GUEST POST: Kate Siobhan’s Epic Roap Trip by Campervan along Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way (II)

With the last name Mulligan, I’ve always identified with Ireland as part of my heritage. This year, I turned 30 – and I celebrated it with a seriously epic road trip around the country in a Bunk Camper…

Stage 3: Mayo

The next morning was no different. After a few cups of fresh coffee on board our campervan and a stroll along the beach, we drove our VistaPlus further south to the lively village of Westport in County Mayo – taking the long way around on the Wild Atlantic Way and stopping for lunch in the stunning Ballycroy National Park.

We’d heard from locals that Westport had some of the best live music in the country. We were not disappointed! A simple pint turned into a wild night of singing, stomping, dancing, and stumbling home. Luckily, we did not have too far to stumble – thanks again to our trusty campervan.

Stage 4: (Rainy) Connemara

The next day we carried on to admire St Patrick’s Mountain, as well as take a moment to reflect at the Famine Memorial. We passed by Connemara National Park and stopped at Kylemore Abbey, before heading quickly to our campsite – which was right on the beach (unfortunately, it was a very rainy day…).

Thank goodness, though, for our cozy home on wheels – it made that night much more tolerable. We had power & Wi-Fi on board, made a huge dinner in our oven – yes, an oven! – and poured some Guinness. It was chilly but the VistaPlus has heating all over, so it was warm enough inside. When you have a fully equipped kitchen, full size fridge, loads of seating, and a hot shower all on board, then the rain isn’t so bad after all. We sat late into the night watching Netflix and reliving all the amazing moments of our journey so far.

Stage 5: Galway

The next day we made our way to Galway and made ourselves feel better with pints and live music – as one should, when in Ireland. Galway had a really lively charm to it, and very young, upbeat student crowd. It was easy to see why it’s often hailed as one of the more “Irish” of Irish towns, with it’s deep roots in the Gaelic language, colourful buildings, and cobbled lanes.

Thanks again to some rain, we parked at a park near a pub, had a few pints, and retired to play some more cards and chilled out once again in our camper. You know it’s a good sign when you genuinely look forward to getting back to your campervan, even after so many days on the road. It really felt like home to us!

Stage 6: (Sunny) Clare

The next morning, we awoke to bright blue skies and decided at the last second we’d head for the Burren and the Cliffs of Moher. One of the great perks of the camper is to just make split decisions like that!

Away we went, carving up through the Burren with it’s very mysterious atmosphere. There were amazing rock formations and megalithic tombs, quarries and unique and interesting geology. We stopped and cooked lunch at some smaller, less busy cliffs and parked right up along the edge. Lunch with a view!

Finally, we drove to the Cliffs of Moher. It was warm, sunny, and bright. We had been told lots about the cliffs and seen photos but nothing prepared us for how really glorious they are. We strolled along the tops, even dared to look over the edge, and sat until the sun was long gone…

While this wasn’t the end of our time in Ireland, it was the end of our time with the campervan. We had more to look forward to but in a way, this was the pinnacle of our trip: the adventure of the open road, taking off on a whim or a bit of local advice, preparing a feast next to an empty beach, and curling up in the bed after a long, perfect day. The two of us, one amazing campervan we called home, and the Wild Atlantic Way.

[text_box class=”grey”]If you want to experience Kate’s adventure around the Emerald Isle, you can hire a campervan in Ireland with Bunk Campers from only £45/day this winter. Use our online booking engine or email us for more information and booking![/text_box]

Kate Siobhan, Travel Journalist & Photographer

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