Explore Ireland’s Most Beautiful Locations for an unforgettable vacation
Now that Christmas is well and truly behind us, we all need something to look forward to. There’s no better way to beat the January Blues than booking a holiday so now’s the perfect time to start planning your next break. With so much beautiful scenery, Ireland is a truly magical destination and we’ve made a list of Ireland’s Most Beautiful Locations that you won’t want to miss.
Cliffs of Moher
With over a million visitors a year, The Cliffs of Moher are Ireland’s most popular attraction. They were named a UNESCO Global Geopark and it’s easy to see why, with some of the most breathtakingly beautiful views you’ll find anywhere in the world. Standing up to 702 ft above sea level, they stretch for 5 miles along the Atlantic coast of County Clare. On a clear day you can Dingle Peninsula to the South, the Aran Islands to the West and the mountains of Connemara to the North. They also offer some wonderful flora and fauna and if you’re lucky you might even spot a puffin or a peregrine falcon.
The Burren, Co. Clare
The nearby Burren is one of Ireland’s most unique geological landscapes. Unlike the abundant green of much of the rest of the country, this moon-like area is made up mostly of soluble rock, like limestone, which was dissolved over millions of years to form a rugged karst landscape. It has over 200 caves with underground waterfalls and stalactites and stalagmites and is also home to a vast array of plants, including ¾ of all the flower and plant species in Ireland.
The Ring of Kerry
Enjoy a drive around 111 miles of some of the most stunning scenery in Ireland. Kerry is known as “The Kingdom” and it certainly lives up to its name. With rolling green fields separated by ancient stone walls, dramatic mountain roads, deep valleys, majestic waterfalls, glistening lakes, medieval stone forts, ruined castles, unspoiled beaches and the freshest of air, The Ring of Kerry is not to be missed. The whole drive takes about 3½ hours without stopping but you will definitely want to stop (a lot!) so we would recommend staying a day or two if you can.
Glendalough, Co. Wicklow
Glendalough, which is Irish for “Valley of Two Lakes”, is a glacial valley, which was formed during the Ice Age. It is the site of one of Ireland’s best-known monastic settlements, which was founded by St. Kevin in the 6th Century and has a unique air of calm, as well as outstanding natural beauty. You can still see the remains of the “Monastic City”, including churches, crosses and a round tower. With a majestic lake at the entrance, it is surrounded by a variety of walking and hiking trails of varying degrees of difficulty, but with equally beautiful views.
The Giant’s Causeway, Co. Antrim
Located on the North Coast of Northern Ireland, The other-worldly Giant’s Causeway is made up of 40,000 interlocking basalt columns, created by volcanic activity 60 million years ago. According to local legend, the area was once home to a giant named Finn McCool, who built it so that he could cross the sea to go to war with a Scottish giant called Benandoner. Famed for its outstanding natural beauty, it is also visited by a large variety of sea birds like cormorants, guillemots and razorbills. It was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1986.
What to Pack for a Holiday in Ireland
An Aran Sweater
Warm in the winter and cool in the summer, Aran sweaters are perfect for all weathers, which is handy since you’re likely to encounter them all on a trip in Ireland, usually in the same day.
Some Authentic Irish Food
Any Irish person will tell you that it’s not a proper road trip without a flask of Barry’s Tea, some Tayto crisp sandwiches, a few bars of Dairy Milk and a bottle of TK Red Lemonade. If you want to be fancy with it, you could always bring a hamper full of all your favorites.
A Guidebook
We know things have gone all high-tech these days but you can’t beat flicking through a good old-fashioned guidebook with beautiful glossy pictures to get you in the mood.
Souvenirs
Wherever you go in Ireland, make sure to pop into one of our Carroll’s Irish Gifts Shops to pick up some souvenirs.
And, whatever you do, don’t forget your brolly!
Have a great time visiting Ireland’s Most Beautiful Locations.