Two Weeks in Ireland: An Accessible Self Drive Route

I recently had the enjoyable task of creating a two-week road trip around the whole of the Republic of Ireland. As fantastic as the final itinerary looked (and was experienced by my clients), it was a bit of a hop-around, and in my opinion splitting it into two would have really allowed the visitors to appreciate Ireland’s greatest features – its breathtaking coast and countryside and its charming towns and cities.

I speak to many clients who have stated that self-drive disabled holidays are also their favourite way to travel. It enables them to get around at their own pace and in comfort, without having to deal with public transportation – which can be unreliable and is not always accessible.

If you have decided to set out by car on one of our carefully crafted self-drive holidays, this is one itinerary that I believe any traveller would enjoy:

Getting Into Dublin

We are able to book flights into the charming city of Dublin for you – or if you prefer to take your own car, why not take the ferry? Needless to say, this is an amazing place to visit with many cultural and historical attractions to see. I highly recommend a taxi or accessible minibus tour, or we can book accessible walking/pushing tours that avoid the hilly and cobblestoned areas. You should also pop into a few of the pubs, which are very welcoming and pour Guinness that tastes much better than anywhere else in the world...

Waterford

Waterford is a 2.5-hour drive from Dublin. This is Ireland’s oldest city, so expect plenty of intriguing Medieval history and, of course, inviting local pubs. It retains a small town charm and is more relaxing than the major cities, so I highly recommend exploring the area and enjoying the history and culture which is found throughout the city centre.

Cork

2 hours west from Waterford you will find Cork - a popular destination thanks to its lively city centre and stunning natural surroundings. The city is famed for its independent spirit and is even nicknamed “Rebel City”, as result of its support for the Yorkist Cause in the Wars of the Roses. Today, it is a vibrant and colourful place that was named the European Capital of Culture in 2005. The great diversity ensures that no matter what type of culture you are looking for, you will find it on the streets of Cork – and we can help you find it with a multitude of accessible excursions.

Killarney

The town of Killarney is up next, at a 1.5 hours’ drive from Cork. It is sometimes compared to the Lake District due to its impressive natural surroundings, which include thick woodland, high peaks and beautiful lakes. Our itinerary can include a trip to the superb Killarney National Park, which is across the bridge from St. Mary’s Cathedral. The town itself has dozens of inviting restaurants, cafes and pubs and is very welcoming to visitors.

Limerick

Before completing the loop and heading back to Dublin, you will want to make the 2-hour drive to Limerick. This famous Irish city lies on the River Shannon and the core of the city is found on King’s Island. In 2014 it became Ireland’s first Irish City of Culture, so expect a thriving cafe culture, lively pub scene, cool art galleries and interesting architecture. This is a particularly worthwhile stop on disabled holidays as the city is very compact, making it easy to navigate in a wheelchair.

Dublin

Head back to Dublin, which is a 2.5-hour drive from Limerick. Tick off any of our excursions you missed and stop for a pub lunch and pint of Guinness before catching your flight home.

Our itinerary will take you to many of Ireland’s top destinations and show you its great natural and cultural beauty. Our range of self-drive disabled holidays allows you to go at your own pace for a truly relaxing getaway!