'I just love it!' Travel TikToker Kayleigh O'Dowd shares her favourite places in Ireland
Clodagh McKeon
“Sunset swimming at Lough Lene is my favourite thing to do while visiting Westmeath,” says Irish travel Tiktoker, Kayleigh O’Dowd.
With strong links to Westmeath, 22-year-old Kayleigh has more than 25,000 TikTok followers who enjoy watching her travel related videos.
She has family in Delvin and has made many stunning videos of her late night sunset swims at Lough Lene.
“I grew up going to Collinstown and still visit there regularly, it's my favourite place to go while in Westmeath.”
Since starting her TikTok page just over a year ago, Kayleigh has been travelling Ireland and sharing her experiences with her online fans.
As a travel enthusiast from a young age, she set out to see the world after school and found herself living in places like New Zealand, Thailand and Canada.
Last year she bought a Peugeot Partner that she now explores the country in - she calls it her ‘taxi’.
It has a bed, pull-out cooking facilities and lots of storage for the clothes and camping equipment that Kayleigh needs when travelling.
The TikTok star breaks down the cost of the entire set-up in the car giving her followers an honest and realistic idea of how to go about doing it themselves.
In her videos she shares travel advice, her experiences at various destinations, the costs of her holidays and snippets of her personal life.
From Cork to Clare and up to Donegal, Kayleigh has without a doubt seen the most beautiful parts of our country and so we can trust her to give us good getaway advice for summer.
While predominantly exploring Ireland, Kayleigh also ventures outside the country and documents her experiences there too.
Only recently, she shared videos of her visit to Barcelona.
She is clearly a perfectionist when it comes to creating top quality TikTok videos that show off the incredible destinations around Ireland.
Not only do the educational videos promote holidaying at home, they also help people plan for their own trips, whether car camping or not.
Hiking on the Wicklow mountains, sunset swims at Donegal's finest beaches and wild camping in Cork are among the many adventures the wanderer has enjoyed this year.
Her videos show an Irish landscape that many of us could have forgotten about prior to the pandemic so they are definitely worth watching while in search of a trip away this summer.
I caught up with the Trim native and we spoke about all things campsites, staycation recommendations and she shared some advice for those wanting to embark on their own camping journey, so take notes.
What inspired you to start your TikTok page?
“When I was 16, I got a GoPro camera for Christmas and ever since then, my passion for taking videos has grown.
“I started by documenting my family holidays and it just snowballed into me videoing my own solo trips like backpacking around different countries.
“I only posted them on YouTube but when TikTok became really popular during lockdown, I just fell in love with it.
“I came home from living abroad just as the lockdown had started here and I really wanted to continue on that travelling lifestyle that I had when I was away.
“I met this guy who told me he had rock-climbed the Burren in County Clare before and I couldn't believe it! I didn't think people did that sort of thing here.
“So, when things started to open up again, I started to book all these activities inviting everyone and anyone who wanted to come along and I started travelling across the country to do it.
“I started showing off Ireland and all the things that are available for us to do that people may have not been aware of - because I wasn't.”
Where would you recommend active families to visit this summer?
“When I was younger, my parents used to take us camping and we absolutely loved it. That's where I got the love of camping from.
“We’d stay in campsites and sometimes hire out motorhomes to drive all around the country, so I think a camping holiday is one every family should experience.
“One of my favourite spots would definitely be Lough Key Forest Park in Roscommon.
“There's a lake that you can swim at, you can hire out boats, bikes, they have a zipline course, walking guided tours - you name it.
“The campsites around are cheap too, often just €25-30 a night, so that's definitely a good option.
“If you do have a bigger budget though, I love Trabolgan in East Cork.
“It's a child's dream because it has everything! From live entertainment, a sports complex, go karting, arcades, golf, the list goes on and on.
“You can rent out houses and to my knowledge, they are reasonably priced.
“We used to go there every year and felt that it was better than going abroad.”
You travel the country in your taxi so you don't usually have to find any overnight accommodation. But, for people who want to start on their camping journey this summer, can you tell us more about the Irish campsites?
Can you give us some advice, do they all have security and clean facilities?
