Suggestions for Irish Wild Atlantic Way area?
We're tentatively considering a trip to S Ireland in 2022, if health & Covid condition allow, with our small caravan, probably in May.
There's a lot of Ireland, and we're wondering where to choose, preferring to try a portion rather than trying to cover as much ground as possible for the sake of it. We enjoy British West Coasts, such as Pembrokeshire, the NW of Scotland & Western Isles. The Irish W Coast "Wild Atlantic Way" is apparently 1600 miles long, far more than one trip's worth for us.
Before the Scottish NC500 really took off, we did our own variant on it, though are aware that increasingly it's seen by local people as a very mixed blessing, with good reason.
Any relevant experienced comments on good areas, good sites, etc, would be gratefully received.
We usually prefer smaller sites as long as they have loos and showers, but the ones I'm spotting on "ukcampsites" seem mostly to have 90+ pitches.
Ferries too - there's Irish Ferries and Stena, which appears a lot cheaper. Both offer various crossings.
So, currently it's like walking into a whole library vaguely wanting a book, and any help in aiming would be great.
Thank you.
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We went in 2003 so our experience of sites isn’t likely to be relevant now. No doubt you’ve seen the club's offerings.
I came across this website a while back. It covers Eire and NI and may be of use.
https://www.camping-ireland.ie
My tip is to pick the shortest ferry crossing you can as the Irish Sea can be rather lumpy at times🤢
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That looks useful, thank you. TW. I've just glimpsed the front page, and so will dig deeper.
While there are reviews in ukcampsites of dozens of sites up that long coast, such as I've seen are rarely less than several years old, (if not 2003), and even in that time things can change. of course.
Which parts of that long coast might you recommend for a first bite, by the way? Your comments on Western Isles sites almost exactly tallied with our preferences, so you've now achieved a status approaching site guru
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Sheesh, I’ll never live up to that!
On the subject of sites, although they were OK, they weren't up to club sites - even at 2003 standards.
I suppose, to a certain extent, it depends where you dock in Eire as to what bits you do. We crammed too much into 2 weeks (work got in the way back then) and you’re wise not to attempt it all in one go. We docked at Rosslare, travelled north to Dublin, across the middle via Athlone out to Connemara, south through Limerick down to Killarney. Then across the south coast through Cork and Waterford back to Rosslare. We stopped 2 or 3 nights at each of several sites along the route.
As I said it was a long time ago but Connemara around Galway and Mayo stands out in my mind as does the Ring of Kerry toured from Killarney, and also the south east corner around Waterford and Wexford. I wish we’d had time to see the Dingle Peninsula as well. My recollections are a bit hazy now I’m afraid as were the views at the time due to the Irish mist!
I hope it goes well for you.
Edit: Don’t discount the bigger commercial sites as they often have security staff and barriers while the smaller sites may not. Intruders in the night at one of the smaller sites stole our caravan step and it was a bit scary to see headlights and torches moving around.1 -
That's all very well worth knowing, thank you again.
Re- the edit: While we're not, ( I dare to admit on these pages!), normally great fans of club sites, excellent as they are, and prefer CS/CL or good family-run small sites, we've never yet had security problems like that in rural areas - that's worth knowing too. So maybe the CMC sites in that country might slide up our potential list.
PS Fear not, master guru, we'll very much continue to do our own research too !! But there are sometimes starry reviews on particular sites where a little research into what else the reviewers like shows us they're welcome to their sites, and we'll stick to ours, if you see what I mean.
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Thankyou.
We've never had trouble of that nature on sites in the UK either. Perhaps we were unlucky but the site owner wasn't a bit surprised it had happened. I think it pays to be aware.
It wouldn't make sense to give you site reviews 18 years after the event but I think sites listed by either club will be a reasonable standard, even if not what you really want. We weren't members here in 2003 but used mainly sites listed by C&CC, although in general both clubs list the same sites. The one with the intruders was selected from elsewhere🤷♂️. We did notice that sites near large centres of population filled up at weekends. Weekenders, huh? Nothing new there😄
Good hunting, HH.👍
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The camping-ireland link is the standard one that most people use for Eire and NI. The shortest route is via the ferry near Stranraer in Scotland, nearest west coast would be Donegal. We used the Holyhead/Dunlaoghaire route which takes you straight into Dublin if needed, a fairly quick journey, easy to head north, south or west from there or visit Dublin itself. We did a north/south visit so can't help much on the west coast except we went across to Sligo, Mayo, Connemara and Galway from the Belfast/Antrim area then back down to Dublin via the Boyne to see New Grange. We liked it all, there's so much to see. The sites are well used by the locals having breaks, so much like here, you'll probably need to book if you have certain places in mind. Some roads aren't too good, don't expect fast travel! Hope your plans go well.
