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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Thom Breathnach

Dopamine drive: the road trip to happiness lies along the adventure-filled coast of Ireland

The road through Torr Head, County Antrim.
The road through Torr Head, County Antrim. Photograph: Stefan Schnebelt/Tourism Ireland

A classic road trip can deliver all the ingredients for the ultimate holiday: freedom, adventure and unlimited carpe diem delights. However, combine two epic routes together – the Causeway Coastal Route in Northern Ireland with Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way – and you’ll double up on unique attractions, incredible foodie stops and the most soul-soothing of landscapes. In fact, it’s little wonder that driving the highlights of these routes, from basalt cliffs to seaside saunas and from secret beaches to a legendary city, can have long-lasting wellness benefits too.

“An open-road holiday adventure can have immense mental health benefits,” says Donegal-based psychotherapist and mental wellness expert Roxane Mullen. “That sense of anticipation when road tripping, getting in touch with nature, and broadening your perspective through new experiences, are all proven ways of boosting mood and enhancing emotional healing and I think the Causeway Coastal Route and Wild Atlantic Way are the perfect settings to do just that.”

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