An Ireland road trip is a favorite vacation for many travelers, and it’s not hard to see why. The beautiful scenery, charming towns, and friendly locals make this a great destination for every traveler, including those traveling with children.
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Ireland is best experienced with a rental car, but beware of the small roads and left-side driving. Most tourists suggest flying into Dublin and out of Shannon (or vice versa), visiting the more famous sites along the Southern coast of Ireland. Instead, we chose to get off the beaten track and visit the Northern Coast of Ireland. This region is quieter, less touristed, and feels more wild. Keep reading for our 1 week driving itinerary of Ireland, focusing on the beautiful nature on the northern route.
Overview:
This itinerary will take you from Dublin Airport to Shannon Airport. You will spend time in both Northern Ireland, and the northern part of the Republic of Ireland. It focuses on off the beaten path destinations and natural scenery. If interested, this itinerary can be combined with a 1 week itinerary along the southern coast of Ireland, allowing a family to spend 2 weeks circling the entire Ireland, flying in and out of Dublin.
- 1 night in Carlingford
- 1 night in Ballycastle
- 3 nights in Donegal
- 1 night in Westport
- 2 nights in Galway
Day 1- Arrival at Dublin Airport
Spend the night in Carlingford (1 night)
If you are flying from the US, you are probably tired, jet lagged, and not in a state to drive. For this reason, we recommend staying near Dublin. For this reason, we chose to stay in the quaint town of Carlingford. It is a beautiful town near the water that is a frequent weekend destination for Irish travelers. Plus, Carlingford is a short one hour drive from the Dublin airport. Additionally, it is easily accessed by larger roads, making it ideal for tired drivers. We stayed at this charming Bed and Breakfast, which was the perfect landing spot after a long flight.
Day 2- Visit Belfast and Drive to the Antrim Coast
Spend the night in Ballycastle (1 night)
Belfast
Wake up early and drive one hour to Belfast, Northern Ireland. Belfast, like nearby Derry, still bears a lot of the scars of The Troubles. While this area is safe now, it boasts a fascinating history, which is best experienced on a Black Taxi Tour. Your tour guide will take you into the neighborhoods most impacted by The Troubles, explain the tensions that are still present today, and help you explore street art memorializing the people that died during the unrest.
Glenariff Forest
After spending the morning exploring Belfast, continue on to Glenariff Forest, a favorite weekend spot for Irish people. Here, we hiked the Waterfall Walkway, a 3 mile walk along stunning rivers and waterfalls. There was a small fee for parking, but admission was free. IThe hike begins with a long descent into a valley. Later, it ends at a small cafe area. From there, you can catch a shuttle back up the hill, or take the short and steep hike out of the valley.
Dark Hedges
Your final stop of the day will bring you to the Dark Hedges. Game of Thrones fans will recognize this spot from the series. While it is typically crowded, going at the end of the day results in less tour groups. This is a quick stop to stroll under the trees before heading to Ballycastle to check into your next Bed and Breakfast.
Day 3- Explore the Antrim Coast
Spend the night in Donegal (3 nights)
By staying in Ballycastle last night, you are ideally positioned to visit the Antrim Coast tourist sites before the tour buses from Belfast and Dublin arrive. Today will be a long day, with many spots along this road trip to visit, but it is one of the best single day road trips in the world.
Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge
This Carrick-a-Rede Rope bridge is famous, but we didn’t realize there is also a stunning hike to reach the bridge. After parking your car, purchase your ticket to cross the bridge. From there, you will walk about a mile on a well maintained, mostly flat, trail. After crossing the bridge, be sure to explore the island’s stunning views before heading back to your car.
Giant’s Causeway
The basalt columns of The Giant’s Causeway was formed 60 million years ago. Additionally, it is a UNESCO world heritage site. There is a fee to park in the parking lot, and another to visit the Visitor Center, but visiting the actual site is free. The rocks here get slippery, so be sure to wear comfortable, supportive shoes. We chose to walk (downhill) to the site and take the shuttle bus back uphill to the visitor center.
Old Bushmill’s Distillery
At this point, it was about 10am. Therefore, we decided it was a bit too early to drink whiskey. If you are passing through Bushmill’s a bit later, we have heard that this spot is a must-visit.
Dunluce Castle
The castle ruins at Dunluce date to the 13th century, and it has stunning views of the cliffs that make up the coast of Northern Ireland. Plus, this is another Game of Thrones site that fans may recognize as House Greyjoy.
