We booked a campervan. We booked a ferry. That was it. No itinerary, no reservations, no spreadsheet (for once). Just a week, a van, and the vague idea of chasing surf somewhere along Ireland’s west coast.

At Quirky Campers, we’ve made a pact to do one unplanned adventure a year. No overthinking, no endless lists. Just pure, spontaneous exploration. This time, it was my turn and Ireland was calling.

By sharing what we got up to (and what we learned the hard way), I hope to encourage a bit of unplanned magic in your own adventures. And if you prefer a touch more structure than we did, this itinerary should give you a solid idea of how to make the most of your own Irish road trip.

What does “unplanned” really mean?

For sure, this term is open to interpretation, but for me it means just booking the bare bones, and keeping yourself flexible, but also being clear on what your trip priorities are. 

For this trip, our only real priorities were simple: be near the coast, find surf, and keep things open. I’d heard amazing things about the Irish west coast… the Wild Atlantic Way, friendly towns, and incredible scenery, so that was my rough compass point.

The essentials were booked: our campervan, the beautiful Pumbaa, and a return ferry crossing from Holyhead to Dublin. With the dog coming along for the ride, we went with Irish Ferries, which turned out to be a great choice. They had onboard kennels and a huge pet-friendly indoor area as well as deck space so our dog, Bezza, could stretch his legs mid-journey. It was an easy, well-run process although bringing a dog to Ireland does have a few logistical quirks (I’ll share those in a separate post soon).

Why go unplanned?

I’ve always loved the freedom of flexible travel (years of being a keen bike packer will do that to you). But campervan life takes it to another level. Here are the main things I loved about it:

1. That feeling of independence: There’s something addictive about waking up somewhere new and entirely your choice, whether that’s a clifftop car park, a forest edge, or beside a sleepy harbour. You’re the pilot, the navigator, and the Airbnb manager all at once.
2. Time saved: Planning a holiday can sometimes feel like a second job. I love staring at a good spreadsheet as much as the next marketer, but I didn’t fancy one for my holiday. Hitting the road with only a loose direction felt incredibly freeing.
3. Chasing the weather: Our “plans” were shaped almost entirely by the forecast. When we saw Storm Amy was due to hit at the end of the week, we had to make a few adjustments, racing west to make the most of the low winds (and surf) while we could. Having that flexibility meant we were always in the right place at the right time.

Get more tips for unplanned travel in our guide here

Things I wish I’d thought about

Honestly, not much went wrong but a few learnings are worth passing on.

1. Local rules matter: We beelined straight from Dublin to Sligo for surf, only to discover that you can’t actually hire a board and surf solo there because of the strong currents. You have to go with an instructor. Initially a bit of a blow but it turned into one of the highlights of the trip. Seamus from Sligo Surf Experience soon became worth his weight in gold as he pointed out all the bad surfing habits I had picked up over the years. 

2. The booking balance: We travelled in shoulder season, so nothing was full. But in peak summer, I’d definitely consider pre-booking one or two nights if there’s a “must-do” on your list. On the flip side, some spots (including campervan sites) close for winter, so having an off-grid van really helped if we turned up to any closed gates. 

3. The perfect storm: With the forecast showing Storm Amy rolling in, I got quite excited about the idea of hunkering down one evening, setting up the projector (to watch The Perfect Storm, literally) and getting cosy whilst listening to the soothing sounds of the wind and rain. In reality, the rain lashing against the metal exterior of the van in 60mph winds is actually very, VERY loud (shocker, I know) and therefore we ended up having to drive the van down the road in the middle of the night to a more sheltered spot. It was very easy to do but to all those who love a good storm… maybe don’t park on a completely exposed vista unless you are prepared to lose sleep.

The van that made it all possible

Our home for the week, Pumbaa, was everything we needed and more. Completely off-grid, with solar panels, WiFi, a bathroom and shower, and a proper kitchen… she gave us total freedom to wander without worrying about hookups or campsites.

Of course, being pet friendly was a major consideration too and there was plenty of space between the driver and passenger seat for ‘Bezza the dog’ to ride up front with us. 

Storage was surprisingly generous even after overpacking (classic mistake). A few unexpected features ended up being total game-changers:

• The folding dining table: sturdy, flexible, and perfect for working or eating from any angle.
  
