We are self-driving from Dublin to Waterford in July. Google maps shows taking the M9 to be the best route but I feel like we’ll miss the beautiful coastline! Is taking the M11 a bad idea? Thanks!
Posted by
Colorado Springs
2980 posts
Well, either way it's going to be Motorway, and the motorways don't exactly qualify as "scenic drives" even in Ireland - they're designed to get you to your destination as quickly as possible. You'd have to get off either one to enjoy the rural scenery on the back roads, particularly if you want to see the coastal scenery off of the N11.
For a really pretty drive I'd suggest driving the Old Military Road thru the Sally Gap down to Glendalough - it's one of the prettiest in Ireland on a fine day. After you've finished up at the monastic site you can cut over to the M9 (or maybe the N81) to continue on to Waterford.
The western coastlines are much more dramatic than those on the east coast, so if your Ireland journey will continue out to County Cork or Kerry I'd skip the N11 and save your coastal explorations for the ROK or Slea Head Drive ... or, even better, the spectacular coastline of Connemara west of Galway.
Posted by
OP
Northern California
3 posts
Thanks for the reply. Yes, we will be heading from Waterford to Cork, then Dingle, then Galway. I guess I should get a road atlas and maybe plan to take some backroads.