On all our driving tours through Ireland, we believe that the best way to discover Ireland is through adventure! On this South and West Wanderer self-drive tour of Ireland you will hike, bike your way around our favorite places and experience as many cultural and authentically Irish activities we can manage to squeeze into your itinerary. Feel amazing out in the fresh Irish air and get blown away by the hidden gems and hotspots we have in store for you. We offer you a huge range of hiking trails, leisurely cycles, and alternative activities to keep you active and entertained on your road-trip around Ireland.
Treat yourself to the sights along the famous Cliffs of Moher, The Ring of Kerry, and the The Dingle Peninsula. Learn the history of Ireland’s many castles, harbor towns and indulge in a distillery tour. Meet our friends Fungie the Dolphin in Dingle, Barry in Kinsale and many colorful locals on your journey. Let our team at Overland take care of you and send you on a whirlwind self-guided driving adventure around Cork, Kerry, and County Clare.
Book with Confidence
Due to our tours’ off-the-beaten-path locations and the fact that we cannot guarantee that all accommodation partners have ramps/elevators, unfortunately, our tours are not wheelchair accessible.
Every Self-Drive Tour booked with Overland Ireland comes with exceptional service, guided itinerary and extras, such as our Paddy the Pocket Pilot App, as standard. So, if you’re looking for an independent way to see Ireland with all the benefits and surprises of a guided tour with pre-booked “tried & loved” accommodation, you’re in good hands. But don’t take our word for it, check out our tour group reviews here.
We are one of the only tour companies to include as much as we can into your tour price. We aim to have no hidden surprises or unexpected charges on your tour.
Our quest is to keep costs down and experiences up! We have worked really hard to get you the best deals up and down the country for you.
If you have any special dietary requirements or preferences, please let us know; we can cater this tour to vegans, vegetarians, and pescatarians. It’s also worth noting that all of the fish served to our guests is responsibly sourced and as fresh as it gets!
To whet your appetite for your ultimate road-trip around Ireland, we will arrange a tour for you at the Medieval round tower, chapel, cathedral and castle at The Rock of Cashel! A fantastic stop to get you in the mood for what awaits you on tour.
Next up it’s time to stretch your legs with an 8km coastal cliff walk at Ballycotton flanked by meadows to your right and the wild Atlantic Ocean to your left! This is a 2 hour hike taken at an easy pace.
Before departing for the harbor town of Kinsale we recommend stopping for lunch at Ballymaloe House en-route. Make sure to leave room for their delicious sweet treats.
Tonight, you will spend a glorious evening exploring the amazing eateries and entertainment spots in Kinsale. Rest your head in our carefully handpicked guesthouse accommodation.
Total driving distance & time: 250km – 4 hours 30 minutes, excluding stops
Wake up with a spring in your step and let our friend and local guide, Barry, take you on a historical walking tour of Kinsale – a favorite tour among our guests.
You will take a short drive to the coastline of Kinsale and take a leisurely 6km hike around the Old Head of Kinsale. The breath-taking views, ancient ruins, lighthouse and the site of the torpedoed site of the Lusitania will help you work up an appetite.
Spend a couple of hours browsing the colorful shops and cafes in Kinsale before a scenic drive through the Healy Pass to Castletownbere on the Beara peninsula. Paddy the Pocket Pilot will point you in the direction of some hidden gems off the normal tourist route!
Total driving distance & time: 140km – 2 hours, excluding stops
From Castletownbere you will make a small journey to Dursey Island by cable car! Your day today is going to be spent hiking around Dursey Island with Paddy the Pocket Pilot as your own personal tour guide to enlighten you with stories, history and get your heart pumping discovering every inch of this hidden island. This is a 13 km loop walk around the most westerly Island off Cork. With 8 inhabitants on the island and no distractions you will really enjoy discovering it’s remote charm and tranquility. It is an easy to moderate trail.
This afternoon you will venture from County Cork into the Kingdom of Kerry towards Killarney. We highly recommend a stop in the picturesque town of Kenmare. It will feel like you are transported into an Irish movie set!
Settle into Killarney and get a good night’s rest in preparation for your experiences tomorrow.
Total driving distance & time: 95km – 1 hour 50 minutes, excluding stops
Now that you have eased yourself into a few hikes, it is time to challenge yourself a little more with a hike up Torc Mountain on the Ring of Kerry. At the summit you will be treated to 360-degree panoramic views of Killarney Lakes and National Park and the MacGillicuddy’s Reeks. The distance is an easy to moderate incline of 7.5km and you can take it at your own pace, spending 2/3 hours taking in the views and stopping for some great photo opportunities.
