of fish to planning a road trip for a family, and you’ll need to consider the amount of driving each person will be able to handle at a time. For young children – or impatient passengers – you will need to schedule several stops during the day and take plenty of time to explore when you stay in a new area overnight.
Think about the interests of each person on the trip and look out for routes that have something to appeal to everyone. Ireland offers a plethora of experiences, from culinary excellence to historical sites and beautiful beaches, so planning your trip is all part of the fun. If you’re road tripping alone, of course, you can indulge your own whims and treat yourself as you travel at your own pace. Ireland is a welcoming and friendly place for solo travellers as well as families and groups.
The Wild Atlantic Way
When you’re visiting Ireland, you can really make the most of your trip by exploring the Wild Atlantic Way, a scenic route along the west coast of Ireland. It is a stunning journey, taking you through nine different counties, and at 1600 miles (2,600 km), it’s one of the longest defined coastal routes in the world.
The Wild Atlantic Way runs from beautiful Kinsale in County Cork to the stunning Malin Head in County Donegal, and has inspired writers and artists for centuries. Taking an adventure here will give you the chance to explore Ireland’s rich heritage, and some of the highlights include:
- Cliffs of Moher. The Cliffs of Moher are a natural wonder, with several viewing points to appreciate the staggering heights, which have inspired ancient myths and even been featured in films, including The Princess Bride. Rising 214 metres above sea level, you can see as far as the Aran Islands from O’Brien’s Tower, which was built on the edge of the cliffs in 1835. You can visit the impressive visitor centre or book a guided tour to make the most of your visit.
- Kylemore Abbey. Don’t miss the fairytale Kylemore Abbey, with its impressive gardens and waterfront location. The beautiful Victorian rooms have been carefully restored, and you can explore the Neo-Gothic church and unusual walled garden. The history of this stunning estate is fascinating, and its location on Connemara Lake is breathtaking – it’s certainly a destination you must visit on your Wild Atlantic Way road trip.
- Poulnabrone Dolmen. Some of the landmarks along the Wild Atlantic Way are truly spectacular, and this ancient portal tomb in the Burren National Park, in County Clare, is a good example. This is the oldest dated megalithic monument in Ireland and has stood watch over the Burren for between 5,200 and 5,800 years. The stones, some weighing 1.5 tonnes, were manoeuvred and placed by the Neolithic settlers to create this sacred burial place, which is named ‘the hole of sorrows’. As well as human remains, archaeologists have also found stone weapons, jewellery and pottery here, and you can visit the Clare Museum in Ennis to view many of these.
- Bunratty Castle and Folk Park. If you love history, this will be a highlight of your adventure, and you can enjoy a feast in the medieval fortress and unearth the secrets of the 19th-century village near Limerick. The Bunratty Castle site was a Viking trading camp in the 12th century, and the current castle is the fourth built on the site since then, constructed in 1425. You can enjoy a walk through the recreated 19th-century village, which includes costumed characters, or join the nobility for a memorable evening in the Great Hall of the Castle itself. The attention to detail is excellent here, and you and your family will remember this visit forever.
- Skellig Islands. The Skellig Islands are a highlight of the Wild Atlantic Way, accessible only by boat and inhabited by an incredible range of seabirds. The Skellig Islands were used as a film location for Star Wars: The Force Awakens, and once you see the dreamlike landscapes here, you’ll know why! You are likely to see puffins on the rocks and beehive huts built by the monks who retreated here in the 6th century. Visitor numbers are limited, and boat trips are weather-dependent, so you will need to book in advance to visit Skellig Michael and Little Skellig.
- Westport House. Located on the Carrowbeg River in County Mayo, Westport House was built on the foundations of a castle built by the Pirate Queen of Connacht, Grace O’Malley, in the 1500s. Westport House has been open to the public since 1960, and you can take a fascinating guided tour before enjoying a walk around the grounds or a pedal boat experience on the lake! Westport Adventure is located on the grounds and offers Ireland’s largest net park, with a giant swing, zipline, and leap-of-faith challenge.