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Thanks again, TW. Where are you off to - things allowing - next year? (Don't worry, we're not following you!)
It might appear from the paucity of other replies as if nobody else has been to that part of the Emerald Isle, or prefers to keep quiet about their favourite bits!0 -
No plans yet for next year, HH.
I'm sure others have been to Eire. Maybe they’ll surface later.🤷🏻♂️
PS. I have some info from another source if you care to email me - see profile.
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I spent months in Ireland several years ago (2001) My advice would be "Just do it!" I would move there if it weren't for family restrictions - I loved it that much! I did the whole west coast as well as the North. It's an amazing place with lovely people and culture. The Atlantic coast is not to be missed. The gems for me were Mayo, Connemara, Limerick, Galway, Kerry, Killarney, Dingle peninsular and Kinsale (for the best fish!) There was only one motorway when I was there but I believe there's been a massive upgrade, cutting journey times. The Irish way of life doesn't exactly lend itself to the outside lane driving anyway!
The local bar or pub is the first place you need to head for for help, information, food and of course the "Craic" The sites were not up to CAMC standards, but again, that may have changed. They had their own charm and friendliness, which knocked spots off CAMC.
Sadly, the Irish sea is one of the most expensive stretches of water to cross in Europe, but once there, you too will probably wish to embrace the Emerald Isle for much longer than you planned. I hope, for your sake, you're able to get there and if I were to choose one area for a shorter stay, it would have to be S.W
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Extugger, that's valuable information. Thanks. All going in the file!
The SW seems to appeal for all sorts of reasons, there's some good traditional music from that corner too.0 -
Extugger wrote "Sadly, the Irish sea is one of the most expensive stretches of water to cross in Europe"
You've not been to the Isle of Wight then?
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For some reason I only just spotted this, Brue. "Some roads aren't too good, don't expect fast travel!" ... this is one of the reasons we'd like to go!
Thanks. It sounds as if it's all so well worth seeing that wherever we aim could be a good choice
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So was I. Price per mile with Wightlink are, or at least were, eye-watering.
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Really appeals to us does Ireland. OH has been, camping and climbing some of the mountains, he loved the place. My disastrous history of being onboard any kind of water born transport would have us doing a split crossing. OH with MH, me flying out to meet up. But for three/four weeks, well worth it.
There’s a stunning documentary about someone who canoes the West Coast somewhere, I must find it to watch again👍0 -
CY - Yes, been to IOW and would agree with you. Ferry costs are ridiculous! Having said that it seems trying to leave this Island, on whatever route, is becoming increasingly expensive!
Hedge - you’re correct about the music, but that can be found in most areas. What amazed me was the “kids” who were into their Garage, Grunge, Rap, House or whatever else it was, still joined in with the traditional songs belting out old favourites in their droves! It made for many pleasant evenings 😀
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Even if they are eye watering, when i said to one of their booking staff at Lymington, that it is the highest ferry prices he assured me they were actually the ninth most expensive ferry crossings costs
It was cheaper with my retired staff discount,,to take a car over ,so we went free as foot passengers as my brother met us at Yarmouth
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Try " Red Funnel" from Southampton.They also have four associated sites that can be booked through them at advantageous costs .( ie," Waverley Holiday Park" Est Cowes,open all year and a stones throw from the ferry ) !!
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For sea crossing would recommend booking Stena through the club. Good discount compared to booking direct on line. If flexible with dates, depending on route,caravans are free/discounted on all sailings Tuesday-Thursday. Cannot comment on sites. I booked my sailings in September for June/July 2022. Like airlines prices gradually increase month on month.
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That's all helpful, Hmm, I'd not thought about the price thing. (I never fly, so the airlines thing didn't come to mind!) So it's a sort of gamble between the saving on price and predicting where we'll be with Omicron or whatever follows.....
Incidentally, a parallel enquiry on the CT forum, brought, among others, the comment that the Ring of Kerry is best done anti-clockwise so as not to keep meeting loads of coaches and other large touring units coming the other way.0 -
Yes, anti clockwise is the recommended way to do it.
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Great tips thank you everyone
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