Planning to go to Eire with a motorhome or campervan? Need to get some suggestions for locations to go to, the place to remain, routes to take and extra? Right here’s every little thing you could learn about motorhoming or campervanning in Eire.
Don’t overlook to obtain your FREE motorhome journey guidelines under that can assist you plan your Irish highway journey.
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Campervanning in Eire – why you must go!
As I write this, I’m sitting in my motorhome by a seashore within the Republic of Eire. Certain, it’s wet, however that’s not detracting from the fantastic thing about this nation. It’s not referred to as the Emerald Isle for nothing!
Put easy, Eire is a lovely place for a highway journey. There’s a lot historical past, stunning roads and locations to discover and loads of hospitable locations to search out meals and leisure, each in Northern and Southern Eire (which they like to name the Republic.)
You’ll be able to in fact discover Eire utilizing public transport, however it’s so significantly better if in case you have your personal vehicle- whether or not that’s a motorhome or campervan (our most popular choices), or a automotive, caravan and even bike.
Probably the greatest issues about having the ability to discover Eire on a motorhoming vacation is which you can see the variations between the areas and actually get a really feel for the nation in a brief area of time. It could possibly additionally make your journey cheaper if you should purchase and put together your meals as an alternative of getting to purchase them all- to not point out having the ability to keep in a single day at some breathtaking places.
On this information, we’re going to share with you every little thing you could know to go motorhoming or campervanning in Eire, together with attending to Eire from the UK (or elsewhere), planning your route, the place to remain (motorhome campsites, options or wild tenting together with your camper), some highway journey concepts and locations to go to, driving suggestions and different sensible recommendation that can assist you have an incredible Irish highway journey.
Don’t overlook to seize your free motorhome journey guidelines which can provide help to plan and organise every little thing you want.
Motorhoming in Eire- When to go
Like a lot of the UK, one of the best time for a highway journey might be between April and October if you happen to’re simply contemplating the climate.
Nevertheless, do not forget that it’s referred to as the ‘Emerald Isle’ as a result of it’s so inexperienced… and it’s inexperienced as a result of it rains. Quite a bit. Count on rain at any time of the 12 months (but another excuse to be glad of your personal car… you may cover inside if the climate turns!) After all, there are some sunny days as nicely, and also you’re most probably to get these in the course of the summer season.
July and August are the primary college holidays, so every little thing might be loads busier then AND costs for every little thing might be higher- ferries, campsites and even some attraction charges.
Different main occasions in Eire embrace the Rugby Six nations at first of the 12 months (which is principally centred on Dublin), The Gathering- a standard dancing and music pageant held every February in Kilkenny and St Patricks Day on seventeenth March every year- your entire nation celebrates it with a ardour (celebrations usually final every week!)
There’s additionally the Galway Meals Competition in April, the Style of Dublin meals pageant in June and Nationwide Heritage Week on the finish of August, in addition to many others.
So there’s by no means a ‘dangerous’ time to go to Eire. When you’re in a position to journey outdoors of faculty holidays we extremely advocate it, and also you’ll always remember a St Patrick’s Day in Dublin! (Truly, that’s not strictly true; buddies of mine moved to Dublin with their children and I’ve spent many St Patrick’s Days there- I can’t appear to recollect a lot of them in any respect… ?)
Highlights of an Eire campervanning vacation
A few of the greatest locations to go to in Eire with a campervan or motorhome embrace:
- Cliffs of Moher – unbelievably dramatic
- The Wild Atlantic Approach- 1700 miles of dramatic shoreline and conventional Irish tradition
- Giants Causeway (Northern Eire)
- Darkish Hedges road- well-known as a Recreation of Thrones filming location. You’ll be able to drive down it, however not in a motorhome!