Rest your legs and treat yourself to lunch at Moll’s Gap and spend the late afternoon driving on the Ring of Kerry.
No need to pack your bags tonight as you will spend another night in Killarney. Let our team make some recommendations and reservations for you through our app. We will be with you every step of our self-drive tour if you need us.
Total driving distance & time: 170km – 3 hours 30 minutes.
This is the entire Ring of Kerry. We recommend that you do a section of it this afternoon.
Today you will explore Killarney National Park by bike. Whether it’s old country manors, lakeside views, heritage, flora and fauna you are after you will find it on one of the trails in this 102km park. Wander around Mucross House, hug the lake trail and go see Torc Waterfall for some envy inducing photos! You will lose yourself for a couple of hours in this little slice of heaven. Cycling in the park is at your own pace and depending on stops (we recommend a slice of apple tart and a cup of tea at the coffee shop) should take around 3 hours to explore.
If you feel a little on the lazy side there are plenty of local jaunting (pony and cart) drivers to take you on a magic tour of the park!
Say goodbye to Killarney and get excited about your next destination – Dingle! You will make a pit stop at the famous Inch Beach to stretch your legs and maybe have a beach side treat at Sammy’s Café.
This evening is yours to absorb the atmosphere in Dingle’s famous quirky pubs and fantastic restaurants. Why not sit in Foxy John’s hardware store, order yourself a drink and strike up a conversation with a colourful local!
Total driving distance & time: 65km – 1 hour 30 minutes, excluding stops
We have 3 options for an amazing day on the Dingle Peninsula. You decide what will put a smile on your face today. Your trusty pocket pilot will be on hand to show you the options.
Hop on an electric bike and cycle along the Slea Head drive. The sites and stops along this coastal route are truly magnificent.
Alternatively, why not take a hike up Mount Brandon for unreal views of Dingle Bay and Castlegretory.
One of our favorite activities we recommend is kayaking in Dingle Bay with Kerry’s most famous celebrity, Fungie the Dolphin!Spend the morning exploring the sea caves while trying to catch a glimpse of our dolphin friend who likes nothing more than showing off in front of an audience!
Each activity is approximately 3 hours and you can do this at an easy pace. Mount Brandon is a moderately difficult hike and could bring you to 4 hours up and down but highly rewarding.
The afternoon will be spend indulging in the delights of Dingle’s Distillery. There you will sample their award-winning whiskey and gin and get an education on the history of whiskey production around the world.
Explore Dingle’s celebrated traditional Irish music scene tonight and maybe have your dinner Al-Fresco – Fish and Chips at the pier!
Total driving distance & time: depends on choice of activity.
Today, before you leave the Kingdom of Kerry, you will watch a local sheepdog show off his finely-honed skills, during a sheepdog demonstration. Next, take the ferry to County Clare, home of the spectacular Cliffs of Moher and the natural beauty of the Burren National Park.
You will hike for 3 hours along the Cliffs with the roaring Wild Atlantic ocean providing the perfect backdrop! We will give you the perfect route off the beaten track. There are many secret passages that we will tell you about that are not on the typical tourist route. Friends at home will definitely be very envious when you share your snaps from this stunning landmark.
A couple of minutes from the cliffs you will spend the evening in the most welcoming and colourful fishing village of Doolin, the home-town of traditional Irish music. Your accommodation is super easy to find through the Paddy App.
Total driving distance & time: 230km – 3 hours 20 minutes, excluding stops.
From Doolin Village we will organize for you to pick up bicycles to explore Burren National Park! We recommend 3 hours at a moderate pace for this adventure. Feast your eyes with delightful views of Galway Bay and Ireland’s most extraordinary landscape. Spend time roaming the vast limestone ridges and discover the wonderful flora and fauna unique to this ecosystem.
After lunch it is time to bid a fond farewell to the west and make your journey back to Dublin.
A stop at Clonmacnoise can be a welcome break on this leg of the journey.
It is now time to turn off your engine, dry your tears and to sit back and soak up all that you have experienced over the last 8 days. If you have any time left before leaving the Emerald Isle we will give you plenty of amazing recommendations for things to do, eat and entertain you in Dublin’s fair city.
Total driving distance & time: 265km – 3 hours 25 minutes, excluding stops
Due to our tours’ off-the-beaten-path locations and the fact that we cannot guarantee that all accommodation partners have ramps/elevators, unfortunately, our tours are not wheelchair accessible.
Note: This is our current itinerary for this year. If you’re booking for next year, the plan could change slightly. Feel free to get in touch if you have any questions about this or our other tours!
