The road at Healy Pass, which was constructed in 1847 during the years of the famine, looks like a giant snake from above, slithering its way through the two highest summits in the Caha mountain range. We were greeted to green rolling hills, impressive cliffs, quiet roads and stunning beaches all within the space of a 20 minute drive. With few landmarks along the way we set our GPS sat nav to the Burren Perfumery, and it brings us through some of the most fascinating landscapes we’ve come across. At over 1,500 miles (2,750 kilometers) in length, the Wild Atlantic Way is the longest defined coastal touring road in the world. By Oisin Feeney ; December 13, 2018 ; Category: Wild Atlantic Way; Share on facebook. But many must-see attractions are also found along the way, and while the west coast of Ireland is ridiculous scenic at times, a road trip of neverending seascapes will become a tad monotonous for many. Check out these five amazing weekend road trips on the Wild Atlantic Way. The Wild Atlantic Way A driving route along Ireland’s west coast that the tourist board began promoting a few years back. Pick up an official B&B Ireland catalogue at the tourist office. This area for me is fascinating with its karst landscape, vast cracked pavements of glacial-era limestone, cliffs and caves, fossils, rock formations and archaeological sites (Wikipedia). It’s a beautiful bay area here surrounded by dramatic mountains and cliff faces. It is an absolutely incredible coastal drive that spans 2,500 km across the west coast of Ireland. Having overindulged on coastal views over the past days we decide to travel inland for a bit, as we travel towards Connemara National Park, and Kylemore Abbey which was founded by Benedictine Nuns who fled Belgium in World War I. Kylemore Abbey, along with its surrounding Victorian walled gardens, would be the highlight of this area although the landscapes across Connemara are hard to beat. Glencolmcille is located on the Slieve League Peninsula at the south-west point of … There is no entrance fee for the Aran Islands, you will just need to pay for your ferry and bicycle hire. Pick up an official B&B Ireland catalogue at the tourist office. Share on pinterest . Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way Road Trip Guide DUBLIN. It’s easy to navigate and understand, but there are a few things you should know before you go. We set our GPS to Rosses Point which is one of the popular beach resort areas of the region and is in fact familiar to me from past family holidays. Planning a Wild Atlantic Way Itinerary can be very hard. Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way takes on the status of one of the longest coastal drives in the world at 1,600 miles. It might not hug the coastline as strictly as California’s Highway One, but this road takes in over 1,550 miles of scenery that make for the perfect road trip . The Wild Atlantic Way of Ireland is the longest Coastal Route in the World making for a great road trip snaking up the West Coast of the Country. Anyway, after some inland exploration we join again with the Wild Atlantic Way as we follow the coastline route towards the city of Galway (here for Connemara Hotels). Asia based food and travel bloggers at 'Live Less Ordinary'. The Wild Atlantic Way offers plenty of places to stop and enjoy the nightly show, but perhaps the best viewpoints are along the Cliffs of Moher, two and a half hours south of Croagh Patrick in County Clare (and about 90 minutes south of Galway city), roughly halfway along the Wild Atlantic Way route. If the sleek Atlantic Bridge Road in Norway is your kind of road trip, then you must do this section of the Wild Atlantic Way. All Rights Reserved, Take a day trip to Inis Oírr island and enjoy a stunning cruise under the world famous Cliffs of Moher, Take a boat trip around the Skellig Islands made famous by Star Wars, enjoy the wildlife and historic culture on display, Journey to Dursey Island in Ireland's only cable car and the only in Europe to traverse open sea water, "If you are looking for a magical and simple guide to discover the Wild Atlantic Way then this is a great place to start. This signposted route stretches 2,750 km (1,700 miles) along the remote winding west coast of Ireland from Kinsale in Co. Cork in the south to Co. Donegal in the north where it connects to the Causeway Coastal Drive and onto Belfast. Aside from natural attractions, the Wild Atlantic Way also passes by some of the country's most significant historical sites, including castles, monasteries, lighthouses, and ruins. Anyway, it’s a great place for jars of Guinness, double Jimmy’s (Jameson’s Whisky) and craic (the Irish equivalent of banter). As technically the Wild Atlantic Way only include destinations on the west coast of Ireland. With lots of travels in between. If your road trip on the Wild Atlantic Way route takes place during the off-season, which is from late October to the end of April you can probably improvise and book into places along the route.. We would then take on short overnight stays and weekends covering individual sections of the Extended Wild Atlantic Way. At the same time the cliffs rank among the top-visited tourist sites in Ireland, with almost one million visitors a year. And it is just very simple to follow, with incredibly well-signposted routes either North or South along the coastline. First I will share our most recent Wild Atlantic Way itinerary from North to South when we covered all the most Instagrammable spots on the Wild Atlantic Way. Anyway, I’d