When is the best time to tour Ireland in a motorhome? In this blog we share why we believe spring is a perfect time. We give you an intimate insight into our third trip to the Emerald Isle and show you around our road-trip highlights. So come on in and see if we can whet your appetite.

Spring anywhere in the northern hemisphere has to be one of the best seasons there is. The sense of the air warming up, the prospect of sunny days ahead, new life unfurling amongst our hedgerows and fields, and the daylight hours getting longer. Bird song starts to fill the air at dawn, when the chorus becomes our alarm and every inch of sun seems to invite the buds to blossom. 

A spring tour of Ireland is so much more than just the bursting energy of life, and in this blog we explore the benefits of taking your motorhome across the water to the Emerald Isle. Shaped by our experience from our spring 2025, five week road-trip, we have so many thoughts to share with you that by the end of this, we hope to have whetted your appetite and filled your minds with visions of Irish craic, hearty welcomes and a trip of a lifetime. 

1. Why Ireland at all?

There are so many reasons as to why Ireland has to be on your road-trip route. Let’s recount just a few;

• The coastal scenery and its 1600 miles of Wild Atlantic Way.
• Its historical prowess with significant religious sites dating back 2000 years.
• The kindness of the locals and their musical souls.
• The inland waterway network that knits itself across the country’s Midlands
• Colourful towns and villages that will make you smile just by looking at them.
• The incredible places you can call home in your motorhome and campervan.

And, if they are not reason enough to entice you to the Emerald Isle, then how about the freedom that Ireland gives those of us who are doing the Schengen shuffle? Whilst Ireland is in the European Union, it is not in Schengen due to the geographical and political complexities with Northern Ireland and the rest of the EU continent. Therefore, travel here takes us out of the Schengen Zone and allows us free travel without having to consult the Schengen calculator. What a joy that is and a pretty big draw with all the spectacular scenery that it offers the curious explorer. Ireland is a must road-trip destination

Ireland may only be a 3 hour trip from the UK, an 18 hour trip from France and 24 hour from Spain, yet it seems to fall off many people’s radar. Perhaps in part this is due to the unpredictable northern Atlantic weather fronts that rush in like a stampede of Wilderbeast, at times unleashing their fury for what feels like days on end. Of course it does not have the allure of the Mediterranean climate to warm our skins, although that’s all Ireland has against its holiday brochure sales pitch. 

In our opinion, having visited over 26 countries around Europe, Ireland has some of the most spectacular landscapes you will see. And that’s saying something after visits to Norway and Iceland. And with its 1600km Wild Atlantic Way attracting motorhomes to explores its shores, and the inland hidden gems that ooze history and religious architecture, there are so many reasons to visit. Ireland is an outdoor enthusiast’s Mecca with hiking, cycling and boating offering chances to see the country in a more intimate way than just the road’s perspective. Even the photographer will find timeless opportunities to capture the unique Irish charm; whether through its colourful villages, its wildlife or the landscape that demands immortalisation through the images we take.  

Travelling around Ireland manages to transport you effortlessly to a bygone era, where like a Time Machine you get a glimpse into history dating back 5000 years, where early Pagan rituals coloured the land. 7th-9th century influences brought a new wave of profound changes to the Irish landscape. The conversion to Christianity transformed people’s lives, and with it religious monuments dedicated to worship remain an integral part of Ireland’s landscape that has stood the test of time. 

Medieval Ireland plays yet another significant role in the shape, shade and feel of the island, where Norman conquests and Cromwellian battles laid their stake in Ireland’s fortunes. Historians will undoubtedly feel the beating heart of Ireland’s stalwart stature as it has battled through the ages to grasp its independence. Natural crises like the Famine of 1856, gouges holes in Ireland’s population and Titanic ghosts tell their own tale.  Ireland’s coastline is littered with stories of pirates and smuggling. Stories that have carved a fascinating culture which are etched into the very fabric of island life.  And today the Irish that will cross your path exude pride, kindness and a warmth that you will find no where else. They welcome you to their homeland as strangers and you will leave as friends, ensuring that your visit is surely to be repeated, time and time again. 

