The Best Scenic Drives in Ireland That Visitors Always Miss

A Local’s Honest, Funny and Wild Guide

Most visitors land in Ireland and go straight for the big names like the Ring of Kerry or the Cliffs of Moher. There is nothing wrong with those, but some of the best scenery in Ireland happens on roads that tourists never even hear about. These are the places where the sheep judge you, the rain blesses you, and the views make you want to pull over every five minutes for a photo. As someone who spends half my life driving around Ireland for photography work and my planning business Ireland Elopements and Co, here are the scenic drives that visitors skip but absolutely should not.


Conor Pass in Dingle
This is the drive where the road gets narrow enough to make you whisper a small prayer, and the scenery makes you forget you were ever nervous. Conor Pass is one of the highest mountain passes in Ireland and it gives you views that look like you parked inside a postcard. You get lakes, cliffs, endless green and the entire Dingle Peninsula stretched out below you. I drive this road often for work and I can promise you the light here changes every five minutes. Sometimes you get mist, sometimes you get rainbows, sometimes you get sunshine strong enough to make you feel like you are in Spain for twelve seconds. If you want the real Wild Atlantic Way feeling, start here.
Conor Pass (Dingle Peninsula) — https://dingle-peninsula.ie/explore/conor-pass.html


The Slea Head Drive in Dingle
Visitors hear about Dingle Town but they miss the roads beyond it. Slea Head is unreal. You get sea cliffs, tiny winding roads and the famous Dunmore Head where scenes from Star Wars were filmed. Even if you have no interest in films, you will have interest in the views. This drive feels ancient and atmospheric, and the best part is that it never feels overrun. It is the kind of place where you pull in the car, walk ten steps and suddenly feel like Ireland was built just for you that day.
Slea Head Drive (Dingle Peninsula) — https://dingle-peninsula.ie/explore/slea-head-drive.html


The Causeway Coast in Northern Ireland
Now for the north. The Causeway Coast is one of the most dramatic coastlines in Europe, but visitors still underestimate how good the drive is. The road from Dunluce Castle to Ballintoy Harbour looks like a giant movie set. Dunseverick Castle, White Park Bay and the windy headlands between them are breathtaking in any weather. I drive this area often for elopements and photography and the mix of cliffs, beaches and old ruins is out of this world. The Atlantic air up here hits you like a cold pint of Guinness for the lungs.
Causeway Coastal Route (Northern Ireland) — https://discovernorthernireland.com/destinations/causeway-coastal-route


Three Castle Head in West Cork
Here is one that almost nobody knows about. Three Castle Head on the Mizen Peninsula is one of the most unreal hidden gems in Ireland. The drive out to it alone is worth the trip. You twist through green fields, past wild coastline and down narrow roads that feel like the edge of the world. Three Castle Head sits over a lake that looks like something from a fantasy film. Most tourists go to Mizen Head and stop, but the real magic is this place. Bring comfortable shoes because the small walk to the ruins is incredible. Bring a camera too because the light here is something else entirely.
Three Castle Head (West Cork) — https://threecastlehead.ie/


The Beara Peninsula
Beara is the quiet brother of the Ring of Kerry and the Dingle Peninsula. Tourists do not hear about Beara, but locals know it is one of the best scenic drives in the entire country. The road takes you past tiny villages, colourful houses, sea views, mountains and winding bends that are worth every second. Healy Pass is the highlight. You get long sweeping views that feel both peaceful and dramatic at the same time. I always say Beara is for people who want Ireland without the crowds. If you want to feel like you discovered something, drive Beara.
Beara Peninsula: https://www.discoverireland.ie/cork/west-cork-beara-peninsula


The Ring of Kerry Back Roads
Most visitors stick to the main Ring of Kerry route but the real beauty is in the back roads. Roads through places like Portmagee, Valentia Island and Caherciveen give you ridiculous scenery with hardly any traffic. Valentia Island especially is unreal. You get cliffs, slate quarries, old ruins and views across Skellig Michael. The colours here hit different when the light breaks through the clouds. I have taken some incredible photos here for couples and it is still one of my favourite drives in all of Ireland.
https://www.ireland.com/en-us/destinations/regions/ring-of-kerry
https://www.discoverkerry.com/
https://www.discoverireland.ie/ring-of-kerry


Glengesh Pass in Donegal
Donegal is the wild child of Ireland. Glengesh Pass is a road shaped like a giant natural rollercoaster. You drive down into a valley that looks untouched, peaceful and absolutely beautiful. The hills roll for miles and the road twists just enough to make the whole experience feel like an adventure. It is the definition of off the beaten track and the kind of place visitors remember forever.
Glengesh Pass (Donegal): https://www.discoverireland.ie/donegal/malaidh-ghleann-gheis-glengesh-pass


Why These Drives Matter
Ireland has famous spots, but the real magic lives in between them. On the small roads, the quiet roads, the ones you only find when a local tells you. These drives give you the Ireland that feels ancient, peaceful and completely different from what you see online. If you ever want advice on scenic routes, unusual travel spots or even planning a small ceremony or photography session in these wild places, I share a lot of helpful guides on my website at https://irelandelopementsco.com.


Thanks for reading.
Shane,
Local photographer and planner based in Kerry
More Ireland guides and location tips here: https://irelandelopementsco.com