Summary
2121 miles 14 Free overnight stops Average cost per night €8.70 16 of 26 Irish counties 4 of 6 Northern Irish counties
Rosslare to Swindon
Had a good nights sleep in the parking area near the bird lagoon and woke at 6:30 to get to the Ferry on time. Smooth crossing on a half empty boat and then a long drive via Itton to Swindon.
Kilkenny to Rossalre
Lots of loud rain, thunder and lightning in the night which was difficult to sleep through. Cleared up in the morning so we walked to Kilkenny Castle for an informative guided tour of a well restored building. Then strolled down the medieval mile looking at shops and popping into two cathedrals and...
South from Dublin
Had a pleasantly comfortable night considering we were in the city and then drove to the botanical gardens. Really nice plan house and other displays. Then on to Castletown House to the West. Massive house which is still being restored and a really informative guide. Finally, on to Kilkenny and a co...
Belfast and Dublin
Drove into Belfast to the botanical gardens and then cycled into the city centre to look at the cathedral and the city hall. Stopped for a lunch time Guinness and then cycled back to have a wander around the botanical gardens and queens college. Then drove south to Dublin and parked up in a narrow s...
Belfast
A peaceful night and a glorious sunny day again. Started off with a 3km walk around the waterfall trail in the forest. Then drove to stormont in Belfast to have a guided tour of the parliament buildings. Very informative and difficult to see a mutually acceptable solution to the issue of N Ireland....
Giant’s Causeway
A peaceful night by the lough and we drove off to Portrush (not worth stopping) and stopped at a picnic area for breakfast overlooking the Atlantic. Then onto the Giant’s Causeway for a walk and clamber over the basalt pillars. Fascinating and saw some pods of dolphins and a seal. Stopped at another...
Derry
Enjoyed a quiet night with no one else parked half way up the mountain. Drove on to Malin Head and walked around the most northern point of Ireland in the sea mist. Stopped briefly at a pebble beach which is meant to have semi precious stones washed up, but none that we could see. Then on for an aft...
Donegal and Glenveagh
A good nights sleep outside Henry’s Bar and the owner kindly let us empty the waste into their manhole drains. Drove to the lookout at Mullaghmore Head and then onto to Donegal Town. A pretty town with nice shops and we visited the restored Castle on the river. Tried to stop at the Newmills corn and...
Bogs and Megalithic stuff
After a blustery night in the cliff edge, Boz cycled 4 miles whilst I caught her up half an hour later in the motorhome. Light showers throughout the day means our first. On sunny day. Drove to the visitor centre for the bog area and walked a loop through a field (they call it a bog ecosystem). Then...
Achill island
A good nights sleep on the harbour and drove to Achill Island. Drove around the small southern headlands with sheep everywhere. Did a three mile walk over the peat bogs from the shore in west Achill. Then onto a crescent shaped beach on the north shore. Glorious sunshine but we then had our first ra...
Sky Road
Headed out on a cycle ride around the Sky road for 12 miles this morning. Lovely views, sandy beach and peace and quiet. Beautiful. After lunch we drove the Scottish-like road through mountains and lochs to Westport, stopping at a nice beach for a break. Wandered around Westport which is a lovely li...
Conemara
After jacking up a van that had parked on our electric cable, we drove off via Tesco to a craft village along the coast. Then into conemara which is rocky and boggy. Stopped at the cottage of a revolutionary writer and then at dog beach - beautiful sand and clear water. Drove on to Clifden for some...
To Galway
A good night’s sleep and we left the site around 10:30. Drove to the Burren National Park and walked a 3 mile circuit to the bare rock formations that are unique to the area. Then onto Galway via a motorway (!) and another campsite as there are no free places near the city. Cycled a couple of miles...
To Doolin
Left out beach side site after coffee and a walk on the. Beach. Drove to Ardfert to look at the 12th century cathedral built to honour St Brendan who reportedly discovered America in the 7th century in his 80s! Then on to Tarbert to take the ferry across the Shannon estuary. Drive north to Doolin to...
Dingle peninsula
Managed to leave our site without encountering too many cars on the single track road. Drove to Dingle (very busy) and onto the beach at Ventry. Long walk on the beach. Then drove the ring of Slea stopping at some old Irish huts and along some very narrow cliff top roads. Visited the Blaslett island...
Killarney National Park
Woke early so we could miss all the incoming cars on the narrow road and we’re out of the site by 5:45. Drove to Ross castle and parked up for a few hours until it opened. Tour of the castle (1500 ish) and then cycled to Muckross house. The cycled the loop around the lower lake including Torc waterf...
Ring of Kerry
Another sunny dawn and we left our campsite to complete the Ring of Kerry peninsula. We first stopped in Valentia island and cycled two miles each way to see 350 million year old tetrapod footprints in the slate. The slate here is used for billiard tables and for the roofs of the Houses of Parliamen...
Ring of Beara to Derrynane Bay Beach
Woke early to another sunny day and left our peaceful beach side campsite. Drove around the Beara Peninsula, stopping at deserted Allihies Beach and a layby for breakfast. Glorious scenery all along the peninsula. Stopped at ALDI in Kenmare and then wandered around the small town and had a look at t...
Glengariff to Ring of Beara
Woke to another glorious morning and went for an early walk on the almost deserted beach. The a short drive to the nearest ALDI to stock up and try to find a bin for our rubbish - Ireland has removed all bins to force people to take their rubbish home. Drove on across a pass to Glengariff and took t...
Inchydoney island
Woken a couple of times in the night by trains and another liner docking. Headed for Kinslare but nowhere to park so drove on to Inchydoney beach and spent the day sunbathing on a glorious beach in unbroken sun. Hopefully (traffic warden’s permitting) spending the night parked above the beach.
Fota , Cobh and Cork
Drove the hour and a bit to Fota and walked around the arboretum and formal gardens. Then a short drive to our harbour side pitch in Cobh near a cruise liner. Caught the train into Cork and wandered the streets - not really impressed but interesting none the less. Train back to Cobh and after food,...
Hook Head to Dungarvan
A really good nights sleep overlooking the sea. Drove to Tintern Abbey and walked around the walled garden and Abbey. Then onto the John F Kennedy Arboretum (founded by US Irish following his death) and a walk around the fairly young arboretum. Drove onwards to Dungarvan and nabbed a place overlooki...
Rhosamon to Hook Head via Ferry
Woken by a cuckoo and geese and to a windless sunny morning. Drove the two hours to Fishguard and a smooth crossing to Rosslare, accompanied by dolphins for part of the voyage. Drove past strawberry roadside sellers and narrow roads to Hook Head lighthouse for the night. Beautiful views and a nice w...
Swindon to Rhosamon
4.5 hours on a Friday of a bank holiday weekend. Should probably have picked a different day! Relaxing evening in Rhosamon with beer, burgers and a bonfire in a brazier. Sheep, rabbits and loads of birds.