2. Why Ireland in the spring time?

Our decision to take the Brittany Ferry route Bilbao to Rosslare was a great one. If we’re honest, it was only because of the lack of date options that fitted into our Schengen 90 days that forced our hands. We never book return crossings as our lifestyle is dominated by flexibility and freedom. So, we like to keep things open and we book up our ferry when we definitely know that it is time to head north from our Winter snow-birding. That choice does come at a price though, which means fewer sailing options and higher prices, as we battle with other Brits heading back from their southern European adventures. And so in a moment of inspiration, I checked out the Rosslare route, with the divine intervention of being able to elongate our time out of the UK. There were so many more options and it was far cheaper than the Portsmouth route. In fact, when I did the calculation, even building in the Rosslare to Fishguard return crossing, the whole bill was cheaper than our Portsmouth route. The added advantage is that you can also use your Tesco’s Clubcard Points towards the Stena Lines price. So we ended up paying €698 (and this was with a ClubClass Cabin and Lounge) for the Spanish leg and £50 for the English leg. Money alone wasn’t the only benefit. Add in, if you will, the fact that the boat was empty and shorter so really, for us, it is a completely no brainer decision. 

So let’s get to the heart of this blog. Why a Spring Tour of Ireland in a Motorhome? Well, we have a number of reasons that will make for a compelling read;

• Ireland is empty in the Spring. Whilst locals in their vans will venture out for the weekends, generally speaking you will see very few foreigners on the road at all. A quick peak at Park4Night reviews will evidence this well. You do see some hardier sorts in Ireland in November, although rarely anything time before April. So that means you have not only the roads to yourself, parking places are also in abundance. No strategies to secure a campsite, aire or off-grid are needed in Spring. There are a surprisingly large number of campsites that are open in the Spring. So, if this is your preferred park up option, then you will have plenty of places to call home. There are certainly many Aires around the south coast particularly that will give you emptying and filling opportunities. 
  

• Keeping on the quiet theme, I think a more important consideration to quiet roads are the lack of tour coaches. Now this may not sound significant yet when you realise how narrow some of the Irish roads are, meeting a coach coming headlong in front of you, can be an intimidating moment. It is so liberating to drive the roads, especially around the more popular Wild Atlantic Way routes, safe in the knowledge that the least you will encounter are perhaps a few mini buses taking die-hard visitors on a whirlwind tour. 

• One of the Spring advantages for us, as curious travellers was that we combined this year’s trip with St Patrick’s Day, 17th March. What a great experience this was, being integrated into the heart of Irish culture and celebration. The streets of most villages and towns across the country fill with shades of green as hats, scarves and any green clothing are donned to reflect their Irish pride. Parades, which are actually an Irish American influence, take over communities and the many bars that fill every urban road, sell copious amounts of the black stuff, Guinness of course. Being part of such an important celebration and to see how the locals come out in force to honour their patron Saint is endearing and a privilege. That said, be settled in a parking space in good time, because the Bank Holiday, especially if it is close to a weekend, will mean a lot of Irish campers take a long weekend and pitches are at a premium. 

• Spring can bring with it some outstanding weather, if you are lucky. Of course weather can not be guaranteed anywhere in the world and in Spring 2025 we were incredibly lucky. However, when you look back at weather patterns in Northern Europe, this time of year has a habit of being much more settled than even the summer can offer.
  

• And of course it can’t be underestimated how pretty the landscape is as Spring wakes up our natural world. Daffodils line the lanes, early fields of Rape colour the rural fields and trees start budding in a magnificent display of natural assertion. Being here and watching the world unfurl is such a privilege and with every sunny day, it seems that just a little more of nature is blossoming to reach its full potential. Lambs are frolicking on the dewy grass, bleating as if their lives depend upon it and birds are busy gathering their nesting material. It’s a very special time of year to visit. You might even catch some early season Rhododendron in some of the garden estates, all adding a beautiful colour to your surroundings. 
  

• And the final thing to mention is that a Spring visit to Ireland will bring you longer days as the clocks go forward giving us extra minutes of daylight. 

What is not to like about a Spring tour of Ireland in any vehicle, especially a motorhome?

3. Our Spring Tour of Ireland 2025

With our sales pitch, which is not affiliated with any tourist department, I hasten to add, it is time to share our intimate experiences with this beautiful land. We take a peek into our route, the sights we enjoyed and our overnight stopovers, which you can find detailed on our Interactive Map. Click the map below and it will give you access to our Ireland 2025 Map PDF. If you then click where indicated, you can get all our markers downloaded to your Google Map app. If you have an iPhone, then you may encounter a settings issue which is beyond my technical capability, when you try to open up the map. So click here and you will get straight to the map legend on Google Maps.

a) Ancient East

With our arrival at Rosslare mid-afternoon, we landed in the heart of Ireland’s Ancient East, full of Norman history and story books that recount Ireland’s religious roots going back 5,000 years. Here are this trip’s highlights.

