We are wanting to visit Ireland but don’t really know where to start, north or southern. has anyone been and could you recommend any particular area worth a visit. Ideally we would like to set up our MH then travel around by bus or train ( as long as dogs are allowed) so we can maybe visit towns/ villages / cities but return to country setting. Any advice would be really welcome. Thanks in advance.
Travelling to Ireland
- Thread starter DelMem99
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- Feb 14, 2021
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- 3 years 30,000 miles UK and Europe.. Campsites and off Grid.
We went last August - mainly to attend a wedding but used it as an excuse to tour. We didn't use a campsite at all - 3 weeks off grid. So many great wild camping stops. So not really what you are looking for but I will share my 'Polar Steps' trip record anyway -might give a bit of context.
The favourite bit for us was North West Ireland, County Mayo, particularly the coast. Ring of Kerry was good too.
The favourite bit for us was North West Ireland, County Mayo, particularly the coast. Ring of Kerry was good too.
Thank you for responding, we are new at MH travels, what a great tool to log your journey. Thank you for sharing. This looks amazing, my only concern is are there many sites with electric as we do have solar but have never used it so are apprehensive in case we run out of power so would feel better if there was electric sites we could fall back on if needed.
Nanniemate
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Plenty of sites Google the area you want to go the search campsites , look at their website also the search for sites , park for the night and good old britstops .but remember how big it is .have fun
- Feb 14, 2021
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- 3 years 30,000 miles UK and Europe.. Campsites and off Grid.
I wouldn't worry too much about electric if you have a solar. We did 2/3 nights off grid with no solar when we first got the van. You should try it for a night or 2 just to see how it goes. (unless you use a lot of high power stuff like hair dryers, coffee machines, etc of course)
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PP Bear
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Thanks for sharing that, excellent journey.We went last August - mainly to attend a wedding but used it as an excuse to tour. We didn't use a campsite at all - 3 weeks off grid. So many great wild camping stops. So not really what you are looking for but I will share my 'Polar Steps' trip record anyway -might give a bit of context.
The favourite bit for us was North West Ireland, County Mayo, particularly the coast. Ring of Kerry was good too.
By the way, how one earth did you manage to fix the sails to the van and did it save any fuel
️Thanks for sharing that, excellent journey.
By the way, how one earth did you manage to fix the sails to the van and did it save any fuel
View attachment 706590
Thanks for sharing that, excellent journey.
By the way, how one earth did you manage to fix the sails to the van and did it save any fuel
View attachment 706590
Thanks for sharing that, excellent journey.
By the way, how one earth did you manage to fix the sails to the van and did it save any fuel
View attachment 706590
No the most we use is TV,, lights, like to have it on all night though, I agree though maybe try it for a couple of nights maybe closer to home just in case,
- Dec 10, 2020
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Have a look at Northernraiders trip - https://www.motorhomefun.co.uk/forum/posts/5420152/ he did quite a comprehensive trip mostly if not all wild camping if i remember correctly.
If you are interested in visiting the North Antrim Coast, there is a summer bus service called "The Causeway Rambler" that goes between Coleraine and Ballycastle. It is a hop on, hop off type service and stops at The Giants Causeway, Carrick na Rede rope bridge etc. Dogs are allowed on the bus.
It would be very easy to park up at one location for a few days and use the bus to get around. If you are looking for a small campsite I would recommend Feigh Farm. It is in the country on a working farm with fantastic views over the sea and the bus stop is only about 100yds away.
From Coleraine you can get the Train to Belfast or Derry, but to be honest I am not sure if you can take the dog.
From Ballycastle you can take the Ferry and do a day trip to Rathlin Island. (No problem taking the dog).
There are so many great locations to visit in Ireland North and South, but if you want to use public transport it will limit your choice somewhat.
It would be very easy to park up at one location for a few days and use the bus to get around. If you are looking for a small campsite I would recommend Feigh Farm. It is in the country on a working farm with fantastic views over the sea and the bus stop is only about 100yds away.
From Coleraine you can get the Train to Belfast or Derry, but to be honest I am not sure if you can take the dog.
From Ballycastle you can take the Ferry and do a day trip to Rathlin Island. (No problem taking the dog).
There are so many great locations to visit in Ireland North and South, but if you want to use public transport it will limit your choice somewhat.
