Highways to Heaven: Ireland’s Most Scenic Drives
‘Go where Ireland takes you’ we’re always telling you. Well today, we’re giving you hints, especially for those who’ll drive where Ireland takes them. Promise to keep your eyes on the road as guest blogger Fiona Hilliard reveals four of the most scenic drives in Ireland.
The Burren: breathtaking vista by limestone design
The Burren, County Clare
In a quiet, unassuming corner of sits one of Ireland’s most unusual natural attractions. Named after the Gaelic word boireann, meaning ‘rocky land’, at first seems a moonscape of harsh, uninhabitable limestone, but don’t be fooled – over 700 plants live here and it is considered one of Europe’s richest botanical areas. Wildlife flourishes here too, including many species of birds, small mammals and butterfly; 28 of the 32 types of butterfly found in Ireland are native to the Burren.
Rocky road: The Burren
Life on the Burren began long ago and far away. The limestone that pervades the area was formed from the shells of sea creatures over 300 million years ago. Some 15,000 years later, a glacier came tearing through the soil and nature’s icy wrath wore the rock down into the angular pavements that fascinate us today.
The drive: The Burren circuit is 83km in total. Begin at the ancient town of Kilfenora. Heading west, you’ll come to (home in September to the infamous matchmaking festival) and signage for Fanore and Black Head. Stop into the Burren Centre on the way to learn more about the area’s history and wildlife. The village of Craggah is also worth seeing, and the shoreline at is good for a stroll.
Standing on the boulders of giants: The Giant's Causeway
The Causeway Coastal Route
The stretches some one hundred miles between two spirited cities, and , to make one of the world’s greatest road journeys. The basalt columns of the Giant’s Causeway are just one highlight of this spectacular coastline.
Bridge over wonderful water
Starting in Belfast, head north via the seaside town of Carrickfergus and past the nine Glens of Antrim: glacier-gouged valleys of charming seaside villages and forest highlands. Between Ballycastle and the Giant’s Causeway lies the most scenic stretch of the trail, with sea cliffs of striped black basalt and white chalk, charming harbours and broad sweeps of beach. Take a deep breath to face the chasm-crossing Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge, and then reward yourself with the visit to the UNESCO World Heritage Site itself: the celebrated .
The curious assembly of 40,000 basalt columns, formed by molten lava cooled into mostly flawless hexagonals of dark stone steps, appear so perfectly artificial it’s no wonder that it has spanned the enduring myth of Finn McCool provoking fellow giant Benadonner.
An inland detour to the village of is good for the night and a nightcap, being home to the oldest working distillery in Ireland. Back on the Coast Road head due west, choose to stop at the romantic remains of , the lively seaside resorts of Portrush and Portstewart, or the breath-taking sight of . Finish the route in the city of Londonderry, UK City of Culture 2013.
The drive: The Causeway Coastal Route is pretty much the A2 the whole way. Get a more detailed breakdown of the trip on this .
Slieve Gullion Forest Park
Slieve Gullion Forest Park, County Armagh
The mountain of towers 573m high on the craggy heather-covered hills of a long extinct volcano. Naturally for an area of such natural beauty and heritage, the Ring of Gullion doesn’t come without its share of myths and stories, including one superstition that if you bathe in the Lough, your hair will turn white.
The Drive:
A scenic 13km drive through offers wonderfully picturesque views over the surrounding hills. Park at the picnic area and take a hike to the top to find yourself at the highest point in . Those who chance the walk are rewarded by the view of two early Bronze Age cairns and a pretty lake.
The valley of Glendalough, County Wicklow
The Sally Gap, County Wicklow
Put Dublin in the rearview and head south to the ‘Garden of Ireland’: . The is a straight road leading to the peat bogs of the Wicklow mountains, past shooting locations for the film Braveheart, and the stunning Lough Tay (known as The Guinness Lake because its peat-coloured water and manmade beach resemble the dark and creamy stout). Suddenly, expansive fields and bog turn to lush, green valleys and you’ll find yourself in the history, serenity and downright beauty that is Glendalough.
