The largest island in Ireland is in Mayo. I may or may not be by myself. It did always bring a smile to my face instead my normal stressed out look so maybe the sign was indeed doing its job. Irelands Wild Atlantic Way is an impressive 2,500km (1,553m) and it stretches between Donegal right the way down and around to Cork. I have no idea why a simple thing like sitting & driving in the opposite seat in the car completely threw off my entire 28 years of driving knowledge and perspective. County Clare 6. Heres a Trover list of my favorite outdoor adventures along the WAW that you can do: By far my favorite places to stay were the little family owned B&Bs along the way. Check out the watchtower atBanbasCrown;thelookouttowerwas built in 1805to keep watch againstaninvasionfrom Napoleon. How long does it take to do the Wild Atlantic Way? However, a word of warning. This area was formed by glaciers during the last ice age and is known as a karst landscape. We are good drivers, my husband has driven in Ireland and Scotland before, but our kids have not. Its really useful. Sherry thank you so much that is exactly the kind of information Ill be needing! The Wild Atlantic Way route stretches all the way from the Inishowen Peninsula in Donegal to the town of Kinsale on the coast of Cork. Rising from the Atlantic Ocean below to a maximum height of 214m, these are astounding sea cliffs that have captured the interest of visitors to the Emerald Isle for decades. What side of the road should I be on conversation swirled through my brain as I tried to sort out the confusion swiftly before causing an accident. Inchydoney Beach, a Blue Flag beach that is a great beginner surfer beach. Between gale force winds, she pointed out all of the old construction techniques of such forts as the well-known beehive huts. 12 Irish Drinking Toasts For Every Occasion. report. Load up that SmartPhone with the following apps: Google Maps, A valid US, Canada, or EU drivers license OR a valid International Drivers License, Your passport (if your drivers license doesnt have your photo), Your car rental contract OR a letter from the registered car owner giving you permission to drive it. Sounds like an amazing experience!! Learn more Ottsworld Privacy/Disclosure Policy, Driving in Ireland: The Wild Atlantic Way (Map & Route Guide), "Driving in Ireland: The Wild Atlantic Way (Map & Route Guide)". Notify me of follow-up comments by email. We will be in Carlingford for 4 weeks in July and our plan is to visit the WAW while there. Gleninchiquin is the perfect place to take the family if you are visiting the Wild Atlantic Way with kids. The 2,500-km stretch of road, beginning at Malin Head in County Donegal and ending at the Old Head of Kinsale in County Cork, beat out 49 other locations for the company's annual "50 Most Scenic Drives in the World." I personally loved the Sheepshead and the Dingle Peninsula in County Kerry. But why is this particular route in Ireland growing in popularity, and why should you travel it? Where does the Wild Atlantic Way start and finish? I started near the Blaskett Visitor Center in Dunquin and followed the well marked signs hiking along the coast. Live the life of a wealthy land baron, walk through the extensive gardens, sit by crackling fires, and get special access/use of the library and billiard rooms in the museum. Tourism Ireland Weaving through nine counties and three provinces, Ireland's raw yet magnificent. Enjoy walking, high cliffs, sea stacks, caves, and beaches. November 16, 2022 Your guide to the best wild camping spots Ireland has to offer for roadtripping Ireland in a campervan. Park anywhere. The isolated County Donegal is arguably one of the finest that the Wild Atlantic Way has to offer, and it has strong links to Irish language and culture with 37% of their population considering themselves to be Irish speakers. What to Pack for Ireland in June: Be Ready for Every Irish Adventure, June in Ireland Why Its the Perfect Time for a Celtic Getaway, Visiting the Hook Lighthouse, Wexford: An Adventure On Irelands Ancient Coastline, Visiting the Dunbrody Famine Ship in New Ross An Unforgettable Day. Although some, like Kinsale, Killarney and Westport, are fairly well known, others, like Allihies, Union Hall and Eyeries, tend to get overlooked. Travel Around Ireland is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, amazon.ca. Driving the Wild Atlantic Way on a rainy day? During the winter solstice, the setting sun passes through the portal of this monument. During the months of April to October, enjoy a medieval banquet in the evening at the castle. Id be lying if I said it hasnt been a nightmare of a task (and one thats ended in repetitive strain disorder!). But thank goodness they did, as thats what really sets it apart from other coastal drives Ive done. You just need to log in (takes 10 seconds) and then youll have full access to it. Your Wild Atlantic Way itinerary may include some or all of these counties, which are all located within the Republic of Ireland. Moving into County Donegal, one of the must-visit. The thing is that ill be traveling with my husband and my baby (hell be 14 m/o) so we were planing on renting a campervan, but we are not sure after reading this. Once you have done your research, consulted a map and looked at some accommodation options, write out a rough itinerary. Cliffs of Moher. Asides from the w marked Discovery Points, there are also Wild Atlantic Way information signs all along the trail relating local history and folklore. Keep in mind they drive on the other side of the road there so by heading north that means you are in the outside lane closest to the edge. It has hundreds of attractions split into categories, 2. To do the entire Wild Atlantic Way would take a solid 2 to 3 weeks hustling and not really stopping much. And funny. As well as being a popular seaside town, the cliffs at Kilkee are a quieter affair than their northern cousins but are just as beautiful to visit. The Wild Atlantic Way starts and ends in Malin Head in County Donegal in the north, and in the Old Head of Kinsale in County Cork in the south. *This post contains affiliate links, which may include Amazon affiliate links. Some of the more famous beaches that youll find on our Wild Atlantic Way map are Keem Bay