It pains me to say it, but I both love and hate this video! I am Irish and whilst I do not live in Ireland, I am a van lifer who loves Ireland. I've visited most of western and southern Europe in my van and I can say with total confidence that taking the van to Ireland was the worst experience of all. I'd love to be able to visit family while touring Ireland but it just is not possible. The restrictions and lack of facilities are a serious problem. I've no issue with paying for services, but they are simply not available in large parts of Ireland. The only silver lining were the Waterways Ireland locations which were excellent. I do not rule out visiting Ireland again in the van, but I'm looking forward to Spain and France this summer - despite the constant threat of mosquitoes ;) Keep up the great content Ane and Shane.
Ballydehob, West Cork....magical van parking spot. Water and toilet and bins free. Peaceful and beautiful by the estuary. Adjacent friendly village with caffes, music pubs, charity shop, museum and art galleries. Petrol station cum supermarket, post office, giftshop and Lovely friendly people. Grateful for the van visitors who spend time and money in the village.
Another excellent video, with loads of useful and important info for those of us planning to drive the Wild Atlantic Way. Thank you both. Very much appreciated.
Lovely video and helpful. Do you meet many 70 year old's in vans that size? And also, what do you do for a shower? Do you have to go days without a shower?
@@sionnachog894 not too many! We met a few couples in Europe but in bigger vans. We've a portable shower. We shower outside the van and then go to some public showers. In Europe it's much easier and you have showers everywhere
Having spoken to a Board Failte person some years ago about supplying facilities for Campervans on the WAW. the conclusions are something like this. 1. The tourists they want are those that fly in, rent a car, stay in hotels, eat out in restaurant's, buy souvenirs and basically spend a lot in the country, High value tourists. 2 They promote and invest in marketing for that sector. 3 They consider campervanner's low return tourists and do not market that sector (perhaps minimal). I notice that most rented campervans have Northern Ireland reg. plates, Why is that?
I think they're really missing out!! We have spike to countless number of people travelling the WAW and all have the same complaint. For example today we spent over 100euro in one little village at a bar and going on a tour and so do many other campervanners. Its really such a shame 😔
Just to put cost of camp sites into perspective many hotels in Ireland are €300 a night so €30 for emptying your waste and having a shower is reasonable in comparison.
True but when some sites are 30 euro for a field its a bit crazy. Why cant they have the same infrastructure as mainland Europe? We travelled all of Spain, Portugal and France and never had to pay 30euro to empty toilets or showers. A lot of people prefer to wild camp and unfortunately they end up letting waste water drain out in carparks, piers etc and some even empty toilets because campsites wont allow them to pay to use its services
To be far though, the hotel is supplying a furnished room in a purpose-built building, with all the bedding. Lighting, heating/air con etc. Doing the laundry and all the cleaning and tidying. The campsite is supplying a parking spot, with access to toilets. Many (not all) charge extra for ehu and showers. So your comparison is a little screwy imo
County Cork and Donegal are probably the most welcoming, but Kerry, Clare and Galway councils, not people are not to fond of campers, loads of 2 mtr no welcome barriers many at the end of long single track roads with no warning of height restrictions and no no turning place.
Any sort of "dry" number 2 arrangements solve a big problem, but small bagsworth at a time because of the small openings in bins. Carry a stash of 1kg plastic yoghury pots - problem solved. Urine can go in public toilets, but if you pee behind a bush..... or u happen to be a cow horse or pig...... Grey water? Ok, use only environmently friendly products for washing up showering etc, if nowhere to empty you can safely water a grassy road margin area. When we had a serious drought in England the government told us to use this water to water our gardens incl veg plots. We carry up to 178L of water which can last a very long time even with showering - shower head has an on/off trigger so a shower uses max 5L. Never had a problem finding water, at Knock it's holy water! Campsites are too expensive everwhere, we just don't use them, but we are very careful where we park.
