Wild Atlantic Way
Practical Guide

Wild Atlantic Way

Les Falaises de Moher - © UTBP

Did you know? Ireland has one of the longest coastal roads in the world! Known as the “Wild Atlantic Way” (Slí an Atlantaigh Fhiáin in Irish Gaelic), it covers more than 2,500km of the entire west of Ireland. A magnificent route, it offers some of the most beautiful scenery in Ireland! On the program: wild bays, beaches, cliffs, castles, colorful villages, national parks, dolmens… You’ll be fascinated by the sumptuous panoramas and the diversity of activities on offer! All the ingredients for one of the most beautiful road trips of your life!

Road-trip: rent a car and hit the Wild Atlantic Way!

More than 2500km to cover… for hundreds of exceptional spots to discover!

Malin Head - © Shawn

Malin Head – © Shawn

The Wild Atlantic Way starts in the north-west of Ireland, at Malin Head in County Donegal, and follows the west-Irish coast to the port of Kinsale in south-west Ireland.

Most of the route is in the Republic of Ireland, and passes through a number of counties, including Leitrim, Sligo, Mayo, Galway, Clare, Limerick and Kerry, ending in Kinsale, County Cork.

Loved by lovers of wild and seaside landscapes, the tour is usually done by car, bus or bike. It’s aimed above all at road-trip enthusiasts who aren’t afraid of putting in the miles.

The tour is rich in possibilities: the Wild Atlantic Wild is home to a rare concentration of exceptional tourist sites!

Travelers wishing to do the tour usually do it as a self-tour, with bed & breakfast and rental car. If you’re a 100% wilderness enthusiast, this is a great way to hike, swim and see some of the country’s finest sights!

Un mouton sur une route dans le Connemara en Irlande - © Roberto Medeiros

A sheep on a road in Connemara, Ireland – © Roberto Medeiros

Among the most beautiful sites to see, we recommend :

  • Malin Head and the Slieve League cliffs in County Donegal
  • Mullaghmore Head in County Mayo
  • Connemara and Killary Harbour in County Galway
  • Cliffs of Moher, Loop Head in County Clare
  • Skellig Islands, Dursey Island, Ring of Kerry in County Kerry

The scenery is sumptuous, giving you a comprehensive overview of what wild Ireland has to offer! Megaliths, lighthouses, magnificent bays and cliffs are just some of the highlights of this tour!

Allow between 10 and 15 days to complete the tour, taking your time as you go. Of course, you could go faster, but the beauty of the Wild Atlantic Way is that you can explore as you please, taking roads you hadn’t planned, wasting 2 or 3 hours sipping a pint… In short, it’s an opportunity to take the time to live, experience and meet unforgettable people!

Generally speaking, the Wild Atlantic Way can be completed in 14 stages.

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