Ireland - advice please

[TheShellBeach]

DH and I are thinking of going to Ireland for the first time.
We're both in our 60s and like rural areas with lots of scenery best.
Where would you recommend?
We're going to take the boat from Campbeltown in Scotland, over to Ballycastle.
Then we'll hire a car and tour round for about four days.

If you like rural with lots of scenery then the Wild Atlantic Way would probs be your thing. I don't really know about the logistics of getting there from Ballycastle though.

Was going to suggest Wicklow but then saw it’s Northern Ireland you are going to. Ballycastle is lovely. Close enough to see giants causeway and carrigareed rope bridge. Lots of beautiful scenery along the coast there.

Can you tell me some villages or towns to head for?

Sorry! That's just how we're getting on to the island.
We want to drive to Ireland from Ballycastle, because that's where the boat lands.

Head over to Donegal it's absolutely gorgeous! It's in Northern Ireland but it's the republic so €. Lovely beaches, very scenic. I went to the Gaeltacht when I was younger and met Sean Connery on the beach 😂

Connemara is absolutely beautiful, stunning scenery.

ravensdale carlingford have beautiful scenery and lovely walks. Greenore has a ferry over to the other side. Templeton beach is beautiful. Also Newcastle has a lovely vibe

The scenery around Ballycastle is lovely in itself, but I understand you want to drive from NI to ROI? If so, yes drive along the coast to Donegal, then maybe down to Mayo.

Definitely donegal. Stunning beaches and scenery wherever you land. Easy to drive to from Ballycastle. Gaeltacht area is beautiful.

Ballycastle is tiny, there would probably be fees to get a hire car to Ballycastle. But in theory the wild Atlantic way is lovely from Ballycastle, along the coast of Northern Ireland and down the west coast of Ireland.

If you've only 4 days I'd suggest either heading west from Ballycastle, along the North Coast through Ballintoy, Bushmills, Portrush, Portstewart, Castlerock (all with beautiful beaches and fantastic walks) on to the city of Derry (historical, again great walks) and through to Letterkenny then up round Donegal (Dunfanaghy area is just stunning) and down the west coast as far as time allows you.

Or head down the east coast from Ballycastle, through Cushendun and Cushendall, Glens of Antrim, down to Belfast (I know you said rural, but always worth a visit) then on down to Newcastle, Kilkeel and the Mournes.

You can cover a lot of ground in 4 days, but there is so much to see and a lot of gorgeous scenery to enjoy, depending on whether you must want to drive through or stop and experience.

Would it be difficult to hire a car in Ballycastle?
Where would we get one, if so?

I would take a bus to Belfast and start my car trip from there! Down to the Mourne mountains and do a scenic drive. Across to Fermanagh. Or Cavan...for lakes. Mayo and Sligo. Across to the north Antrim coast and coast road...back to Belfast.

I second Donegal, and Dunfanaghy is a fantastic small town with lots of great stuff for holidaymakers. Make sure to go to Marble Hill beach, it's stunning. I'd say you'd only be able to hire a car in a bigger town, Derry or Letterkenny.

Ballycastle is lovely but a small town. It would be difficult to hire a car there. You can look on the Translink website to arrange onward travel by bus and/or train to londonderry or Belfast and hire a car there. The train ride from Coleraine to Derry is very scenic so I’d do that and drive onward through Donegal, down the west coast. But be careful with your timings as public transport will be limited from ballycastle.

Lots of great ideas. Thank you all so much.
I know what a PP meant by scarce public transport as we live in Argyll in Scotland.

Agree with others that car hire might be difficult, but when I searched car hire Ballycastle I found this place in Ballymoney which might be worth contacting https://www.practical.co.uk/locations/england/ireland_north/ballymoney/

It’s a 46 min bus journey but you’d still be closer to where you want to drive to than going back to Belfast. The

If you did need to go to Belfast then try and hire from the International Airport as it is closer and should have buses from Ballycastle.

I was going to make some suggestions for the route but realised that @Tiredandbored has basically made all of the recommendations that I would!!

From Ballycastle drive up over the north coast to Donegal. Then down to Yeats’ country in Sligo, maybe onto Mayo then back. That is a lot for 4 days but full of spectacular beaches, castles, Atlantic scenic routes. I love the Inishowen peninsula and Fanad Head and Dungloe area. God speed!

Double check that hire companies are ok with you going cross border.

They will almost certainly be fine but you need to tell them and pay a small additional fee to remain insured for driving in the Republic of Ireland.

Is that likely to be a problem?
And can I just use our UK debit cards in Ireland?

I wouldn't of that it be a problem driving the hire car in both but better to be safe than sorry. Yes you can use your UK debit card in the republic 🤗

My bil had some complications with a hire car crossing the border years ago...but a New Zealand friend didn't about 5 years ago...just check.
If you are using a card and the machine asks if you want it to exchange say no. And Scottish notes are accepted in Ni and Donegal...further south it's like taking them to England.

Agree, I can’t imagine being able to hire a car in Ballycastle. I’m from the area so I’m biased but the Causeway coast is stunning. Donegal is too so you really don’t need to go far. As you’re already planning to be in Ballycastle you should definitely consider getting the ferry to Rathlin (if you can face another boat). Peaceful, great wildlife and beautiful scenery. When we went we met about 4 people all day.