• The MaxxFan: blissfully quiet but brilliant at keeping the temperature just right and the van ventilated.
  
• An automatic bathroom bin: yes, seriously. A wave of the hand and it opens. It’s the small things that count.
  
• A huge kitchen sink: bigger than the one at home, and so handy for washing up properly.

See more off-grid campervans for hire

My toolkit/apps for spontaneous travel

Unplanned doesn’t mean unprepared… just lightly equipped. A few things made life much smoother:

• Park4Night and BritStops: both great for finding overnight spots. In general, Ireland felt super welcoming to campervans, especially in the quieter months.
  
• Offline Google Maps: download your area before you go. If you lose signal in remote places this saves the stress.
  
• A dashboard phone mount: a small but mighty hack. Having both my phone and my partner’s connected meant one of us could navigate, while the other cued up new destinations or playlists without interrupting the maps.
  

The 7-day Unplanned Irish Road Trip Itinerary

Day 0 – New Market to Holyhead Ferry Terminal

This is not technically part of the Ireland itinerary but I thought it was worth including. We picked up the beautiful Pumbaa in Newmarket at the owner’s house on Thursday morning but our ferry from Holyhead wasn’t until Friday morning. This gave us loads of time to enjoy the drive up to North Wales and time to stop at the beach when we got to Anglesey. 

Distance Driven: 474km

Visit: Newborough National Nature Reserve and Forest, Angelsey. A beautiful beach and a swim with a view of Snowdonia. A great way to stretch out after a long drive which only adds on about 30 mins of driving time. 

Eat: Chanthi’s Thai To Go, Holyhead. Perfect spot to grab some authentic Thai flavours before embracing Irish flavours for a week. We grabbed a takeaway whilst parked overnight close to the ferry terminal. 

Stay: There are loads of great park spots for campervans close to the ferry terminal. Check out Park4Night Location #316906 was nice and secluded although not ideal for a long wheelbase vehicle. (Postcode: LL65 1YG)

Day 1 – Dublin

Despite the west coast being our priority, we couldn’t resist staying in Dublin for Friday night.

Distance Driven: 2km 

Eat: Doom Slice pizza restaurant and bar. Outrageous thick slice Chicago-style pizza which you can either enjoy from the side hatch in a lively alleyway or inside with a pint of Guinness. We actually did both but beware, the inside turns into a dance floor at night. 

Eat again: Fish Shop fish and chip wine bar. Who doesn’t want to enjoy a selection of sparkling wines from very knowledgeable staff whilst enjoying battered fish and chips..? Make sure you order a dozen oysters to start.

Stay: Being a large city, there are a variety of different park spots with varying reviews. As it was the weekend we found a great location in the business district in the East. We got a park spot right next to the river which was free all weekend and super quiet. You could easily walk into the city centre in approx 20 mins or grab an electric bicycle rental. Location #430953 on Park4Night (Postcode: D02 NP08). There was also a great coffee shop nearby called Surge Coffee

Day 2 – Dublin to Strandhill, Sligo

Heading to the West Coast in search of surf.

Distance Driven: 215km

Visit: Surf Experience Sligo – there are a few surf schools in Strandhill but we highly recommend Seamus from this company. He was super accommodating despite us turning up after the lesson should have gone out. NOTE: Sligo has some notoriously dangerous currents so you are unable to rent a surfboard and surf solo. Instead you have to book a lesson and go out with an instructor.

Eat: Shells Cafe for some needed post-surf coffee and pastries

Stay: Either..

1. Strandhill Caravan Park – we would have stayed here but it had just closed for the season (last weekend of October). You need to pre-book
2. Behind the Casino… It sounds dodgy but there is a tiny casino which offers secure parking right next to the beach for €10. There are also electrical hook ups so you can charge up for an extra €5. The staff at the casino were super helpful. There is a barrier so park up at the main beach car park and head into the casino to enquire. 

Day 3 – Strandhill to Ennistymon and Lahinch

The surf went from 3ft to 10ft overnight so we drove south to find more gentle waves in Lahinch. The beautiful country market town of Ennistymon is located just inland from Lahinch and has loads of great, cafes, pubs and restaurants. The River Inagh, with its small rapids known as the Cascades, runs through the town, behind the main street and is well worth a quick look.