May not fit in a porta potti, but the standatd thetford type fitted chemical toilet will accomodate a strong 1L plastic yoghury pot, put one or twi doggi bags in it knot it bin it or you can stash it in the lidded pot until you spot a bin. Carry a stash of the pots. Boys pee in bottles and girls do the same using a peewee. And no it"s not gross if you jave ever changes a nappy or picked up after a dog. Extractor fan in the loo is a boon. Enjoy....
Hi, guys. I want to ask for your advice or the advice of video commentators. We'd like to move to a motorhome. Because of the cost of housing in Ireland. We are in Cork, where you can find parking lots where you can stand for a long time and are there any free or with minimal costs?
Can I just clarify for viewers not in Europe. Ireland is in Europe! Saying that “things are better in Europe” doesn’t make a lot of sense. I know what you guys mean, but you have a global audience. I think Ireland needs more aires: a halfway between a site with all facilities and a lay-by. There’s a nice one in Cobh, right on the sea front.
Love it your so honest❤ I live in Ireland and been using my campervan the last 3 years. Totally agree, it's stunning, but lack of services is upsetting. They could create a tax fee for campers like an extra 10-40 eur p/yr when entering country or converting/buyin/renting and create those services. This would be better and for sure reduce waste, and farmers closing off beautiful spots because of some people leaving rubbish behind. Good luck😊
Nice and informative. The U.K. is every bit as bad (not so much Scotland), but with campsites costing up to £50 per night. Scotland is way better, but they are getting fed up with poor behaviours. The countries want the revenue from campers, but don’t want the inconvenience and so won’t support it with infrastructure. We are in Norway and it’s incredible here - lots of free facilities every few KMs, so people don’t dump waste inappropriately. The one thing we find impossible everywhere though, is dumping rubbish responsibly - getting adequate recycling is still tricky all over Europe.
Exactly like in the UK it's shocking for services and everywhere will charge you for overnight camping anywhere from £20 to £60 depending where you are and what season you go In
Totally agree with everything. I even wrote an email too all Irish County councils and while some didn't acknowledge the problem, others said they had plans for more services! Let's see 😂 Have to say the free motorhome area in Gorey is ideal though, great services and right in the town!!
Thanks you for your comments. Not everywhere in Spain is great for campers. We go to Nerja on Andalucia on the Med coast. Campers are not welcome there. They are shoved into an ugly car park in the town edge and I don't see much facilities there. We have seen campers corralled in ugly places outside other towns or off down inaccessible roads with no facilities. Maybe it is just around there, but it looks every bit as bad as Ireland for poor facilities and a poor welcome!
I have not doubt that overall they do have better facilities in Spain and I believe that France is the poster boy for providing for campervans. But for some reason Andalucia (or at least, that part of it) would not entice! Good luck with your adventures, it is great to be young! do it all now before the joints start to seize ! Thank you (and for not advertising stuff!)@@ShaneandAneVanLife
@@ShaneandAneVanLife Horseflies and glorified midges, aka mosquitoes... Eaten alive no matter where i park up. (Spray repellent (thanks Mr.Price) is the jobby, but still a bollox..).
Just go to a campsite every third night €30 isn't expensive it's 15 euro each for toilet and shower facilities wastewater facilities electric hook-up and get rid of your rubbish
That's what you have to do but it's such a shame when a campsite won't even allow you to pay to use facilities if you are just passing by. Ireland needs to take a look at how all the facilities are out in Europe.
The growth of the signs banning Campervans isn't just because of inappropriate waste disposal......I've too often seen Vans pull up at beaches and piers I frequently visit to Sea Kayak etc...and they will completely take over the car park parking across spaces, setting up awnings and furniture..... absolute selfishness. Some campervan users ....not all of course. I wild camp myself so not hating on all vans. Love the channel btw....
