There’s Dublin and there’s the rest of Ireland – or so it can seem. The capital is characterful and bustling, with its colleges and Georgian shopping streets. But head south or west and a quieter Eire emerges: a fairytale land of dark-green fields, sandy beaches, moors, crags and many castles. Most scenic are Wicklow Hills, especially when rouged with heather, and the bonny Cork-Kerry coast, the ideal place for oyster festivals and sharing craic in village pubs. Running alongside is the newly-inaugurated, 1,553-mile Wild Atlantic Way drive.
Many Irish-goers are literature-lovers, anxious to trace the roots of work by Joyce, Yeats et al. Personally, as a footie fan who’d heard Irish fans thrillingly bellow out The Fields of Athenry at international games, I had another pilgrimage in mind. Athenry turned out to be an idyllic place with a small fort and, yes, low-lying fields. Still no sign of Trevelyan’s corn, mind.
4 holidays match your criteria.
Our "Giants, Saints & Titanic" self-drive holiday covers the many highlights of Northern Ireland, the hidden gem of Irish tourism. From the natural phenomenon of the Giants' Causeway and the beautiful Antrim Coast Road to the patchwork green fields and numerous monastic sites of County Down - not forgetting the reinvigorated city of Belfast.
This is arguably the finest section of Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way - from Cork City around the southwest coast to Dingle and north up the west coast to County Clare. This self-drive holiday will allow you time to stop at inviting hand-picked hotels and enjoy guided tours of some of the country’s most tempting culinary experiences along the way.
Imagine the West of Ireland and you think of pretty coastal villages, dramatic seas, brightly-painted shops and bars and a warm welcome. Now you can enjoy all of this on the captivating coastal driving route now known as Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way.
Nothing says ‘escape’ like a break on an Irish island - and this new holiday takes in four of them! Every unique destination on this nine night self-drive exploration holiday boasts its own distinctive character. Overnight stays on Achill, Clare and the Aran Islands, as well as historic Connemara and a day trip to the magical Inishbofin Island.