Harry’s Shack in Portstewart
At this point, you have probably worked up an appetite. Drive down onto the sand and eat lunch at Harry’s Shack while enjoying the great food and beautiful beach views. In fact, this was one of our favorite meals in Ireland.
Mussenden Temple
We came here for the beautiful temple situated above a stunning beach. However, we didn’t realize that you walk through a stunning field and past several large estate ruins to reach the castle. We added this site as an afterthought, but it is truly a must see.
After a long day of climbing in and out of your car, it is time to say “goodbye” to Northern Ireland, and to shorter one night stays. Up next, you will be staying in the town of Donegal in the Republic of Ireland. You will spend 3 nights here enjoying the town and exploring nearby scenery.
Day 4- Visit the Tallest Sea Cliffs in Europe
Spend the night in Donegal (3 nights)
You’ve entered the Republic of Ireland, and will spend the rest of your trip exploring off the beaten path destinations and stunning scenery. Today, you will visit the tallest cliffs in Europe, three times higher than the Cliffs of Moher. Bring warm clothes and a rain jacket- this part of Ireland is very susceptible to rain.
Slieve League Cliffs
As you are driving to the Slieve League Cliffs, you will arrive at a lower parking lot. This is a long hike up a steep hill in questionable weather. As a result, we recommend not parking in this area. Instead, proceed past the gate, making sure to shut it behind you to keep the sheep in (I told you this area is less touristy!). After a few minutes of driving, you will reach the upper lot with the views of the cliffs. When we arrived here, we were the only cars. A few minutes later, a hiking group arrived, but they cleared the area quickly.
Ardara
Ardara is a small town in Donegal known for its wool. Plus, it is a great place to warm up and get some lunch at Nancy’s Barn. Be sure to try the chowder! On the drive from Slieve League Cliffs to Ardara, you will pass over the Glengesh Pass, a stunning road with switchbacks and a beautiful view.
Eas a’Ranca Waterfall
This waterfall is right on the side of the road! Park in front of it to snap a few photos before continuing to the beach.
Maghera Beach
Unfortunately, our time at Maghera Beach was the worst weather we had on our entire trip. We walked through the reeds and sand dunes to reach this huge sandy beach, and it was absolutely stunning. There, you will find a few caves you can walk into at low tide to explore. If the weather had been nicer, we would have loved to take a long walk along this sandy beach.
Day 5- Explore Donegal County
Spend the night in Donegal (3 nights)
Today, you will stay a bit closer to home and see several sites near Donegal.
To begin, start the morning driving South towards Mullaghmore. This peninsula has enormous waves crashing onto rocky beaches. Use the pullouts to appreciate the view.
After exploring Mullaghmore, continue to Bundoran to visit the Fairy Bridges. There, waves have carved bridges out of the rocks and you can walk over the fairy pools.
It should be lunchtime, and there is no better spot than Smugglers Creek Inn in Rossnowlagh. This delightful pub looks over one of Ireland’s most beautiful beaches. Enjoy the delicious pub food while watching surfers and beachcombers down below.
On your way back into Donegal, stop at the Donegal Craft Village. Here, we picked up a small piece of wool art that is hanging in our living room and reminds us of our trip to Ireland. Additionally, there were several artists selling paintings, jewelry, scarves, and other crafts.
At the end of the day, you will have time to walk around the town of Donegal and visit the shops in town. We loved the Blueberry Tea Room for a cup of tea and a yummy scone. For dinner, check out Trattoria Toscana for a delicious Italian meal.
Alternative option:
We were pretty tired this day, so we opted for a day with less driving and sticking closer to Donegal. However, if you have the energy for another long day, consider a day trip to the Inishowen Peninsula, which is supposed to be magnificently beautiful. It is a 90 minute drive from Donegal. Be sure to check out Glenevin Waterfall, Malin Head, Buncrana beach, and Grianan of Aileach.
Day 6- Visit Marble Arch Caves
Spend the night in Westport (1 night)
From Donegal, you will drive one hour to the Marble Arch Caves. Be sure to call the day before to confirm that they are open. In severe rain, they will often close. Bring a sweater- it gets cold inside.
There are several walks along boardwalks and rivers. Once you enter the cave, there are several underground waterfalls. It was a great site! Do you love exploring caves? Be sure to check out the Skocjan Caves in Slovenia.
