Three incredible drives around the island of Ireland

Breathtaking scenery is available around almost every corner in Ireland, but try these incredible drives that take in UNESCO World Heritage Sites to really get your motor running.

Causeway Coastal Route 
The world-famous Causeway Coastal Route in Northern Ireland is definitely one worth taking time over. Stretching between Belfast and the historic walled city of Derry~Londonderry, the route is 212km long and very easy to follow. 

The winding roads are peppered with holiday towns, pretty fishing villages, sandy beaches, cliffs and any number of attractions and must-see charms along the way. Among the highlights are the first UNESCO World Heritage Site in Ireland, the Giant's Causeway, as well as the thrilling Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge, Dunluce Castle perched on the edge of a cliff, and Glenariff, the queen of the nine Glens of Antrim.

You can also take the car onto the seven-mile-long beach at Downhill Strand, or make stops and diversions at places such as Carrickfergus Castle, the best-preserved Norman castle on the island, a cliff-top path at The Gobbins, numerous Game of Thrones® film locations and the Old Bushmills Distillery.

The Ring of Kerry 
If you are in search of a raw and elemental driving experience in Ireland, put a tour around the awe-inspiring Ring of Kerry on your must-do list. This 170km circular route in the southwest corner of the island offers a driving journey you will never forget.

This looped route will take you to wild, rugged islands, over dramatic mountain passes, along gorgeous sandy beaches and through quaint towns and villages, with much of the driving on the coastline of the Wild Atlantic Way. Make sure to find somewhere to park up and take the opportunity to visit the island of Skellig Michael, the UNESCO World Heritage Site that starred in the more recent Star Wars films as the hideout for Luke Skywalker. 

The Burren 
The 150km figure of eight looped driving route through the Burren National Park, another UNESCO World Heritage Site, is one of the most dramatic and unique landscapes not just in Ireland, but the world. Edging the Wild Atlantic Way and packed with incredible scenery, the name of the park comes from the Irish word for ‘rocky place’. 

Extending over more than a hundred square miles, most of the Burren is bare, pale grey limestone, creating a beautiful lunar-like landscape complete with exceptional and rare flora and fauna. While you’re motoring around the park, be sure to stop and check out special places like the Aillwee Cave, the ancient Poulnabrone Dolmen and the famous Cliffs of Moher.

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