Discover Ireland's Breathtaking Landscapes
Follow Jen and Victor’s adventures to discover Ireland and its breathtaking landscapes, off the beaten track.
Ireland is a land of spectacular landscapes that capture the imagination of everyone who visits. From towering cliffs to tranquil lakes, every corner of this green island offers breathtaking views. Whether you’re a nature lover, a keen photographer or simply in search of natural beauty, Ireland has something to offer everyone.
The Wild Atlantic Way, an iconic route along Ireland’s coastline
Jen and Victor spent 2 months criss-crossing Ireland in their motorhome, accompanied by their dog Popeye. In particular, they took the time to drive along the Wild Atlantic Way. This famous road For an immersive experience of the Irish countryside, nothing beats a road trip along the Wild Atlantic Way. This 2,500-kilometre coastal road runs along the west coast of Ireland, offering breathtaking views of the sea, cliffs and secluded beaches.
Now they’re back with memories to treasure, sumptuous images of seaside cliffs and encounters they’ll remember for a long time to come. Together, we take a look back at the trip that left its mark on them, to inspire you to take to the Irish roads along the Wild Atlantic Way.
The Wild Atlantic Way seems to us to be the ideal road trip for lovers of nature and wide open spaces who want to discover the beauty of Ireland. It has quite simply become a classic for anyone venturing to Ireland. So get ready to see the sea, cliffs and breathtaking scenery.
Kinsale, the official start (or finish) of the Wild Atlantic Way
Jen and Victor traveled 1,500 of the 2,500 kilometers of the Wild Atlantic Way. While it is entirely possible to travel the route from north to south, Jen and Victor did it starting from the south and began their Irish adventure in the town of Kinsale:
Kinsale, initially a fishing port, is now also developing thanks to tourism, and it has become a very popular destination for the Irish. The town is also known for its very colorful small streets. We were surprised upon arriving at how vivid the colors were. The magnificent small houses painted in pink, green, blue, or other colors add a real charm.
The Southwestern Peninsulas
The southwest of Ireland, with its numerous peninsulas, offers breathtaking landscapes. The Beara Peninsula, the Ring of Kerry, and the Dingle Peninsula are particularly remarkable.
We spent a lot of time in the Ring of Kerry. This peninsula offers the first breathtaking landscapes, where you realize where you truly are and discover the Irish landscapes we had dreamed of so much.
But this is only the beginning of the Wild Atlantic Way, and Ireland has much more to offer off the beaten path.
What we didn’t particularly like is that it’s the most touristic peninsula. In fact, there are a lot of people who go there, and we saw many tourist buses. Sometimes we were a bit in a single file line to see the different viewpoints, which took away from its beauty and wild side.
Galway and Its Many Surrounding Beaches
The Galway region also offers picturesque landscapes, notably its magnificent bays and sandy beaches. The city itself, with its lively and colorful streets, is a charming stop during your exploration of Irish landscapes. The city of Galway is particularly renowned for its vibrant music scene and colorful festivals. Finally, don’t forget to taste Guinness in the local pubs and visit whiskey distilleries to discover the flavors of Northern Ireland.
Galway is a young and very dynamic city, you will find a very festive atmosphere in its streets with bands performing regularly. The houses and buildings in all colors add an extra touch of charm.
But it’s also an opportunity to immerse yourself in Irish culture: don’t miss visiting the traditional pubs in the region and attending Celtic music sessions. The atmosphere and the encounters in these pubs will elevate your trip: it’s one of Jen and Victor’s most memorable experiences.
The Irish are really super warm and welcoming. And so we had a great time with them. We felt really comfortable throughout our trip. That’s why we loved it and are already thinking of returning. We were real pub aficionados, just for the atmosphere, chatting, and every time we had the opportunity to meet people and exchange around a good beer.
Irish pubs, whether in Galway or other towns along the Wild Atlantic Way, are waiting for you! And you will have the opportunity to make encounters everywhere in Ireland, as long as you are kind and open to discussions and exchanges:
I remember when we stayed on a beach around Galway for several days. It was really great. We were right on the beach. We met an Irish couple with whom we spent the evening, and it was really an extraordinary evening. Such improvised evenings on the beach with locals, sharing anecdotes. That’s a big part of why we travel.