• We headed straight for an overnighter where we could just ground ourselves. I love it when a place delivers a unique sight that is not on the tourist trail. The Shell House at Cullentowns’ Beach is just a wonderful. A building decorated with 50,000 shells from the local area. Created in 1912, this thatched home stands strong against the Atlantic storms. You can’t go in, although seeing it from the outside is just lovely. You can stay overnight at the upper car park that gives you great views south, where next stop is Bilboa.

• The almost unpronounceable Graiguenamanagh is one of our go-to spots when we go to Ireland. Nestled in the Barrow Valley north of New Ross, this town is relatively off the beaten track path. It is a place that the locals hang out, not tourists. The Barrow Hub Activity Centre campsite is right on the river Barrow and as long as you book well ahead of time, you can call this brilliant place home for a few nights. And you will need that time to explore everything this town has to offer. The Town of Monks not only has a few great bars, there’s cycling and walking along the river paths in both directions, a stunning cafe down at St Mullins about five miles away, and of course, plenty of water sports if you fancy that. The Duiske Abbey dates back to the 13th century and is thought to have the longest roof line in Ireland.
  

b) South coast

The south coast has so many beautiful highlights, especially considering that this is where the Wild Atlantic Way begins, from the iconic Kinsale. We have covered this area on previous trips, although there is one go-to spot for us.

• A favourite for us is Cobh pronounced Cove, close to Cork. This place has so many visually pleasing aspects to it as a quintessential Irish town, and add to this, the incredible history that surrounds it. With a fortress prison over on Spike Island, the last port of call for the ill-fated Titanic and the immigration exodus of Irish seeking a better life across the pond in America. Parked up at the official Aire just close to the cruise liner moorings north of the town, you have easy access to this incredible town. You are allowed 48hrs and this is just enough time to visit some of the excellent museums that tells the Cobh story, which must not be missed.
  
• Cork City. I will record this for completeness although our visit to Cork city was really not a success. We took the train from Cobh which cost us €6.90 return and takes about 25 minutes. Cork has been overtaken, we felt by commercial businesses and a high street full of every shop you can imagine. The Butter Market is definitely worth visiting although we searched for the heart of the city, but didn’t find it. It is of course only a personal view and plenty of people love the city, so it is one of those experiences that you must have for yourself and make up your own mind.
  
• Blarney Castle. From time to time we do enjoy of a bit of a touristy destination, especially when it is a beautiful surprise. Blarney Castle is just 45 minutes from Cork and your €23 per person entrance fee gives you access to 60 acres of diverse landscapes gardens and woodland as well as the famous castle and its Blarney Stone. It’s possible to book on line but I wanted to be sure that we could park Scoobie easily, so we bought our tickets on arrival. There are 4 dedicated spaces for motorhomes and you pay just €2 for parking for the whole day. Spring here is magical. With daffodils lining every path, and more importantly, no crowds to be seen. The imposing 15th century castle is a magnificent building that you can enter if you are mobile & courageous. Navigating the 144 steep, narrow spiral steps takes you to the iconic Blarney Stone. Here is the 200 year old legend that says the kissing of it blesses you with the gift of the gab. Whilst it’s not for the feint hearted, it is safe. The 60 acres of gardens that are filled with unique plants, a lake and corners smothered in myth and mystery is truly appealing. There is a strong Druid connection here with tales of witches and pre-Christian worship, which was right up my street. Wondering if mid March was too soon for a flourishing parkland, I had nothing to fear. Camelia, some Rhododendron, magnolias and daffodils all brightened our vision as we wandered through the estate. I can only imagine how the journey through the spring season will transform these magical gardens. Whilst we didn’t cover the whole estate, our 3.5 miles certainly did the gardens proud. Sadly, we must note that no dogs are allowed in the grounds.
  
  For more information check out our video below and see whether you feel it is worthy of the investment.
  

c) Ring of Kerry and Dingle Peninsula

With favourable weather on the horizon, our Irish spring vision was to complete the Dingle Peninsula. After a couple of attempts over the decades, we have been thwarted either by poor weather or waves of coaches that put us off making the trip. So this time we nailed it. Before Dingle however, we had the Ring of Kerry delights to marvel at.

