Do you think various shades of green and hundreds of sheep when you think of taking a road trip through Ireland? Those have always been the first two images that popped into my mind when the country was mentioned. Rightfully so, because the country does boast A LOT of green and A LOT of sheep. The sheep are found grazing just about everywhere, but the country has SO much more to offer than just those two items.
When planning a road trip, I always invest in a guide book for that region. Although the internet is great, you never know when you might not have wifi. These books also give you insight on places you might not have thought of, along with contact information. Other items to purchase before you leave would be a portable charger and an outlet adapter. For additional travel suggestions, check out my Travel Hacks page.
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To give you a little background information that you may or may not know, the island is divided into Northern Ireland (which is part of the United Kingdom) and the Republic of Ireland (which is its own country). The two share many similarities yet have their differences as well. The entire island drives on the left side of the road.
Northern Ireland
We started our road trip in Northern Ireland in the city of Belfast. The city is much more stable now, but during The Troubles, it was quite the opposite. I highly recommend taking a cabbie ride in the iconic black cabs. Local drivers take you around to view the murals and various historical sites where violence and hostility reined for so long. The always changing murals are painted with such detail and emotion. Our cab driver did an excellent job explaining the history and the significance of local landmarks.
Our first two nights were spent at the Glendaloch Bed and Breakfast. The house sits out in the country which allows a fresh breeze to waft into your room during the night. A hearty Irish breakfast graced the emaculately set tables each morning. Delicious cooks and great hosts!
Northern Ireland Destinations
It was a short drive to reach our first destination: the famous Game of Thrones Hedges. We parked our car at one end and walked the tree-lined strip and then walked back. We were SO glad we took the time to walk the entire way in both directions. The trees give a different look every few feet as the trunks and limbs ebb and flow and the lighting changes along with the shadows.
One of the main reasons I chose to start our road trip in Norther Ireland instead of Dublin, which seems to be more common, is because of the desire to see the Giants Causeway. The decision was 100% confirmed as soon as we set our eyes on the spectacle. This amazing hexagonal rock formation even has scientists stumped as to how or why they were created. Each pillar is the same yet in a crazy sort of way, different. A person can walk and walk taking in the crests and valleys, smelling the salt air and enjoying the quirkiness of the area. Next time I’d like to take a picnic lunch and just sit there and chill.
After reluctabntly leaving, we ventured over to the Carrick_A-Rede Bridge. Although safety measures are in place, there is still a bit of fear factor involved when walking across the swinging bridge with the ocean waves crashing against the rocks beneath you. Once you cross over, the view is absolutely stunning. Sitting there watching the waves crash, watching the birds dip and dive, it’s as if time is standing still.
We returned our rental car and took the train to Dublin. It was nice getting adjusted to driving on the left hand side of the road in a country setting. We opted to return the car instead of dealing with the issues of driving the car out of country. Taking the train was also much quicker and much more stress free.
Dublin, Ireland
Once we arrived in Dublin, we headed straight to our lodging for the night, The Times Hostel. We were able to drop off our bags so we didn’t have to haul them around the city. The hostel was very clean and comfortable. It had a large kitchen, a dining area and a lounge area. They host special social events throughout the week as a way for fellow travelers to mingle and swap stories. We lucked out and were able to join in on the wine and cheese night, complimentary to those who are staying.
Dublin has so many things to choose from. You could definitely spend an entire week in this city and not get bored. A must do for us was to visit Trinity College and walk through the grandeur of the Long Room and see the Book of Kells. Our tour guide was a student at the college and she did an excellent job telling about the ins and outs of its history and significance. The Long Room is even cooler in person than in pictures. Finding the book you’re after is a painstakingly process as they aren’t categorized by topic nor alphabetized. Books are arranged by size; short ones on top, larger ones on the bottom.
After all that touring, a relaxing stop at the iconic Temple Bar was in order. I’m not a Guinness drinker, but the bar was worth seeing. The bountiful flower boxes, the Irish singers and the lively atmosphere made for an enjoyable evening.