Distance Driven: 221km

Visit: The Green Room Surf School, Lahinch. Affordable surfboard hire from the nicest man ever as well as some great advice on the different breaks in the area. 

Drink: Guinness at Cooley’s House, Ennistymon – very traditional Irish pub and apparently voted one of the 20 best in Ireland. The type of place where you feel at home instantly. 

Stay: Car Park at 1 Monastery Lane (#609149 on Park4Night). A new car park with loads of space and a stone’s throw from plenty of great pubs/cafes. We managed to get a space in the corner so we could unload the surfboard from the van and tuck them away out of sight overnight.

Day 4 – Spanish Point, surfing and sauna

Despite the weather getting increasingly wet, Spanish Point was sheltered enough to still provide surf for very average surfers meaning we stayed local for another day. And after embracing the wild atlantic waters for many hours, the joy of an unplanned adventure really shone through when we stumbled across a beautiful, quiet beach side car park with a doorstep sauna!

Distance Driven: 13km

Visit: Cois Farriage Sauna, White Strand Beach. Brand new (still no google reviews at the time of writing this) 8-person sauna on the water’s edge. Only €10 per person for one hour. Multiple sea swims are recommended to get the hot/cold therapy endorphin rush. 

Eat: Anything cooked in the van whilst enjoying the beach views

Stay: Breaffa South Car Park, White Strand Beach (#576545 on Park4Night). Great overnight spot during the off-season. Next to the sauna and a campsite if you need electrical hook up. Loads of friendly swimmers in the morning. Note; there is only space for one large vehicle (over 6m) otherwise you may be blocking parking for others. 

Day 5 – Spanish Point to Killarney, enjoying the sights of the Wild Atlantic Way

With Storm Amy rolling in, we handed in our surfboards and tentatively drove South to experience what Kerry had to offer. Google Maps does everything it can to take you off the Wild Atlantic Way and make you drive inland but aim for Killimer if you would prefer the more direct route by ferry (€25).

Distance Driven: 145km

Visit: Torc Waterfall and Killarney National Park – incredible scenery and well worth walking one of the many signposted loops that start from the waterfall.

Day 6 – Ring of Kerry

The beautiful scenery from Killarney didn’t stop as we continued on the Wild Atlantic Way anti-clockwise around the ring of Kerry. The whole drive is set up very well for campervans with plenty of cute towns to stop in. Bear in mind that this also attracts lots of tour buses and this was the first point of the trip where we started to feel like tourists. 

Distance Driven: 180km

Visit: Derrynane Seashore Nature Trail. Stunning beaches with incredible views. There are loads of great trails which vary in difficulty. Highly recommend taking the coastal trail towards Bealtra for those that are more adventurous. Derrynane Abbey is a must! Easily slots into the position of my favourite graveyard… everyone needs one.

Stay: Out the front of Caitlins Pub & Accommodation (but not in a storm). This is listed on Britstops but the owners don’t seem to know it. Beautiful panoramic views of the Atlantic with plenty of space to park. Caitlins does great food and had a roaring fire to cosy up to. 

Eat: Fish Pie at Caitlins Pub. Homemade and so warming. And served with chips if you like potato with your potato…. Which I do but also the guy on the table next to us had vegetables instead of chips and I did have food envy.

Day 7 – Kerry to Dublin

Time to travel home but… not without experiencing what may be the highlight of the trip… Kells Sheepdogs. A complete surprise to us and the ultimate testament to the greatness of unplanned experiences. We woke up to find buses of tourists heading up a small path next to Caitlins… after strolling over we were told there were live sheep dog demonstrations. These run daily from April-October at 10am, 10:30am, 11am and noon and cost €8 per person. Best €8 spent all trip… I’ll say no more.

Distance Driven: 340km

Total Trip Distance Driven: 2064km / 1283m

A final thought

We went to Ireland expecting great surf, dramatic landscapes, and too much Guinness. We got all that and so much more. Unplanned travel has this funny way of gifting you exactly what you didn’t know you needed. From sauna sessions that came out of nowhere to a random dog show in the hills of Kerry, the best parts were never on any map.

If you’re even half tempted, take it from me: book the van, book the ferry, and let the rest unfold. Ireland will do the rest.

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