Ireland Road Trip - January 2025

A 313 km opening day north through County Galway, across Sligo past Drumcliff and Collooney, and into Donegal as far as An Clochan. The route crossed nearly the full width of the west coast interior on empty winter roads.

New Year's Eve spent driving deep into west Donegal, from Stranorlar through Glenties and Ardara to the remote end of the road at Glencolumbkille. The Glengesh Pass and Malinbeg coastline mark some of the most isolated terrain in Ireland.

New Year's Day transit from Donegal town south through Sligo and into the Glenade Valley in County Leitrim. The route passed Drumcliff, crossed into Ballintogher and Drumahaire, and ended at the base for the week ahead in the Glenade/Kinlough area.

A short day exploring the immediate surroundings of the Glenade base, looping through Glencar with its lakeside waterfall. At just 68 km this was the slowest-paced day of the trip, with 60 photos taken across the Leitrim-Sligo border.

The longest day of the trip at 393 km, radiating west from the Kinlough base through Sligo, along the north Mayo coast past Ballycastle and Glenamoy, and out to Blacksod at the tip of the Mullet Peninsula. The return via Crossmolina and Glencar made this a full 12-hour winter loop.

The shortest driving day of the trip, a 48 km loop from Kinlough south through Buckode to Ballaghameehan in the hills above Glenade. A quiet Saturday on the back roads of north Leitrim.

A day-trip loop south from Kinlough through Sligo and Collooney into County Roscommon, reaching Boyle and Rockingham before turning east to Carrick-on-Shannon and Drumshanbo. The return leg ran north through Dowra and Manorhamilton back to Glenade.

Another day-trip north from Kinlough into Donegal, this time following the coast through Donegal town, Inver, and Dunkineely to the fishing port of Killybegs before climbing inland to Crownarad. The route returned south via Cavangarden.

A coastal loop along the north Sligo shoreline, passing through Cliffony to Streedagh Beach and around the Lissadell and Maugherow headlands. At 96 km and 33 photos, this was one of the more photo-intensive days relative to distance.

A 321 km transit day leaving the Glenade base and driving south through the Irish midlands -- Drumshanbo, Longford, Kilbeggan, Portlaoise -- before crossing into Kilkenny and continuing to Waterford. This marked the shift from the northwest leg to the southeast coast.

A day along the Waterford coastline, driving from Portlaw through Kilmeadan to the seaside towns of Tramore and Annestown. The Copper Coast road between these two towns follows the cliffs above the Celtic Sea.

A loop inland from Kilmeadan through Kilmacthomas toward the Comeragh Mountains, then back through Waterford city. The Comeraghs rise to over 790 metres and the route passed through Tinnasaggart and Fox's Castle on the mountain approaches.

A short 70 km drive from Portlaw south into the Nire Valley on the western flanks of the Comeraghs, passing the Clonagam Round Tower and through Mothel, Ballydurn, and Fews before returning via Kilmacthomas.

A 330 km transit from Waterford to the Kerry coast, driving west through Cork city, Macroom, and over the county boundary into Kerry via Killarney and Killorglin. The day ended at Caher on the Skellig coast, setting up the final days on the Iveragh and Dingle peninsulas.

A loop along the Skellig Coast from Caher to Portmagee and across to Valentia Island, then south through Ballinskelligs and Derrynane Bay. The western tip of the Iveragh Peninsula faces directly toward the Skellig Islands offshore.

A 253 km circuit of the Dingle Peninsula, driving north from Killorglin through Inch strand to the Slea Head Drive at the western tip, passing Dunquin and Clogher Head. The return ran along the north side through Castlegregory and Blennerville back toward Tralee.

The final driving day followed the south coast of the Iveragh Peninsula from Derrynane through Caherdaniel, crossed into the Beara Peninsula via Kenmare, and returned through the Gap of Dunloe to Muckross near Killarney. A 132 km loop through some of Kerry's most mountainous terrain.