A number of years in the past, we took an unforgettable household street journey round Eire and Northern Eire. Shortly after returning, we wrote a weblog put up that shares the highlights from this street journey. Nevertheless, I understand that we didn’t write an in depth weblog put up in regards to the precise Eire street journey itinerary.
Let’s repair that at this time, we could!
Skip forward utilizing the Desk of Contents under.
Eire Highway Journey Itinerary for Households
This put up was initially printed in 2017. We reviewed and up to date this put up in Might 2023.
Highway journeys are at all times a good suggestion, particularly with younger children.
We love the liberty and adaptability you get whereas being on the open street. The liberty to select the place you wish to go, if you wish to go, and how briskly you wish to go. You’ll be able to gradual issues down or velocity issues up – it’s totally as much as you!
The primary lower of our itinerary was constructed round visiting the highest sights in Eire – Dublin, Blarney Citadel, Cliffs of Moher and Big’s Causeway in Northern Eire. This put up shares a strong 10 day Eire itinerary.
Reflecting on earlier street journeys with our boys, we’ve added just a few extra necessities:
Spend not more than 3 hours of drive time every day
Discover resorts which have a swimming pool
Attempt to spend two nights at every resort to cut back the packing and unpacking
Embody one kid-friendly exercise every day
Decide-up and drop off the automobile rental on the Dublin airport
We spent the subsequent few weeks experimenting with completely different itineraries. Our flights arrived and departed from Dublin, in order that was a straightforward begin and end level. However after spending just a few days in Dublin, ought to we go north, south or west?
This put up shares our advisable 2 week Eire street journey.
Dublin – Nights 1, 2 & 3
We spent our first 3 nights in Dublin. Our first evening was spent recovering from jet-lag and getting used to our new atmosphere. It’s a 9 hour time distinction from Vancouver, in order that messed with our boy’s inside clocks. Massive time. It took a strong 3 days for them to regulate.
We did NOT choose up the rental automobile after we arrived on the Dublin airport.
We knew we’d be very drained after the ten hour in a single day flight and we didn’t wish to danger getting misplaced or in an accident as a result of we weren’t considering straight.
Keep in mind – Eire drives on the left facet of the street.
It wouldn’t have been a good suggestion to drive on the other facet of the street, in a brand new metropolis, after 13 hours of journey with two boys underneath 5 years outdated. It gave the impression of an terrible thought, truly.
Associated: 25 Pictures from our journey to Dublin
Luckily, we had a member of the family choose us up on the airport and convey us again to her place. Our flight arrived at 8:00 AM however the house rental was not accessible till 4:00 PM. We would have liked sleep and didn’t wish to take care of the effort of selecting up the rental automobile with low vitality.
We didn’t intend to truly begin the street journey till Day 4, so it didn’t make sense to pay for added automobile rental days and costly metropolis parking (30 Euros per day).
As a substitute, we picked up the rental automobile on Day 3 (the day earlier than leaving Dublin).
This gave us loads of time to discover Dublin, acclimate to the brand new metropolis and get some expertise with left-handed cross walks. We took a taxi to the airport and drove the automobile again to the house.
Day 1 was spent adjusting from the nasty jet-lag, which left us with two full days to discover Dublin. We did a number of strolling alongside the River Liffey and Temple Bar District and we visited the Guinness Storehouse, which was a number of enjoyable and well worth the go to.
Household journey tip – the pubs in Eire are very child pleasant. Not like Canada, this implies you’ll be able to get pleasure from a pint of Guinness on the pub/bar along with your children in tow. No babysitters, yeah!
The place to remain in Dublin?
We rented an house within the Spencer Dock neighborhood. It’s situated on the east facet of Dublin, north of the River Liffey. It’s a pleasant, clear space that’s comparatively central. From right here, you’ll be able to simply stroll to the Temple Bar district in 25 minutes.
We stayed on the IFSC Dublin Metropolis Residences. It’s a two bed room house with a full kitchen and separate dwelling area. It’s trendy, clear and priced properly. We might advocate staying right here.
Seek for extra Eire trip leases right here.
Blarney & Cobh – Night time’s 4 & 5
We selected Blarney as our subsequent vacation spot due to it’s shut proximity to each Cork and Cobh.
Blarney is most famously often called house of the Blarney Citadel (and kissing the Blarney Stone).
We determined to spend two nights in Blarney as a result of we needed one full day to go to the fort and likewise go to Cobh, an cute seaside village that was the Titanic’s final port of name in 1912.
The drive from Dublin to Blarney
Leaving Dublin, we traveled south on the M50 and related to the N11. We drove by way of Bray and continued south to the M11. This was a pleasant, straightforward stretch of freeway.
