Discover the island of Ireland your way this autumn

Somewhere in the island of Ireland, there’s an adventure waiting just for you. Take your car with Stena Line and simply start exploring.

Sail from Cairnryan to Belfast or Liverpool to Belfast and you’ll be in the heart of this spirited city in no time. From here, the Causeway Coast, Mourne mountains, Fermanagh lakes and city of Derry~Londonderry are all within a few hours’ drive.

Or sail directly from Holyhead to Dublin and get to know one of Europe’s most creative and energetic capitals, before calming it down again in the lush green landscapes of Wicklow.

For those heading south, the Fishguard to Rosslare route brings you straight onto the coastline of Ireland’s Ancient East. Weave your way through Waterford and Tipperary all the way to Cork, where you’ll get a taste for both city and sea.

And the beauty of it all? The island of Ireland is the perfect size to put it all together for the ultimate Irish road trip. Visit Ireland.com for suggested itineraries, local tips and must-see destinations. Here are some ideas to get you started.

Find your own Dublin

Dublin was made for a wandering soul. Whether on the banks of the Liffey, the streets of Temple Bar, the shops of Grafton Street or the paths of Phoenix Park. Pack the flats and let the day take you where it will. What is meant for you will come your way, and that’s as true for lunch as it is for life. Sure you could stick to the plan. See the Book of Kells. Hear stories of emigration at EPIC. Take in a show at the Abbey Theatre or sip a pint of the black stuff at the Guinness Storehouse. Nothing wrong with that...so long as you leave enough space in your day for your Dublin story to write itself. Take our word for it, that’s when this city will spread itself under your feet like all the stars in heaven.

Discover more about Dublin and its quarters.

Time travel through Ireland's Ancient East

Blackrock Castle, Co. Cork. Once it fought off pirates and pillagers, now it’s all about astronomy within its thick stone walls. That’s the thing about Ireland’s Ancient East, it really packs it in. Take a week to explore, take on 5,000 years of history. From neolithic tombs in Newgrange to monastic towers in Glendalough. From Viking streets in Waterford to medieval castles in Tipperary. There’s ancient nature too – the Copper Coast’s geological layers and the majestic Wicklow Mountains both welcome wanderers. Take your car with Stena Line to Rosslare or Dublin and you’ll land directly in Ireland’s Ancient East. Which millennia you visit first is totally up to you.

Read up on Ireland’s Ancient East and its castles.

Lift your spirits in Northern Ireland

Take a deep breath in – you’re about to fall in love with Northern Ireland. From the nooks, crannies and contradictions of Belfast to the soaring, stuttering Causeway coast. There’ll be salt in your hair and songs in your head. There’ll be stories and distilleries and scenery and the Titanic Experience. You’ll probably get so wet you’ll think you’re wearing the Atlantic. But that’s the way we like it because the ways to warm up are worth getting cold for. There’s always a seat by the fire and a session to sing to. There’s a local food scene that blazes trails and a human spirit that’s warmer than a winter weight duvet. Start your adventures in Belfast and you’ll discover that a holiday to Northern Ireland can really lift your spirits.

Dive into Northern Ireland and Belfast.

Book your autumn trip to Ireland from £139 single, car & driver