The Most Dangerous Roads In Ireland
Ireland, europe
2,500 km
396 m
extreme
Year-round
The **Wild Atlantic Way** lives up to its name, alright. It’s supposed to be one of the most scenic drives in Ireland, but also one of the sketchiest. Clocking in at over 2500 kilometers from Cork to County Donegal, it snakes through nine counties, and let me tell you, they don’t all agree on what "safe" means. Expect narrow bends hanging off cliff edges with drops of hundreds of feet, all without a whole lot of warning. Oh, and watch out for sheep. Seriously. They're everywhere.
**Old Military Road** in Wicklow? Great for hikers, maybe not so much for drivers. This road is ancient, and wasn’t exactly designed for cars. Think blind corners galore – not such a problem when the only vehicles were horse-drawn carriages! The terrain is rough, and even in summer, the crosswinds will try to blow you off course. And forget about it in the rain - the whole area turns into a bog, and the road can literally sink.
The **Gap of Dunloe** in County Kerry? You'll be crawling. Seriously, it's so narrow and packed with walkers, you'll wonder if you accidentally drove onto a footpath. Legally, you’re good to be there, but there are hardly any signs, it's super narrow, winding, and the elevation changes constantly. And of course, the sharpest drops are right after blind corners. But hey, the views of the Purple Mountain Groups are pretty spectacular… if you survive.
Still in County Kerry, **Slea Head** is another heart-stopper. At times, it feels like the only thing between you and a swim in the Atlantic is a strip of asphalt. Those drops are often completely exposed, no barriers to save you. The hairpin bends feel like they were designed to cause a wreck. And at several points, the road is only wide enough for one car. Pray you don't meet someone coming the other way, because backing up for a mile on that road? No thanks.
And last but definitely not least, **Conor’s Pass**, still in County Kerry (they really like their dangerous roads there, huh?). "Pass" might be a joke, because there's barely room to pass anyone. Facing another car 1300 feet up a mountain will have you praying for a miracle. This road almost climbs into the clouds, so visibility is zero. The climb is so steep that you only see the road right in front of you, making for some truly blind turns. Honk your horn before every turn, because a crash up here is almost certainly fatal, and help is a long way off. Probably the most dangerous road in Ireland.
Where is it?
The Most Dangerous Roads In Ireland is located in Ireland (europe). Coordinates: 53.7346, -7.8313
Road Details
- Country
- Ireland
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 2,500 km
- Max Elevation
- 396 m
- Difficulty
- extreme
- Coordinates
- 53.7346, -7.8313
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