Verified stops, real drive times
Every named stop cross-referenced against Google Maps and the relevant tourism board. Drive times are real — including traffic on the N71 in August.
Ireland's Scenic Drive Network
Ireland's greatest drives,
Ireland's greatest drives,
route by route.
Five legendary routes. Verified stops, honest drive times, handpicked accommodation and audio guides — so you spend your time looking at Ireland, not at Google Maps.
5
Flagship routes
2,500+
km of scenic road
100+
Verified stops
32
Counties covered
Ring of Kerry — 179 km loop · Killarney to Killarney · allow a full day
Wild Atlantic Way — Ireland's 2,500 km western coastline · 5 sections mapped
Wicklow Mountains — 1.5 hrs from Dublin · Glendalough · Avoca · Powerscourt
Causeway Coastal Route — Giant's Causeway · Carrick-a-Rede · Ballycastle
Dingle Peninsula — Slea Head Drive · Connor Pass · Blasket Islands views
Ring of Kerry — 179 km loop · Killarney to Killarney · allow a full day
Wild Atlantic Way — Ireland's 2,500 km western coastline · 5 sections mapped
Wicklow Mountains — 1.5 hrs from Dublin · Glendalough · Avoca · Powerscourt
Causeway Coastal Route — Giant's Causeway · Carrick-a-Rede · Ballycastle
Dingle Peninsula — Slea Head Drive · Connor Pass · Blasket Islands views
Our approach
Every stop verified. Every drive timed honestly.
No tourist-board copy. No "allow 30 minutes" when it takes two hours. Every stop on every route is verified, timed and described from ground level — so your road trip actually works.
Audio guides for every route
A local voice in your car — stories, history, what to look out for around each bend. Download before you leave, play offline on the road.
A bed on every route
Handpicked accommodation for every overnight stop — B&Bs, guesthouses and hotels that understand what road-trippers actually need. Booking.com links throughout.
Five legendary routes
Ireland's greatest scenic drives
Hand-selected. Each one of these is genuinely among the finest road trips in Europe.
1
County Kerry · Munster
The Ring of Kerry
Ireland's most iconic drive — a full loop around the Iveragh Peninsula from Killarney, through mountain passes, clifftop roads, and fishing villages to Kenmare and back. The N70 and N71 take you past Killorglin, Cahersiveen, Waterville, Caherdaniel and Sneem. Drive clockwise to avoid the tour buses and get the best views on the right-hand side.
Key stops on the route
Killarney
Killorglin (Puck Fair town)
Cahersiveen
Waterville
Caherdaniel
Derrynane National Park
Sneem
Kenmare
Ladies View
Moll's Gap
2
Clare & Galway · Connacht / Munster
Wild Atlantic Way — Clare & Galway
Ireland's 2,500 km Atlantic coast drive stretches from Donegal to Cork — we've mapped the finest section: Clare and Galway. From the Cliffs of Moher and the Burren to the Aran Islands ferry at Rossaveel and the karst wilderness of Connemara. The R477 Coastal road through the Burren alone is worth the journey.
Key stops on the route
Kilkee
Cliffs of Moher
Lahinch
The Burren
Ballyvaughan
Kinvara
Galway City
Clifden
Connemara
Kylemore Abbey
3
County Wicklow · Leinster
Wicklow Mountains Scenic Drive
Ireland's most accessible mountain drive — 1.5 hours from Dublin, yet completely wild. Start at Powerscourt in Enniskerry, drive the Military Road over the Wicklow Gap, stop at Glendalough's ancient monastic city, descend through Avoca and finish at the Vale of Avoca. The most dramatic road in Leinster, bar none.
Key stops on the route
Powerscourt Estate
Enniskerry village
Sally Gap
Glendalough
Wicklow Gap
Laragh
Avoca (Meetings)
Tinahely
Shillelagh
4
County Antrim · Ulster
Causeway Coastal Route
The A2 coastal road from Belfast to Derry is one of the finest drives in Europe — UNESCO World Heritage cliffs, a swaying rope bridge, the ruins of Dunluce Castle, and the most photographed geological feature in Ireland. Carrickfergus Castle starts you off, the Giant's Causeway finishes the first day. Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge and Ballintoy Harbour (Game of Thrones) on day two.
Key stops on the route
Carrickfergus Castle
Larne
Glenariff Forest
Ballycastle
Carrick-a-Rede Bridge
Giant's Causeway
Dunluce Castle
Portrush / Portstewart
Derry / Londonderry
5
County Kerry · Munster
The Dingle Peninsula
The most westerly drive in Europe — and possibly the most beautiful. The Slea Head Drive loops the end of the Dingle Peninsula, past iron-age beehive huts (clochán), the ruins of Dunbeg Fort, Ventry Strand and Coumeenoole Beach, with the Blasket Islands looming offshore. Connor Pass crosses the spine of the peninsula with views to both coasts. No lorries over Connor Pass — the sat-nav is wrong.
Key stops on the route
Dingle Town
Connor Pass
Ventry Beach
Dunbeg Fort
Beehive Huts (Clochán)
Slea Head
Coumeenoole Beach
Dunquin Pier
Blasket Islands view
Where to stay on the road
Handpicked stops for every route
One or two nights on the road changes a day trip into a proper adventure. These properties are at the right point on each route.
Ring of Kerry
Ring of Kerry · Stop 1
Kenmare Town B&Bs
Kenmare, Co. KerryKenmare is the ideal midpoint for Ring of Kerry drivers — good restaurants, walkable town, and a short drive to Ladies View for sunrise.
Wild Atlantic Way
Wild Atlantic Way · Burren overnight
Ballyvaughan Guesthouses
Ballyvaughan, Co. ClareStay in the Burren village of Ballyvaughan — perfect central point between the Cliffs and Galway. Some properties overlook Galway Bay.
Wicklow Mountains
Wicklow Mountains · South Wicklow stay
Madeline's Accommodation, Tinahely
Tinahely, Co. WicklowPremium partner — a beautifully restored guesthouse in the Square at Tinahely. Ideal base for the southern Wicklow drive and the Wicklow Way.
Causeway Coast
Causeway Coast · North Antrim base
Ballycastle B&Bs
Ballycastle, Co. AntrimBallycastle is the best overnight base for the Causeway Coast — midway between the Causeway and Carrick-a-Rede, with a good harbour and pubs.
Dingle Peninsula
Dingle Peninsula · Town base
Dingle Town Guesthouses
Dingle, Co. KerryStay in Dingle town itself — walk to restaurants, drive Slea Head in the morning. Multiple guesthouse options for all budgets.
Any Route
List your property
Your property here
Along any of our 5 routesIs your B&B or guesthouse on one of these routes? Get listed in the DriveIreland directory — from €29/month, premium partner from €249/month.
Audio guides launching soon
Get the DriveIreland audio guide when it launches
An Irish voice for every route — history, stories and what to look out for on each bend. Join the list to get notified first.