Touring Ireland by Car - Regional Itineraries

Day One: Wexford to Waterford

Distance: 73 km, 46 mls

1  In Wexford, head for Westgate Tower, the only remaining fortified gateway within the Norman town walls, which now houses the Wexford Experience, a 30-minute audio-visual description of the town's history. There’s also Johnstone Castle Gardens and the Irish Agricultural Museum, and if you're in town in October, you can visit the three-week Wexford Opera Festival. 

2  Take the scenic route via the R736/R733 in the direction of Waterford to the Hook Head peninsula. At the pretty waterside village of Ballyhack, take the five-minute car ferry to Waterford, where you should find time to visit the landmark Reginald's Tower, the Waterford Heritage Centre and the glass-blowing workshops of the Waterford Crystal Factory. 

Day Two: Waterford to Cork

Distance: 159 km, 99 mls

1  From Waterford, take the R684 coast road to Dungarvan via Dunmore East, a pretty fishing village, and Tramore, which has a long sandy beach, perfect for a relaxing stroll. 

2  The coast road then continues through Annestown, Bunmahon and Clonea to Dungarvan, a good place to stop as it has some lively pubs and restaurants. 

3  Turn inland through Lismore, which has two cathedrals – a throwback to when it was an important monastic centre between the seventh and 12th centuries – before dropping down to the coast again at Cork.