Vanlife in Ireland has recently become a very popular activity for both locals and tourists. Ireland is the perfect country to explore on a road trip with so much history, beautiful iconic roads, and locations to explore with plenty of hospitable places to stay. There are great locations in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland to explore and visit. Enjoy a family holiday which best suits you. Wake up when you want, eat what you want, go where you want all from within a clean and comfortable campers.
Travelling the Wild Atlantic Way
Ireland has the longest Atlantic coastline in Europe and is one of the wonders of nature. The curiosity and beauty of this landscape was a major factor in establishing the country as we know it today. Fishing, collecting seaweed, artisan foods, kayaking, swimming, walking, cycling, snorkelling, diving, adventuring, artists, story tellers, seaside towns, blue flag beaches, camping, myth and legend, folklore, islands, cottages and windswept lighthouses. The Wild Atlantic Way has everything you’ll need on a holiday. Ireland is a beautiful country with plenty of coastal getaways to choose from. Giving yourself 3 days to visit as many places as possible is the best way to learn about this destination before or after you plan a trip.
Most people think of Ireland as being a small country, but remember, the Wild Atlantic Way is 2750 km in length. You can’t assume that you will be able to see everything in a week or two. This coastal driving route is a dream for every tourist looking to experience the best of Irish scenery. The route offers views of rugged cliffs, sandy beaches and lush green valleys. You will also see a beautiful restored church overlooking the entire area and huge limestone formations that transform into small colourful beaches as soon as the tide goes out. Highlights can include the Causeway Coastal Route, Dingle Peninsula, The Burren, Ring of Kerry and the Aran Islands.
Most tourists find their time on the route quite rushed, so please prioritise your stops and don’t expect to experience every stop on the route. We feel that the longer the better, however a week long trip is a great experience for couples and families on their first experience of Ireland. If you don’t have that long, choose either the South or North portion to explore. Don’t try to rush to fit it all in.
Motorhome travellers have been exploring the boundary of Ireland’s outermost peninsulas for as long as motorhomes have had wheels. This drive is up there with some of the world’s best coastal road trips around the world.
Distances may seem short on the map, but you will find that you are in your van for a substantial amount of the time. Enjoy the views from the road. You will need a few hours each day to get to your desired destination.
Where should you visit along the way in your campervan rental?
If you are into exploring some of the sights on the Wild Atlantic Way, we have created some other blogs that go into more detail on the places to visit. We found that we could have concentrated on just one or two counties of the Wild Atlantic Way and still be quite content. There are spectacular lookouts all along the routes. The Wild Atlantic Way travels the entire west coast from the picturesque town of Kinsale in Cork through counties Kerry, Clare, Galway, Mayo, Sligo, Leitrim and ends in Donegal. Over 150 locations have been officially categorised as Discovery Points with a further 15 highlighted as Signature Discovery Points of special merit.
Below find a highlight on some places not to be missed.
Top places to visit include:
- Mizen Head
- Skellig Islands,
- Dingle Peninsula
- Ring of Kerry
- Loop Head
- Cliffs of Moher
- Malin Head
- Fanan Head
- Horn Head
- Aran Islands
- Slieve League
- Killary Harbour
- Clifden,
- Poulnabrone Dolmen
- Kylemore Abbey
What to pack for your Wild Atlantic Way trip – the basics.
What to pack for your Wild Atlantic Way trip
The first thing to figure out when packing for your Wild Atlantic Way trip is what time of year it is. Pack accordingly with a few extra layers, a warm jacket, raincoat or umbrella, and comfortable shoes. Ireland has a very diverse climate in every season.
Visit Galway on your journey
The benefit of exploring the country with a motorhome is that you can see all of the island’s different regions quickly. There is so much to see between great cities and beautiful attractions in Ireland. Galway, like Donegal, is a town and a county in Ireland. Most visitors to Galway City in Western Ireland come to enjoy Irish hospitality and enjoy the cozy pubs and sights. Galway City has many sights to see between wandering around and appreciating the city, including the Spanish Arch, the Galway City Museum, Salmon Weir Bridge, and Eyre Square. Galway City is the county town of County Galway.
The city is in the West of Ireland on the banks of the River Corrib, just south of Lough Corrib and the Aran Islands. It is one of Ireland’s oldest cities and was founded by the Tuatha Dé Danann, a people descended from the ancient Irish gods. The medieval city is surrounded by medieval walls, and a network of cobbled streets extending from Eyre Square. Galway became
Galway is also one of the stops along the Wild Atlantic Way. So if you’re looking to drive along part of this famous drive, here is the perfect location to join this winding road.
The Cliffs of Moher are located in County Clare and a popular trip from Dublin. The cliffs run for about 14 km and are one of Ireland’s most popular tourist attractions. Once you arrive at the Cliffs, you can do several things once you park your campervan. After seeing the visitor’s centre, head to the crumbling watchtower better known as Hag’s Head, this spot is much less populated and a great location to see the cliffs.