Campervan hire in Ireland

Ireland by campervan: between raw nature and mythical coasts

With WeVan, your campervan hire for Ireland begins in France: cross the Channel by ferry and set off with peace of mind. Around fifteen hours by ferry separate France from the Emerald Isle. From Cherbourg or Roscoff, board at night and wake up at dawn on the Irish coast, rested and ready to hit the road. Passport in hand, set your wheels onto Celtic soil, in Rosslare or Cork. Two gateways, two atmospheres.

First kilometres in your hired campervan: wild nature and urban culture

On the south of the east coast, Rosslare offers a gentle introduction. Nothing ostentatious, just the simplicity of a small ferry terminal emerging from the morning mist. The wild coastline lies close by, hidden behind this discreet entry point. Just a few kilometres are enough to reach the deserted beaches of County Wexford or venture into the Wicklow Hills.

In Cork, it’s a grand entrance. Cranes move across the port, and colourful houses look down at you from above. More urban, more vibrant, it’s an excellent introduction to Ireland. A rising star of Irish gastronomy, the city is also an unmissable cultural stop. After parking your campervan and exploring its art galleries, museums and hipster cafés, hit the road towards the Wild Atlantic Way, starting in Kinsale.

From the Wild Atlantic Way to Northern Ireland: a journey on a grand scale

An essential stage of any campervan itinerary in Ireland, this legendary route stretches for 2,500 km along the west coast. Enjoy the unlimited mileage to explore freely, depending on your mood, the weather and the scenery. It’s wild, it’s majestic. Here are the iconic stops along this legendary route:

• The Connemara, with misty lakes and peat-covered hills
• Achill Island, wild and captivating
• Killary Fjord, Ireland’s only fjord
• Glenveagh National Park, in the heart of Donegal
• The monumental Cliffs of Moher
• The vertiginous and panoramic Sky Road
• The Ring of Kerry and the Beara Peninsula, between sea and mountains

Whether the sun shines or the wind lashes the coast, travelling Ireland by campervan along this route means living every instant intensely. These powerful landscapes leave no one indifferent, on lands that have inspired poets, contemporary filmmakers and musicians.

At the end of the Wild Atlantic Way, a new adventure begins. Welcome to Northern Ireland, along the Causeway Coastal Route, another geological wonder. From Derry-Londonderry to Belfast, drive your campervan hire in Ireland past spectacular cliffs, epic castles and sea paths.

A land of hiking par excellence, the country is also a fantastic playground for surfers. Thanks to your campervan hire, you can easily slip your boards in the back. Our favourite spots to challenge the waves?

• The Peak in Bundoran or Mullaghmore, for experienced surfers
• Streedagh Strand and Strandhill, more accessible for beginners

A wetsuit is practically essential, with maximum summer temperatures around 17°C.

Inland, the pace is calmer, more ancient. It’s the sort of destination that makes you feel grounded. You’ll cross vast peaceful lakes, abbeys and castles shaped by time, welcoming villages. And then, at a bend in the road, the legends awaken. In County Tipperary, the Rock of Cashel stands guard atop its rocky outcrop. Around the Irish lakes (pronounced “lough”), hop from a waterfall to a forest, from fishing to kayaking, from castle visits to nights under the stars.

Irish vanlife: a slow, free and emotional journey

Hiring a campervan in Ireland also means embracing slowness. Time doesn’t matter — encounters and sensations take priority. Let yourself be guided by sounds and scents. A folk guitar melting the hearts of a pub’s patrons, the aroma of colcannon (mashed potatoes and cabbage), the foam of a Guinness signalling the end of the day, or the bleating of hundreds of sheep invading your bit of road… every moment is precious for its sincerity.

Your campervan road trip in Ireland escapes rules and pre-set itineraries. It grows with your encounters, the roads, your impulses. Thanks to WeVan’s unlimited-mileage campervan hire, live Ireland fully, from the first to the last kilometre. It’s absolute freedom, pure happiness.