Discover the island of Ireland your way this autumn

With the Wild Atlantic Way and Ireland’s Ancient East a mere ferry away, you can plan, pack and potter your way around the legendary island of Ireland on a road trip to remember. So, why not take your car with Stena Line and simply start exploring.

Sail 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.

With additional routes from Cairnryan to Belfast or Liverpool to Belfast, you can get excited knowing that somewhere in the epic island of Ireland, there's an adventure waiting just for you.

Visit Ireland.com for suggested itineraries, local tips and must-see destinations, but here are a few ideas to get you started.

Time travel through Ireland's Ancient East

Blackrock Castle, Co. Cork. Long ago, 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.

The Wild Atlantic Way to unforgettable memories

With 2,500 kilometres of coastline to weave along, from Co. Donegal to Co. Cork, you can stitch a truly epic tapestry full of legendary landmarks. Enjoy late–summer surfing at Strandhill Beach, late-night stargazing at Kerry’s International Dark Sky Reserve, and lazy-day beach combing about the Blasket Islands. Foodies can follow the Coastal Seafood Trail serving up the freshest salmon, snails, oysters and mussels. Weekenders can nibble, munch, chomp and chew through the cheeses and meats of Limerick’s Milk Market, and why wouldn’t you whet the whistle with a tasting trip to the world-famous Dingle Whiskey Distillery.

Discover the Wild Atlantic Way in detail.

Dublin, Ireland center symbol - spire and General Post Office

A tale of two Irish cities – Dublin and Galway

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. 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.

Discover more about Dublin and its quarters.

A true picture postcard of a place, Galway is as quintessentially Irish as it comes. Marking the halfway point along the Wild Atlantic Way, Galway plays host to festivals and events celebrating everything from oysters and the arts to muscle cars and the magical Macnas Halloween Parade. A trip to Connemara is a chance to see the real beauty of Ireland.

Learn more about the wild and wonderful city of Galway.

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