and Coumeenoole Beach. Park the car and take the 20 minute walk down a muddy path through fields of livestock to find a little piece of Connemara History. Highlights along this section of the Wild Atlantic Way to add to your itinerary include. These actually sometimes had shoulders where cars and trucks zipped along them as if they were a 4 lane Audubon; yet they were simply a 2-way road. Expect wild, raw beauty punctuated by sea views that will take your breath away. Coupled with this are the 188 Wild Atlantic Way Discovery Points and interpretation panels sharing the story, history and heritage of the area to absorb when you arrive. We are planning a May 2016 trip. Id love to go back with more time and drive the full length. Select locations along it have always been popular with visitors, but others are now getting highlighted, thanks to the Wild Atlantic Way. The route boasts historical spots, natural wonders and many of Ireland's top attractions, like the Cliffs of Moher. The other key piece of advice I can give you about navigation (especially if you are driving solo) get a phone holder to put up on your window it saved my life many, many times. The Atlantic Coast of Ireland holds many wonders, towns, and landscapes to delight visitors to the Emerald Isle. (international and at home) and use them when I have to rent a car. It begins on the Inishowen Peninsula in Co. Donegal and goes through the counties Leitrim, Sligo, Mayo, Galway, Clare, Limerick and Kerry, finishing in Kinsale, County Cork. In spring and early summer, you may be able to spot basking sharks in the bay from the elevated observation point on the hill on the approaching road. Derrigimlagh is an interesting little town to visit. I made a map of all the signposts, with coordinates, on the Wild Atlantic Way and Ireland's Ancient East. 7-Day Ireland Luxury Along the Wild Atlantic Way. I missed signs, I was confused by the North/South sign indications as I drove West and East (even though you spend a lot of time going West and East, the Wild Atlantic Way signs only run North/South). The legendary Queen Medb is supposedly buried beneath a cairn on top of Knocknarea which can be seen all the way from Sligo town. The Wild Atlantic Way was officially launched in 2014 but new Discovery Points, look outs and visitors centres have been added since. Hi Mary! One thing to take into account is the extra fee to drop the car at a different location than where you started. If you are planning to visit popular places along the way such as the Cliffs of Moher, arrive early in the morning, or go later in the afternoon to avoid all the tour groups, unless you are part of one yourself. While there are three arches located at Crohy Head, often called the Breeches, only the most prominent is visible from the clifftop viewpoint. Fantastic! Out at the very edge of Europe, the Wild Atlantic Way stretches for 1,500 miles along Ireland's western seaboard. Its formal gardens are worth visiting and you will find many other activities to enjoy in this town. That is one long road trip would love to do it someday! It is precisely the kind of trip my hubby and I would love to do and you have provided so many of the pertinent details that you have made researching this trip so much easier! All of these make up the roads youll be driving on the heavily-marketed Ireland road trip. Your location is only used to show reccomendations. Outside of Dingle, Inch Strand and Coumeenoole beach are both amazing beaches for a stroll. But these world-famous sea cliffs are not the only thing to see and do along this part of the coast of Ireland. County Donegal 2. And if you want to go hiking check out Ireland Walk Hike Bike they are super! Also bring clothes to layer for warmth, and wool socks that dry fast (and are also warm!). Youll need at least 7 days to see a good portion of it. They had them everywhere on these tiny little single lane roads. The route is 2,500km long and includes 156 discovery points along the way but the route itself has hundreds of others for individuals to discover by themselves. - Wild Atlantic Way Special by Ireland Highlights -, $MMT = window.$MMT || {}; $MMT.cmd = $MMT.cmd || [];$MMT.cmd.push(function(){ $MMT.display.slots.push(["719fd5e5-93f3-42a3-a5e8-1f383bd8a02e"]); }). A small part of my trip was supported by Failte Ireland, however all opinions are my own. Written by Becca Posted in Ireland Table of contents Im thinking of doing a road trip of the entire country and this is going to be an awesome resource! April 7, 2022. All information and images contained in this website are copyrighted by the author and may not be distributed, modified, reproduced in whole or in part without the permission of the author. Its a favouriteforextremewatersportsenthusiasts as well as those who simply like to look on in aweatthe brave surfers out at sea. After traveling around Ireland for 2 weeks, I took the opportunity to stay in the countryside at Glenview House. Before its inception in 2014, I had inadvertently travelled along part of what was to become the Wild Atlantic Way. The beaches of this part of Cork are sandy and beautiful, and some of the best lighthouses to see in Ireland are along this part of the Irish coastline. The Wild Atlantic Way is a coastal drive along the west coast of Ireland. Phil. Mizen Head is Irelands most southwesterly point, and as such, its very popular. The views were stunning of the Blaskett Islands and the pounding surf. You can make it through 10 counties if you encroach into Derry in Northern Ireland at the start or end of your trip. Highlights along the Clare coastline to enjoy along the Wild Atlantic Way include. Cork City is located in the southern part of the county and is the second largest city in the republic. Theres an abundance of signage to follow and if you get lost for a bit who cares, its fun to get lost! Photo: Chris Hill for Tourism Ireland. Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way: Off-the-Beaten-Path Itinerary Ideas Which places should be on an itinerary for a West coast of Ireland road trip? I gave up trying to understand the parking signs and pretty quickly started following the leads of locals. Feel free to leave a draft of your itinerary in the comments section. Those that do will apply an additional insurance cover.