Check out the ultimate 3-day secret South East road trip

With all the stunning weather we've been having of late, what better way to make the most of it than a road trip around the South East?

And we know what you're thinking - there's not an inch of the South East you haven't seen. Well, that's where you might be wrong...

We've put together a three-day secret South East road trip just for you guys. One car, one (long-ish) weekend, some decent weather and voilá - a holiday right on your doorstep.

Day 1: Tipperary & Waterford

Day one kicks off at the quaint 19th-century Swiss Cottage just outside Cahir, Co. Tipperary.

 

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From the leafy climes of the 'Alps' it's off to 'India' to check out the surreal Dromana Gate. Originally made from papier-maché, the gate was built to greet the estate landowners from their honeymoon in 1826. Talk about notions...

 

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"How long can it stay a secret?" Wrote National Geographic Traveller in an article lauding The Copper Coast some years back. Check it out for yourself and see if it remains one of Ireland's best-kept treasures as you scoot along its coastal byway. Check into one of the many B&Bs on the coastal route for a decent night's kip.

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Day 2: Waterford & Kilkenny

Crough Wood

Refreshed, it's a short drive to the criminally underrated Crough Wood. Nestled in the foothills of the Comeragh Mountains, the indigenous forest - divided by a cascading Mahon River - might just feel like you've fallen into a Robin Hood film set.

 

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🌿 #intothewoods . . . . #gonegreen #forestbathing #naturelover #irishcountryside

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Sgilloge Lakes, Nire Valley

Then it's a cross-mountain spin to the Nire Valley, where you'll undertake an hour hike to the Sgilogue Lakes. A closely guarded secret among locals, we guarantee that you'll have this slice of paradise all to yourself.

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Having returned to the carpark, pop over to Dunmore East for a bite to eat and some much-needed shut-eye.

 

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Day 3: Wexford & Carlow

It might be the last day, but there's still so much to see. Take a shortcut by hopping onto the Passage East Car Ferry to Hook Head. Feel free to venture down towards the historic lighthouse, but we suggest you take a left turn and head straight for Baginbun Beach. A little slice of Barbados in the heart of Wexford.

 

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Keeping with the coastal vibes, hop on your second ferry of the day to the car-free Saltee Islands. A wildlife lover's paradise with its own self-styled prince, flag and throne.

 

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For our final trip, we're heading inland towards the gorgeous St. Mullins along the River Barrow in Carlow. Toast the weekend that was by having a bite to eat in its picture-perfect river-side café.

 

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