definitely give it a night or two before we’re onto the next leg of the Wild Atlantic Way (list of Galway hotels here). Belfast and beyond: How to drive Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way in 3 days If you're a fan of untamed coastlines, dramatic cliffs and powdery white sand, this round trip from Belfast exploring the Wild Atlantic Way is for you. The Wild Atlantic Way route begins far, far away from Dublin, but that’s where consensus about its parameters ends. Starting Point: Killyhevlin Lakeside Hotel. #KatesRoadTrip Blog is the personal take of our travel blogger Kate who will be visiting each of the Wild Atlantic Way Discovery Points starting in Cork and working her way up the coastline to Donegal.. you'll love this one. Travel on a budget and get to know locals. Monday, 21 January 2019. It’s also roughly half-way through the Wild Atlantic Way route, so it does make sense to take a break to enjoy some city experience, culture and shenanigans. One of the most beautiful places in Europe (just look at these pics from my last trip! The Wild Atlantic Way Poetry and beauty, weirdness and song - what happens when you take an epic 1,200km road trip down the length of the dramatic Wild Atlantic Way, one of the best places to visit in Ireland , in a Mini Cooper S Clubman Meandering 1,500 miles (2,500 km) from Cork in the South to Donegal in the North, you will be overwhelmed by choices on a self-drive tour of the Wild Atlantic Way. Check out these five amazing weekend road trips on the Wild Atlantic Way. Allan reluctantly writes stuff. We then pass through Limerick, a county which hits the coastline, and makes a convenient starting point for the North West region via Shannon Airport. there is the official route but any number of … There’s really some beautiful sands along this side of Donegal and a night on the west coast works well (list of hotels here) before continuing on to Slieve League. Costs Travel on a budget and get to know locals. Enjoy our free Wild Atlantic Way travel guide, route map and GPS info for this scenic coastal drive, walk or cycle along Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Coastline. I do prefer the inland routes of Connemara with empty and vast landscapes of hills, lakes and peat bogs. For this trip, we’re going to explore a chunk of the park. Kate’s Wild Atlantic Way Road Trip. And just a road trip in Ireland, without the inclusion of Northern Ireland and the Causeway Coast, is wrong (despite being different countries, with different tourist boards, and Northern Ireland is not really on the Atlantic coast). It passes through nine different counties and is where many of Ireland’s most popular attractions can be found. Ireland may be a small country, but it would take at least 4 to 5 days to properly see just a piece of the Wild Atlantic Way. Living the best of both worlds, I guess. Wild Atlantic Way. The Wild Atlantic Way, on the west coast of the Republic of Ireland, is like stepping into another world. Where to stay on the Wild Atlantic Way route. The Wild Atlantic Way is a sensational journey of soaring cliffs and … Wild Atlantic Way Ireland Road Trip We recently visited Ireland with my parents who were visiting from Australia. I don’t even think busses could fit on these windy roads. However, it can be so much better when removing the limitations of borders and restrictions of inland attractions. WILD ATLANTIC WAY ROAD TRIP … Starting Point: Killyhevlin Lakeside Hotel. It is also found just next to our coming destination as it sits on the border of County Clare. The Southern Peninsulas of the Wild Atlantic Way in Ireland are an incredible road trip by way of both land and sea — unscathed nature, incredible wildlife, villages, islands, and historical ruins dating back to the Bronze Age. If you’re not familiar with the Wild Atlantic Way, it is a 1600 mile long coastline starting from Northern Ireland at Co. Donegal and ending in Co. Cork. Otherwise it’s more of a quick pass through into County Kerry, where one of the highlights would be Dingle, although we rushed past on this itinerary. But today the weather is miserable, so we continue on to follow the Wild Atlantic Way. If you enjoyed my itinerary, please consider buying me a coffee to help support my website hosting costs, Copyright © 2020 Wild Atlantic Road Trip. From here on it is all south as we follow on the opposite coastline stopping at a stretching sand beach called Five Finger’s Strand. Before leaving we would always have hotels booked the entire, using free cancellations through Booking.com, so we can change and reroute if plans change along the way. It winds its way all along the Irish west coast from the Inishowen Peninsula in the north down to … However, it can be so much better when removing the limitations of borders and restrictions of inland attractions. The Wild Atlantic Way is a sensational journey of soaring cliffs and buzzing towns and cities, of hidden beaches and epic bays. From there, we followed the coastline past sea cliffs, castles, lighthouses and sleepy coastal villages. this in no way means the coastline lacks the same natural beauty, the same exposure as its neighbours, although this means it is quieter and less explored. Wild Atlantic Way Road Trip! For fellow bird nerds the Cliffs of Moher are also home to thousands of seabirds, including puffins although I didn’t get a glimpse on my visit. Since that is not possible for everyone, I recommend this shorter 7 day Wild Atlantic Way Itinerary! The WAW should be viewed like the Route des Grande Alps, i.e. When