Ireland Opening Up For Motorhomes And Campervans

Recent years have seen a significant surge in those who are coming around to the many benefits of campervan and motorhome life. Data from the National Caravan Council reveals there were 16,608 new vehicles registered with the DVLA between July 2020 and 2021. This represents an 8.25% rise on pre-Covid numbers from 2018-19 and it’s a trend which has undoubtedly been influenced by the travel restrictions brought about by the pandemic.

Staycations became increasingly commonplace and their popularity has endured, with plenty of self-build owners transforming their vehicles into a home away from home. That theme certainly extends to Ireland, where some organisational bodies are taking steps to encourage greater numbers to take in their tourism hotspots.

But what do these initiatives involve? What must you do to ensure you look after the places you visit? And what are some of the best road trips in Ireland that you might want to consider for your next adventure? Read on to find out more…

Ireland’s plans to accommodate motorhomers

Waterways Ireland, which looks after more than 1,000 kilometres of inland waterways across both Northern and the Republic of Ireland, has launched a feasibility study for developments that would include the provision of extra facilities for motorhomers.

The prospective plans are to develop up to 50 sites – in locations across both sides of the border – that feature parking and pitches in order to meet a rise in demand and hopefully prompt more holidaymakers to visit the area.

“The provision of glamping and motorhome infrastructure along the inland waterways offers the potential to attract increased and diverse users to the waterways environment to experience both on-water and off-water recreational activities including walking and cycling along our greenway and blueway routes,” Waterways Ireland said.

“For the visitor, waterside locations are compelling and unique since they offer immersive dark sky vistas, breath-taking scenery and tranquillity amidst the beauty of rare flora and fauna.”

How to be a conscientious tourist

Waterways Ireland’s plans are in stark contrast to some councils in England, where there is talk of placing restrictions on campervans and motorhomes in busy tourist areas. Residents have complained that the vehicles take up valuable space and that their owners do little to contribute to the local economy, while suggestions have been made that visitors should at least be charged for the duration of their stay.

The residents’ gripes are understandable, so we all have a duty to fly the flag for the campervanning community and ensure our presence is welcomed, not shunned. It’s a privilege to be able to travel to these beautiful places, so we should always strive to leave them as we find them.

You need to be wary of how your visit can impact the area and take all the steps you can to limit the effects of that. For example, it’s inevitable that you will be adding to the volume of traffic. Residents who live in busy holiday destinations will be used to this inconvenience, but you can try to keep your contribution to a minimum by only travelling in and out during the quieter periods.

And you should always be sure to clear up after yourself – leaving behind litter and waste is bad for the environment, looks unseemly and is likely to cause anger and resentment among those who live there. These feelings can fester and do little to engender goodwill between tourists and locals, so try to stay squeaky clean wherever you go! And if you’re looking for some destination inspiration…

Ireland’s best road trips

One of the many plus points about travelling around Ireland is that that are so many beautiful routes to choose from – and there’s something for everyone. If you have plenty of time on your hands, the Wild Atlantic Way spans 2,500km of glorious coastline from Cork in the south to Donegal in the north.

But of course, you might not have the luxury of enjoying a spare couple of weeks to do all of that, in which case you could always head out to the Wicklow Mountains from Dublin or take in the spectacular Healy Pass in County Cork. You’ll have time to do either of those in a day but if you’re looking for something even shorter perhaps you could opt for the Ring of Kerry, which spans around 180km and can be tackled in a few hours and features serene lakes, rushing waterfalls and sandy beaches.

Cover yourself with Comfort Insurance

Whichever journey you choose, you’re sure to experience the trip of a lifetime – one which will be made all the sweeter when you’re safe in the knowledge that you’re fully protected should anything go wrong. We hope that you never have to fall back on your insurance policy but having that peace of mind is all-important whenever you’re heading out on the road.

It’s easy to get a quote in a matter of moments by entering a few simple details and if you have any questions you can always give us a call on 0208 984 0666.