I decided to highlight one of the most popular road trips in the world for today’s destination series. We’re still in Ireland, this time on the Wild Atlantic Way. This 2,500km long route takes you through nine counties and six diverse regions of Ireland. It highlights the spectacular scenery, small town charm, and ancient Irish heritage.
Wild Atlantic Way
The Wild Atlantic Way runs – technically – from Kinsale, which is just south of Cork, to Derry, Northern Ireland. It follows as much of the coast as the road possibly can, but it’s more than possible to do the route in a shorter time by driving inland.
The Wild Atlantic Way website has ready-made two to five day itineraries. Depending on your comfort level of driving in Ireland, the time you have, and your preferred pace of travel, it’s possible to do the route in a week. However, I’d suggest more than a week if you plan to visit both the signature highlights and the lesser known attractions.
Highlights along the Wild Atlantic Way include the remote Ballinskelligs and the Skellig rocks, the Ring of Kerry, the Cliffs of Moher and their counterpart in County Donegal, Sliabh Liag, and Kylemore Abbey and Gardens. There are hundreds of other destinations along the route.
Several years ago, I did much of this route with some family. This was before they called it the Wild Atlantic Way, but branding it has only changed the amount of people that traverse it each year. The stunning vistas remain the same, although the castles might have more ivy crawling up the walls and the barren karst landscape of the Burren might be a little greyer.
Travelling the Wild Atlantic Way
There are definite perks to hiring a car and travelling the route yourself. You are much less restricted in where you stay and how often you stop during the day. Tour companies offer a variety of tours along the route; most stay just one night in each place before leaving early the next morning. If you travel alone, you can stay multiple nights in one place while exploring the region from that base. If you’re uncomfortable driving on the left side of the road, but don’t want to take a group tour, you can hire a driver for the duration of your trip. This private driver/guide combination ensures you see the sights while still travelling comfortably.
Another option, for those with less time, is to hire a car for the day and explore just a portion of the route. Trust me, the coastal roads in Ireland are thrilling to drive, even if you’re a passenger!
Be sure to spend time in some of the colourful towns along the Wild Atlantic Way. While many of the stops are small coastal villages, even more are vibrant towns that showcase the famous Irish craic! Popular stops include Westport, home to Matt Molloy’s Pub (member of the Chieftains), Galway, Donegal, and Kinsale. The Irish culinary scene is no longer a meat and potatoes menu. Expect to find fresh seafood of all kinds, seafood chowders, freshly baked breads, organic produce, and locally sourced meat. You’ll also find plenty of breweries and distilleries along the route.
Extending your trip
Circumnavigating Ireland can be done easily. To extend your trip, continue into Northern Ireland once the official Wild Atlantic Way is over (just north of Derry). Travel the coastal causeway route past Carrick-A-Rede, Dunluce, and the Giants Causeway before heading south to Belfast. Two days in Belfast offers enough time to explore the main attractions. Belfast to Dublin is a short drive, and from Dublin you can explore the southeast coast to Cork!
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