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The 2025 Bucket List Road Trip: 4 Weeks Exploring Ireland (Full Route + Itinerary)

The 2025 Bucket List Road Trip: 4 Weeks Exploring Ireland (Full Route + Itinerary)

Day 25 (Louth, Cavan and more Louth) – Slieve Foye, a forest walk and Ireland’s oldest town

Day 25 takes us on another great hike to kick start our day.

We’ll then be heading on to explore some of Meath.

Get a lie in after your night out in Carlingford and get a decent breakfast.

1 – Slieve Foye

// Start the hike at 10:00 //

slieve foy hike carlingford

Photo © The Irish Road Trip

Today, we’re going to hike up Slieve Foye, which should take around 3 hours depending on fitness levels.

I’d recommend a pair of hiking boots or runners with really good grip – we weren’t prepared when we climbed Slieve Foye back in 2018 and we ended up on our arses many times as we made our way back down it.

Park near the village and take a right turn when you come to Ma Baker’s Pub. From there, we quite literally walked straight the whole way to the top.

hiking slieve foye

Photo © The Irish Road Trip

Now, I’m not recommending that you do what we did, as we definitely made our own trail to the top.

The folks at Discover Ireland have a thorough guide on the various walks that you can do.

The view from the top is absolutely magnificent. When you get back to the bottom, grab a quick bit of lunch somewhere in the town.

2 – Dún a Rí Forest Park

// Carlingford to Dún a Rí Forest Park – 1-hour drive (arrive for 15:00) //

dun a ri forest park cavan

Photo © The Irish Road Trip

I visited Dún a Rí Forest Park in April of 2019.

It’s been a few days since we visited, and we’ve brought it back up in conversation and recommended it to friends time and time again.

Dún a Rí Forest Park really is excellent.

It’s a roughly 600-acre park near the town of Kingscourt in County Cavan.

When we visited, we headed off on the river walk which took around an hour to complete.

It’s €5 into the park and you can expect dense forest, the remains of a Castle, a holy well, lots of lovely, clear rivers and more.

Well worth the visit.

3 – Drogheda for the evening

// Dún a Rí Forest Park to Drogheda – 45-minute drive (arrive for 18:00) //

We’re going to spend night 26 in the medieval town of Drogheda in Louth.

When you arrive, get checked in to wherever you’re staying.

I can recommend the D Hotel based on personal experience, but stay wherever suits.

When you’re feeling peckish, head to the Eastern Seaboard restaurant for a bite to eat.

4 – Polish off the day with a velvety pint in Clarkes

Clarke’s was built back in 1850.

Today, it’s is a no-nonsense pub that serves some of the finest Guinness for miles around.

Chill here for a bit and then go and grab a decent kip.

We’ve a busy day ahead.

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jd

Wednesday 27th of November 2024

I googled Lochside B&B, but could not locate it. Keeps coming up with a place in the UK.

Do you have a url for them? Or email address?

Keith O'Hara

Thursday 28th of November 2024

Hi JD - Thanks for this comment. It appears that they are no longer in operation. A good alternative is the Glenbeg Lodge. It's a 20-minute drive from the brewery. Cheers - Keith

Janet

Wednesday 16th of October 2024

This was an epic endeavor. And sooo well done. Thank you for all your hard work and dedication. This is everything I could have asked for in planning a trip to Ireland. I wish I could have found it sooner. I have to settle for 14 days AND somehow hope to traverse most of this territory. We just learned that my husband's family is from Cavan Co. I really appreciated that it was included. It is the first time I have seen a tour include Cavan. Especially helpful was your inclusion of drive times between destinations. I had to hand write out your ideas or it would have been monumental to print out. I was overwhelmed at all the detail as I'm sure you were. Thank You so much.

Leeann Nolan

Wednesday 15th of November 2023

Hi Keith Thank you so much for all the work you have done on The Irish Road Trip. I have used much of it to plan my 7 week trip to Ireland in 2024. It has been invaluable :)

Mick Bourke

Sunday 24th of September 2023

G’day Keith-thanks for your trip. My wife and I will be over there in late April and most of May (about a month in total before heading to Scotland for a couple of weeks). I think I’ll be using your trip (which is great (as also is the additional info at the bottom)) as the basis for ours, however, I would like to do abit more of the inland (like a figure eight of the island). Do you have any suggestions?

Keith O'Hara

Wednesday 27th of September 2023

Hey Mick,

Is there anywhere in particular you have in mind with the inland section?

Cheers,

Keith

MIchael Katekar

Tuesday 11th of July 2023

A big thank you for all of the time and hard work you have put into this blog. Great information. I don't think we can keep up with your pace but will certainly take up many of your suggestions.

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