Last updated on May 14, 2024
A round trip through Ireland by motorbike – that is a particularly beautiful experience.
Winding country roads through rolling hills, magnificent mountains, beautiful sandy beaches, idyllic fishing ports and breathtaking cliffs.
There is a historic castle on every corner and plush sheep everywhere – could it get any better?
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Intro
Absolutely! Because at the end of an eventful day, you definitely deserve a good dose of cosiness!
Sit in a café and watch the hustle and bustle of the market square, enjoy lunch in the pub or a beer in the evening.
Take a stroll along the harbour where the fishing boats swing or admire the hanging baskets in the park. Shopping for local specialities and marvelling at the colourful houses and shop fronts decorated with wooden carvings, listening to live music in the pub and then sinking into the thick cushions of the cosy B&B – that’s how I imagine the end of the day!
Where can you do that? There are lots of really pretty towns in Ireland, a few of which I’ll introduce you to in a moment. Link them together and you’ve almost got your motorbike trip around Ireland planned!
How do I know this? From my own motorbike trips. We have our second home south of Dublin and I run a motorbike rental business there in the summer months. See: www.easycruiser.tours. We also offer nice guest rooms.
Of course, you can add more stops to your trip, or plan a double night, as you like. We start in the south of Dublin and drive around the island:
1 Kilkenny
Let’s leave the hustle and bustle of Dublin behind and head for the countryside: Kilkenny is a real town by Irish standards. In German eyes, it’s a small town. And then it’s a very nice little town too! There is a beautiful old town and right next to it a beautiful castle in a great location above the river. There are plenty of places to eat, drink and stay overnight. In short: Everything is great in Kilkenny (see also the title image above)!
2 Kinsale
Kinsale is where the Wild Atlantic Way officially begins – or ends, depending on whether you travel from south to north, as we did, or vice versa. Kinsale is beautifully situated in a large bay, guarded by a historic fort. The town centre is colourful and lively and there is a nice marina right in front of it.
3 Baltimore
At the very south-western tip of the island lies Baltimore. The former fishing village is now a pretty holiday resort. The location is uniquely beautiful in a bay with offshore islands. The BAltimore Beacon is a beautiful viewpoint at the entrance to the bay, but the old little harbour is also really pretty.
4 Kenmare
Kenmare is a hive of activity – or tourist life. The small town is situated directly on the sea and stands out with its beautiful colourful houses and shopping streets. It’s a great place to stroll and eat, and there are plenty of places to stay. The high mountains of Killarney National Park rise in the background.
5 Dingle
This is the capital of the peninsula of the same name, Dingle. In reality it is a small fishing harbour with a bit of a colourful town around it – but very nice! It is also a great starting point for the beautiful drive around Slea Head or the onward drive over Conor Pass.
6 Clifden
Clifden is the most important place in Connemara. Here you can find everything you need and in the summer there are lots of motorbikes. Clifden is a great place to stay for your motorbike tour. When you are there, be sure to ride the Sky Road. It’s a little loop road along the coast – really beautiful!
7 Westport
Like Clifden, Westport is an insider tip among motorcyclists. The pretty town is proud of its good restaurants and also offers several nice places to stay. To the south are the beautiful mountains of Mayo and to the northwest the wonderful Achill Island.
8 Donegal
County Donegal is the most northerly county in Ireland and lies in the far northwest of the island. The main town of the same name, Donegal, is surprising because it is so small and sweet! You’re very much in the countryside here and that’s where the main towns turn out to be a bit smaller! There is a nice town centre and a pretty little village.
9 Cushendall
Cushendall is representative of several nice little villages on the beautiful North Antrim Coast of Northern Ireland. I would include Cushendun, Waterfoot and Glenarif. This part of Northern Ireland is very scenic and much less crowded than the Causeway Coast. The coastal road runs right along the water and the villages are very nice. In the hinterland there are beautiful long valleys that you can drive along. These are the Antrim Glens.
10 Carlingford
Now you are back in the Republic of Ireland. Carlingford Lough, actually a bay and not a lake, forms the border. But you hardly notice it, as in other places. The small town is very pretty and very special with some old buildings, pretty alleys to stroll and stop for a bite to eat and a beautiful view of the bay!
11 Skerries
Skerries is a small holiday and harbour town north of Dublin. There are old windmills, a really nice harbour with harbour promenade and a bit of old town around it. Really nice!
Finally
So, now you have a great template for your motorbike tour around Ireland!
And if you are still looking for a rental motorbike, you can find us here: www.easycruiser.tours.
In any case, I hope you enjoy your motorbike trip and exploring Ireland’s colourful towns!
More interesting articles for you
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EXPERIENCE IRELAND BY MOTORBIKE – OR THE REDISCOVERY OF SLOWNESS
THE 13 MOST BEAUTIFUL MOTORBIKE TOURS ON THE IRISH ISLAND
8 GREAT CASTLES YOU SHOULD SEE ON YOUR MOTORBIKE TOUR IN IRELAND
Photo credits cover photo: Kilkenny old town, photo by Ulrich Knüppel-Gertberg (www.easycruiser.tours, www.irland-insider.de, www.ireland-insider.com)
