• An Irish pub is a welcome pit stop on any car tour.pub irlandais image by cyrille godrie from Fotolia.com
  
  Ireland's emerald valleys, country villages, Celtic sites, historic places and traditional pubs make it an ideal destination for a car tour. A temperate climate means that Ireland is a year-round destination. Although summer days are longer and warmer, prices are lower, and crowds are smaller in the rest of the seasons. Armed with a comprehensive road map, a tour book and a sense of adventure, you can take a car tour for an Irish adventure.
  
  

Killarney and the Ring of Kerry

• A view along the Ring of Kerry.view to ring of kerry, ireland image by amandare from Fotolia.com
  
  Killarney and the Ring of Kerry is the quintessential Irish car tour. Starting in the city of Killarney, a motorway forms a ring around the N70 motorway and ends in Killarney, for an approximate 110-mile drive. A stop in Sneem includes visits to Iron-Age stone forts and walls and Derrynane National Park. The slight detour north on the N71 through Moll's Gap ascends to Ireland's highest mountain, Carrantuohill, with its restaurant and gift shop. Near Killarney are 15th century Muckross Abbey and Muckross House, an Elizabethan-style house museum with art, folk exhibits, landscaped gardens and an adjoining working farm museum.
  
  

Dingle Peninsula

• Dingle Harbour.dingle harbour image by Joe Houghton from Fotolia.com
  
  Near the Ring of Kerry are Dingle Peninsula and Dingle Bay. The R559 makes a circle through the head of the peninsula, starting in the port city of Dingle, an active market, tourism and fishing town and a great place for a break from the car to enjoy its narrow streets by foot. Slea Head, at the very tip, is a starting point for excursions to the tranquil islands off the coast. Even without ever leaving the car, a drive around Dingle will reward travelers with views of the rugged coast and its lush surrounding farmland.
  
  

County Clare

• Outside of Galway Bay.cliffs outside galway, ireland image by Peter Helin from Fotolia.com
  
  County Clare is easily reachable to travelers flying into Shannon Airport. Just a few miles from the airport visitors will find Bunratty Castle and Folk Park. The Norman castle has been restored to give insight into life during the 15th century, and adults and children can enjoyed the costumed interpreters demonstrating traditional crafts and the way of life in castle times. County Clare contains the natural wonders of the stunning Cliffs of Moher and the unusual rocky landscape of the Burren. The fishing village of Kinvarra is a favorite overnight stop along Galway Bay and is home to Dunguaire Castle and to many pubs providing food, ale and live music.
  
  

Dublin and County Wicklow

• Along the river in Dublin.Dublin image by momesso from Fotolia.com
  
  The Irish capital's Georgian streets are filled with museums, galleries, pubs and restaurants. Driving a car in Dublin itself is not recommended, given its scarce parking and excellent public transportation, but the city is a starting or ending point for a car tour through County Wicklow. Heading south along the coast are the picturesque towns of Killeney and Bray. Heading westward, drivers will find themselves in the valley and monastic city of Glendalough, which was home to the hermit St. Kevin. Glendalough's visitor's center offers insight into monastic life.
  
  

Northern Ireland (Ulster)

• A drive along Northern Ireland's northeast Antrim Coast will reward visitors with many places to tour. The Giant's Causeway is one of the most dramatic natural sites in Europe with its thousands of geometric columns and shapes, formed millions of years ago from volcanic lava. Bushmills is home to the world's oldest legal distillery, granted license in 1608. It still produces top-quality whiskey and is open for public tours. The coastline is dotted with picture-perfect villages, and close to Downhill is the Benone Tourist Complex, which boasts dunes and a clean beach.