EXPLORING IRELAND IN the sunshine is one of the many privileges of living on this beautiful island, and it’s never been easier to do it without a car.

Since January 2022, the Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan has introduced over 180 new or enhanced bus routes nationwide. This means that not only do many more rural communities now have access to frequent and affordable bus services, but tourists, adventurers, and explorers alike all have many more hop-off points at some of Ireland’s most historic and scenic locations.

This means you don’t need to worry about your own navigating, packing up the car, spending money on petrol, or any of the other drawbacks that come with driving yourself around.

Virtually anyone looking for the perfect summer’s day out can easily access the sprawling attractions of Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands — spanning Leitrim, Roscommon, Longford, Westmeath, and Offaly. Many routes operated by TFI Local Link can bring you to some of Ireland’s most dazzling hidden gems. Once you start visiting Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands using TFI Local Link buses, you won’t want to stop.

Beara Breifne Way

The Beara Breifne Way is Ireland’s longest waymarked trail, stretching all the way from the Beara Peninsula down in Cork all the way up to Cavan. As such, there are many different entry points and great accessibility through TFI Local Link services. Bus routes that will take you to the trail on its northern end include Routes  176, 186 and 929.

Hill of Uisneach

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A cornerstone of Ireland’s ancient past, the Hill of Uisneach is regarded as Ireland’s sacred centre. The beauty of this area can’t be overstated, with conjoined ring forts, Lough Lugh, and St Patrick’s Bed sitting atop the hill’s highest point. The Hill of Uisneach has so much to discover, and it can be accessed via the 819 route from Athlone.

River Shannon

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Cutting through Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands is its longest river, the River Shannon. Perfect for kayaking, views of the rushing water, cruising on a catamaran or angling from the banks, every Irish person should be familiar with the glory of the Shannon.

There are several routes that will let you access the river, including Route 426 between Leitrim and Roscommon, Route 819 between Athlone and Mullingar, and Routes 564 & 567 from Carrick-on-Shannon.

Belvedere House

This 18th century Georgian house is home to beautiful, lush, green grounds, a walled garden and follies that resemble authentic ancient ruins. Set on the shore of a lake, Belvedere House is the perfect day out for families with young kids who want plenty of space to run around, while parents can take in the tranquillity of the setting. This is accessible via TFI Local Link Route 819.

Parke’s Castle

Sitting on the northern shores of Lough Gill in County Leitrim, Parke’s Castle is a restored 17th-century structure with deep ties to the history of the area. A visit to the castle includes a scenic cruise across the lough to the castle, which casts a glorious shadow across the water at sunset. Parke’s Castle is accessible via TFI Local Link Route 563.

Visit Transport for Ireland online today to check out the full range of routes available to you and search each area by county.