There is a particular kind of freedom that comes from driving Ireland’s coast roads, where the Atlantic opens up beyond a stone wall and the next headland always seems to promise a better view than the last. From the far south-west of Cork to the northern tip of Donegal, the island is ringed by scenic routes that string together cliffs, coves, mountain passes and harbour villages. The Wild Atlantic Way and the Causeway Coastal Route have made many of these drives famous, but the real pleasure is often found on the quieter loops where you can pull in, wind down the window and simply listen to the sea.
Below are ten of the best coastal drives on the island, each with a sense of where it runs, what you will see and roughly how long to allow. They range from short hour-long loops to full-day epics, so there is something here whether you have an afternoon spare or a whole week to explore. Pick a fine day, take your time, and let the coast set the pace.
1. Slea Head Drive, County Kerry
This circular route loops around the tip of the Dingle Peninsula, hugging the Atlantic as it passes beehive huts, the Blasket Islands viewpoint and the surf at Coumeenoole. It is a fairly short drive of roughly 50 kilometres, but the narrow lanes and constant photo stops mean you should give it half a day. On a clear afternoon the light on the water and the offshore islands is hard to beat.
2. Ring of Kerry, County Kerry
Ireland’s most famous scenic loop follows the N70 around the Iveragh Peninsula, taking in the coast at Waterville, the mountains of the Reeks and views out towards the Skellig Islands. It is a long day at roughly 180 kilometres, so most people set off early and drive it anticlockwise to stay clear of the tour coaches. Expect a mix of open ocean, wooded glens and pretty harbour villages along the way.
3. Ring of Beara, Counties Cork and Kerry
The quieter neighbour of the Ring of Kerry, this route wraps around the rugged Beara Peninsula and crosses the county line between Cork and Kerry. Highlights include the Healy Pass, the copper-mining village of Allihies and the cable car out to Dursey Island. It is a slower, wilder drive of around 140 kilometres, and you will often have the road and the sea views largely to yourself.
4. Sky Road, County Galway
This short loop climbs out of Clifden, the capital of Connemara, and rises to a viewpoint high above Clifden Bay and the scattered islands offshore. At only about 15 kilometres it is easily driven in an hour, though the panorama from the upper road tempts most people to linger. Come towards the end of the day and the sunset over the Atlantic is the real reward.
5. Loop Head Drive, County Clare
A less crowded alternative to the nearby Cliffs of Moher, this drive runs out to the lighthouse at the very tip of the Loop Head Peninsula in west Clare. The road follows a dramatic stretch of the Wild Atlantic Way, with sheer cliffs, sea stacks and views back across the Shannon Estuary. Allow a relaxed couple of hours to take in the lighthouse, the coastal walks and the little villages of Kilbaha and Carrigaholt.
6. Causeway Coastal Route, County Antrim
Running between Belfast and Derry, this celebrated route threads along the Antrim coast past the Glens, Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge and the basalt columns of the Giant’s Causeway. It covers roughly 190 kilometres end to end, so it is best enjoyed over a full day or split across two. Ruined castles, harbour villages and the Dark Hedges keep the drive interesting from start to finish.
7. Inishowen 100, County Donegal
This signposted circuit loops around the Inishowen Peninsula, the most northerly point of the island of Ireland. Named for its roughly 100-mile length, it takes in Malin Head, the golden strand at Five Finger Beach and the viewpoint at the Gap of Mamore. It is a full day’s drive through big, wild Donegal scenery, with plenty of reasons to stop for a walk or a cup of tea.
8. Copper Coast, County Waterford
Named after the 19th-century copper mines that once worked its cliffs, this stretch of the Waterford coast is a designated UNESCO Global Geopark. The route links a string of coves, sea stacks and sandy beaches between Tramore and Dungarvan over roughly 25 kilometres. It is an easy drive that rewards frequent stops at the many little bays and the old mining heritage sites.
9. Sheep’s Head Drive, County Cork
The narrowest of west Cork’s peninsulas offers one of the country’s most peaceful coastal drives, running out towards the lighthouse at its western tip. The single-track roads pass hill farms, hidden loughs and long views across Bantry Bay and Dunmanus Bay. It is a short but slow route of around 30 kilometres each way, and the sense of remoteness is very much the point.
10. Achill Atlantic Drive, County Mayo
Ireland’s largest offshore island is reached by a road bridge, and its Atlantic Drive loops around the southern coast beneath towering cliffs and open ocean. The route passes the ruined Kildavnet Tower, climbs to breathtaking viewpoints above Ashleam Bay and leads on towards the blue-flag sands of Keem Bay. At around 40 kilometres it is a manageable half-day, but the scenery makes it feel far longer in the best possible way.
Ireland’s coastline is long enough that no single trip could ever cover all of it, and that is rather the joy of it. Each of these drives has its own character, from the busy grandeur of the Ring of Kerry to the hushed single-track lanes of Sheep’s Head, and every one rewards a slower pace and a willingness to stop. Check the weather, fill the tank, and remember that on these roads the journey really is the destination.
Which of these coastal drives would you point the car towards first? However you plan your trip, leave room in the day for the unexpected pull-in, the empty beach and the view you did not see coming — that is where the best memories of the Irish coast tend to be made.
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