The Wild Atlantic Way
The Wild Atlantic Way claims to be the longest defined coastal route in the world, covering some 2500 kms, which Google, or anyone else who has never actually driven in Ireland, will tell you is perfectly feasible to drive in 41 hours & 40 minutes. Good luck with that! as they say in Ireland. While that might be the case on perfect roads elsewhere in the world, it certainly isn't true of Ireland, besides what hurry is on you? Having driven all over Ireland myself, I can reliably inform you that a round trip of 100 kms as in the Inishowen 100 in County Donegal or the Beara Peninsula in County Cork, both just tiny sections of the Wild Atlantic Way, realistically takes a minimum of one day, preferably two, to do the scenery any justice at all, never mind the 'elasticated' road signs and endless photo opportunities. So, unless you can take at least a month off work, preferably six, I recommend doing the Wild Atlantic Way in small bite sized pieces.....
1 Inishowen Peninsula, County Donegal superb, start from Derry or take the ferry from McGillan Point, apparently you can see the sea from everywhere on Inishowen. Don’t miss Grianan an Ailleach at sunset for 360 degree views of Derry, Lough Foyle and Lough Swilly.
2 Fanad Head Drive, County Donegal inspired by fond memories of the Donegal Rally tearing around these coastal roads with sheer drops and stunning coastal views. Best beaches in Ireland too, Ballymastocker voted one of the Top 10 in the world.
3 Hornhead Loop, Dunfanaghy County Donegal, incredible especially at sunset when the low light highlights the cliffs, one of my absolute favourites but then again there is nothing I don’t like about Donegal including Arnold’s Hotel and Muck and Muffins Café.
4 Slieve League Cliffs and on out to Malin Beg, Glencolumcille and Ardara via the Glenesh Pass. Twice as high as the Cliffs of Moher and totally unspoiled as yet with only a fraction of the visitors, these are worth seeing. Don’t come back without going out as far as Malin Beg, a perfect horseshoe beach with 100 steps down to it.
(Ardara to Maghera is possibly the most varied and beautiful short drive in Ireland, backed by haunted glens, a beautiful waterfall, a white sandy beach with wind whipped dunes and a boardwalk and huge caves.)
The drive down from Donegal to Sligo is spectacular in its own right even though it is on the main road, with Mullaghmore on the seaside and Ben Bulben inland.
(Downpatrick Head, Ceide Fields and on out as far as Benwee Head and Bellmullet on Black Sod Bay are good too if you have the time)
5 Atlantic Drive Achill Island, the original and best, fantastic! Drive up to the top of Minaun for 360 degree views of Achill, Keel Bay, Clew Bay, Croagh Patrick. The icing on the cake is the drive there or back taking the long way around via Corraun for enticing views of Clare Island.
6 Westport to Louisburgh and on down to Leenane via Doulough hauntingly beautiful literally, a lot of people died in this valley during the famine. And then on out to Clifden via Kylemore Abbey with a detour to take in the Sky road and then back through Connemara surrounded by the Twelve Bens Mountains to Galway.
7 Black Head Drive, the coastal route from Kinvara, which has the most photographed castle in the West, Dunguaire via Ballyvaughan, a charming seaside village with thatched cottage and on out through the karst limestone region of the Burren to Black Head, Doolin and the Cliffs of Moher.
(Loop Head is excellent too, start in Kilkee another perfect horseshoe bay and Victorian styled seaside village, don’t miss the Bridges of Ross, or the Ark in St Mary’s Church, have a pint in the most westerly pub in Ireland, Kealy’s or something to eat in the Longdock in Carrigaholt which does very good seafood)
8 Slea Head Drive Dingle, world famous you can’t go wrong, Inch Beach, Dingle, Coumceenole, the Great Blaskets, Dun Chaoin, the heritage centre there, the beehive huts and lots and lots of tourists.
9 Ring of Kerry, ditto spectacular but busy, busy, busy in July and August, my tip leave late and travel anti clockwise via Kilorglin, against the tour buses, it’s bright in Ireland in summertime till about 11pm, so there is no need to be up at the crack of dawn. By late afternoon you will have the roads to yourself.
(Or do the smaller loops around Valentia Island or Ballinskellig’s where the tour buses can’t go, much quieter and every bit as spectacular. Drive up to the top of Geokaun for 360 views of Dingle, the Blaskets, Cahirciveen, the Magillicuddy Reeks and the Skelligs. Walk in the 385 million year old footsteps of the dinosaurs or sip hot chocolate in the Skelligs Chocolate Factory at St Finan’s Bay.
10 Beara Peninsula, still Ireland’s best kept secrets and one of the most beautiful places in Ireland, you could spend days down here and never be found again with any luck, highlights include Uragh stone circle, organic mussels in O Sullivan’s Pub in Lauragh and the Healy Pass.
(the drive out to Mizen Head via Crookhaven in West Cork is good too, ditto Sheep's Head so I am told, on my bucket list for 2015)
For a short taster watch the following video clip by Tourism Ireland...
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