We couldn't agree more!! We visited Dunfangahy 2 weeks ago. The beach carpark was full of vans and caravans. The caravans took up 2 or 3 spaces... one caravan had a spot for the car, spot for the caravan and a spot for its wind breaker seats and tables and it also had a generator chained to a pole. People need to be more considerate. Also I have a good friend thatbworks on a pier and he said he went to work one day and one campervan had plugged out his electric and hooked his campervan in to it. It's a select few people that ruin it for everyone
I agree everything should be free, a free state house because I don't like to work with my mental health issues, the stress of getting up for work on a Monday after having such a relaxing time over the long weekend, having abuse from the company I work for because its Thursday and they have not seen me..... tribble Ireland...I am leaving......
Hey not sure if I'm understanding the context of the comment. I don't think everything shoukd be free but in Europe you have a tonne of free facilities for campervans. We've even paid to use some in Ireland but they didn't work 🙈🤣
We thought the WAW was fantastic and one day will do it again in the opposite direction. Bins hard to find and provisions and bakery treats very expensive, but otherwise no issues.
Have you noticed how upset people in campers are when you meet them on the road? While Ireland has top views its an absolute disaster for campers. A lot of money to be made but councils need to get the finger out.
Absolutely!! We met a German couple in Clare who was so fed up with van life in Ireland and he had inly started it 3 weeks. He tried to pay to get fresh water at a campsite they wouldn't let him... He had bags of rubbish he couldn't find any bins... He tried to pay for emptying toilet they wouldn't let him. They're loosing out on a big amount of money 💰
@@ShaneandAneVanLife I am glad you bring this forward and hopefully some take notice and make changes. Mainland Europe is just next level. I am currently in Portugal (which is known as not friendly to campers since new rules and GNR and all that) but I am able to find even free campsites with free waste and rubbish disposal. Then you bring up France and Spain whom are just literally welcoming. I will stay in a town with free park up for a week and support local businesses and restaurants over paying extortionate amounts to park up in a field with nothing... things are backwards unfortunately, and I have lived in Ireland for over 20 years. Spent last year or so in Ireland in a van and while I have made few favorite spots, over all it was depressing.
100% agree. We found Spain Portugal and France an absolute breeze when it came to park ups services etc.. It's so true too that when you find a little place to park up the town does make money from us. It's such a shame Ireland is like this tho it's one of the nicest places on earth its just missing out in so much
@@ShaneandAneVanLife P.S. I am devastated as before leaving for Spain I wanted to go to Keem Bay and my SO disagreed.. and I would have literally met you there :D (and I really wanna run into you to question you on Fergus :D) Same time last year I got some footage of diving the basking sharks around the area happy you got to capture them with a drone, but they still seem scary under water haha
You are right! We would be more than happy to pay for services, but the problem is that there isn't any 😅 It'd be great to have more Aires like in Europe 😊
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It pains me to say it, but I both love and hate this video! I am Irish and whilst I do not live in Ireland, I am a van lifer who loves Ireland. I've visited most of western and southern Europe in my van and I can say with total confidence that taking the van to Ireland was the worst experience of all. I'd love to be able to visit family while touring Ireland but it just is not possible. The restrictions and lack of facilities are a serious problem. I've no issue with paying for services, but they are simply not available in large parts of Ireland. The only silver lining were the Waterways Ireland locations which were excellent. I do not rule out visiting Ireland again in the van, but I'm looking forward to Spain and France this summer - despite the constant threat of mosquitoes ;) Keep up the great content Ane and Shane.
100% agree 🍀🇮🇪❤️
Ballydehob, West Cork....magical van parking spot. Water and toilet and bins free. Peaceful and beautiful by the estuary. Adjacent friendly village with caffes, music pubs, charity shop, museum and art galleries. Petrol station cum supermarket, post office, giftshop and Lovely friendly people. Grateful for the van visitors who spend time and money in the village.
We need to visit Ballydehob, sounds amazing. West cork is breathtaking 😍
Another excellent video, with loads of useful and important info for those of us planning to drive the Wild Atlantic Way. Thank you both. Very much appreciated.
Appreciate it 😊❤️
Lovely video and helpful. Do you meet many 70 year old's in vans that size? And also, what do you do for a shower? Do you have to go days without a shower?
@@sionnachog894 not too many! We met a few couples in Europe but in bigger vans.