“It's more or less the same as booking any other accommodation. Read reviews and listen to what other people are saying. It's always a good idea to research where you go before you get there.
“Any campsite that I have stayed at in Ireland has had great facilities, thank God! Although, I don’t think I’m very fussy.
“One thing about these campsites is that they have security monitoring who come in and out of the area and they have someone patrolling around at night so I’ve always felt safe.
“In regards to wild camping though, if I am going solo, there are definitely some measures that I take when choosing a location just to make sure I’m safe.
“One of them would be researching the area well in advance and a great app for that would be ‘park4night’.
“It gives you detailed reviews on what to expect when you get there and tells you about the facilities and more.
“I will only stay if a spot is well lit and if there are other campervans about.
“One thing I have learned throughout this whole process is to really trust my instincts. If I get to a place and the vibe just isn't right, I will just leave.”
Do you usually plan every last detail of your trip or do you prefer to just go with the flow?
“I think one of the best things about car camping is the flexibility of it. As you know, the weather in Ireland is just so unpredictable so often I won't plan my trips at all.
“The night before I want to go I’ll just hop on the weather app and see where it’s dry or sunny and I’ll go there! One week I could be in Sligo and the next I’ll be in Wexford.
“Then, I’ll get on the ‘park4night’ app and research my camping location, as 90% of the time I wild camp, so that part is essential.
“I enjoy a place with a nice view and a good atmosphere and then once I’m there, I usually eat out and support local businesses.
“I love talking to the locals to suss out what there is to do around the area because some of the best places I’ve been to have been thanks to the locals.”
What advice would you give people thinking about investing in a campervan or thinking about doing work to their existing car/van like you did?
“If you’re looking to do this yourself and thinking about doing it long term or often, my advice would be to spend a few quid on the car or van itself.
“You really want to be able to rely on it.
“I hear stories where people have bought vans for cheap and they keep on breaking down.
“It's extremely frustrating when you're preparing to go on a trip and suddenly the van is letting you down.
“And, the last thing you want is to be stranded in the middle of nowhere hours away from home in a broken down car.
“Invest in something reliable and you won't regret it. As for the inside, keep it cheap and cheerful, nothing needs to be fancy.
“My van was €6,500 and the bed that I sleep on lies on a removable unit that I bought second hand for €300.
“I didn't have to make any modifications to the car so I can take everything out and have it as a normal car instantly if I want.”
Can you tell us your top five favourite destinations to visit in Ireland? I know our readers will be taking notes.
“First on my list would definitely be Silver Strand in County Donegal. It's a horseshoe shaped beach and it's honestly breathtaking.
“There are public toilets available and a lovely cafe close by too.
“Next would be Tramore in Waterford. I love the nightlife there, the pubs do be hoppin’ during the summer months!
“You can park for a small fee behind a barriered area or there's a campsite there as well.
“If you do visit, make sure to check out ‘New Town Cove’. It's a deadly swim spot that is close by.
“Allihies Beach is next on the list, that's an incredible beach in Cork.
“You can wild camp around there but there is a campsite close by too. It's just so gorgeous and reminds me of when I lived in New Zealand.
“Next up is Skerries in Dublin. This is a fantastic location if you’re looking for a walk or a swim and you can get a take away pint there and sit by the harbour.
“It's really good for seafood too!
“Last but certainly not least, it's Sligo. There's so much to do there, it's my favourite county for sure. It has a great night life, you can go surfing, hiking, nice drives, you name it, Sligo has it.”
I know you want to tell us more...
“Of course! If you’re active, hiking in Ireland is just incredible. It's one of the best ways to see the views around the country and paired with a sea swim or lunch, you have a perfect day out.
“There's a great app called ‘AllTrails’ where you can get lots of information on the different hikes. There's also running and walking trails on that too, which is so helpful.
“‘Meetup’ is another great app, it's free to download and you basically join friend groups based on your interests and through those groups both virtual and in-person events are held.
“The other week I actually met a group of people that I never met before for a sea swim at Killiney Beach.
“It was great, I really enjoyed it. Not only did I meet some really great people, I also learned new techniques while in the water so it's great if you’re looking to pick up a new hobby or make some new friends.”
You can find Kayleigh on TikTok @kayleighodowd0