Ireland, worth the detour.
Hand-picked places and honest, practical guides to the best days out, road trips and hidden corners of Ireland.
Ireland's best scenic drives – nine mountain passes and coast roads worth the detour
Nine Irish drives ranked by what you actually see from the road: high passes, hand-cut tunnels and coast loops where the Atlantic fills the windscreen.
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Ireland's lesser-known islands
Six islands off the Irish coast you can actually plan a day around, from a drive-to Gaeltacht to seabird rocks you only ever see from a boat.
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The most beautiful lakes in Ireland
Six Irish loughs worth the drive, ranked – from Wicklow's Guinness Lake to a Kerry horseshoe under a dark-sky reserve, with parking, walks and honest caveats.
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Hikes Near Dublin by DART, Bus and Luas
20+ hikes near Dublin reachable by DART, bus or Luas. Howth cliffs, Glendalough, Ticknock, Bray Head and more with transport details and trail maps.
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Ireland's best hidden beaches, from Dingle to Donegal
Eight Irish strands worth the drive, from a five-kilometre Blue Flag spit on Dingle Bay to a Cork cove with no facilities, ranked and with the tide caveats.
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The best mountain walks in Ireland for a big view and a short day
Nine Irish summits ranked by reward for effort, from a 20-minute Dublin climb to Kerry's 952m Brandon, with the honest ones where you need to navigate.
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Lesser-known Irish castles worth the detour
Eight quieter castles and tower houses, from a Mountbatten silhouette to a pirate queen's roofless shell, that pay back the back-road drive.
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Courtesy Dave Walsh Scenic Drives Ireland by road, the long way round Flagler Films for Tourism Ireland Hidden Lakes Mirror-still loughs off the beaten track Tourism Ireland Hidden Islands Wild, windblown and barely visited 
Castles Fortresses, ruins and fairytale keeps 
Courtesy Brian Morrison Coastal Views Sea cliffs and end-of-the-world lookouts Tourism Ireland by George Munday Hidden Beaches Secluded coves and empty golden strands Courtesy Bernice Naughton Mountain Walks Summits ranked by reward for effort 
Courtesy Eileen Coffey Waterfalls Cascades beyond the Torc crowds 
Ceoil / Wikimedia Commons / CC0 Holy Wells Rag trees, pattern days and pilgrim paths 
Courtesy Finola White Dark Sky Spots Ireland's darkest skies for stargazing Courtesy Fáilte Ireland Day Trips from Dublin Big days out, no car required 
Source: Pixabay Ancient Sites Stone circles, tombs and holy ground 
Best Time to Visit When to come, season by season Editor’s picks
Browse all → Slieve League Cliffs and One Man's Pass
donegal
Slieve League rises 601 m above the Atlantic, offering dramatic sea-edge views and a historic pilgrimage landscape. Brave the exposed One Man's Pass for unrivalled vistas, then unwind at the visitor centre or on a boat cruise along the cliffs.
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Sky Road
Clifden, galway
The Sky Road winds along the Kingston Peninsula just west of Clifden, rising to clifftop heights where the Atlantic horizon stretches to Inishturk and the Twelve Bens. A free, year-round loop on the Wild Atlantic Way, it combines sweeping coastal panoramas with stops at Clifden Castle ruins, the Marconi station foundations and the historic Alcock & Brown crash site.
View → Conor Pass – Dingle's high mountain road
An Chonair, kerry
The Conor Pass climbs to 456 m over the Dingle Peninsula on a narrow, single-lane road of tight bends and sheer drops, one of the highest and most dramatic drives in Ireland. From the summit car park the views run south across Dingle Bay to the Skelligs and north towards Brandon Bay, and on a clear day as far as the Aran Islands. Vehicles over two tonnes are banned, and winter weather can close it.
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Kerry Cliffs
Portmagee, kerry
Rising 305 metres above the Wild Atlantic, the Kerry Cliffs provide the closest mainland vantage point to the UNESCO-listed Skellig Islands. This privately managed site blends 400-million-year-old geology with family-friendly amenities, including a glass-fronted café, picnic spots, and resident alpacas.
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Mizen Head
Mizen Head, cork
Step onto the edge of the Atlantic at Mizen Head, where sheer cliffs meet maritime heritage. Explore the restored fog-signal station, cross the arched bridge, and keep an eye out for seals, dolphins and seabirds in their natural habitat.
View → Inch Beach
Inch, kerry
Inch Beach stretches five kilometres of golden sand along the Dingle Peninsula, backed by rolling dunes and framed by the Iveragh mountains. Lifeguarded in summer and popular with surfers, walkers and families, it offers free access and a range of watersports.
View → Lough Tay (Guinness Lake) - Viewpoints and Parking
Roundwood, wicklow
Lough Tay's dark waters and white-sand beach look like a poured pint of Guinness, framed by sheer granite cliffs. From the nearby J.B. Malone memorial you can soak up panoramic mountain views and set off on well-marked Wicklow Way loops.
View →Explore by region
All counties →
Courtesy Fáilte Ireland Wild Atlantic Way 2,500km of cliffs, coves and Atlantic drama down the west coast. 
Courtesy Celtic Routes Ireland's Ancient East 5,000 years of history in castles, monasteries and walled towns. 
Courtesy Shannon Heritage DAC Dublin Coast, mountains and city days out around the capital. 
Courtesy Leitrim Tourism Ltd Ireland's Hidden Heartlands Lakelands, blueways and quiet countryside in the midlands. 
Mark Flagler for Tourism Ireland Northern Ireland Causeway coast, glens and the Mournes across the border.