Best Scenic Routes Ireland

Top Five Scenic Routes To Drive

If you’re thinking of getting into the car and hitting the road, we have a list of the best scenic routes to drive. The question asked regularly “Where will we go” comes to mind. Our Top 5 Best Scenic Route Drives guide will ensure you have somewhere close by to visit today! Our guide has been visited personally and has been selected to impressive people in all corners of Ireland. Whether you’re from Dublin or Galway, there is a route for you to take.

There has been a lot of places to consider from all over Ireland, to which we have wiggled the list down to our favourite places. Ideally, a sunny day is a perfect time to visit any of these locations but hitting the road on a winters day will not disappoint either.

Some of our top 5 locations cover a large driving range, so we suggest taking shorter drives and enjoy what the route has to offer, stopping off and viewing the scenes followed by a coffee and ice-cream. There are always other weekends to complete the drive.

1. Wild Atlantic Way, scenic drive along Irelands west coast

The Wild Atlantic Way has plenty to offer. It’s also one of the longest defined coastal routes in the world making it the ideal drive, or for those lucky enough to make a few days trip of it. The Wild Atlantic Way offers endless routes including Donegal’s Northern Headlands, and Kerry and Cork Southern Peninsulas and Haven Coast.

The Top Coastal Scenic Routes include:

• Slea Head Drive, Dingle Peninsula, County Kerry
• Sheep’s Head Peninsula, County Cork
• Kinsale To Clonakilty, West Cork
• Burren Beauty Drive, County Clare
• Ennis To Doonbeg, County Clare
• Galway To Westport, County Galway
• Achill Island, County Mayo
• Yeats Country, County Sligo
• Glengesh Pass, County Donegal
• Inishowen 100, County Donegal

2. Ring of Kerry scenic drive and cycle

The Ring of Kerry in the South West of Ireland is an ideal driving and cycling. The annual cycling event attracts thousands of visitors each year. The route is 200km in total takes in Kenmare, Sneem, Caherdaniel, Waterville, Ballinskelligs, Portmagee, Valentia Island, Cahersiveen, Glenbeigh and Killorglin and back to Killarney.

It is recommended that cars go the clockwise directions to avoid delays. Tour operators take the anti-clockwise direction, which can cause some delays along the route.

• Killarney - Ross Castle - fish, boat or kayak, Killarney National Park and The Blue Pool
• Loop Head Peninsula Drive, Co. Clare
• Killarney - Torc Waterfall and climb Torc Mountain offers stunning views
• Enjoy Ladies View and Molls Gap (scenic viewpoints)
• The wonderful Kenmare Town
• Bolus Head and Hogs Head Loop Walks

The Tourism board of the

3. Blessington Lakes

Blessington is a town in Wicklow, to which the River Liffey is on. Is it a short drive on the N81 from Dublin.

The Blessington lakes cover 5000 acres water, set in the Wicklow Mountains. The Blessington Lakes date back 50 years when the Poulaphouca Dam and hydroelectric station were built.

Visitors can walk or cycle around the lake which offers amazing views of the reservoir and the Wicklow Mountains. Drivers and cyclists can also drive through the villages of Valleymount, Ballyknockan, and Lacken.

The Blessington Greenway is also a popular choice for visitors, followed by the lunch in the Russborough House, making the perfect ending to an active day.

Attractions include:

• Blessington Lakeshore Heritage Trail
  • Russborough House - Ireland's Ancient East
    Hunting Brook Gardens
  • Cp Adventure Centre
  • June Blake's Garden

 

4. Wicklow Mountain Drive

Wicklow Mountains National Park is the largest of Ireland’s six National Park covering 20,483 hectares. The Wicklow Mountain National Park offers great hillwalking and recreational activities. The vast area can be covered by three roads, these include:

• The Military Road (R115) runs across the mountains passing through Glencree, the Liffey Head Bog (source of Dublin’s River Liffey), the Sally Gap, Glenmacnass waterfall,  and down to Laragh.

• The R759 runs from near Roundwood to near Blessington, and crossing the Military Road at the Sally Gap. The privately own Guinness Estate is one of the most popular places to visit, attracting thousands of visitors each year. The Guinness Estate is one of the most popular places to visits on a sunny day, tourists, and residents alike.

• The Wicklow Gap (R756) runs from Laragh to Hollywood. Is it worth stopping off at the viewing platform on the top of the Wicklow Gap.

The Wicklow Mountain National Park was established in 1991 and is a special area of conservation. Driving any of these roads will impress you and give you a true appreciation of the area.

5. Copper Coast Scenic Drive, Waterford and Wexford

The Copper Coast Scenic Drive is not as well-known as the Wild Atlantic Way, but offers just as much when it comes to scenery.

Situated between Tramore and Dungarvan in County Waterford, approximately 160 kilometers driving loop.

There are plenty of attractions for anyone looking to stop off on the journey. Bunmaon beach offers the perfect place to do a spot of surfing, while Copper Coast Geopark Centre provides a history lesson highlighting the Copper Mining that took place in the 18^th/19^th century in Bunmahon.