- Dublin- certainly one of our favorite cities in Europe
- The Ring of Kerry- one of many greatest highway journeys in Eire
- The Rock of Cashel- Eire’s most visited Heritage website
- Blarney Fortress and the Blarney Stone
- Dunmore Head- mainland Eire’s most westernmost level
- Torc waterfall- one of many greatest waterfalls in Europe
Speaking of TV reveals and films, listed below are among the largest which have been shot in Eire:
- Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Cliffs of Moher, Lemon Rock)
- Star Wars: The Power Awakens/The Final Jedi (Skellig Michael island)
- Braveheart (sure, I do know it’s about Scotland!)- Bective Abbey, Curragh Plains, Trim Fortress)
- Saving Non-public Ryan Ballinesker Seaside- the setting for the D-Day landings in opening 20 minutes
- The Princess Bride (Cliffs of Moher)
- Recreation of Thrones (see some guided excursions right here)
After all, there are MANY different unbelievable places and locations to go to in Eire- we are able to’t probably checklist all of them.
When you get pleasure from studying books earlier than a visit, listed below are some we advocate:
See extra enjoyable and sensible motorhoming books we advocate studying
Attending to Eire from Britain with a motorhome or camper
Okay, earlier than we go any additional, let’s clear up the confusion.
- Northern Eire IS a part of the UK. The Republic of Eire isn’t
- The Republic of Eire is within the EU. Northern Eire isn’t
- Nice Britain (or Britain) refers back to the landmass of England, Scotland and Wales
- The British Isles is the UK AND the Republic of Eire (plus the Channel Islands, Scilly Isles and 1000’s of different small islands.) There’s a wonderful article explaining all of it right here
Nevertheless, even understanding all that, many individuals (myself included!) incorrectly say going from the UK to Eire, once they imply from Britain. So, my apologies ought to I make that error elsewhere.
Crossing from Northern Eire to Southern Eire
To get to Republic of Eire from Northern Eire you… drive throughout the border. It was once extremely easy- it’s now a bit more durable due to BREXIT, however it’s nonetheless only a matter of driving south. There might be a border to cross and also you’ll want to hold all the proper paperwork. Relying in your route, there could also be a toll cost.
Attending to Eire by Ferry from remainder of the UK
For the remainder of the UK (in any other case often known as Britain!), if you wish to take your personal motorhome or campervan throughout to Eire, you’ll must get on a ferry. There are just a few ferry routes to select from:
- Holyhead to Dublin (Irish Ferries)
- Pembroke to Rosslare (Irish Ferries)
- Liverpool to Dublin (P&O Ferries)
- Cairnryan to Larne (P&O Ferries)
- Cairnryan to Belfast (Stena Line)
- Liverpool to Belfast (Stena Line)
- Holyhead to Dublin (Stena Line)
- Fishguard to Rosslare (Stena Line)
Attending to Eire from France
There are additionally ferries which go immediately from France to Eire.
- Cherbourg to Dublin which often runs 3 occasions weekly (Irish Ferries)
- Cherbourg to Rosslare as soon as per week (Brittany Ferries)
- Roscoff to Cork twice weekly (Brittany Ferries)
- Roscoff to Rosslare as soon as weekly (Brittany Ferries)
- Cherbourg to Rosslare which runs thrice every week (Stena Line)
Travelling round Eire
When you’re over in Eire, whether or not it’s North or South, the highway system is excellent and straightforward to navigate. We’ll discuss extra concerning the guidelines, pace limits and different issues to know shortly.
New to motorhome or camper journey in Europe? You may discover these posts useful:
See all our Europe motorhoming posts right here
NEED GEAR? When you want any equipment or necessities for motorhoming in Europe, right here’s what we advocate and the place to search out it
Hiring a motorhome to tour Eire
After all, if you happen to don’t have or need to pay to take your car to Eire, otherwise you’re travelling from additional away, the best choice is to fly in to Eire and hire a motorhome or campervan to make use of throughout your keep. Simply ensure that to ask the right way to get from the airport to the rental agency- not all of them are on the airport itself and also you may must guide a taxi.
The most important airports in Eire are:
- Dublin Airport – east coast
- Cork Airport – south coast
- Shannon Airport – west coast (close to Limerick)
- Knock Airport – mid/ north West (however nonetheless within the Republic of Eire)
- Belfast Airport – in Northern Eire
To hire a car in Eire you have to:
- be at the very least 21 years outdated, though many rent automotive corporations have a minimal age of 25 (sure automotive classes might require older)
- There could also be restrictions for over 70s as nicely
- have had a driving licence for a couple of 12 months
- present identification (id card for EU residents or a sound passport for different nationalities)
You’ll be able to count on to pay round £100/ day for a campervan in June out of peak season- you should definitely ask the proper questions so you already know what to anticipate out of your motorhome or campervan rental
Keep in mind that you simply may must pay a further price to drive from the Republic of Eire into Northern Eire (or vice versa) so examine together with your rent firm earlier than you guide.