After exploring the caves, continue towards Westport. Westport is situated on Clew Bay, a large Bay with 365 islands. Additionally, Westport has a great music scene. After checking into the Wyatt Hotel, situated conveniently in the center of town, it’s time to explore. Visit Westport’s shops and grab dinner at one of the many great restaurants. After dinner, stop at Matt Molloy’s to enjoy some Irish music.
Day 7- Drive through Connemara National Park
Spend the night in Galway (2 nights)
Today is another long day of driving, but you will be rewarded with some of Ireland’s most beautiful sites. This part of Ireland looks so different than the other places we had seen. It is vast, red, and stunning. Keep an eye out for red deer, Connemara ponies, and of course- sheep!
Doo Lough Valley
Your first stop today is Doo Lough Valley, a stunning valley with a tragic history. During the potato famine, hundreds of people were forced to walk through this valley to continue receiving their food aid. However, many people did not survive the journey. There are several pull outs along the way- just choose whichever pull out has space for your car. If there is a tour group, we recommend waiting until they depart. They won’t spend more than 15 minutes there, and this area is hauntingly beautiful- you want to have it all to yourself. In this area, be sure to visit the Doo Lough Valley Famine Memorial for the best views, and an overview of the history of the valley.
Aasleagh Falls
Continuing along R335, you will reach N59. Just before you turn right onto N59 is Aasleagh Falls. These are a short and wide falls directly next to the road with ample parking. For this reason, it’s a great short stop to stretch your legs.
Leenane Village
Your drive continues along Killary Harbor, Ireland’s only fjord. Here, you can take a 90 minute boat cruise up the fjord. There is also a sheep farm in the area that gets great reviews, particularly during lambing season. This would be a great stop with children.
Kylemore Abbey
Kylemore Abbey is an estate that sits on a lake. While it used to be a private home, it is now a home for nuns. Plan to spend 2 to 3 hours here. The estate is stunning from the outside and ok from the inside. Most importantly, we really loved the Victorian gardens. It is an uphill walk to get to the gardens, but there is a shuttle available. For this reason, we chose to take the shuttle up and walk back.
Clifden
Clifden is the main town in Connemara and is a charming place to walk around. If you have made it this far without eating lunch, you are probably starving, as we were. Therefore, this is a great spot to grab lunch, a snack, or a cup of tea.
On your way out, be sure to drive the Sky Road. It is only 11 km long and takes about 20 minutes, but is one of the most stunning drives in Ireland. In fact, there is a parking lot at the top of the road where you can look over the ocean and appreciate the incredible views. Bring your jacket- this area is cold and exposed. Signs from the Abbeyglen Castle Hotel will direct you.
Galway
It’s probably been a long day by now! If you have time, you can stop at one of the beautiful beaches along the drive to Galway, such as Dog’s Bay or Coral Beach. By this point, we were ready to get to Galway.
Day 8- Eat your way through Galway
Spend the night in Galway (2 nights)
If you need to cut a day from your itinerary, I would remove the full day in Galway. We found Galway to be a beautiful, lively city, but it could easily be explored in a single evening and morning. There is a very fun pedestrian walking zone with great restaurants and fun shops. We loved our pies from Pie Maker. The inside is cozy and seats only a few groups, but all the savory pies we tried were delicious, including the vegetarian option.
Alternatively, consider a trip to the Aran Islands. You can take a plane or a ferry from nearby.
Day 9- Spot some Cliffs before Heading Home
Hopefully your flight is a bit later today so you have time to visit the Cliffs of Moher en route to the Shannon Airport. These cliffs are 700 feet tall and about 2 hours away from Galway. They are free to visit but charge a fee for parking. For best photos, visit after noon when the cliffs are better lit.
Protect Your Trip
If the COVID-19 pandemic has taught us anything, it is that insurance is necessary to protect our travel investments and keep our family safe on the road. Depending on the policy that you choose, travel insurance can protect your family in the event of medical emergencies and canceled trips. It also takes the sting out of minor trip mishaps, such as lost baggage and delayed flights. Check out Squaremouth to compare plans and choose one that fits your family.
Planning a trip with a baby? Check out these guides to simplify flying with a baby:
- How to Have a Great Flight with a Baby
- Baby Travel Gear- A Full List of Things You Need When Traveling with a Baby
- The Best Airplane Toys for Flying with Babies
