The Journal is partnering with Allianz Insurance for our Best Drives series that showcases some of the most picturesque drives across the country. For our next instalment, we’re exploring Ireland’s ancient history along one of our most visually striking drives. 

Nestled at the border of Tipperary and Waterford, this drive offers you some of the most breathtaking vistas to be found on Irish roads.

Peaking at approximately 2,000 feet above sea level, The Vee offers spectacular, clear views of deep, blue loughs, rich green forest, and vast open skies. It takes its name from the hairpin bend in the road through the Knockmealdown mountains. 

“The Knockmealdowns are little known. There are more famous mountains and ranges in the area, so the Knockmealdowns ended up being a real quiet, beautiful gem,” says Ellie Berry, an outdoor trail advocate and founder of the popular hiking Instagram page Tough Soles.

While coastal drives often get the most attention, The Vee offers a hidden and secluded beauty that opens up into panoramic views to rival anywhere in Ireland. 

Starting your journey in the bustling town of Clonmel, you can make your way to The Vee by driving in the direction of Clogheen along the R665, where you can join the road. Before you reach The Vee proper, you’ll pass through the village of Ardfinnan, famed for its early 19th-century stone bridge over the River Suir.

After passing through, you’ll join the R668, which will take you to that very acute turn that gives The Vee its name, and makes the pass look so striking from above. At the bend, you’ll be near Sugar Loaf Hill, the perfect vantage point to take in the sights for miles on a clear day.

If you go at the right time of year, such as late spring or early summer (so… now), you’ll also see the hills covered in the purple of the rhododendron, which bloom across the landscape and make the views all the more unique. 

As you drive along The Vee road, you will notice that beneath you is the pristine Bay Lough. As Ellie explains, Bay Lough is an important cornerstone of the area’s mythology, with the story of the witch of Petticoat Loose still well-known in the area.  

Also on the R665 is a must-see stop at St Patrick’s Well, a holy site that features an ancient sandstone cross on an island in the middle of the pond. The well was refurbished in the 1960s, but its folklore stretches centuries back, with myths that St Patrick blessed the locals there. 

For anyone who wants to get out and stretch their legs during the drive, St Patrick’s Well is only five minutes away from the Marlfield Forest Recreational Area, a conservation area with plenty of trees, trails and fresh air. 

“It is a conversation area that has some beautiful, easy walking trails, about two-to-three kilometres long. They’re a lovely looped walk for an afternoon,” says Ellie. 

20 minutes south of The Vee, also along the R668, is Lismore Castle. Another landmark of Ireland’s ancient past, the first castle was built on this site in the 12th century. Today, it’s best known for its gardens, where you could easily spend hours walking and basking in the tranquil beauty. 

Depending on how long you wish to spend at each stop, the drive can take you not much more than a leisurely hour, or you could devote an entire morning and afternoon to it if you want to soak it all up.