We drove south from Cork to Baltimore Beacon. From there we continued to Mizen Head. On the way, we stopped at Altar. We got a bit odd lunch at the Mizen Head visitor center, melted tuna with crisps!
Morning walk in CobhBaltimore BeaconThe lighthouse at Sherkin Island across the straitSailing boat passing Baltimore Beacon Altar Wedge TombChrystal clear waterMelted tuna with crisps… A bit odd by swedish standards
The scenery was stunning with the high cliffs and the Atlantic ocean. Well worth a visit plus you get a bit of exercise in the process.
Mizen HeadHeather
On the route towards the hotel in Killarney we past the highest situated pub in Ireland. We didn’t stop there, which we probably should have done. Given that we’ve previously have been at Tan Hill Inn, which is the highest situated pub in England. The road was narrow and in a poor state to say the least with grass growing in the middle.
You don’t want to meet a white van up here!Some nice scenery thoughThe route across the pass
After checking in at the hotel, we took a walk to the city center. The where a lot of people but after a few attempts we found a restaurant.
The day started with more rain in Dublin. After breakfast, we first drove to a petrol station to top up the other car in our little group of two. Having had enough of Dublin traffic yesterday, we decided to use the ring road around Dublin. Despite being a toll road, it was worth every cent. One just have to remember to login online and pay the toll within 24 hours.
We had picked a couple of places to visit on the way south. First out was Wicklow Mountains National Park with Sally gap and Wicklow gap. Plus, there is a visitor center near Wicklow gap where you can walk along two lakes. We had a lovely lunch there as well.
The next stop was the Vee pass in Tipperary. By then the sun hade come back and the soft top went down.We arrived to the hotel near Cork at 19:00. We drove 339 km today on some really nice roads. Mixed with some highways as well.
It rained when we left DublinIt rained when we drove into Wicklow Mountains National Park Lough tay Warning signIt was very foggy at Wicklow Gap in the morning hoursUpper lakeCottage pieView at Wicklow gap later today
The clouds blowing through the passWicklow pass
The road up towards the Vee passView from the Vee passSteep road in CobhThe Commodore hotelThe beach walk in CobhWe had a lovely dinner at the QuaysScallopsRavioli Local brew, Murphy’sWe drove 339 km today
We finally arrived to Ireland around lunch time today. It was smooth sailing from Holyhead with not much traffic on Anglesey. Once in Dublin, we drove to the hotel in order to drop the bags. Despite telling the GPS app to avoid toll roads, it led us to a tunnel through the city with a toll. It’s always a challenge to pay when driving a sports cars. Since the machines are made for much higher vehicles. And when you are in a country with left hand drive, it adds to the complexity. Either the passenger will have to try to operate the machine. Or the driver has to get out of the car and run to the other side, pay, and get back in.
The bridge to AngelseyVery little traffic on the way to HolyheadWaiting in the harbourHolyhead harbourBreakfast on the boatA guardian angel on the boatDublin harbourToll road in Dublin
The plan was then to drive back into Dublin for some sightseeing. But the hotel rooms were almost ready. So, we had some cappuccino while waiting. The hotel is nicely situated next to the beach. It was a bit too windy today for a swim. The hotel rooms seems to be newly renovated and the staff is very friendly. So thumbs up for White Sands Hotel.
White Sands hotelReally good cappuccino at hotelHotel roomThe beach next to the hotel
Once we got the rooms, we drove into the city center of Dublin. This was as tiring as expected. Sports cars and city traffic isn’t a great combination. We managed to get into a parking garage without scratching any rims or break any front spoilers. We had lunch at the Bull & Castle. A nice enough restaurant near the castle.
Traffic was very slow at the bestA really good Caesar sallad at the Bull & Castle
Although the weather was better than the forecast, there was still a light drizzle. We walked around parts of the city center. But most sights closed at 17:00. So, we only looked from the outside at the castle and S:t Patricks cathedral. The traffic was an absolute nightmare in the evening.
Dublin castleDublin castleStatue of FortitudeStatue of JusticeS:t Patricks cathedral at a funny angle Mr Guiness himselfSpanish DaggerRiver Liffey
Once we got back to the hotel, we found out that there was some sort of football event going on and the pub was full of people watching on the screens. This was not an option for us. So, we went for a walk only to realize that the nearby restaurants all closed at 21:00 during the week. We end a rather miserable day with tea and some candies at the hotel room. Let’s hope that tomorrow will be better.