We stopped in Enniscorthy for lunch. It took us an hour to drive from Dublin to Enniscorthy. Though, we did get a little bit misplaced attempting to get out of Dublin. It’s a cute city with an outdated fort within the heart. We spent 1.5 hours in Enniscorthy after which continued south on the N30, in direction of New Ross. Then we travelled south on N25 in direction of Youghal, passing Waterford and Dungarvan.
We spent about an hour in Youghal. The drive from Enniscorthy to Youghal took us about 1.5 hours. We bumped into some development on the best way, in order that slowed us down. We continued from Youghal to Blarney, which took about 45 minutes. The total journey took about 6 hours, with two stops that accounted for two.5 hours.
At most, we spent about 1.5 hours within the automobile between stops.
If you wish to get from Dublin to Blarney or Cork quicker, take the M8, which is the principle freeway. This is able to take roughly 3.5 hours of straight driving.
Associated: High 10 Eire Points of interest you will need to go to
Cobh, County Cork
Though the climate was moist and overcast, we actually loved visiting Cobh. It’s one among our favorite spots on this Eire street journey itinerary.
We love the outdated structure and vibrant buildings in Cobh (see images above). We hopped on a vacationer prepare that took us round city and confirmed us the highlights. After a scrumptious lunch of seafood chowder and heat bread, we strolled alongside the historic waterfront and snapped just a few images earlier than leaving.
We spent about 3 hours in Cobh. It took us about 45 minutes to drive from Blarney to Cobh.
After Cobh, we visited the long-lasting Blarney Citadel.
After we arrived on the entrance entrance it was pouring rain. We contemplated skipping the attraction however determined to courageous the rain. Good factor we did. By the point we made it to the highest of the fort it was sunny and heat (see above picture).
We wrote a weblog put up about our go to to the Blarney Citadel. You’ll be able to learn it right here.
The place to remain in Blarney?
We stayed on the Blarney Golf Resort, situated simply exterior the city of Blarney within the countryside. We stayed right here as a result of it’s situated very near Blarney Citadel and, most significantly, it has a swimming pool. Our boys love pool time far more than sightseeing.
We actually loved our keep at this resort. The restaurant is good and the rooms are spacious. As a result of the property is within the nation, it’s quiet and peaceable within the evenings. Our boys had enjoyable working on the grass fields, swimming within the pool and enjoying within the mini-playground/children room.
When you’re travelling with children, we might advocate this property.
Associated: The Blarney Citadel – is it price visiting?
Ennis or Limerick – Night time 6
That is the purpose within the street journey the place you’ve gotten choices to make.
If you wish to deal with the southern a part of the Wild Atlantic Manner, you’ll be able to head south from Cork in direction of the coast. You may as well enterprise west, in direction of Killarney. The southwestern coast of Eire is claimed to have a number of the most lovely landscapes on the island.
You would dedicate a complete week to this area.
We made the choice to skip this coastal area as a result of it could have meant many hours of driving every day. If we weren’t touring with our boys we in all probability would have spent extra time driving the southern part of the Wild Atlantic Manner. Nevertheless, asking them to spend 6-7 hours per day within the automobile is an excessive amount of for them at this age.
Drive from Blarney to Limerick
We traveled from Blarney to Limerick and stayed one evening on the Absolute Resort Limerick. It’s a pleasant boutique resort with trendy decor and spacious rooms. The breakfast buffet is superior.
Nevertheless, if we needed to do it over, we might in all probability keep in Ennis as an alternative. Limerick is okay, however there wasn’t a lot to do and the site visitors was fairly irritating. The riverfront stroll is good and King John’s Citadel is sort of spectacular.
Ennis is a conventional Irish city that’s loaded with character. It has slim streets, historic buildings and it’s a lot smaller than Limerick.
When you resolve to remain in Ennis, try the Treacy’s West County Resort. It has enjoyable bunk beds for teenagers and a swimming pool. Total, it seems to be like an amazing household resort. And it’s priced properly.
Associated: High 10 Eire Points of interest you will need to go to
The drive from Blarney to Limerick
We left Blarney and drove north on the N20, in direction of Mallow. The purpose for the day was to go to the Rock of Cashel, one other high attraction in Eire. It’s probably not on the best way to Limerick, but it surely solely provides an hour or two to the drive time. At Mallow, we took the N73 east in direction of the M8.
We stopped within the city of Cahir to have lunch and take a look at Cahir Citadel. We have been pleasantly stunned by Cahir Citadel and didn’t perceive why it’s not larger on the record of high vacationer sights in Eire.
After about two hours in Cahir we realized we didn’t depart sufficient time to correctly go to the Rock of Cashel. It additionally began to rain closely, so we determined to skip it and push on to Limerick.
We arrived in Limerick throughout rush hour, which was not a good suggestion.
