Have you been to Ireland

etsbigal

Guest
Thinking of going to Ireland for two/three weeks stop over. We have never done the ferry yet, any ideas where to start looking?

Bobbie
 
We went to Ireland in 05, we toured extensively from Dun Laoghaire, all around in a clockwise direction up to Sligo. My memories are mixed, the scenery is great but not as good as Scotland, the roads are appalling, roadworks every couple of miles + they tend to just spray tar and gravel over appalling surface so you think you are on a good stretch but you still bounce about like hell. The roads are also full of mad drivers, so a bit hairy. We did not find the legendary Irish welcome anywhere, just indifferent service. The restaurants are outrageously priced, (over £10 for fish and chips in a grubby pub). However the Guinness was superb and Dublin was great and I don't like cities, the ferry was a rip off but not as rip off as Calmac in Scotland. To finish we found it hard to find lay by's to stop for photo shots let alone wildcamping, however if you got off the major roads you might be o.k. but not advisable with a larger M/H. If you want a free campsite guide go to www.camping-ireland.ie They issue a good guide............ These are just my opinions and I still would fancy a trip to N. Ireland as we did not enter last time. I have posted photo's in the gallery if you care to look.
 
Ireland

We went last year and will be going back again. I booked my ferry early and yes it is more expensive than a calais crossing, but just look at it as part of the holiday expense. For us it was cheaper than the last France crossing we made two years earlier.

I cannot recommend NI high enough, sea clear, good beaches and friendly people. Yes roads are not up to much but your not in a rush are you! We toured anti clockwise round the coast from Dublin in two weeks and left enough to go back again. The are a couple of aires up north too. Camp sites were few and far between and a little basic for the money they wanted.

go for it.

ps no dog passports required for those with pets.

Jon
 
Hi all,
have been browsing for a few mins and looking at the threads concerning wildcamping in Ireland and the general view of being in Ireland.

Disappointed that people may not have had a good time and felt that wildcamping in Ireland is not easy. As we live in Ireland, maybe we have more confidence about it.

We have our van for about a year and a half and have been away for about 50nights all but three of them wildcamping. We don't like being in sites,

Here are a few recommendations for places to stay, particularly off season.

Co. Kerry, Inch Beach, Castlegregory beach, the one on the left side a bit out from the town(the wild side)
Co Galway. Out around north Connemara there are lots of places to wildcamp. esp near Lettermullan, Carna. At Renvyle we stayed on the harbour last summer.
Outisde Kinvarra, Tracht Beach off season height barrier has not been in place, stayed there twice.

Co Mayo. In Westport, park at night near the police station in Fair Green. Even the local parking meter person said it was fine (Small van)
Louisburg town, park by the river in the car park, no height restriction.
Out from Louisburg on the coast, Carrownisky beach car park, plenty of room off season, busy with surfers during the day, quiet at night.
Silver Strand, few miles down the coast, very winding narrow roads, car park no problems.
Co. Donegal. We haven't stayed there but friend of ours have and found lots of places to wildcamp, remote, beautiful part of the country.

Co. Sligo. Mullaghmore, in quiet times park right by the harbour, even though the sign says no parking, seems to be no problems, we have stayed a few times there. Beautiful quiet village.

Hope this helps somebody, Ireland, particularly the west coast is fabulous, the roads are improving all the time and with wildcamping the cost of the ferry is somewhat offset.

take care
ontheroad
 
I would love to go to Ireland, got to start saving hard.
Thanks Ontheroad for the good post.:)
 
Ontheroad

Are they our first Irish forum users???

Great to have some one from there as info from locals is invaluable. Just out of interest can you travel from Ireland too France.
 
B clas roads in northern ireland

We go to the bike racing every year,northwest,skerries and ugp-ok we take the bike but most of the riders have a m/h and the spectators park up in the laybys/field entrances(the roads are closed for the racing anyway.
 
Ever been to Ireland / yes great places 4 wildcamping

***** said:
Never been there with a m/h, just been with a truck many years ago, however I have heard on many occasions that wilding is difficult due to many of the parking areas having height barriers to stop the gypsies.
I cannot confirm the above but I am sure that some one can tell us if this is correct or not:confused:
Click to expand...

We had a great 6 weeks in S/Ireland and traveled everywhere and stopped anywhere the scenery delighted us to share without any probs whatsoever. Likewise in N/Ireland and again without mishaps or probs. We cannot recomend Ireland highly enough as it was superb. Filled up with water at any major service station without any eyebrows even being raised. The Irish are very friendly and helful people who welcome visitors.
 
cipro said:
Are they our first Irish forum users???

Great to have some one from there as info from locals is invaluable.
Click to expand...
Who knows Cipro,
I am half Irish and live in England but i suppose i do not qualify.:)
 
ireland

cipro said:
Are they our first Irish forum users???

Great to have some one from there as info from locals is invaluable. Just out of interest can you travel from Ireland too France.
Click to expand...

hi cipero...yes, you can go to france from ireland, rosslare - cherbourg a little expensive but worth it..oh and by the way i,m an irish m/homer as well and for any one else...theres no strangers here,only friends waiting to meet you your always welcome....regards smudger.
 
Hello to all.
 

Attachments

  • van00.psd.jpg
    van00.psd.jpg
    31 KB · Views: 113
cipro said:
Are they our first Irish forum users???

Great to have some one from there as info from locals is invaluable. Just out of interest can you travel from Ireland too France.
Click to expand...

Hi Cipro,
Yes it is possible to go to France from Ireland. There is a ferry from Rosslare county Wexford and from Pembroke in County cork.

I forgot two other places that we have stayed in.
County Kerry, Caherdaniel, Derrynane Beach, has to be one of the most spectacular beaches in the country. No wildcamping in the high season, but the car parks there are deserted off season.

Valentia Island, off south coast of Kerry is reached by bridge and we stayed in Knightstown which is at the end of the island. This was where the first radio cable came in from America, lovely village and we parked just to the right of the harbour, one of the quietest villages we ever stayed in.

In high season, wildcamping and travelling in general is better in County Mayo, Sligo and Donegal. Cork and Kerry are very busy during the summer, esp the Ring of Kerry, stay off it during June, July and August.
Hope I'm not the only Irish person who has been on here.
Any more questions, ask away. Will prob only visit site occasionally, but will answer.

ontheroad
 
Ireland...land of the free...camping!

Hi guys, I have a house in Ireland but spent many years combi-ing around.
You can do pretty much what you want without any probs.
They " mind their own business" over there and stopping over anywhere is fine if you don't make a prob.
I have spent the night in some of the most beautiful places and never paid a cent.
Definately WEST COAST,go in to Cork for Swansea overnight and just do the Cork and Kerry coastline up to Tralee for starters,that should keep you out of trouble for a while.
Check out Derrynane beaches on the Iveragh pennisular...heaven.
phil.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.

Users who viewed this discussion (Total:0)

Back
Top