GuardTrailsIreland · July
Off the beaten track
The Wild & Offbeat Atlantic
Less-visited places, with one or two classics all the same.
An original, demanding-paced journey to the lesser-known corners of the west coast, including the remote Inishbofin Island, the literary heritage of Gort, and the dramatic Loop Head.
- days10
- bases6
- stages7
- nights9
- transfer days5
- stage to stage1,009 km
- at the wheel, day by day15 h 25
Who this itinerary is for
This itinerary suits a traveller looking for: a trip in July, getting around by car, sleeping in hotels, a day hike, days of walking, kayak or canoe, a village stroll, a town walk (2 h), easy cycling, via ferrata, wildlife watching, a museum or cultural visit and a park or garden.
The area
the remote cliffs of Loop Head, the literary heritage of Gort, and the peaceful shores of Inishbofin Island
The map
Loading the map…
The days at a glance
One line per day: where you sleep, what the day is, the road, and how its time is split.
| Day | Evening base | The day | Road | Time of the day |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day1 | Evening base : Shannon | ArrivalShannon, arrival | Road 10 min | |
| Day2 | Evening base : Kilkee | TransferLoop Head Peninsula & Kilkee | Road 1 h 32 | |
| Day3 | Evening base : Kilkee | Day on siteLoop Head Peninsula & Kilkee | — | |
| Day4 | Evening base : Inishbofin | TransferInishbofin Island | Road 3 h 35 | |
| Day5 | Evening base : Inishbofin | Day on siteInishbofin Island | — | |
| Day6 | Evening base : Gort | TransferCoole Park & Yeats Heritage | Road 1 h 56 | |
| Day7 | Evening base : Dunquin | TransferGreat Blasket Island | Road 3 h 10 | |
| Day8 | Evening base : Portmagee | TransferValentia Island & Portmagee | Road 2 h 02 | |
| Day9 | Evening base : Portmagee | Day on siteValentia Island & Portmagee | — | |
| Day10 | — | DepartureShannon, departure | Road 3 h |
- programme
- road
- free time
12.0 h usable every day
Good to know
What it leaves aside
This itinerary focuses on secluded islands and quiet peninsulas.
Places it did not keep
Ring of Kerry · Connemara National Park
Getting there
Fly to Shannon Airport (SNN), 10 min by road from the start.
Where you sleep
The region offers a wide variety of accommodations including hotels, guesthouses, bed and breakfasts, and campsites, but booking well in advance is essential during the peak summer season.
Safety
Ireland: no warning from the UK authorities (FCDO). Advice of 2026-09-04 · Official advice
Check before booking and before taking out insurance: the advice may have changed since.
Why this version, the cost in detail and the sources are on the method page. Read the method →
When, and for how long
How long?
- You ask for
- 10days
- The area needs, at least
- 8days
- Days kept
- 10days
Travelling in July.
The climate — July
- Daily high, 1 day in 4 is hotter
- 19 °C
- Daily high, 1 day in 20 is hotter
- 23 °C
- Unfavourable day
- 7%
- Windy day
- 11%
Rain, wind and temperature are measured over the 8 h in the middle of the day, on a historical baseline of 55 observations (Open-Meteo). It is a measuring window, not the length of your day: each day of the programme counts 12 h of usable time.
The itinerary, day by day
7 stages over 10 days, in the order of the days. A stage appears on the day you first reach it: you sleep several nights at some, and a day trip leaves from your base and brings you back to it. Each day has its own page.
Every day of this trip has 12 h of usable time. Room to breathe — we have not padded these days to fill them: the free time left is part of the trip.
- Day 1ARRIVALShannon, arrival · night in Shannon4 h planned · 10 min on the roadSee the day →
Stage 2 · Kilkee
Loop Head Peninsula & Kilkee
We sleep in Fodry, 3.6 km from the place visited
2 nights · climate favourable
- Day 2Loop Head Peninsula & Kilkee · night in Kilkee6 h 30 planned · 1 h 32 on the roadSee the day →
- Day 3AT BASELoop Head Peninsula & Kilkee · night in Kilkee8 h plannedSee the day →
Stage 3 · Inishbofin
Inishbofin Island
We sleep at Doonmore Hotel, 100 m away
2 nights · climate favourable
- Day 4TRANSFERInishbofin Island · night in Inishbofin4 h 30 planned · 3 h 35 on the roadSee the day →
- Day 5AT BASEInishbofin Island · night in Inishbofin8 h plannedSee the day →
Stage 4 · Gort
Coole Park & Yeats Heritage
We sleep in Gort, 3.1 km from the place visited
1 night · climate favourable
- Day 6Coole Park & Yeats Heritage · night in Gort5 h planned · 1 h 56 on the roadSee the day →
Stage 5 · Dunquin
Great Blasket Island
We sleep in Dunquin, 7.6 km from the place visited
1 night · climate favourable
- Day 7TRANSFERGreat Blasket Island · night in Dunquin4 h 30 planned · 3 h 10 on the roadSee the day →
Stage 6 · Portmagee
Valentia Island & Portmagee
We sleep in Portmagee, 4.4 km from the place visited
2 nights · climate favourable
- Day 8Valentia Island & Portmagee · night in Portmagee5 h 30 planned · 2 h 02 on the roadSee the day →
- Day 9AT BASEValentia Island & Portmagee · night in Portmagee8 h plannedSee the day →
- Day 10DEPARTUREShannon, departure · end of the trip2 h planned · 3 h on the roadSee the day →
What it costs, roughly
€1,176 to €2,114 per person
€118 to €211 per day
Based on: 2 people.
The cost estimate and the availability of accommodation, transport and activities are as of 28 October 2026: prices and availability change over time.
Where the money goes, and how this figure is obtained →To check
3 points to look at before booking.
D4Ferry with limited departures: check the timetable and book — Cleggan → Inishbofin
ferry with limited departures — the timetable is not checked here: look it up before booking
D7Check opening times and crowds for this season — Great Blasket Island
Ferry cancellations to Great Blasket Island due to rough seas
D5Check opening times and crowds for this season — Inishbofin Island
Ferry cancellations to Inishbofin Island due to high winds
The method
Why this version, what sets it apart from the others, the cost in detail, the interest of the places, the automatic review and the sources.
Read the method →