The site visitors congestion and a technique streets in Limerick are fairly irritating. You’ll be able to bypass Limerick and take the N18 to Ennis as an alternative. Add one other half-hour of drive time.
Cliffs of Moher
The explanation we spent an evening in Limerick was as a result of we needed to go to the magnificent Cliffs of Moher (pictured above). Arguably Eire’s most spectacular pure attraction, the Cliffs of Moher must be included on each Eire street journey itinerary.
It took us about 1.5 hours to get from Limerick to the Cliffs of Moher. We handed the charming seaside cities of Lahinch and Liscannor alongside the best way. Each of those cities are additionally good choices for a one evening keep, as an alternative of Limerick.
When you have a stroller, convey it with you. It will possibly get fairly windy alongside the cliffs, so jackets and sweaters are advisable (night if it feels heat exterior). We additionally recommend you convey a blanket for the youngsters and loads of snacks. There’s a cafeteria on the facility.
We spent about 2 hours on the Cliffs of Moher.
Associated: You MUST see the Cliffs of Moher. Right here’s why.
The drive from Limerick to Galway Metropolis
After the Cliffs of Moher we drove a piece of the Wild Atlantic Manner in direction of the town of Galway. The coastal drive is sort of slim and windy. Though the precise distance shouldn’t be far (about 75 km), it took us about 3 hours to get from the Cliffs of Moher to Galway. We couldn’t drive a lot quicker than 30-40 km/hr.
The views and landscapes on the south facet of Galway Bay are spectacular. Rolling inexperienced hills, stone-walled twisty roads, dramatic sea cliffs, historic stone castles. It’s precisely what you’d count on if you consider Eire.
Household journey tip – convey youngsters’s Gravol for the drive. After we say the roads are windy, we imply actually windy. Our oldest boy is susceptible to automobile illness. He didn’t get pleasure from this a part of the street journey.
Ensure you spend time at Dunguaire Citadel. See under.
Associated: High 10 Eire Points of interest you will need to go to
Galway – Night time’s 7 & 8
Subsequent on our Eire street journey, we spent two nights in Galway. We needed one full day to discover the town and knew we’d arrive late after our day on the Cliffs of Moher. Galway Metropolis is an enormous, bustling metropolis. It’s one of many greater cities in Eire.
Sadly, our sightseeing plans have been dampened by the rain.
We determined to flee the rain by visiting the Galway Atlantaquaria, Eire’s largest Native Aquarium. It’s not an enormous aquarium but it surely has loads of displays to maintain the little ones entertained on a wet day.
The place to remain in Galway?
We stayed on the Clayton Resort Galway. The situation is good for street trippers as a result of it’s subsequent to the N6 freeway. However there’s nothing else round and it’s removed from the town heart. You will have to drive or taxi to the town heart from this resort.
The room we stayed in was fairly large and spacious. The resort has a swimming pool and the onsite pub is sort of good. It was a cushty keep. We might advocate this property for street trippers, however not for individuals who wish to be nearer to the motion.
Sligo – Night time’s 9 & 10
After Galway, we drive north to the city of Sligo. A spotlight from our time in Sligo was exploring the Sligo Abbey, an outdated abbey damage initially inbuilt 1253 and restored a number of occasions over time.
The boys had enjoyable working across the grounds pretending they’re courageous knights combating the ghosts that lived within the shadows of the outdated stone buildings. They make us snigger.
After Sligo Abbey, we go to Strandhill, an Atlantic going through coastal village situated 5 miles west of Sligo. We explored the tall grassy sand dunes on the seaside and stopped into Mammy Johnston’s Ice Cream Parlour for some tasty selfmade ice cream and scorching cafe lattes.
The place to remain in Sligo?
We stayed on the Radisson Blu Resort Sligo. The resort has an amazing indoor swimming pool and the meals on the pub model restaurant is sort of good. The breakfast unfold can be excellent. Our room was clear and trendy but it surely was small and the air conditioner didn’t work, so it acquired fairly scorching at evening.
The resort is situated exterior the town heart but it surely’s nonetheless an amazing location. It’s a few 10 minute drive from the resort to the town heart.
The drive from Galway to Sligo
We determined to interrupt up our drive from Galway to Sligo with a go to to the Kiltimagh Pet Farm. It was a good suggestion so as to add a kid-friendly exercise every day. It gave us negotiating energy once they began getting cranky and proof against the lengthy drive occasions within the automobile.
The Kiltimagh farm shouldn’t be very large, but it surely has sufficient animals to maintain the youngsters busy for an hour or two. We had a little bit hassle discovering the place as a result of it’s situated within the countryside.
The drive took about 4 hours, together with the go to to the farm.
