This tour is now fully booked
Giants Causeway – Healy Pass – Blarney Castle - Old Military Road
The wild and rugged west coast of Ireland is shaped by the relentless force of Atlantic waves, where dramatic cliffs rise above a coastline dotted with expansive beaches and secluded sandy coves.
With a return ferry to Dublin, this 1,000 mile 7-day circular tour of Ireland includes parts of the west and south coast sections of the Wild Atlantic Way.
With the most spectacular scenery, our journey forms part of the world’s longest signposted coastal driving route.
Beautiful countryside, exciting roads, and legendary Irish hospitality, all guarantee wonderful memories.
I’ve been on both European and UK trips with On The Run. The OTR team have consistently planned excellent routes, with the freedom to drive at the pace you want or within the group. Each daily stop is always at a fantastic hotel. This, and the atmosphere generated by the OTR team, means I’ll be joining many more trips in the future.
Days
Hours
Minutes
Seconds
Day 2, Thursday 9th July 2026
3.5 hrs, 183 miles
We enjoy breakfast and travel the short distance to Holyhead to catch our 4-hour morning ferry across the Irish Sea to Dublin.
On arrival we head north along the east coast, crossing the border into Northern Ireland and continuing via Lisburn, Belfast, Cargan, and Ballyvoy, to the Giant’s Causeway in Bushmills. The Giant’s Causeway formed 60 million years ago, when Ireland was still attached to North America, and it is now a World Heritage Site. Located on the northeast coast of County Antrim, it’s a stunning and enigmatic geological wonder, rich in myth and legend.
Our seafront hotel offers a wonderful evening stop in a peaceful location, close to the world-famous Bushmills distillery. We’ll enjoy our first taste of Irish hospitality together at dinner this evening.
Day 3, Friday 10th July 2026
4 hrs, 162 miles
After breakfast we say farewell to Northern Ireland and hello to Ireland’s west coast section of the Wild Atlantic Way.
We head west through Londonderry, over the border and through Co. Donegal – via Murrin, Carrickart and Dungloe, to our hotel in Donegal.
Our hotel has ample facilities which you may wish to enjoy before dinner, including a steam room, Jacuzzi, Gymnasium, and a stunning duo-level heated swimming pool.
Day 4, Saturday 11th July 2026
5 hrs, 200 miles
Today we head south, along another 200 miles of the stunning west coast, through Balderig and Mallerany in Co. Mayo, and Wild Nephin National Park; an untouched, remote wilderness. The landscape is defined by the rugged Nephin Mountains, described by the Irish naturalist, writer and librarian Robert Lloyd Praeger as “Indeed the very loneliest place in this country”.
Our beautiful hotel for the evening is a former castle built in 1832.
We can look forward to a lovely evening in its restaurant situated in the heart of this ivy fortified castle, located in the hills overlooking the local harbour.
Day 5, Sunday 12th July 2026
7 hrs, 285 miles
West Cork on the southern coast is our ultimate destination today, after we travel 285 miles further south, through Galway and Limerick, over Moll’s Gap – a breathtaking mountain pass in County Kerry – and Healy Pass, another twisting and challenging drivers’ road.
Our hotel in Rosscarbery is perfectly located in this beautiful part of the country. With a pool, sauna, and steam room, it’s also an ideal place to relax before and after dinner.
Day 6, Monday 13th July 2026
5.5 hrs, 235 miles
Today we turn north to Dublin, via Blarney Castle with its 18ft thick stone walls built between the 15th and 17th Centuries, and over the famous Old Military Road originally built in 1800-1810. This road reaches 500 metres above sea level and leads to Sally Gap: another outstanding pass through the Wicklow Mountains.
And so we finish where we started this epic tour of Irish discovery – in the capital Dublin – at another sumptuous hotel; this one built in 1750 and close to the city centre. We’ll have a fabulous final evening together, enjoying more legendary Irish hospitality in this unique and vibrant city.
Day 7, Tuesday 14th July 2026
A leisurely breakfast sets up nicely for our final leg home. Our ferry to north Wales gives us plenty of time to reminisce on our perfect week together with new friends – perhaps also discussing the possibility of meeting again on another exciting future tour!
We say our goodbyes before we disembark at Holyhead, with the most special memories to savour on our drives home!
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price and inclusions
7-day tour cost per car £4,662; based on two people per car, sharing a twin or double bedroom, and includes the following:
- Hotel accommodation, car parking, and breakfast (6 nights)
- Ferry crossing for vehicle and 2 passengers from Holyhead to Dublin, and Dublin to Holyhead
- 3-course evening dinners at hotels or local restaurants
- Use of Mitex hand-held UHF personal radio
- Use of Sat Nav pre-programmed with all waypoints, lunch and fuel stops, and hotel destinations
- Printed itinerary for the entire tour, with daily maps, route instructions, and contact information
- Private WhatsApp group for live locations, media, and group chat
- Tour video and imagery using Drone, Insta360, and Meta AI Glasses
- A maximum of 15 customer vehicles
- Led by Kevin & Richard
Solo driver cost £3,775.