We've a portable shower. We shower outside the van and then go to some public showers.
In Europe it's much easier and you have showers everywhere
Having spoken to a Board Failte person some years ago about supplying facilities for Campervans on the WAW. the conclusions are something like this. 1. The tourists they want are those that fly in, rent a car, stay in hotels, eat out in restaurant's, buy souvenirs and basically spend a lot in the country, High value tourists. 2 They promote and invest in marketing for that sector. 3 They consider campervanner's low return tourists and do not market that sector (perhaps minimal). I notice that most rented campervans have Northern Ireland reg. plates, Why is that?
I think they're really missing out!! We have spike to countless number of people travelling the WAW and all have the same complaint.
For example today we spent over 100euro in one little village at a bar and going on a tour and so do many other campervanners. Its really such a shame 😔
Just to put cost of camp sites into perspective many hotels in Ireland are €300 a night so €30 for emptying your waste and having a shower is reasonable in comparison.
True but when some sites are 30 euro for a field its a bit crazy. Why cant they have the same infrastructure as mainland Europe? We travelled all of Spain, Portugal and France and never had to pay 30euro to empty toilets or showers.
A lot of people prefer to wild camp and unfortunately they end up letting waste water drain out in carparks, piers etc and some even empty toilets because campsites wont allow them to pay to use its services
To be far though, the hotel is supplying a furnished room in a purpose-built building, with all the bedding. Lighting, heating/air con etc. Doing the laundry and all the cleaning and tidying.
The campsite is supplying a parking spot, with access to toilets. Many (not all) charge extra for ehu and showers.
So your comparison is a little screwy imo
County Cork and Donegal are probably the most welcoming, but Kerry, Clare and Galway councils, not people are not to fond of campers, loads of 2 mtr no welcome barriers many at the end of long single track roads with no warning of height restrictions and no no turning place.
Very very true !! We experienced that on our Wild Atlantic way roadtrip :(
great video again, super info .. . 100 % true
Thanks for your support!! Such a shame Ireland is like this towards campers
Get a composting toilet, much easier to deal with, we use one in our 81 westy
We must look into one!! Thank you
Any sort of "dry" number 2 arrangements solve a big problem, but small bagsworth at a time because of the small openings in bins. Carry a stash of 1kg plastic yoghury pots - problem solved. Urine can go in public toilets, but if you pee behind a bush..... or u happen to be a cow horse or pig......
Grey water? Ok, use only environmently friendly products for washing up showering etc, if nowhere to empty you can safely water a grassy road margin area. When we had a serious drought in England the government told us to use this water to water our gardens incl veg plots.
We carry up to 178L of water which can last a very long time even with showering - shower head has an on/off trigger so a shower uses max 5L.
Never had a problem finding water, at Knock it's holy water!
Campsites are too expensive everwhere, we just don't use them, but we are very careful where we park.
May not fit in a porta potti, but the standatd thetford type fitted chemical toilet will accomodate a strong 1L plastic yoghury pot, put one or twi doggi bags in it knot it bin it or you can stash it in the lidded pot until you spot a bin. Carry a stash of the pots.
Boys pee in bottles and girls do the same using a peewee.
And no it"s not gross if you jave ever changes a nappy or picked up after a dog.
Extractor fan in the loo is a boon. Enjoy....
Hi, guys. I want to ask for your advice or the advice of video commentators. We'd like to move to a motorhome. Because of the cost of housing in Ireland. We are in Cork, where you can find parking lots where you can stand for a long time and are there any free or with minimal costs?
Can I just clarify for viewers not in Europe. Ireland is in Europe! Saying that “things are better in Europe” doesn’t make a lot of sense. I know what you guys mean, but you have a global audience.
I think Ireland needs more aires: a halfway between a site with all facilities and a lay-by. There’s a nice one in Cobh, right on the sea front.
