Old Leighlin

Old Leighlin sits along the N9 between Dublin and Waterford in County Carlow, making it a handy stop on the main southeastern route. The village is 15 kilometres from Carlow town and easily reached via the R448 or smaller roads through the Barrow Valley. What sets it apart are the impressive 12th-century cathedral ruins right in the village center, the weathered stone remains of what was once a medieval diocese seat. There's decent charging infrastructure for electric cars, and the nearby Barrow provides scenic alternative routes for those not in a rush.