scenic drives ireland

O'Carolan Country Tour One day Tour 120km This tour starts from the attractive riverside and marina town of Carrick on Shannon. Drive towards Boyle and visit the Lough Key Forest Park with its numerous facilities from lakeside restaurant and caravan park to boating and nature trails. Discover the 13th century Boyle Abbey in Boyle town. Then on by Lough Key's Doon Shore, enjoy the magnificent view of this island studded lake, to Carrigeenroe and by the east shore of Lough Arrow to Riverstown a...

The very popular Heritage Town of Ardara, a leading centre for the Donegal hand-woven tweed and hand-knit garment industry, is the starting point for the varied drive. Follow the signs from Dungloe heading north from Ardara. Some 6km out take a left, signposted Rosbeg. Small, picturesque cottages are tucked into the lea of the rounded hills before Loughros Mor Bay opens up to your left, with Slievetooey dominating the horizon. Nearing Rosbeg you will see Kiltorris Lough to the right an...

The Lough Inagh Drive (164km/102mls) Clifden - Ballyconneely - Roundstone - Tombeola - Derryclare Lough - Inagh Valley - Letterfrack - Cleggan - Claddaghduff - Clifden

Leave Clifden taking the road south to Ballyconneely. This is a superb drive with bogs and beaches on either side. Connemara Golf Club is located at Ballyconneely. Next stop is Roundstone, a picturesque sea village founded in the early 19th century. It has excellent beaches at Gorteen and Dogs Bay. Continue to Toomb...

A spectacular scenic route connecting picturesque West Waterford with South Tipperary over the Knockmealdown Mountains....

Conor Pass is best tackled on a clear day, past the 953m summit of Mount Brandon. Once over the pass, Brandon Bay opens in a fantastic geological model of lakes, river and rock-strewn contours....

Ladies View is located between Kenmare and Killarney along the Ring of Kerry Route (N71). It's about 12 miles from Killarney and the stunning views of Killarney's Upper Lakes are awe inspiring to say the least, making it a major stopping point on any Ring of Kerry tour. The name Ladies View dates back to 1861. Queen Victoria's ladies in waiting were so inspired by the breathtaking view that they named it Ladies View....

Letterkenny and Convoy Follow the N13 (Derry road) from Letterkenny and then turn right onto the N56 for Ballybofey/Stranorlar. Some 17km south, take the R236 left, signposted Convoy and Raphoe. Mullaghagarry Forest Park is on the right and a stop is worthwhile.
Continue north-east through the neat village of Convoy. Raphoe is a busy market town in a fertile heartland. North of Raphoe on a third class road is Mongorry Forest with pleasant forest walks and viewpoints, Continue north-e...

The North Mayo Drive - (173 km/108mls) Ballina - Killala - Ballycastle - Belderg - Barnatra - Belmullet - Mullet Peninsula - Belmullet - Bangor - Crossmolina - Ballina) Leave Ballina, going north towards Killala. Along the way, you will pass near Kilmoremoy where a church was founded by St. Patrick's disciple, Olcan. St. Patrick is also said to have founded a church in Killala, which is assigned to one of his disciples, St Muredach. This area is rich in archaeological remains and ecclesia...

Brandon Bay opens in a fantastic geological model of lakes, rivers and rock-strewn contours. The seafaring monk St Brendan set sail from these shores in the 5th century. In 1976 similar craft of wood and leather to discover whether he could have reached America before Columbus. Once down near sea level, the northern coastal strip is a quiet and easy drive past long beaches and humdrum farmland....

Coastal drive with panoramic views of the North West Donegal coast. From Falcarragh follow the N56 coastal road that leads past Horn Head to Dunfanaghy. You can visit Mc Swiney’s Gun – a natural blow hole that at certain times, when the tide rushes in can give the effect of a loud explosion. Nearby Sheephaven Bay provides beautiful scenic views and Ards Forest Park, just north of Creeslough, is a haven for native Irish fauna....