• Caha Pass and Sneem. From Glengarriff we took the Caha Pass, which is a stunning road with a couple of interesting tunnels cut through the rock, which was more than doable for our 2.75m high motorhome. It was then a much needed rest at Sneem. We had no idea the place would be so idyllic and the Aire that we pitched up even more so. Nestled alongside the Sneem river, our home was tranquility personified. And add to that the town was full of charm and a warmth that we have come to love about Ireland’s communities. We happened to tie in our visit with St Patrick’s Day and so hung around for the parade, which was atmospheric, if only for the passionate locals dressed in green supporting the homemade floats, oh and a farmer’s prized goat. The Goosey Island Aire is fabulous and for €20pn with EHU is well worth a stop for a few days to explore the area and walk to your heart’s content.
  
• Ring of Skellig. Heading out for the day from Sneem, we forked off from the Ring of Kerry to take in the peaceful route of the Ring of Skelligs. This is not a route generally taken by coaches; more tour minibuses at worst. And in mid March it was a peaceful drive for the day. Taking us along stunning coastline views and panoramic vistas of the Skellig Islands, the van was full of oohs and ahhs and regular stops for photographs. The Skelligs are so much more than just a film location. Their remote roots are centred around religion and in particular, Skellig Michael the largest of the two islands is famed for its 6th century monastery. It is now a UNESCO site. There were a few hairy roads, one of which was a steep hairpin bend incline that had us rendered silent as we willed Scoobie around the tight bends. It was doable although not for the feint hearted. At the end, my prize was the stunning geological masterpiece of the Kerry Cliffs. A range of 1000ft cliffs that certainly test your acrophobia, so I was glad that Myles didn’t join me in my visit. We left his reward to the Portmagee Distillery, which has a very pleasant tipple.
  
• Dingle Peninsula. This is a spectacular corner of Ireland and one that, if you time it right, will give you a memorable insight into coastal formation and profound Irish heritage. There are over 2000 historical sights on Dingle Peninsula alone. We had an incredible three days where we drove around the 24 mile Slea Head Drive. I wrote a specific blog just about Dingle and took some footage for our YouTube Channel, which would be worth reading and seeing if you are contemplating that route. Timing is everything for Dingle, as the procession of coaches that take over these roads in the season would certainly hinder your experience.

d) Killarney National Park

The Ring of Kerry is a stunning array of experiences for the explorer, as long as you are out of the main Irish holiday season. That can be any time from May through to early October. If you time it early spring, then you are guaranteed parking spaces, room on the roads and no hairy moments with oncoming coaches that seem to own the road. As the Ring of Kerry heads inland, your eyes are given a much needed change of scenery as you drive into the heart of Ireland’s first National Park. The park is a stunning 26,000 acres of mountains, lakes and castles that will astound you. And as spring blooms, so too do its hedgerows, gardens and animals that call it home. We had a glorious four days in the area, which was our second attempt. The first thwarted by tourists during the summer season. Never again.

• Ross Castle. This 15th century castle on the banks of Ross Lake was a stubborn stronghold to conquer in Cromwellian days, so much so that they couldn’t capture it by land, they had to resort to a watery battle. The setting of this romantic castle is certainly worth visiting, although enhance your trip by taking one of the small boat trips over to Innisfallen and marvel at the tame herds of Sika deer. For €15pp, you get 60-90 minutes of history, nature and religion as you step into the past for a glimpse into 6th century monastic life.
  
• Muckross House, Lake and Abbey. Muckross is a very special part of the National Park. If for no other reason than it is free to enter. The house sits at the core of the National Park, and it was from here that the house and grounds gifted the estate to the Irish state and it became the country’s first National Park. You can park for free in the car park within the grounds in the five dedicated campervan spots and walk, cycle or explore the area. The cycle route takes you around the lake for five miles, taking in the Meeting of the Rivers and Torc Waterfall.
  

e) West coast – County Clare

County Clare is pretty new to us. Over our trips, we have dipped in briefly, although we’ve always run out of time or the weather, again has been against us.

• Following the Shannon Route, we hugged this important waterway, feeling its prowess as it flows to the Atlantic. As Ireland’s and the British Isles longest river, the Shannon Route offers a different perspective to the Emerald Isle’s treasures. We did explore catching the ferry from Tarbert to Kilrush although, as ever our rear end would potentially be scraping on embarkation. So we decided to go the long way round rather than take the risk, even with our new air suspension. Pitching up at Foynes on the south side of the river, there’s a number of points of interest. The first of which is that our off-grid spot overlooked an old river runway, where the Flying Boats would land back in the 1930’s. Also you can visit the Flying Boat Museum, which is just a five minute walk away.
  
