2 roads in Ireland listed in Lonely Planet's Top 50 Epic Drives of the World
Ireland, europe
2,600 km
N/A
moderate
Year-round
Craving an epic Irish road trip? You're in luck! Two routes, the Wild Atlantic Way and the Causeway Coastal Route, serve up unforgettable scenery.
First up, the Wild Atlantic Way. Clocking in at a massive 1,600 miles (2,600 km), it's the *longest* defined coastal drive *in the world*! This route hugs Ireland's entire west coast, from the Inishowen Peninsula down to Kinsale. Expect dramatic landscapes sculpted by centuries of Atlantic waves – think rugged cliffs, pristine beaches, charming villages, and maybe even a castle or two.
For something a bit shorter, check out the Causeway Coastal Route in Northern Ireland. This 200-mile (321 km) beauty stretches from Belfast to Derry, offering similar Atlantic-carved views: think dramatic cliffs and sandy beaches! Plus, keep an eye out for whiskey distilleries and castles straight out of Game of Thrones. You could technically do it in a day, but trust me, spread it over two to soak it all in.
A few tips for both routes: Road conditions are generally good, but Irish weather is famously unpredictable – sunshine one minute, thunderstorms the next! Drive at a reasonable speed, especially since you'll be sharing the road with pedestrians, farm animals, and wildlife. Be extra cautious if you're not used to driving on the left, too.
Where is it?
2 roads in Ireland listed in Lonely Planet's Top 50 Epic Drives of the World is located in Ireland (europe). Coordinates: 53.4097, -8.4886
Road Details
- Country
- Ireland
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 2,600 km
- Difficulty
- moderate
- Coordinates
- 53.4097, -8.4886
Related Roads in europe
easyWhere is Bacino di Campo Moro?
🇮🇹 Italy
Okay, picture this: you're winding your way up to Bacino di Campo Moro, a gorgeous alpine lake nestled high in the Italian Alps, not far from the Swiss border. The road? Oh, it's a stunner! Think endless twists and turns, a crazy number of tunnels bored right into the rock face, all leading you higher and higher. This isn't a quick zip, either. You're looking at a climb that's roughly kilometers long, taking you up to an elevation of . That's a serious vertical gain! Is it worth the drive? Absolutely! You'll be treated to postcard-perfect scenery: happy cows munching in green meadows, towering granite mountains showing off every color imaginable, and glacial streams cascading down the slopes. It's an overload of Alpine beauty. Just a heads-up: this road is typically open in winter, but you might need snow chains or winter tires depending on conditions. Get ready for an unforgettable adventure!
hardCerro de Los Murciélagos
🇪🇸 Spain
Cerro de Los Murciélagos is a mountain peak at an elevation of 982m (3,221ft) above the sea level, located in southern Spain, in southwest of the province of Cordoba, in Andalusia. Located within the Natural Park of the Sierras Subbéticas, the road to the summit is asphalted but narrow. It’s called CV-247. It’s a beautiful road set in the mountains of Andalusia. The road ends on a parking lot that offers stunning views. The road is pretty steep. Starting from the village of Zuheros (on the CV-178 road), the ascent is 4.1 km long. Over this distance the elevation gain is 312 meters. The average gradient is 7.60%. At the summit there’s a cave, known as Cueva de Los Murciélagos, with ibex and Neolithic human remains and representative Palaeolithic paintings of horses, bears and deer. The cave is named after the murciélagos (bats) that inhabit it. The caves were discovered in 1868 but they were not studied until 1938. Morra del Buitre: A Rugged 2,000m Journey in Sierra de Castril Embark on a journey like never before! Navigate through our to discover the most spectacular roads of the world Drive Us to Your Road! With over 13,000 roads cataloged, we're always on the lookout for unique routes. Know of a road that deserves to be featured? Click to share your suggestion, and we may add it to dangerousroads.org.
moderateWhere Are the Chegem Waterfalls Located?
🌍 Russia
Okay, picture this: you're cruising through the heart of the Caucasus Mountains in Russia, headed towards the Chegem Waterfalls in Kabardino-Balkaria. Seriously, this place is a gem! You'll be winding your way south of Nizhnii Chegem through gorges carved by the Chegem River. The road follows the river, and it’s all about those views! The waterfalls themselves are a sight to behold – water gushing through this deep mountain ravine before flowing into the river. They're formed by water meeting these massive rocks, so you get different sizes and types of falls, some up to 50m high. These falls actually sit where three tributaries – Adai-Su, Sakal-Tup, and Kayaarty – meet the Chegem River. Pretty cool, right? The road is paved the whole way (about 58.7 km / 36.5 miles from Chegem to El'tiubiu), which is a plus, but be warned: it's narrow and the weather hasn’t been kind to it. But honestly, the scenery is SO worth it. Plus, you’ll find a small hotel, cafe, and market selling local handicrafts along the way. It's captivating any time of year!
hardCourage is required to drive to Sirokar Pass
🌍 Montenegro
Get ready for an epic adventure on the Širokar Pass, a seriously high mountain pass chilling at 1,790m (5,872 ft) in Montenegro's Podgorica municipality. Nestled just northeast of Podgorica, right next to the Albanian border in the south of the country, this drive, known as TT4, is no joke! Clocking in at 30.9 km (19.20 miles), this north-south route from Verusa to Korita starts off paved and narrow. But don't get too comfy – the pavement ends at Wet village! Beyond that, it's a super winding, hairpin-filled track demanding a 4x4 with decent ground clearance. Heads up: the trail is rougher than ever! Expect new washouts, loads of loose rocks, and some seriously tight squeezes. This season, the route hasn't been cleared yet (it usually gets done by off-roaders), so you might be brushing against bushes and wishing you had a spotter. Parts of the road near Širokar Pass cling to sheer drops, and corner visibility can be limited, but the views are SO worth it. Located in the Kuči mountains, this road is closed seasonally and totally impassable in winter. This is a remote area, so don't expect a mobile signal. Close to the summit, you'll find Rikavacko Jezero, a stunning high mountain lake on the Montenegro-Albania border. It's a glacial lake with an incredibly scenic landscape, surrounded by mountains that show clear signs of glacier run-off. The section from Korita to Rikavacko Jezero is particularly gnarly, more washed out than in recent years, with deeper ruts on the switchbacks. Seriously, a vehicle with at least 20 cm of ground clearance is essential. This drive is beyond scenic, offering panoramic ridgelines, deep valleys, adrenaline-pumping drop-offs, and raw, untouched alpine landscapes. You'll spot traditional katuns (shepherd settlements) dotted around, and Katun Ljakovića at the summit is especially picturesque.