Perfect thank you so much, we will definitely enquire about Feigh Farm. We are quite new at MH on our own as we always went with my sister and brother in law (wengar) but unfortunately she has passed so we need to be brave on our own x do you know of any sites in the south near bus stops
that we could look at for next time x
that we could look at for next time xSubscribers do not see these advertisements
We go regularly, there are plenty of stops both wild and serviced, we use a website called TMI its an excellent Irish site that's free to join, you have to be a member for a month then you get access to the maps and stops.
We did 6 weeks over xmas and new year last year doing an anti-clockwise lap, mainly hugging the coast, but not enough time and did a mixture of sites and wild camp.
its expensive to cross, Stena just quoted £450 from Holyhead and £350 from Cairnryan for march this year (cheapest options selected), 7.5m, 2 travellers, so if you can find a discount code that would be helpful. We will still be going.
North or South. they are worth exploring as all of Ireland is spectacular, friendly people, great food, wonderful Guinness and spectacular scenery.
The west coast, Achill Island in particular is a favourite. (Hy Breasal MH site is excellent). The Antrim coast is just beautiful, in the town of Bushmills there's a free public car park we've used that has a free bus to take you to the Giants Causeway, plus theres the Whiskey Distillery a short walk away.
Don't worry, just go.
We did 6 weeks over xmas and new year last year doing an anti-clockwise lap, mainly hugging the coast, but not enough time and did a mixture of sites and wild camp.
its expensive to cross, Stena just quoted £450 from Holyhead and £350 from Cairnryan for march this year (cheapest options selected), 7.5m, 2 travellers, so if you can find a discount code that would be helpful. We will still be going.
North or South. they are worth exploring as all of Ireland is spectacular, friendly people, great food, wonderful Guinness and spectacular scenery.
The west coast, Achill Island in particular is a favourite. (Hy Breasal MH site is excellent). The Antrim coast is just beautiful, in the town of Bushmills there's a free public car park we've used that has a free bus to take you to the Giants Causeway, plus theres the Whiskey Distillery a short walk away.
Don't worry, just go.
Done Ireland a few times have a look at my blogs, can't comment on campsites as very rarely use them and they are very expensive, move regular and do a fair bit of walking so dont need busses but have in Belfast where they are plentiful. Have used the train service which again is very good if you stop down near the wicklow coast and fancy a trip to Dublin.The forum motorhomecraic is worth having a look at and there is a new app out soon with many parking locations . https://app.motorhomeparkinglocations.com/#/home
A trip around Northern Ireland
www.rebbyvid.co.uk
A trip around Northern Ireland
Ireland 2017 blog | My Motorhome Travels
If you are taking a dog, there is the question of an Animal Health Certificate, which can be expensive and only lasts a few months. Due to the peculiarities of the regulations, if you go GB to Northern Ireland (Larne, Belfast) there are no checks on the dogs, and there are no checks at the NI/ROI border either, so you are free to travel over the whole of the island. I believe if you go via Dublin or Rosslare there are checks, and an AHC is required.
If you intend to travel to Europe in the future, it is possible to get a European Pet Passport from a vet in ROI, which is less expensive than an AHC and lasts for 10 years. It can be used for anywhere in the EU, for any ferry/channel crossing, and is what we have for our two little dogs. With a Pet Passport an AHC is not required for entry into the EU, including ROI.
If you intend to travel to Europe in the future, it is possible to get a European Pet Passport from a vet in ROI, which is less expensive than an AHC and lasts for 10 years. It can be used for anywhere in the EU, for any ferry/channel crossing, and is what we have for our two little dogs. With a Pet Passport an AHC is not required for entry into the EU, including ROI.
There is an aire for motorhomes by the Tourist Office in Buncrana, on Lough Swilly. Hookup requires tokens, available from the local fuel station.
May be of interest, it is the 250th Anniversary of that famous hymn Amazing Grace, as celebrated here:
cowperandnewtonmuseum.org.uk
John Newton was converted as a result of a horrendous sea voyage across the Atlantic in a storm. The ship finally made it into Lough Swilly, to Buncrana. There is a park laid out with the words of the hymn, and something of its history.
May be of interest, it is the 250th Anniversary of that famous hymn Amazing Grace, as celebrated here:
Amazing Grace 250 Commemorations | Cowper & Newton Museum
Amazing Grace 250 is a yearlong partnership programme of exhibitions, talks, walks, cultural and community events
cowperandnewtonmuseum.org.uk
Stealaway
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On our latest trip to Ireland in 2022 It was suggested we should complete the Atlantic Way.
A planned route is far too organised for us although we did keep finding we was on the Atlantic way but it does cover the whole of the West coast for 1600 miles.