Don’t overlook, it’s YOUR accountability to ensure the car has the required security tools. The on-the-spot fines apply to you as the driving force, not the corporate. Verify prematurely with the corporate what equipment they may present with the car and what you’ll need to convey.
Take a listing of what’s legally required with you and examine it off one after the other as you might be given the handover. Don’t drive till you might be glad you adjust to the native legal guidelines.
Campervan guidelines in Eire- what gear you could carry
Issues you could carry to legally drive in Eire
You’ll be happy to know that, not like motorhoming in France or a lot of the remainder of Europe, Eire is just like the principles within the UK, so there are only a few belongings you LEGALLY have to hold (though we advocate them anyway.) There are:
- UK sticker connected to the again of auto or reg plates (and trailer if in case you have one)
- A spare wheel (and instruments to alter it!), or a tyre restore equipment.
- When you put on glasses you MUST carry a spare pair
- Crash helmets are necessary for bike/ moped riders and passengers
NOTE: Hello-vis reflective jackets ,Warning triangles and Headlight beam converters (if in case you have a UK car) usually are not required in Eire. When you’ve got a European car (ie- you usually drive on the proper), you’ll need headlight converters.
What paperwork do you could highway journey in Eire?
When you’re driving in Eire, you could carry the next paperwork:
- Passport (or id card)
- Driving licence (examine it’s in date!)
- Motorhome Insurance coverage documents- examine you might be lined for driving in Europe
- Breakdown cowl
- Car V5 logbook (which should present your appropriate tackle)
- Car should be legally taxed and MOT’d
- Trailer certification
- Inexperienced card (get out of your car insurer)
- Worldwide Driving Allow if required
- Private journey insurance coverage
Do I want a global driving allow to drive in Eire?
Most UK residents don’t want an IDP to drive in Eire, so long as you could have a card driving licence issued within the UK (in date, in fact!)
You may want one if in case you have:
- a paper driving licence solely
- a licence issued in Gibraltar, Guernsey, Jersey or the Isle of Man
(When you do want an IDP, right here’s an in-depth information on the right way to get an Worldwide Driving Allow and which one(s) you want from a UK submit workplace.
Touring Eire in a campervan- Different helpful belongings you may want
We’ve been touring Europe in our motorhome for a number of years. We’ve tried all types of kit- some helpful, some not a lot.
Here’s a checklist of issues we extremely advocate when motorhoming in Eire, however that are NOT important:
Motorhome Stopovers and In a single day camper parking in Eire
Like most nations in Europe, there are a number of forms of locations the place you may cease together with your motorhome or campervan in a single day in Eire.
- Campsites
- Free/ authorized motorhome parking schemes
- Wild Tenting (we’ll discuss extra concerning the legality of that shortly)
Motorhome Campsites in Eire
Campsites in Eire are very like different campsites anyplace across the UK or Europe. Some are all-singing and dancing, with swimming pools, leisure and extra, whereas others are extra fundamental (and often cheaper!) It’s fairly straightforward to discover a campsite close to to you or close to to the place you’re going, particularly if you happen to’re a member of membership or have a guide!
You usually don’t must guide prematurely until you’re visiting in peak season or throughout a pageant (or over St Patrick’s weekend. Additionally, if you happen to’re a member of one of many UK’s largest motorhome golf equipment, they’ve some websites in Eire which you’ll be able to guide by means of their programs.
Bear in mind that many campsites shut for winter, some as early as September and don’t re-open till Easter. So do your analysis, particularly if you happen to’re travelling out of season.
TOP TIP: When you can journey outdoors peak occasions, use your ACSI Tenting Card to cut back the price of campsite stays
Aires in Eire
Eire, just like the UK, doesn’t have ‘aires’ in the identical manner you is perhaps used to if motorhoming in France, Germany or Italy.