Apologies for that mistake. Thank you
100% they need more aires
Great video again guys, have you ever been to England or Scotland,or are you coming x
Thank you!! Never had Fergus in the UK but we plan to next year :)
A very interesting video, as usual. The scenery certainly looks stunning 👍
Thank you! Ireland has stunning scenery 😍
Love it your so honest❤ I live in Ireland and been using my campervan the last 3 years. Totally agree, it's stunning, but lack of services is upsetting. They could create a tax fee for campers like an extra 10-40 eur p/yr when entering country or converting/buyin/renting and create those services. This would be better and for sure reduce waste, and farmers closing off beautiful spots because of some people leaving rubbish behind. Good luck😊
100% true 😀😀
Nice and informative. The U.K. is every bit as bad (not so much Scotland), but with campsites costing up to £50 per night. Scotland is way better, but they are getting fed up with poor behaviours. The countries want the revenue from campers, but don’t want the inconvenience and so won’t support it with infrastructure. We are in Norway and it’s incredible here - lots of free facilities every few KMs, so people don’t dump waste inappropriately. The one thing we find impossible everywhere though, is dumping rubbish responsibly - getting adequate recycling is still tricky all over Europe.
France, Spain and Portugal is next level on providing rubbish disposal (all separated ofc)
Exactly like in the UK it's shocking for services and everywhere will charge you for overnight camping anywhere from £20 to £60 depending where you are and what season you go In
Mental prices!! Here some charge 30euro for a field....
Some campsites won't even allow you to pay to use the services 🙄🙄
@@ShaneandAneVanLife exactly like here but double the price 🤣 nothing worse
Totally agree with everything. I even wrote an email too all Irish County councils and while some didn't acknowledge the problem, others said they had plans for more services! Let's see 😂 Have to say the free motorhome area in Gorey is ideal though, great services and right in the town!!
Oh and the bin situation is UNBELIEVABLE. I feel like I'm committing an act of crime when I occasionally find a big dumpster and put my bags in it 😂
More services 🤣🤣 the difference in Ireland between mainland Europe is mental.
I know right!!! It's like ok nobody looking? GO GO GO 🤣🤣🤣
Thanks you for your comments. Not everywhere in Spain is great for campers. We go to Nerja on Andalucia on the Med coast. Campers are not welcome there. They are shoved into an ugly car park in the town edge and I don't see much facilities there. We have seen campers corralled in ugly places outside other towns or off down inaccessible roads with no facilities. Maybe it is just around there, but it looks every bit as bad as Ireland for poor facilities and a poor welcome!
@sionnachog894 certain parts of Spain are campervan friendly and certain places are not. Spain in general have better facilities for campervans
I have not doubt that overall they do have better facilities in Spain and I believe that France is the poster boy for providing for campervans. But for some reason Andalucia (or at least, that part of it) would not entice! Good luck with your adventures, it is great to be young! do it all now before the joints start to seize ! Thank you (and for not advertising stuff!)@@ShaneandAneVanLife
Great video and information! No mosquitoes? How about midges troubles?
Never be bothered by mosquitoes in Ireland, Around bogland, forest etc you'd have midges but not as annoying as the mosquitoes.
@@ShaneandAneVanLife Horseflies and glorified midges, aka mosquitoes... Eaten alive no matter where i park up. (Spray repellent (thanks Mr.Price) is the jobby, but still a bollox..).
@@Jim_Kay. luckily enough for the last 4 weeks we haven't been bothered by any of the midges. I do detest them 🤣🤣
Great video guys! Ireland is missing out. Although campsites in England are equally expensive since covid.
Thank you!! Ireland is seriously missing out... they should take a leaf out of mainland Europe's book
😅i use a hozelock porta shower in my T25 Westy it takes a bit of room but worth it.
I've seen a few use something like this!! It's a good job
Just go to a campsite every third night €30 isn't expensive it's 15 euro each for toilet and shower facilities wastewater facilities electric hook-up and get rid of your rubbish
That's what you have to do but it's such a shame when a campsite won't even allow you to pay to use facilities if you are just passing by.
Ireland needs to take a look at how all the facilities are out in Europe.
