Touring the Emerald Isle: camper van-ing in Ireland

/ Rae Cod

Hello lovely people, I hope you’re well in this fine new month of June. The hubby and I have just returned from a camper van trip around Ireland, so I thought I’d entertain this week with a holiday video.

We travelled the Wild Atlantic Way on the West coast of Southern Ireland, starting on the stunning Achill island and working our way down through Connemara, County Clare, the Dingle Peninsula and County Kerry.

This video was produced without too much consumption of Guinness (despite appearances)

This was our first camper van trip without the children, so it had a bit of a different feel. There was much more space in the van for one thing! We tried a sauna on the beach (then ran into the sea 🥶), climbed a mountain without a designated path, ate at some top quality restaurants and enjoyed many periods of silence. But we also spent much of our time talking about how much the kids would love it, and planning what we’d do when we take them next time.

You’ll get the gist of our amazing time from the video, but here’s a few observations I wanted to add:

  • Walking on heather and moss is like walking on a thick pile carpet, so much so that it got me wondering, is carpet actually our attempt to mimic the feel of the great outdoors under our feet?
  • Whilst whiskey in the jar is one of my favourite songs, whiskey in a glass is sadly not for me. Though it is fun to gesticulate whilst pontificating with a glass of whiskey in hand (& I suspect this is what it’s actually for, that or industrial cleaning).
  • Guinness tastes like coffee and chocolate and is so rich that a couple of sips is more than enough for some but not nearly enough for others.
  • When Galway Girl plays while you’re driving through Galway, you know you should stop in Galway (best night of the holiday).
  • Irish people are wonderful.
  • Seafood in Ireland leads to zero disappointment and much contentment.
  • A stand out magic moment was when I climbed out of the van to find a robin on our doorstep. I bent down to chat to it and we stayed that way for a good few minutes, this little bird filling me with awe and joy and me offering my thanks.
  • If faeries live anywhere, it’s definitely here.

Have you ever been to Ireland? What’s the most magical place you’ve ever visited?

9 thoughts on “Touring the Emerald Isle: camper van-ing in Ireland”

  1. Oh my goodness, Rae, you’ve raised the blogger bar SO HIGH with that music video!! It’s fantastic! Who’s the music by? So much fun to see all the lovely pics of you and hubby and the stunning scenery! You make camper-van life look pretty dang idyllic. YES to rich coffee and chocolate Guinness!! Faeries live there FOR SURE.( Haha in Ireland, not in Guinness … but maybe there’s a connection.🤣) I’ve only been to Dublin and that was great fun but I need to go back and see the emeralds. I was THRILLED to see this account of your magical Ireland trip roll in and it certainly didn’t disappoint!

    Most magical place I’ve ever been? That’s hard because I actively seek and find magic wherever I go but what jumped out in my memory was Aberfeldy, Scotland and the rose-covered cottage we stayed in, walking in the Birks and hiking in the highlands. Great question, thanks for asking, AND SHARING!

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    • Oh yes I should have put music credits…the song is Dreams Come True by Brandon Flowers (this trip was a dream come true as it was on my birthday bucket list).

      I do a love a real life music video, it always makes life look pretty amazing, though in this case it was on the nose….also I reckon there has to be a Guinness faerie 🧚 surely?!

      We had to skip Dublin as there was too much to see but will definitely visit when we go back.

      Aberfeldy and a rose covered cottage sounds pretty magical, but I love that you keep the magic with you wherever you go Melanie ☺️

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  2. Rae, your video is so much fun to watch! I especially loved seeing all of your great facial expressions. And the music goes with it perfectly! It sounds like you had a wonderful time. I’ve never been to Ireland, but you’ve sold me on it, and I want to go!

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    • Yay, glad it brought some smiles ☺️ I can definitely recommend Ireland Michelle, you’d love it, lots of inspiration for your wonderful creativity. Just pack for all weathers!

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  3. Your trip sounds delightful. I’m not a fan of Guinness, which I call liquid bread dough, but if’n it made you happy then I’m all for it. I was Ireland for a few days when I was a college student. I was on my way from the US to England to study for a term. The Irish people were friendly and what little I saw of the country charmed me.

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