An aire is simply an authorized in a single day motorhome parking space which isn’t a campsite. Eire DOES have many locations the place motorhomes and campervans can keep overnight- with permission. However they don’t work in the identical manner as aires.
Accepted in a single day motorhome parking
There are a number of schemes which join motorhomers and campervanners who don’t need to keep in campsites each night time to companies and locations glad to permit in a single day parking (often with out services). That is in trade for you shopping for a few of their services or products, equivalent to a meal in a restaurant.
Protected Nights Eire
One such scheme is Protected Nights Eire– which has over 350 places round Northern and Southern Eire. You’ll be able to be a part of the scheme for simply 15€ a 12 months and get entry to any locations that are a part of the scheme.
Pub In a single day Stops in Eire
Pubs are an excellent choice for a free in a single day parking cease if you happen to’re already going to eat at them. A lot of them will permit motorhomes and campervans to remain in a single day of their automotive parks (some even permit caravans). Clearly, that is just for the night- you most likely wouldn’t be capable to keep there for every week, though I suppose there’s no hurt in asking!
READ MORE: How we discover locations free of charge in a single day motorhome stopovers
Wild Parking in Eire for motorhomes and campers
Is wild tenting for motorhomes and campervans allowed in Eire? The authorized reply is no- you’re not allowed to remain anyplace with a motorised car aside from on authorized campsites, until you could have the landowners permission.
Nevertheless, in actuality, many individuals do motorhome wild tenting throughout Eire and infrequently have an issue.
There’s a distinction between ‘tenting’ and ‘in a single day parking’. Many individuals (us included) incorrectly discuss with parking up in a single day someplace as motorhome wild tenting, as an alternative of in a single day parking.
In a single day parking is parking up for one night time after which shifting on once more within the morning. No awnings, outside furnishings, BBQs, motorhome mills, washing strains or something OUTSIDE the car. In lots of distant locations, if you happen to arrive late within the afternoon and go away early-ish within the morning, you’ll be completely positive to remain in a single day, until there’s a transparent signal banning motorhomes or campers in a single day.
For tips about the right way to park in a single day with out upsetting native residents or drawing undesirable consideration, learn our full information to motorhome in a single day parking (which we name wild tenting. Sorry)
Wild Tenting is a special matter, and is forbidden in Eire. You’ll most likely be requested to maneuver on and/ or fined by the Police if you happen to appear to be you might be tenting together with your van.
Keep in mind, you may at all times ask if you happen to’re allowed to remain. The Irish are extremely hospitable and if you happen to’re well mannered and respectful, they’re very more likely to mean you can keep with out concern (particularly if you happen to’ve simply paid cash to them for one thing!)
Motorhome wild tenting guides for the UK & Europe
Motorhome and campervan service factors in Eire
In contrast to in Europe, there are only a few locations to discharge waste and water and refill with contemporary water aside from on the campsites. For that reason, it’s value reserving right into a campsite for an evening each few days, as a way to use its companies.
Some campsites will mean you can pay a small price and use the companies with out paying for an in a single day stop- you’l must ask as you go.
Driving suggestions for Eire
Some helpful suggestions for driving in Eire, no matter your car. Eire has a reasonably good highway community, particularly across the main cities and cities. Nevertheless, among the smaller rural roads could be VERY slender and plenty of are marked as unsuitable for bigger autos, like motorhomes.
Typically, these small roads are single monitor, and have passing locations. These are locations to tug in to let one other car go previous from the opposite course, NOT someplace to park up and go for a stroll.
Additionally, count on slow-moving farm autos on these roads- it might probably take some time to get anyplace and no-one in Eire is in a lot of a rush. So don’t over-estimate how far you may journey in at some point. Additionally, count on sheep, cows and different animals to wander out into the highway in entrance of you at any second.
- Drive on the left (like within the UK, the alternative to most of Europe)
- Keep to the left on roads with a couple of lane and overtake on the proper.
- At roundabouts and junctions, visitors already on the highway and coming from the proper has precedence.
