⚠️ Realistic capacity: 1–2 stops a day. Scored on Cars 🏎️, Scenery, Food/Drink & History (/20). This is NOT the NC500.
Not the NC500™
Home › Things to do

Worth stopping the car for.

Stack-ranked per day. Gold cards are the top pick. The 🏎️ "Cars" score is how good the road and the parking are — because that matters on this trip.

Thursday 4 Jun — Mount Juliet → Kenmare
Ardmore#1 top pick13/20
Ardmore Round Tower & Cliff Walk
Co. Waterford · 7km off N25
  • 12th-century tower at Ireland's oldest Christian site
  • 5km cliff walk above the Atlantic, free parking
  • 7km detour each way; walk needs 90 min+
🏎️ 1Scen 5Food 2Hist 5
Bantry House#212/20
Bantry House & Gardens
Co. Cork · directly on N71
  • Bang on the route — no detour
  • "Stairway to the Sky" bay panorama
  • ~€15 entry + 1–2h indoor tour
🏎️ 1Scen 4Food 3Hist 4
Near Kenmare#312/20
Molly Gallivan's Cottage
N71 · ~30 min east of Kenmare
  • Directly on the route
  • Whiskey coffee, traditional food, 1800s working farm
  • Touristy; 45-min visit caps it
🏎️ 1Scen 3Food 5Hist 3
West Cork coast#411/20
Drombeg Stone Circle
West Cork · off R597 (coastal)
  • Genuine Bronze Age circle, 17 stones
  • Striking coastal setting, free, 30 min
  • Needs the slower coastal road
🏎️ 2Scen 4Food 1Hist 4
Bantry Bay#511/20
Glengarriff / Garinish Island
Co. Cork · on N71
  • Sub-tropical island gardens, 10-min boat (seals!)
  • Italian garden, Martello tower
  • 3–4h commitment + boat fee
🏎️ 1Scen 5Food 2Hist 3
Friday 5 Jun — Ring of Kerry → Wild Atlantic Way → Dromoland
Kerry Cliffs / Wild Atlantic Way#1 top pick14/20
Kerry Cliffs at Portmagee
Skellig Ring · ~30 min detour off N70
  • The most dramatic cliffs in Kerry, Skellig views
  • Small fee, quick visit, huge payoff
  • Exposed — weather makes or breaks it
🏎️ 3Scen 5Food 2Hist 4
Bunratty Castle#213/20
Bunratty Castle & Folk Park
Co. Clare · 5 min from Dromoland
  • Restored 15th-century tower house, right by the hotel
  • Folk park village, easy parking
  • Can feel commercial / coach-tour busy
🏎️ 2Scen 3Food 3Hist 5
Staigue Stone Fort#312/20
Staigue Stone Fort
Off the Ring of Kerry · near Sneem
  • One of Ireland's finest ringforts, ~2,500 years old
  • Free, short detour, wild setting
  • Narrow single-track approach road
🏎️ 2Scen 4Food 1Hist 5
Derrynane House#412/20
Derrynane House
Caherdaniel · on the Ring of Kerry
  • Daniel O'Connell's home, gardens to the beach
  • Glorious coastal walks on the doorstep
  • Indoor house tour eats time
🏎️ 2Scen 4Food 2Hist 4
Saturday 6 Jun — Dromoland → Burren → Galway → Sligo → Donegal
Mullaghmore Head#1 top pick15/20
Mullaghmore Head & Classiebawn
Co. Sligo · under Benbulben
  • Big-wave surf headland, fairytale castle backdrop
  • Sweeping coast drive — made for the cars
  • A short loop off the N15
🏎️ 4Scen 5Food 2Hist 4
Cliffs of Moher#213/20
Cliffs of Moher
Co. Clare · off the N67
  • The famous one — 214m sheer Atlantic cliffs
  • Visitor centre, proper paths
  • Detour off the direct route; gets busy
🏎️ 2Scen 5Food 2Hist 4
Poulnabrone Dolmen#313/20
Poulnabrone Dolmen
R480 · The Burren
  • Portal tomb older than the pyramids
  • Free, 20 min, right on the Burren route
  • Roped off; can be coach-tour busy
🏎️ 2Scen 5Food 1Hist 5
Benbulben / Drumcliff#413/20
Drumcliff & Yeats's Grave
on N15 · under Benbulben
  • "Cast a cold eye…" — Yeats's grave
  • Under Benbulben, Ireland's most cinematic mountain
  • 20–30 min stop; modest café
🏎️ 1Scen 5Food 2Hist 5
Aillwee Cave#510/20
Aillwee Cave & Birds of Prey
R480 · The Burren
  • 350m cave system + birds of prey display
  • Best food stop on this stretch — proper café
  • Entry fee + 1–2h; indoor/commercial
🏎️ 1Scen 3Food 4Hist 2