Climb aboard your campervan and head just over an hour’s drive south of Dublin, and you’ll find yourself surrounded by the glorious Wicklow Mountains, the largest upland area in Ireland and a protected national park.

There are over 20,000 hectares of rolling landscape to explore here, so lace up your walking boots and get ready for a mountain-based adventure!

There are plenty of walking routes within the national park to suit all abilities, and a number of peaks to be climbed too.

For a challenging climb, tackle Lugnaquilla, the largest mountain in the national park, or if you’ve knocked back one too many Guinnesses in the capital, you might want to take it easy and blow the cobwebs away at Powerscourt Waterfall, the country’s highest waterfall.

The Irish road trip continues to the Comeragh mountains, home to one of the finest examples of a corrie lake in Europe: Coumshingaun Lake. Of the nine lakes in the Comeragh mountains, Coumshingaun has to be the most spectacular.

To get here, your Dublin route takes you through the medieval town of Kilkenny, which is well worth a lunch stop if you have the time. Kinsale and Cork are two other noteworthy towns along the way.

Getting to Coumshingaun Lake is challenging in itself, but it’s worth the trek. The circular walk starts from Kilclooney Woods and takes about four hours in total — make sure you wear comfortable walking boots and layer up in case the weather changes drastically mid-walk.

Once at the lake, you’ll be greeted by glorious mountain views and a shimmering body of water worth jumping in. We’d only recommend taking a dip in the height of summer, or you might be a bit cold on the trek back to the campervan.

Next on this Ireland road trip is the Ring of Kerry. This 179-km-long (~111 miles) circular route forms part of the Wild Atlantic Way and can be driven in around 3.5 hours non-stop. Of course, you’ll be stopping — there’s loads to stop for, including a national park and three remote islands!

This route is popular with outdoor enthusiasts and nature lovers alike, thanks to the abundance of wildlife and outdoor activities on offer.

Start the route in Killarney National Park, home to numerous walking trails, Ross Castle and the shimmering Lough Leane. Other Ring of Kerry highlights include Rossbeigh Beach (yes, a soft-sand beach — in Ireland), the Gap of Dunloe and Torc Waterfall.

Head to the western end of the Ring of Kerry and you’ll find Portmagee. From here, catch a ferry to Skellig Island, an uninhabited rocky islet (and a Star Wars filming location) that’s home to puffins, a Christian monastery and ancient stone huts.

Onwards and upwards on your Ireland road trip as you drive north through Limerick to reach the mighty Cliffs of Moher. These outstanding sea cliffs are designated a UNESCO Global Geopark (a rare accolade), stretch along 14 km of pristine coastline and are home to several migratory seabirds.

If you’re after an overly dramatic view, then look no further. The cliffs can be seen from three distinct viewing platforms, each of which offers a different perspective of this mighty rock formation, but it is O’Brien’s Tower that provides the most impressive lookout of all.

Once you’ve finished exploring the cliffs, why not check out some of the best waves in the country while you’re there? We suggest taking surf lessons at Lahinch Surf School, just minutes’ drive from the Cliffs of Moher. Next, you could always extend your Ireland road trip by heading further north to Galway, a colourful harbour town and the cultural heart of Ireland (get your fiddles at the ready).