- Motorways are marked with an ‘M’
- Seatbelts are obligatory for entrance and rear passengers
- All youngsters as much as 135 cms in peak or as much as 12 years of age, should use an acceptable baby seat (Northern Eire)
- Handsfree kits are required if utilizing a cell phone
- Units warning of pace cameras are forbidden
- Dipped headlights are to be used throughout poor visibility.
- Bikes should use dipped headlights in the course of the day always.
Velocity Limits in Eire
IMPORTANT: The Republic of Eire drives in km/h (like most of Europe). Northern Eire drives in mph (like the remainder of the UK). When you change the settings in your motorhome sat-nav, keep in mind to alter it if you happen to cross the border!
Breaking the pace restrict in both Northern or Southern Eire will lead to a set penalty and/ or penalty factors in your driving licence.
On the spot fines are uncommon, however it’s attainable to be pulled over by the police pressure for rushing and given a set penalty discover and/ or plus a £100 positive.
Republic of IRELAND
Velocity Limits for autos underneath 3.5t are as follows (until in any other case signed!)
- Motorways- 120km/h (74mph)
- Nationwide roads/ twin carriageways- 100 km/h (62 mph)
- Regional roads- 80km/h (50mph)
- Constructed up areas- 50 km/h (31 mph)
Velocity limits for car OVER 3.5t
- Motorways/ – 90 km/h (55 mph)
- Nationwide roads/ twin carriageways- 80 km/h (50 mph)
- Regional roads- 80km/h (50mph)
- Constructed up areas- 50 km/h (31 mph)
Velocity limits in Northern Eire
- Motorways/ – 70 mph (
- Nationwide roads/ twin carriageways- 60mph
- Constructed up areas- 30 mph (50kph)
Velocity cameras in Eire
There are each static and cell pace cameras in Eire. The cell ones are largely in vans that are moved round because the Irish police pressure (Garda Síochána) see match.
Drink driving legal guidelines
The Republic of Eire has stricter drink driving legal guidelines than Northern Eire, solely permitting 50 milligrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood (the UK and Northern Eire is 80). As at all times, don’t drink and drive. In case you are a brand new or an expert driver, the degrees are even decrease.
Tolls in Eire
There are at present no toll roads in Northern Eire.
There are 11 toll roads within the Republic of Eire- not as many as you is perhaps used to in France (and by chance not as costly as Norway!) You’ll be able to see the place they’re right here.
You’ll be able to pay for the tolls utilizing money on the toll plazas (playing cards are accepted at just a few however not all). Alternatively, you may join a TollTag account and that can cost you as you drive.
The one highway the place you can not pay as you drive is the M50. The M50 works a bit like a Dartford Tunnel- you could pay for utilizing it by 8pm the next day. You’ll be able to pay at many garages and retailers within the space, however the easiest method is on-line right here.
In case you are renting a car, you’ll need to ask them the right way to pay for tolls/ the M50 however its widespread so that you can must pay your self.
Petrol/ Diesel in Eire
There are many gasoline stations throughout Eire. As with in every single place, you’ll discover the costs barely greater on the motorways.
Petrol is Unleaded (95 / 98) – Inexperienced handles on pump
Diesel has black or yellow handles on pump
Some locations are 24h pay on the pump, however might require you to enter the store and pay the cashier both prematurely or after you’ve stuffed up- there might be an indication to let you know what to do. (Depart your automotive in entrance of the pump and make an observation of the pump quantity.)
You’ll be able to pay utilizing money or a bank card. Many locations do NOT take American Categorical. You should use your UK playing cards with out a drawback.
Parking in Eire
Many locations which permit parking in the course of the day or night time require fee. Often you could pay on the ticket machine show your parking ticket within the windscreen. Not doing that is more likely to lead to a positive.
Parking is prohibited when the highway is marked with a crimson line or a double yellow line.
A drawback of a campervan in Eire is that parking in cities and cities could be tough- many locations have peak obstacles of round 2.5m (and most vans and motorhomes are taller than that!) Due to this fact, you would wish to search out on-street parking within the city, which could be troublesome. Alternatively, park up or use a campsite close by and use public transport to get in.
Getting LPG in Eire
LPG (GPL) could be discovered at chosen petrol stations and at autogas stations. If shopping for from a petroleum station, chances are you’ll want to attend for an attendant to show the system on for you.