• Kildysart. Seeking out the route less travelled, and of course a lovely place to stay, we stumbled upon Kildysart, which having spoken to the locals is pronounced Kil-di-sart. Your overnighter is on an estuary arm of the Shannon and you can marvel at the massive rise and fall of the tide. Plus taking a walk up to the village, you will be offered a number of pubs, where you can rub shoulders with the locals. We loved The Alders, where pub landlord Patrick will welcome you with the broadest of Irish smiles.
  
• Kilrush Marina. Whilst this predominantly Dutch influenced town has a bit of ‘lost’ feel about it, the marina is a stunning place to call home. For just €20 per night including EHU, you have a great spot to immerse yourself in the important trading hub back in the day, get washing done and explore the town and Kilrush house and gardens.
  
• Loop Head Drive. Just north of Kilrush, with the Shannon estuary views in sight, you have a very off the beaten track route called the Loop Head Drive. A dive into Ireland’s past brings you through agricultural land that rarely sees the volume of track more prevalent on the Dingle Peninsula. Spring was a great time to do this very little R Road visiting the Loop Head Lighthouse at the end of the drive. A courageous walk out to the edge of the cliffs, gives you an introduction to what is to come further around the coast, as you see the drama etched into every morsel of granite rock. The cliffs here are staggering and having seen the Cliffs of Moher here on this trip, we have to admit to loving this as much, if not more. In part because of the lack of tourists around here. This is definitely an untouched part of Ireland. Legends hold firm here, film locations abound and nature dominates. What’s not to like? Further around the northern edge of the drive, you find the geological phenomena of the Bridges of Ross. A place where at one time, three natural sea arches existed, until the force of nature had other ideas. One bridge still remains and it is a stunning walk to see Mother Nature in action.
  
• Cliffs of Moher and Doolin. One of the main reasons for us coming to Clare, finally, was to explore the Cliffs of Moher. Now at the time of writing, two parts of the 14km Cliffs are closed to walkers due to repairs and if you go to the Visitor’s Centre you have to pay €8 to experience the 800m of paved walk way. Alternatively you can go to the quintessential village of Doolin and do the walk south for free, just a short distance from the famous Fisherstreet. Alternatively you could always see the Cliffs from the comfort of the sea with the Doolin Ferry company, who for 45 minutes will take you up close and personal to the foot of these incredible 1000ft giants. It’s an incredible experience for just €28 per person. For anyone with a fear of heights, this is a perfect solution. It’s also worth mentioning that Doolin is the home to live Irish music, so grab yourself a pint of the black stuff in any of the bars in the upper or lower part of town and be entertained by the impromptu musicians who gather for a night of jamming.
  
  

f) County Tipperary

As our ferry return to Fishguard loomed large, we made our way with our compass facing South East. We wanted, however to ensure that our journey back wasn’t simply at ‘heading home’. We wanted to make it count. So en route we took a wander through the county of Tipperary. And the main highlight was The Rock of Cashel. It had been recommended to us as a place to marvel at and it certainly was pretty impressive.

Parked up in the large paid car park opposition the castle, we had a perfect view as we gawped at this High King of Irish castles. For €8pp you can enter the grounds and explore the ancient walls going back to the mediaeval ages. It is said to be the most impressive cluster of buildings in the country and as such attracts lots of visitors. It is a great overnighter and definitely offered us a nice, on our way back highlight.

And with sadness, we came to the end of our Schengen Shuffle visit for 2025. What a wonderful experience it was.

Ireland in the Spring, conclusions

I hope that this little tour of our Ireland in Spring road-trip has given you a flavour of our experiences. They were, of course, enhanced by unseasonably good weather, that albeit cold, were clear blue sky days. Everything looks good in the sunshine without doubt. Although one thing we’ve learned from our Ireland trips is, Ireland is actually beautiful whatever the weather.

Whether it is the spring blossoms that call you, the quiet roads, the camping spots that you will have all to yourself or simply a Schengen Shuffle extension, Ireland is a must for the top of your list. From March to early May it is just a magical place to discover and loose yourself in, for a week or five. Don’t just put your faith in us, go see for yourself. We hope you won’t be disappointed.