Caravanning in Republic of Ireland
Hi everyone
My wife and I are planning to visit the Republic of Ireland next year and, ideally, would take the caravan. I wondered if there is anyone here with experience of taking a towed caravan to Ireland, particularly the west coast? If so, would you share your experience please, in particular how easy it is to get around the roads. Are there a lot of single track roads in the west that are a problem for an articulated vehicle such as a caravan? I have driven many single track roads in the west and north of Scotland without problem - mainly because there is generally excellent visibility of the road ahead and avoiding action can be taken in plenty of time. I wonder what the conditions are like in Ireland?
Thanks in advance
David
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It was nearly 20 years ago we took our caravan to Eire. Based on that, I would say you’ll have no problems providing you don’t try to go off the beaten track. I’d not try towing round the Ring of Kerry though! I remember the roads being a decent width but in need of resurfacing in places. I’d do it again with no hesitation.
I expect someone with more recent experience will be along soon.
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It's awhile since we took our caravan on a round trip taking in some of the north, west and south. No problems, not many stopping places on the main routes. Be prepared to just park up wherever for rest breaks. Would love to go back, hope you have a great trip.
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We have done it too some years back, including taking the caravan around the Ring of Kerry, and that with a left hand drive car. Admittedly my wife next to me got scared on those narrow roads when trucks or buses came in the opposite direction. She later decided to join the children on the back seat, in order not to be too helplessly exposed, but we managed it all very well and I'd go again.
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Thanks all for your responses to my query. It sounds as though it is generally OK. I will have a closer look at the Ring of Kerry to see what the roads look like there - possibly siting the caravan outside of this area. I will proceed further with the planning!
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Sounds like a good scheme, DP. We stayed at Killarney and toured the Ring of Kerry by solo car. Incidentally, it’s recommended that you 'do' the Ring in an anti-clockwise direction. This makes it more or less one way traffic and avoids meeting many oncoming vehicles.
I'm sure you’ll love it👍🏻
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davidpambs,
like you, we are planning to tour southern Ireland.
We intend to travel on the larger roads, and mooch about from a central area(i;e tour the ring of kerry via car only}
We have already booked our ferry crossing from Holyhead to Dublin and return via the club at a reasonable price.
We plan to tour:
Wexford/Waterford --Killarney--Galway--and Dublin
No specific order but would appreciate help with finding campsites in those area.
Have you or other members come across any appealing sites in those areas ?
all help appreciated.
Chemik
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For Dublin we used the Camac Valley caravan park, it's next door to a large park and is on a bus route for Dublin. We had visited Dublin before and wanted to see more, it's a lovely city. We also used the site as a base to drive up to the Boyne to see New Grange, this is a wonderful ancient monument, well worth a day out.
For the Galway area we stayed at Cong and travelled out to Connemara, Mayo and Galway. Cong is very interesting situated on Lough Corrib. But obviously there are other sites which might suit you more.
The Camping Ireland website is very useful for all the approved sites.
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I hesitate to recommend any sites now as it was nigh on 20 years ago we went and a lot could have happened in that time. We chose sites mainly from those listed by this club and by C&CC. A few others I found from other sources such as UK Campsite, the Irish Tourist Board and general internet searches. Those suggested by the two clubs proved to be the better sites but that was way back then.
https://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/sites/results.asp?region=Overseas&county=S%20Ireland1 -
we went about 25 years ago when the kids were small. Went to a site in Bantry Bay and also Tipperary ... it was a long way 🙄 I don't remember the roads being especially narrow, a lot had a 'hard shoulder' that slower traffic was expected to pull over into to allow faster traffic to pass. I do remember quite a few potholes though.
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You're welcome.
Cong is where the ancient John Wayne film The Quiet Man was filmed and the camp site showed the film every night. Viewing wasn’t compulsory😁.
I remember the 'hard shoulder' lanes mentioned by ED. I think they were denoted by a painted yellow line.
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We did Ireland last summer (2021) due to France at the time putting in the 10 day travel restraint for all Brits. We tow a 7.4 metre Coachman and had no problems although we did stay on the East Coast. That said, we did travel across to the West side with the car and there were plenty of good dual carriageway / motorway type links. Many of those roads were in better condition than here in the UK. I would have had no concerns towing across.
Accessing sites once off the "highway" was a little bit hairy on a couple of occasions so would recommend you take explicit instructions on the best approach route to use as many of the minor roads are exactly that! Relying on the sat nav is not a good idea but that applies to anywhere I suppose.
Sites were generally speaking of a good standard, employees very helpful and accommodating. You will I am sure enjoy it. We would happily go back.
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Chemik89
We haven't yet got round to the sites yet but will start over Xmas. It is challenging finding a map that has a good overview of where the sites are (at least I've not come across one yet).
Good luck with your searching
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Thanks to the links provided by Tinwheeler and the sites recommended by Brue we are beginning to plan a route.
Thanks to oxfordeagle15 - we intend not to stray far from the larger roads
We are using a combination of google maps and a road atlas of Ireland.
We sourced the atlas from Ebay cheaply due to it being an old copy, here's a link to similar
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/142745119747
Although 12 years old ,it will do us(supplemented by google and our sat nav)
Hope this helps
chemik
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Go for it and enjoy👍🏻
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