You could find locations which promote LPG utilizing MyLPG.eu Eire largely makes use of the ACME connector.
LEARN MORE: Be taught how we discover LPG in Europe for our motorhome
Extra helpful issues to know when campervanning in Eire
Some extra suggestions that can assist you get pleasure from your time touring in Eire.
Emergency Numbers: 112 will get you every little thing. 999 works as nicely.
Language– Irish Gaelic and English
Forex– Euros within the Republic of Eire, GBP (British Pound) in Northern Eire
Playing cards– most main credit score and debit playing cards are accepted. American Categorical is barely taken in giant shops (usually not at gasoline stations)
Timezone– GMT (or the identical as Britain) Eire follows Britain when it comes to shifting forwards or backwards for summer season
Cell Telephone and Web – It is best to be capable to use your UK cell and knowledge with none concern in Eire. If doubtful, examine together with your supplier earlier than you journey.
Tipping- It’s regular to depart round 10-15% of your invoice as a tip after consuming a meal in a restaurant. A tip for a barman is at all times appreciated (and may get you entry to some hidden whiskies!) Suggestions for cab drivers and different companies are additionally appreciated.
Outlets– Neither Northern Eire or the Republic of Eire are significantly costly when it comes to meals or goods- it’s about on par with the remainder of the UK and also you’ll see most of the identical retailers, particularly in Northern Eire. Tesco and Lidl are widespread.
The Republic of Eire is staunchly Catholic and chances are you’ll discover many retailers closed on Sundays and non secular days. A few of the bigger supermarkets and garages could also be open for just a few hours. Most retailers shut between 5pm-7pm in the course of the week- supermarkets could also be open as late as 10pm.
Northern Eire follows the UK, so retailers are sometimes open 10-4pm on Sundays and shut between 5pm-7pm in the course of the week.
Campervanning in Eire- safety
Eire, just like the UK, has good areas and not-so-good areas when it comes to crime charges. Car break-ins do occur, as do petty theft and pickpocketing.
We extremely advocate paying additional consideration to your motorhome safety when travelling in Eire. You may even want to match an additional camper habitation door lock and by no means go away your car unattended in an unsecure space.
READ MORE: Important suggestions for safeguarding your van at house and on the highway
Touring Eire with a canine
Sadly, each Northern and the Republic of Eire usually are not significantly dog-friendly, though some areas are higher than others. Most locations don’t permit canine into eating places, cafes or pubs, though they do mean you can sit outdoors.
You is perhaps allowed to take them on a practice, however most buses ban all however the smallest lap canine. They’re allowed on seashores out of season, however throughout summer season they’re banned.
Having stated all that, there are some INCREDIBLE locations to stroll your canine, so if you happen to’re not fussed about consuming out or utilizing public transport, then you definitely’ll haven’t any drawback together with your canine in Eire.
Attending to Eire from Britain with a canine
Now that BREXIT has been and gone, the principles for coming into Eire with a canine have modified.
To ensure that your canine to journey into Eire, you’ll need:
- A Microchip
- A rabies vaccination (you have to wait 21 days earlier than journey)
- An Animal Well being Certificates (or Pet Passport for European pets)
- A Tapeworm remedy, administered 1-5 days earlier than journey by an authorized vet. (Observe: you do NOT want tapeworm for going from Eire to Britain)
You shouldn’t must do something to take your pet from Northern Eire into the Republic of Eire, or vice versa. For essentially the most up-to-date info, examine the Deara web site
Utilizing a Drone in Eire
You should use a drone in Eire, however there are particular issues you could do first.
READ MORE: What’s one of the best journey drone (and the way to decide on)
To make use of your drone in Eire you could register right here (until your drone weighs lower than 250g!) If you don’t do this, you have to not fly greater than 15 meters.
Drones and comparable remote-controlled flying gadgets should be saved at the very least a minimal 30m from folks, autos and buildings that aren’t related with the drone operator. Flying should occur in daylight solely, under 120m and by no means fly nearer than 5km to airports. The drone should at all times stay inside the sight of the operator.
Please examine for native rules and navy or different particular restricted areas the place all of the aforementioned actions are forbidden by legislation.
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