Still waters run deep in the Sally Gap
Known as the ‘valley of the two lakes’, Glendalough inhabits a serene pocket of rich history and spectacular scenery in the . The round tower makes a piercing silhouette against the rolling hills, and indicates the area’s purpose as one of the most important in Ireland since St Kevin founded his settlement in the 6th century. Swap the car for two feet and explore some of many monastic remains including a 12th Century Romanesque Priest’s House, cathedral, large granite cross from 6th or 7th Century and St Kevin’s Church. The lakes will then beckon for a walk.
The drive:
Take the N81 out of Dublin, and after about 30 minutes turn onto the R759 at Manor Kilbride. It’s a pleasant hour’s drive to Glendalough from here – follow the sign for it at the Sally Gap. See the full itinerary for a .
Dubliner Fiona Hilliard is a travel blogger and writer for Argus Car Hire. For more tips on road trips in Ireland, check out Fiona’s Glove Box blog.
If you fancy a driving adventure in Ireland yourself, download our Great Irish Road Trips brochure.
The adventure doesn’t end there either. We asked three bloggers what their favourite drive in Ireland was – this is what they said.
Thanks for this. Lovely pix as well as text. The Sally Gap was a favourite walk when I was a child in Dublin – but we took the bus from the quays to get up there!
I think yours would be the perfect list if you’d included the Slea Head Drive in West Kerry. But I guess the joy of lists is that they’re made to be extended…
You could also add the driving loop in County Donegal that starts and end in Derry. The entire county is one postcard scene after another.
I can certainly vouch for the beauty of the Causeway Coastal Route. It’s a wonderful drive, from the moment you turn the corner in Larne and see the sea. Lots of places to park for a nice picnic too!
Co.Wicklow – without a doubt – is the garden of Ireland. Enniskerry, one of it’s small villages,is picture perfect and resembles a postcard. So when visiting the ‘Emerald Isle’ Enniskerry, set within the heart of Wicklow, is a must see
auch lovely images, i want to take the trip!
I agree w/ Felicity – Slea Head Drive has to be included on that list! The Causeway Coastal Route I’m sure is indescribable if you can see it! Be sure if you take that route that there’s no fog! We took this route back in late March and the fog had rolled in and we couldn’t see a thing the entire trip down the coast from Bushmills!
I agree that leaving off the western Dingle Peninsula/Slea Head is an arguable ommission here.
Hey guys, thanks for all your comments! We’re ready to admit that trying to squeeze just four routes into a ‘best scenic drives in Ireland’ was a doomed mission! Lists are made to be extended as you said Felicity, so please just think of this post as Part 1 of Ireland’s best drives, and stay tuned for part 2, 3 and maybe even 4!
Come to magical Sligo for breath-taking landscape, music and storytelling, to where Sligo Myths and Legends will transport you to another world.
Looking forward to 2, 3 and 4!
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Back in May, I was so fortunate to have seen the Burren, Glendalough and drive through the nine Glens of Antrim, as well visit Giant’s Causeway. I cannot get over how fantastic these places were to see. I highly recommend them to anyone thinking of going to Ireland.
Try driving in the North Leitrim Glens…(and a bit of Sligo too !)
1. Manorhamilton to Sligo via Glencar (upper and lower roads)
2. Kinlough to Rossinver via the Barr Road
3. Manorhamilton to Rossinver via Dough Mountain
4. Dromahair to Sligo via Lough Gill
5. The loop – Manorhamilton to Glencar Lake, to Drumcliffe, to the Gleniff Horseshoe, past Benwiskin and Eagle’s Rock to Kinlough and through Glenade valley back to Manorhamilton.
Beautiful, unspoilt glaciated mountain valleys and large crystal-clear lakes with a pleasing absence of ribbon-development
Ah! Rory. A man after my own heart. Swing around by Strandhill when passin through Drumcliff. Meet you for a pint and a long cheyt in The Strand Bar. Michael
A grand bolt-on to the loop – onwards to Strandhill it is, Michael !
Beautiful Ireland!!! I was so lucky to be there in June of this
year, a gift from my daughter and son-in-law. Wonderful!
Hey,
We really enjoyed reading your blog post on the most scenic places to drive in Ireland. We’ve recently written a post, about the coolest winter driving locations around the world, that might interest you. Our post can be found here: http://www.facebook.com/notes/tomtom-uk/cool-winter-driving-routes/236714563062823
Best wishes,
James
. . . and don’t just drive through The Burren, It needs a few days to get to see the many layers of it and soak in the magig atmosphere