Day 3 was a stark contrast to the day before. We woke up in a sunny Harwich. We had a first breakfast on the boat and a second one at Costa while planning the more exact route. We can report that the tarmac on the road out of Harwich has been redone. Huge improvement compared to the previous off-road track we’ve seen there before. We set out to drive across England and into Wales and the village of Bala. There we planned to have lunch. After that, we took aim at Snowdonia national park. The drive went well with not to much traffic.
We first visited Wales back in 2019. That’s when we started to write this blog. We were amazed by Snowdonia already then. And the area delivered some stunning views and roads this time as well. In total, we drove 507 km today. All of which with the soft top folded.
Tonight we are staying at a combined pub and hotel. Black Boy Inn in Caernafon. The hotel is situated inside the city walls.
Early morning in Harwich A beautiful sailing boat in the harbour Second breakfast at Costa in Harwich. A good alternative to the breakfast on the boat60 mph/97 km/h road in England…Less traffic compared to yesterday
B4391 between Penybontfawr and LlangynogRoad B4391 is worth a detourB4391ThistleOld school house in BalaLunch at Y Cyfnod in Bala, the food was better that the serviceThe local petrol station in Bala, on the High streetSnowdoniaOn the road down to CaernarfonWelcome to CaernarfonThe hotelNice hotel room on the top floor Everything except the pubs were closed when we arrived We only got to see the castle from the outside Local wildlife Nice ironworkLow tideBeach walkVictoria dock, the local harbourDinner at Angleseye arms, a dry piece of swordfishToday’s drive, 507 kmWe took the route across Snowdonia instead of driving around the national park. Well worth the extra time
The longest day, 903 km and almost 12 hours on the road. One stop for lunch and a couple to refill the tank. We planned the transfer through Germany on a Sunday to get less traffic. Very few lorries on the roads on Sundays in Germany. But, there were still a lot of road works and queues. The Hamburg area is notorious for queues. We took a little de-tour outside Bad Schwartau to avoid one of the road works. This took us through some pretty little villages.
Öresundsbron, between Malmö and Copenhagen Farø bridgeCar däck on the ferry between Rødby and Puttgarden The sun was shining in RødbyHeiligenhafenThe road from Puttgarden, lots of road works for the tunnel that is under constructionFound a nice country road outside Bad SchwartauCurry wurst as lunchStauThe rain was pouring down in Hoek van HollandA very long corridor on the boatAperol Spritz in the Riva barToday’s driving through Sweden, Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands
First day of our trip to Ireland. This time we are three people in two cars. Us in our Mazda MX-5 and one friend in his Lotus Elise. Today we covered most of the transfer through Sweden, from Stockholm to Lund. In all 638 km, about of which half of it on highways. It’s been raining a lot, so the softtop stayed up all day. This year we’ve added a luggage rack and an extra bag. We’ve also fitted some other wheels on the car. With tires that cope better with rain.
The extra bag fitted on the luggage rack and ready to go
Near Norrköping we found another Mazda Miata. It kept us company for a while.
Another Miata on the roadKroatorpet in Huskvarna
We met with our travel companion just north of Huskvarna. We stopped there for a light lunch. Due to the weather We ate the lunch inside. But it’s a pretty little wooden house that has been converted to a coffe shop and restaurant.
Easy to spot a yellow Elise
Rain was the theme of the first dayWe stay over night at a cheap but surprisingly good motel in Lund
After checking in at the motel and washing the cars. We went for a walk in the city center.
Newly washed carsEmpty streets in the Summer. All students are away Statue at BantorgetRed roseHollyhockPlaque of an old monastryGnocchetti all’arrabbiata at GattostrettoToday’s drive from Stockholm to Lund
The planning for 2024 has been in the making since the Autumn. Hotels and ferries were booked between Christmas and New Year. On July 6th we’ll head off towards Ireland and Isle of Man. This year it’s us in the MX-5 and our friend in a Lotus Elise.
AI interpretation of our car along the Atlantic road…
We plan to drive approx 5,886 km during 18 days. Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Netherlands, UK, Ireland and Isle of Man. Stay tuned and there will be daily updates when we get going (subject to internet access).
Europe by car 