Ireland is such a compact destination and around every corner there’s a different landscape.
In our last article we featured Northern Ireland and the Causeway Coastal Route. It was voted one of the top five drives in the world. Take off on a journey spread with myth, magic and some of Europe’s most stunning coastal scenery.
Follow the Causeway Coastal Route from the birthplace of the Titanic, Belfast, to the 2013 UK City of Culture, Derry-Londonderry, you will be taking in unforgettable sights like the UNESCO World Heritage Giant’s Causeway, the Glens of Antrim, and an ample scattering of castles, towns, fishing villages and hamlets.
And be sure to take your time. Along this 190km (120 miles) of coastal bliss, you’ll find an additional nine ‘off-the-beaten-track’ scenic drives, each as exciting as the next.
But, it doesn’t stop there! Here are some more classic driving tours of Ireland to whet your appetite!
The Wild Atlantic Way
Picture yourself driving along the edge of Europe exploring 2,500km (1,553 miles) of coastline dotted with beaches, harbours, headlands and stunning viewing points. With the Atlantic Ocean within reach at all times, the air on the Wild Atlantic Way is fresh to say the least.
The Wild Atlantic Way is the longest coastal touring route in the world. From the north, it navigates through counties Donegal, Sligo, Mayo, Galway, Clare, Limerick and Cork, providing you with some of the most awesome views of Ireland’s rugged and sometimes wild, west coast.
Take a section at a time, and plan your journey from the north or south… the choice is yours and the result is the drive of a lifetime.
St Patrick’s Trail
Bangor, Downpatrick, Newry & Armagh
Discover a world of ancient mysticism and Christian Heritage by following in the footsteps of Ireland’s patron saint: St Patrick.
Revered all over the world and remembered with worldwide celebrations every March 17th, St Patrick forged an epic path through Ireland, bringing the Christian faith to all and changing the island forever.
Explore the sites where St Patrick’s legacy still echoes: Saint Comgall’s Bangor Abbey and the Cistercian Grey Abbey; restorative Struell Wells; the towering twin cathedrals of Armagh and museums that bring the saint’s story vividly to life.
From cosy cities to rural retreats, this driving tour weaves through swathes of the island’s most spectacular scenery, revealing at every turn one of Christianity’s most enduring tales.
St Patrick’s story is an epic – drive St Patrick’s Trail and live the odyssey!
The Gordon Bennett Driving Route
Co.Kildare, Co. Carlow, Co. Laois
If you’ve ever wondered where the expression ‘Gordon Bennett’ originated, a short drive from Dublin will take to the midlands. Soon, you’ll be on the same roads once used for one of motor-racing history’s quirkiest events. Originally mapped as a race in 1900, the Gordon Bennett route swings effortlessly through counties Kildare, Carlow and Laois. This same race was also the inspiration for car colour now known as British Racing Green.
Highlights include the vast Curragh plains (used in Mel Gibson’s Braveheart); Arctic explorer Ernest Shackelton’s home village of Kilkea; and the hugely evocative ruins known as The Rock of Dunamase.
Make sure you enjoy a stroll along by the Grand Canal, and the whimsical charm of Burtown House and Gardens.
It may have begun life at speed, but take your time on the Gordon Bennett route and you’re in for a treat!
The Grand Tour of Wicklow
Co. Wicklow and Co. Kildare
Mix elegance with earthiness on the Grand Tour around counties Wicklow and Kildare.
Winding through the best of Wicklow and Kildare, this route will immerse you in the beauty and history of Ireland’s east, right on Dublin’s doorstep.
The region oozes with history, boasting Christian heritage sites such as Glendalough and Wicklow’s eerie Gaol. The stately elegance of Powerscourt Estate and Castletown House will charm, while the Blessington Lakes, Lough Tay and Glenmacross waterfall are among Mother Nature’s prettiest water features.
The award-winning Mount Usher Gardens will amaze you, as will the Japanese Gardens at Kildare’s National Stud. Scenery and style await you on the Grand Tour.
The Historic Midlands of Ireland
Co. Kildare, Co. Laois, Co. Offaly,Co. Longford and Co. Louth
Weave your way through Ireland’s historical heartland on this unique driving tour.
The island of Ireland was a Christian hub for centuries and evidence of this is generously scattered throughout the midland counties of Kildare, Laois, Offaly, Longford and Louth. Ancient and majestic monasteries, strong High Crosses and stunning Romanesque architecture create a photographer’s paradise.
While wars were being waged around the world, Ireland’s monks set about creating magnificent manuscripts, intricately carved crosses and round towers, which would act as beacons for those seeking refuge.
Time has taken its toll, of course, but these elegantly aged sites still stand today just waiting for us to bask in their ancient glow.
Tourism Ireland is giving you the opportunity to win your own Car Touring Holiday to Northern Ireland for 2 people. Flying British Airways from Sydney to Belfast, you’ll receive 7 days car hire courtesy of Tourism Ireland and 7 night’s B&B accommodation courtesy of B&B Ireland.
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