Portrush, Northen Eire – Night time’s 11 & 12
The following cease on our Eire street journey is Portrush in Northern Eire. Our plan is to go to the favored Big’s Causeway, so we’d like a house base for just a few nights.
Portrush is an ideal household vacation spot in Eire.
It’s house to Barry’s Amusement Park, the most important theme park in Northern Eire. It first opened it’s doorways in 1926 and it nonetheless has a 1950’s vibe. The city has a number of different arcades and recreation rooms, which made our boys fairly pleased.
The seaside resort city is broadly identified for its sandy seashores and world class golf programs. We loved wandering the streets and admiring the structure within the outdated a part of city.
It’s not very large, but it surely’s very walkable and stroller pleasant (in most locations).
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The place to remain in Portrush?
We stayed on the Portrush Atlantic Resort. The situation is great. It’s situated within the coronary heart of the outdated city, a stone’s throw from the water. Our room was ocean going through, which was good. The rooms are small however useful and cozy.
The restaurant within the resort is sweet. We ate dinner there twice and loved the meals, service and ambiance (however that is likely to be the scrumptious Guinness speaking). Breakfast was included. It was a conventional buffet model with the usual British gadgets you’d count on.
We might advocate staying at this resort.
The drive from Sligo to Portrush
It rained closely on our drive from Sligo to Portrush, so we determined to skip the sightseeing and drive on to Portrush. We stopped at a fuel station to gas up and get a snack, however that was it. The entire journey took about 3.5 hours, from door to door.
Associated – 20 Pictures that from the Big’s Causeway
The Big’s Causeway in Northern Eire
Just like the Cliffs of Moher, each Eire street journey ought to embrace the Big’s Causeway. It’s no shock that this legendary place has been acknowledged as a UNESCO World Heritage Web site.
Situated on the northeast coast of Northern Eire, close to the city of Bushmills, the Big’s Causeway is an space of over 40,000 interlocking basalt columns, the results of intense volcanic and geological exercise.
We visited this standard attraction as a result of it got here extremely advisable by virtually everybody we all know that has visited Eire. It didn’t disappoint. The large sea cliffs on the northern coast are actually out of this world.
This was a transparent spotlight from street journey round Eire and Northern Eire.
Belfast – Night time 13
After Portrush and the Big’s Causeway we drove on to Belfast, the capital of Northern Eire. We had initially deliberate to go to the Darkish Hedges in Ballymoney however our boys fell asleep shortly after we hit the street (we visited the amusement park in Portrush earlier than the drive). We determined it was finest to not wake them.
The drive from Portrush to Belfast is definitely fairly quick. It solely took us 1.5 hours from resort to resort.
We have been pleasantly stunned by Belfast.
It’s far more trendy that we had envisioned. We solely devoted one evening in Belfast, however that was an oversight. If we have been to do it over again we might spend no less than two nights in Belfast.
The climate wasn’t nice throughout our time in Belfast, however we did spend a while strolling across the metropolis. We additionally visited the favored Titanic Museum.
When you plan to go to the Titanic Museum (you need to, it’s superior), we recommend you take a look at when cruise ships are on the town – and plan round that. A cruise ship was in port after we visited and it was very busy.
The place to remain in Belfast?
We stayed at The Hilton Belfast. It’s situated on the banks of the Lagan River, solely a two-minute stroll to the town heart and 15 minute drive to Belfast Metropolis Airport. It’s additionally solely a ten minute drive to the Titanic Museum and it’s near the principle freeway that connects Belfast to Dublin.
We scored large time at this resort!
We have been upgraded to the Government Suite on the penthouse ground. The luxurious suite we stayed in was unimaginable. We felt like royalty. Our boys liked watching the trains, planes and boats from the superb fifteenth ground views (see above picture). We might advocate this property.
Belfast to Dublin – Night time 14
Our ultimate day was spent driving from Belfast to Dublin.
We visited the Titanic Musem within the morning, which is cease 5 on the hop on hop off belfast tour, and hit the street after lunch. The drive is all freeway, so it’s quick and straightforward. It took us about 2.5 hours with a roadside toilet break included.
We stayed on the Crowne Plaza close to the Dublin Airport.
We had an early morning departure the next day, so we determined to return the rental automobile the night earlier than. One much less headache to take care of on a journey day. We spent our ultimate night on the resort earlier than our lengthy flight from Dublin to Vancouver.
We had a blast on this Eire street journey.
After all, there are nonetheless so many Eire sights that we missed. I suppose which means we’ll simply have to come back again once more!
Learn extra posts from our journey to Eire:
Have you ever visited Eire? Did you do a street journey?
What did we miss? What would you do otherwise?
Share your suggestions and proposals within the feedback part under. We’d like to examine your journey and our readers are grateful for the extra info.
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