Ireland Campervan Road Trip Planning

Our first big adventure in our VW T5 campervan is finally happening — and it feels a little unreal writing this.

This summer (August 2026), we’re packing up our van, grabbing Trevor (our much-loved dog), and heading to Ireland — a country that’s deeply rooted in both of us. Claire is half Irish, and so is Laurence, so this trip feels less like a holiday and more like a homecoming.

We’ve both been to Ireland before (many years ago!), but never like this. Never with a campervan. Never with the freedom to wake up by the sea, chase the weather, and let the road decide where we go next.

And honestly? This has been a dream for years.

Why This Trip Means So Much to Us

This trip isn’t just about ticking places off a map.

Laurence proposed to Claire at Botany Bay in Kent on New Years Day 2026 — one of the most beautiful stretches of coastline between Margate and Broadstairs. When the tide is right, you can walk all the way between them along the chalk cliffs (just don’t get caught out by the tide — it’s about 3–4 hours one way!).

The engagement ring itself is an emerald — a little nod to the Emerald Isle that runs through both of our veins. So planning a campervan road trip across Ireland together feels like the perfect next chapter.

We’ve been saving for a long time to make this happen, and now that we finally have our VW T5, it’s time to turn the dream into a real route on a map.

Why We’re Sharing This From the Start

We’re new to van life. We’re not pretending to be experts — and that’s exactly why we’re documenting this journey from the very beginning.

From planning ferries and budgets to figuring out where to sleep, where to drive, and how to travel with a dog, we want to show what it’s actually like when real people try to do this for the first time.

We’ve already been warned by other van lifers: August in Ireland needs planning. Ferries, popular routes and coastal parking fill up fast — especially because we have to travel in school holidays (Claire is a teacher, so we don’t get off-peak prices!).

So February 2026 is when we’ll be booking the ferry, and the planning has officially begun.

How We’re Getting to Ireland (Ferry Options)

From where we live in Margate, our two realistic ferry routes are:

Holyhead → Dublin
Liverpool → Dublin

Here’s what we’re seeing right now for August campervan travel.

UK to Ireland Ferry Options (Campervan + 2 Adults + Dog)

Prices vary massively depending on height, length, dates and pet cabins.

Because we’re in a VW T5, we have to be careful to enter the exact vehicle height and length — even roof racks and pop-tops can push you into a more expensive bracket.

And of course, Trevor needs to be added too — he definitely isn’t missing this adventure.

Visiting Family in Mullingar

We’re lucky to have family in Mullingar, so we’ll be spending our first night or two there once we arrive. Fun fact: Mullingar is also where Claire’s cousin, Niall Horan from One Direction, grew up.

It gives us a gentle start to the trip:

A proper shower
A place to rest after the ferry (after a few pints of Guinness of course!)
Time to let Trevor settle

From there, we’ll be heading west to begin the Wild Atlantic Way.

The Wild Atlantic Way (Our Loose Plan)

We’re planning to start in the north and slowly work our way south, letting the weather and mood guide us rather than sticking to a rigid itinerary.

5 Places we’re excited to see along the Wild Atlantic Way

Slieve League Cliffs (Donegal) – Higher than the Cliffs of Moher and far less crowded
Mullaghmore Head – Epic waves, mountains, and sea all in one view
Keem Bay, Achill Island – One of the most beautiful beaches in Ireland
Cliffs of Moher – Yes, it’s busy, but still iconic
Dingle Peninsula – Beaches, winding roads, and wild Atlantic views everywhere

We’ll be writing a full Wild Atlantic Way guide after the trip — including what’s worth it in August and what you can safely skip.

Bringing Our Dog Trevor to Ireland

Trevor has a Romanian passport, which makes travel in the EU much easier — but there are still things we need to get right.

What We Need for Trevor to Travel on the Ferry

A valid EU Pet Passport
Microchip (linked to the passport)
Rabies vaccination (must be up to date)
Tapeworm treatment (given 24–120 hours before returning to the UK)
Booking Trevor into the pet area or kennel on the ferry
Dog bed, blanket, bowls, lead, poo bags
Calm snacks and water for the crossing

We’ll also be sharing what it’s actually like using ferry pet areas once we’ve done it ourselves, as this will be the first time!

Waterford & Our Family Roots

One place we really want to visit is Waterford — where Laurence’s Irish side of the family grew up before moving to the UK.

For us, this isn’t just sightseeing. It’s connecting with family history and seeing places we’ve heard about our whole lives.

Filming Everything With Our DJI Mini 3 Drone

We’re bringing our brand new DJI Mini 3 drone with us, and honestly, we’re buzzing to use it.

We’ll be creating:

Drone footage of cliffs, beaches and campervan spots
A beginner-friendly guide to flying in Ireland
Tips for flying legally and safely

We know how nerve-racking first flights can be, so we’ll be sharing all the mistakes and lessons too.

This Is Just the Beginning

Right now, we’re still in the early planning phase — ferries, budgets, rough routes and lots of day dreaming.

But we wanted to share this early, because this journey isn’t just about the destination. It’s about the build-up, the excitement, and the reality of making a big campervan dream happen.

We’ll keep updating this page as we book things, and we’ll be launching a full Wild Atlantic Way series once we’re on the road.

This is just the start 🚐💚