Exploring Ireland’s Small Towns
Early the next morning, we rented a car and headed out toward Kilkenny Castle. Stunning. We could have spent a lot more time in the small town but we knew we needed to keep on the move in order to get to Waterford for the crystal factory tour. It’s a good thing we did, too, because we arrived 5 minutes before the last tour was to start. This was one of the most fascinating tours I’ve ever been on. The craftmanship is exquisit. The city of Waterford sits right on the water with a multitude of quaint restaurants and shops. Although we would have liked to have stayed in Waterford for the night, our reservations were in Kinsale so we hopped back in the car, wanting to get to our next B&B before nightfall.
Staying in Kinsale
Once we arrived in town and were settled in our room, we took to the streets and checked out a few of the stores that were still open. A local storeowner recommended that we eat dinner at Kitty O Se’s Everything was so delicious. A live Irish band topped off the evening for spot-on authentic entertainment.
The town of Kinsale is bursting with color and the setting couldn’t be better. Waking up early before most of the shops opened was fun because we were able to walk around and see the town come to life as all the boats set sail for their day’s excursion. Find yourself a little coffee shop and take in the sights. You won’t be disappointed!
We debated back and forth on whether or not to stop at Blarney Castle. We decided to go for it because we were so close and it’s so well known. The castle itself is pretty run down compared to many other castles that are available to visit, but the grounds are very well kept. We purchased the audio tour which gave us something to listen to as the line slowly moved throughout the castle. Finally, we arrived at the landing for which we laid back and kissed the Blarney Stone and officially received the Gift of Gab.
Our next stop was Kenmare. We stopped by the Kenmare Lace Factory and learned about its history. From there we were able to walk to the Stone Circle, AKA The Shrubberies which dates back to the Bronze Age. Kenmare was yet another adorable town with fun little quirks, shops and restaurants.
Dingle Peninsula
Little did I know my favorite part of the trip was just ahead. The Dingle Peninsula is a must see. Our lodging at O’Neills Bed and Breakfast was top notch. The town of Dingle giggled with personality through the brightly painted store fronts. Multiple pubs with live music created an atmosphere that was second to none. (Note: the pubs stop serving food at 9pm, although they stay open much later than that to serve drinks)
Dingle Peninsula Road Trip
We started our morning drive after receiving excellent directions from our host. Our first stop was at a modern stone barn that showed a video of the area and its history. Nearby was an original stone home/farm depicting what life was like during the potato famine. A little further down the road we came upon a small beehive hut village surrounded by a stone wall. To see these hives still in tact after so many hundreds of years is quite astonishing. The scenery while driving around the peninsula was breathtaking. We drove right onto the ferry that took us across the bay. It was super cool and it saved us a lot of time.
Cliffs of Moher
The iconic Cliffs of Moher were next. I am so glad we took the time to walk up the steps and leisurely walk the perimeter of the cliffs (although not too close!) because the views constatntly changed. I’d hate to say how many pictures I took trying to capture the beauty. Sunlight, rock formations, water color, nesting birds and the tide all resulted in quite a spectacle. Over in a barren area, personal rock scultures had been made. Of course, we let our creative juices flow and created our own. Environmentally friendly art at its finest.
We laid our heads down for our final night in Ireland in the town of Ennis. The town was pretty much closed down for the night by the time we arrived but it was a gem just to walk through and enjoy.
There were so many choices to make when planning out what we were going to see during our week. I could easily go back through the same route and not see the same places and I’d still have a jam packed vacation. On my next trip to Ireland I’d like to drive around the Ring of Kerry and also see where the Titanic launched in Belfast and then docked along the southern coastline before heading west. A variation of this same general road trip can be found here. What places have you been to in Ireland that you feel are Must Sees?
There’s a reason Europe is such a desired vacation destination. Each country has its own personality and there are so many unique things to do and see. Read here about my travels to France, Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. What are your favorite European countries? Which ones are on your Bucket List?