Of course, stopping off along the way to make the most of the best food and drink Ireland has to offer is all part of the fun, and we recommend taking your time to explore the unique villages and towns en route. Kinsale is a harbour town in West Cork, full of independent shops and creative culture. It’s the ideal place to start your road trip, and Dingle and Killarney are also highly recommended for food and shopping opportunities along the way.
Alternatively, you might wish to explore Ireland’s Ancient East or pick a couple of cities you’ve always wanted to visit and plan your road trip around these. We highly recommend taking the time to explore Dublin and Cork if this idea takes your fancy!
Slow Travel
The countryside you travel through on the Wild Atlantic Way is very special, and you’ll pass Errigal, Donegal’s tallest mountain at 751m, as well as the Glencar Lake and waterfall, which offer more great opportunities for walking and hiking. There’s something wonderful about exploring at your own pace, and you can take your time to discover the area when you are flexible on your road trip. Even if you have booked your accommodation in advance, you can plan to enjoy slow days between destinations and make the most of the amazing landscapes Ireland has to offer.
Road tripping gives you the time to experience the way of life here in Ireland, stopping in at country pubs and discovering the unique history of the ancient civilisations here. You can choose your itinerary to suit yourself and your travelling companions, and you can add walking and cycling into your plans to allow you to get off the road and explore authentic Ireland. There are many festivals throughout the summer in Ireland, and you can time your trip to include or avoid them as you wish!
The Irish Experience
When you’re road tripping in Ireland, you’ll want to immerse yourself in the culture to really make the most of your experience. You can make the most of the opportunity to embrace the Irish spirit when your trip revolves around Irish hospitality, so don’t be afraid to get stuck in. The Irish craic is famous all over the world, and you can experience it for yourself when you visit authentic Irish pubs or take a music tour along the Wild Atlantic Way. Traditional music sessions take place in many local pubs, and many visitors enjoy meeting and getting to know local musicians as they discover this culture for themselves.
The cuisine in Ireland represents a wide array of tastes, from seafood to locally farmed produce and drinks made from foraged ingredients. There are a plethora of restaurants and pubs to visit in every city and town in Ireland, and you’ll love the little ice cream shops and bakeries, too. You can take a foodie tour or a pub tour to enjoy the full Irish experience, and you can even book a cooking lesson to take more than memories home with you after your trip.
Your Irish Road Trip Packing Essentials
Don’t forget that you can carry everything you need with you on your road trip when you’re bringing your own vehicle from France to Ireland. You’ll need to prepare yourself for changeable weather conditions. There are plenty of outdoor clothing outlets here in Ireland, so you can fully equip yourself when you arrive, but you will certainly want to include versatile layers and a good waterproof jacket in your luggage. Walking shoes or boots will ensure that you make the most of the walks and hikes here in Ireland, and planning your itinerary will help to ensure that you have the right kit for your trip.
And of course, when you’re taking a road trip – regardless of your destination – you’ll want to ensure that you have packed everything you might need in an emergency. A travel first aid kit is a must-have, and it is important to check that you have all the correct documents with you, including a driving license, passport and insurance for your trip. Getting this bit right will save you stress and headaches along the way, so be sure to refer back to our helpful road trip checklists!
The Hibernia Line: France to Ireland Ferry with Car
The Hibernia Line will take you directly from Boulogne-sur-Mer to Cork, with six departures per week to choose from. Cork is the perfect place to begin your Irish road trip, located in the south of Ireland, so you can easily access the Wild Atlantic Way and other impressive locations. With scenic drives through stunning countryside and friendly towns, Ireland offers easy driving and the best of nature tourism, so it’s the perfect road trip destination.
Planning a road trip in Ireland is a wonderful way to holiday in Europe, driving at your own pace and exploring ancient treasures and modern culinary delights. You’ll find a genuine Irish welcome and some wonderful experiences you’ll remember forever along the way, so take a moment to start planning your Irish road trip today.