Connemara National Park
If the park is known for its vast bogs, shimmering lakes, and heather-covered hills, it is especially known among Francophones thanks (or due) to the song by Michel Sardou…
It’s funny because the Irish don’t necessarily understand why there is this enthusiasm from the French. Why do all the French want to see the lakes of Connemara because of Michel Sardou. So they’re happy it brings them tourists, but it’s not necessarily the most extraordinary and amazing place in Ireland.
Moving away from the cliffs and impressive coastal landscapes, you find yourself in a large national park composed of many lakes. While the beauty of these lakes and expanses of greenery cannot be denied, the Connemara region did not leave an unanimous impression on Jen and Victor.
So we won’t lie, we expected something much more impressive, maybe we had heard the song by Sardou too much… The national park is very beautiful, certainly, but nothing more than what we had seen since the beginning of our Irish road trip. We probably became too demanding after seeing so many magnificent landscapes.
But Connemara National Park is still worth a visit, a trip to Ireland without passing through it is not a real pilgrimage.
The Tranquility of Achill Island
This is THE hidden gem that Jen and Victor discovered during their stay. For those looking for tranquility, Achill Island is a haven of peace in the northwest of Ireland. The country’s largest island offers impressive cliffs and breathtaking landscapes.
You will find a surprising calm there, away from the big tourist buses that crisscross the country. You will have a delightful time surrounded by sheep, cliffs, and magical landscapes.
More than just a stopping point, Jen and Victor set up their camper van there for several days to enjoy the tranquility of the place.
It’s a place where we slept, had aperitifs, dined, etc. We were on the edge of a cliff. It was a very sparsely inhabited, very little frequented island. I think there are a few hundred inhabitants, no more. There was really no one except sheep on the road, and we had a breathtaking view. It’s indescribable. It was so beautiful. I even remember the feeling of the grass underfoot. It’s a real mattress. It was indescribable.
Some Practical Questions
We were able to ask Jen and Victor some additional questions, allowing us to benefit from their extensive experience in the world of vanlife, road trips, and this nature-filled adventure, amid some of the most incredible landscapes along the Wild Atlantic Way.
How much does a trip to Ireland cost?
We do our accounts every month; it’s important to know where our money goes and what we spend. To summarize, our trip to the Republic of Ireland, excluding the Wild Atlantic Way, cost us around 2300 euros. We must add the price of the ferry crossing; we left from Dunkirk and landed in Rosslare, in the southeast of Ireland. The crossing cost us 600 euros. So, excluding the vehicle rental and the crossing, one can manage with 1500 euros for a month of road trip. For three weeks, this budget is more than sufficient.
How much time should you plan to spend there?
We have the privilege of living in our camper van, which allows us to take our time. For people going on a trip, we advise planning a duration of 10 days to three weeks. This allows you to settle down a bit and enjoy nature and the activities offered all along the Wild Atlantic Way. Given that 10 days might be really short, as you will have to drive every day for a certain distance. The Wild Atlantic Way is 2500 kilometers long, so in 10 days, that’s 250 kilometers per day if you want to do it entirely. It can be a bit exhausting and you might not enjoy your trip to the fullest. Three weeks seem to be a reasonable duration for this trip. We spent about a month on the Wild Atlantic Way.
What’s vanlife like in Ireland?
As far as vanlife is concerned, there are very few prohibitions on wild camping. There are very few places on the island where camping is prohibited. We had no trouble finding really nice spots in the middle of nowhere, whether on the edge of a cliff or right on the beach. We were able to park on the beach without any restrictions or time limits. It was a very pleasant surprise. However, you have to be very respectful of the place and the people who welcome you. We were always careful to leave the areas clean, to say hello to the locals and to show our white hands to make sure we were properly integrated and welcomed.
Why take a road trip?
The best way to discover the Wild Atlantic Way is in a converted vehicle, be it a van or even a car with a tent. This allows you to really get to grips with the atmosphere of the country, find some really nice spots and make the most of the magnificent green countryside that Ireland has to offer. If you only go through the big cities and sleep in hotels, you’ll lose some of the charm and the rural feel of the road trip. The roads, valleys and sheep are truly magnificent. For those who don’t have a converted vehicle and don’t want to buy one just for the road trip, there are companies in Ireland that hire vehicles for travellers. For example, Indie Campers hires out vans with left-hand drive for classic European driving. It’s a good option because in Ireland you drive on the left. We’ve seen quite a few vans with these stickers on the roads.
Whether you’re exploring towering cliffs, serene lakes or picturesque peninsulas, Ireland’s landscapes are sure to amaze. Plan your trip now to discover the natural beauty of this mythical island. Enjoy your trip!