we drove into the area we were taken back by its beauty. They also ask, out of respect, for tourists not to turn up unexpectedly for photos, so we of course skip past (we couldn’t find it). There's an amazing amount of things to do if rain briefly interrupts your trip on the Wild Atlantic Way. Sligo is a popular beach resort area and is great for short breaks and escapes. Best of County Kerry: Ring of Kerry, Carrigafoyle Castle, Nun’s Beach, Rossbeigh Strand, Valentia Island Lighthouse, Skelligs Island Lighthouse, Com An Chiste (Coomakista), Derrynane Bay, Barfinnihy Lake, Ladie’s Viewpoint, Killarney National Park, Killarney town, Ross Castle. Dublin Airport, on the other hand, is on the east side of Ireland, and it’s more than two hours to reach the nearest point of the Wild Atlantic Way. The Wild Atlantic Way is the world’s longest defined coastal touring route. The Wild Atlantic Way – Ireland's spectacular coastal route The Wild Atlantic Way, 1600 miles (2600 km) in length, is one of the longest defined coastal route in the world. The Wild Atlantic Way A driving route along Ireland’s west coast that the tourist board began promoting a few years back. If you have a more time to dedicate to your Wild Atlantic Way Donegal road trip, you could easily squeeze in a hike up Mount Errigal (the tallest peak in Donegal standing at an impressive 2,464 ft.) and Glenveagh National Park. not-to-be-missed experiences dotted along the route, You will be using Google Maps to plan your route day-to-day between each of the key locations on the itinerary. Wild Atlantic Way: Road Trip at a Glance. The Wild Atlantic Way is 1,600 mile scenic road trip stretching from County Donegal to County Cork. Southern Ireland Road Trip Itinerary Via the Wild Atlantic Way. Entrance fee. Hit the road. At parts we would stop the car to look at them only to find ourselves surrounded as they chase towards us expecting food I am guessing (although they’re not big into chips). Belfast City Airport), with cheap and easy car hire, and the start of the northernmost point in Donegal (Malin Head) is just 2 hours away. One of the most beautiful places in Europe (just look at these pics from my last trip! Some of my favorite stops were the ones I didn’t really plan, such as Bantry House and the Dunbeacon pottery shop. ), Ireland is an essential destination. Most times we would use our own car here, although we have rented out of Belfast before at the City Airport (Belfast Rental Comparison here). Best of County Galway: Connemara, Aasleagh Falls, Kylemore Abbey, Menlo Castle, Dunguaire Castle. It joins the ranks of other great coastal roads like Nova Scotia’s Cabot Trail, Big Sur, Maui’s Kaekili Highway, and South Africa’s Garden Route.. Drive down narrow one-lane roads to see secret beaches, towering cliffs, ancient stone architecture and more. After driving across from Dublin, my Wild Atlantic Way road trip kicked off in the village of Lisdoonvarna, southwest of Galway. Along the way you'll see stunning sea cliffs sandy stretches of beach, countless ruins and old and opulent grave yards. It tastes a bit like licking the hearth. I plan to add more specifics at some point, but I have covered some of the areas in our Top 10 Northern Ireland Attractions. So it’s just impractical. In fact many of the landscapes along the Causeway Coastline have featured on the Game of Thrones incl. We only saw a portion of it called the “Cliff Coast” but definitely want to go back for another trip exploring the full route. Just look for the blue wave signs below. The three historic stone bridges on route R374 from Bealadangan-Welshpool-Lettermore-Lettermullan have stood strong for a very long time. These aren’t so easy to find in sleepy rural and coastal towns. If you have 1.5 to 2 weeks, you really have a chance to soak in the magnificent views! Renowned for its unforgettable hospitality and jaw-dropping landscape, the Emerald Island has it all. Whether you are starting your road trip here or ending your journey you will not be disappointed and our map of Donegal will show you the way. The meandering path that is the Wild Atlantic Way. The Wild Atlantic Way, Ireland’s 1,500-mile (2,414-kilometre) touring route has a lot more to offer than just breathtaking sceneries. At the same time it still has traditional Irish charm with cobblestoned streets, boutique shops and winding alleys. There is so much to choose from it can be overwhelming to narrow down your options. I’d recommend this to anyone who loves a good adventure! It conjures up images of jagged cliffs, soaring gulls and crashing waves. Mizen Head, the Most Southernly Point of West Ireland (County Cork). I recommend strolling downtown on foot and exploring this vibrant city. Local food and fun make this trip one of the most unforgettable to take on the island, for families and groups, as well as couples on an adventure together. Experience the untamed west coast of Ireland and the Wild Atlantic Way: an adventure you will want never to end. The Wild Atlantic Way of Ireland is the longest defined coastal driving route on earth. With stunning landscapes and quiet country roads, the Emerald Isle is a destination that was made for a road trip. Share on twitter. From hiking, surfing, and kayaking to sampling the local food and whiskey, as well as whale watching, there’s something here for everyone. Anyway, from here we turn back to the coastline which can be seen on the horizon from Belbulben, as Sligo slopes down towards the Atlantic Sea. 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