The growth of the signs banning Campervans isn't just because of inappropriate waste disposal......I've too often seen Vans pull up at beaches and piers I frequently visit to Sea Kayak etc...and they will completely take over the car park parking across spaces, setting up awnings and furniture..... absolute selfishness. Some campervan users ....not all of course. I wild camp myself so not hating on all vans. Love the channel btw....
We couldn't agree more!! We visited Dunfangahy 2 weeks ago. The beach carpark was full of vans and caravans. The caravans took up 2 or 3 spaces... one caravan had a spot for the car, spot for the caravan and a spot for its wind breaker seats and tables and it also had a generator chained to a pole.
People need to be more considerate.
Also I have a good friend thatbworks on a pier and he said he went to work one day and one campervan had plugged out his electric and hooked his campervan in to it.
It's a select few people that ruin it for everyone
I agree everything should be free, a free state house because I don't like to work with my mental health issues, the stress of getting up for work on a Monday after having such a relaxing time over the long weekend, having abuse from the company I work for because its Thursday and they have not seen me..... tribble Ireland...I am leaving......
Hey not sure if I'm understanding the context of the comment.
I don't think everything shoukd be free but in Europe you have a tonne of free facilities for campervans. We've even paid to use some in Ireland but they didn't work 🙈🤣
Another case of Rip off Ireland 🇮🇪, a very good and encouraging video about Van Life😊
Exactly... it's such a shame isn't it!! Thanks for watching 😊🇮🇪
We thought the WAW was fantastic and one day will do it again in the opposite direction. Bins hard to find and provisions and bakery treats very expensive, but otherwise no issues.
Oh yes on black water, If travelling in Ireland I bring two Tedford toilet cassettes because of lack of facilities.
I know a few people that do the same!! It's crazy that you have to do that.
Then you see people dumping it in stupid places...
Go dry, no chemicals, no problems.
Get on to the local council about this issue
We'd have to contact every local county council 🤣 but we will be contacting someone
Is the guy speaking english?
@robertoaguiar7420 yes why 🤣🤣
Lack of facilities is such a shame
Really such a shame 😔😔
Have you noticed how upset people in campers are when you meet them on the road? While Ireland has top views its an absolute disaster for campers. A lot of money to be made but councils need to get the finger out.
Absolutely!! We met a German couple in Clare who was so fed up with van life in Ireland and he had inly started it 3 weeks.
He tried to pay to get fresh water at a campsite they wouldn't let him...
He had bags of rubbish he couldn't find any bins...
He tried to pay for emptying toilet they wouldn't let him.
They're loosing out on a big amount of money 💰
@@ShaneandAneVanLife I am glad you bring this forward and hopefully some take notice and make changes. Mainland Europe is just next level. I am currently in Portugal (which is known as not friendly to campers since new rules and GNR and all that) but I am able to find even free campsites with free waste and rubbish disposal. Then you bring up France and Spain whom are just literally welcoming. I will stay in a town with free park up for a week and support local businesses and restaurants over paying extortionate amounts to park up in a field with nothing... things are backwards unfortunately, and I have lived in Ireland for over 20 years. Spent last year or so in Ireland in a van and while I have made few favorite spots, over all it was depressing.
100% agree. We found Spain Portugal and France an absolute breeze when it came to park ups services etc..
It's so true too that when you find a little place to park up the town does make money from us.
It's such a shame Ireland is like this tho it's one of the nicest places on earth its just missing out in so much
@@ShaneandAneVanLife P.S. I am devastated as before leaving for Spain I wanted to go to Keem Bay and my SO disagreed.. and I would have literally met you there :D (and I really wanna run into you to question you on Fergus :D) Same time last year I got some footage of diving the basking sharks around the area happy you got to capture them with a drone, but they still seem scary under water haha
@@ShaneandAneVanLife same in UK but at least there are bins.
It's the wild Atlantic way😂😂 you can't produce waste and use water for nothing.
You are right! We would be more than happy to pay for services, but the problem is that there isn't any 😅 It'd be great to have more Aires like in Europe 😊