Many routes in Ireland can get pretty narrow and naggery and that is the charm, the people are so patient and courteous it’s never an issue. Our Motorhome is just 7mts but was never a problem - except when a stonewall disguised as grass bank got me
There is some fabulous scenery and very unusual landscapes
Basically we meandered between visits to towns on the way to overnight stops on the coast. There is hundreds of harbour's piers and dock all over the west coast and even on the lakes. We searched out a local one near too us every night on Park4Nght especially if we needed water or the cassette needed emptying. We had absolutely no reason to book onto a campsite.
The roads are mostly quiet bur do not drive in Dublin, the traffic is horrendous, catch a commuter train in to the city. Any of the other bigger towns are also worth a visit but they are all very busy. There is a short stretch of Toll motorway around Dublin. It is very cheap but we avoided it because of the need to find how to pay
Killarney was lovely. Tipperary even though ‘it’s a long way' was a disappointment.
We only went into the north for one day and without any bother but did find an English Tesco and an LPG supplier in Enniskillen.
The cost of living and fuel are about the same --- except for any booze, which almost double UK prices - stock up!
We tended to stop at Lidl almost daily as the have huge selection of fresh bread products. We would buy a baguette (0.69E) and have a French type lunch of meat and cheese.
Be aware though that there are very few laybys on Irish roads so stopping on the road for lunch was always a task.
The Irish are crazy for whippy ice creams - with a flake 2E. We had to have one almost everyday
The Irish people are so lovely, chatty and so laid back - nothing is a problem.
We spent almost three weeks aimlessly touring and you can tell we totally enjoyed it. Even the P&O ferry from Liverpool turned out to be a good choice
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Stealaway
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Also Ireland is not part of the Schengen scheme
What’s the Schengen scheme
Northernraider
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That's expensive . I did Cairnryan to Larne £149 , and returned Dublin to holyhead £179 , 8.5 metre van 1 person 3 dogs.
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When I went at the end of last year the tourist office was shut and being refurbed, the shop accross the way had run out of tokens, I plugged in anyway and the leccy worked which was a bonus. As I couldn't pay the 5 euros I simply put a fiver into the very next charity jar I saw, think it was marie curie.There is an aire for motorhomes by the Tourist Office in Buncrana, on Lough Swilly. Hookup requires tokens, available from the local fuel station.
May be of interest, it is the 250th Anniversary of that famous hymn Amazing Grace, as celebrated here:
John Newton was converted as a result of a horrendous sea voyage across the Atlantic in a storm. The ship finally made it into Lough Swilly, to Buncrana. There is a park laid out with the words of the hymn, and something of its history.Amazing Grace 250 Commemorations | Cowper & Newton Museum
Amazing Grace 250 is a yearlong partnership programme of exhibitions, talks, walks, cultural and community events
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I think I’m right in saying that it is the length of time you can now spend in Europe (Schengen countries) in a 180 day period if you are on a non European passport. I understand that it’s a total of 90 days (distributed however you wish) in that 180 day block.What’s the Schengen scheme
I am no expert but it’s a rough guide.
im confident someone much much more knowledgable than me will be along soon to help. Enjoy your trip. As someone raised in Co Down, on the Lough, I’d give the ards peninsula a look.
Cush
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Ireland isn't in shengen so it doesn't have a time limit
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Agreed, and useful info. Was just trying to shine some light on post #19 for the OP.
Yes it is, both the prices I quoted are return from port of origin, will have a further look to see what other options are available, P&O from Liverpool return was quoting £650 for the same period in March.
strange as ive also just booked, Harwich to Hook of Holland in June, £270 return, Stena have a discounted rate till the end of Jan on that route.
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And very much appreciated
Bobbydaisy
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Brilliant, many thanks for the TMI info , going over in September and will for sure be looking at some of those sites/ locations .
Thanks for the info unfortunately I requested to join TMI then requested to join the Facebook page so have to pay to join TMI, a tip if you are going to join, join the Facebook page first then when requesting to join TMI it asks if you are a Facebook member, put yes as you can’t go back and change, it’s only £5 per year to join but still worth considering
Did Vanbitz fit that to your roof? I want oneThanks for sharing that, excellent journey.
By the way, how one earth did you manage to fix the sails to the van and did it save any fuel
View attachment 706590
minesapint
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There are plenty of good campsites that are not expensive and have good facilities, plus they are a lot safer than parking in a layby, roadside car park.
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