A First-Timer's Guide to the Wild Atlantic Way
Imagining the Wild Atlantic Way conjures a single vision. I’m sitting in the trunk of my dad’s pick-up truck, wind whipping my hair across my face, laughing with my siblings as we watch the Connemara road swirl away. It’s desolate but beautiful: the kind of scenery you remember for a lifetime.
The Wild Atlantic Way stretches 2600km and passes nine counties: Clare, Cork, Donegal, Galway, Kerry, Leitrim, Limerick, Mayo, and Sligo. Starting on the Inishowen Peninsula in Donegal in the north, the scenic coastal road snakes down to the southern belly of Ireland, finishing in Kinsale, County Cork. Demanding a minimum of a week, it’s the definition of an Irish adventure.
For anyone plotting a Wild Atlantic Way itinerary, there are lots of tips and tricks. Here’s what every first-time visitor should know.
Best Stops on the Wild Atlantic Way
Buskers preparing to play music in Galway's Latin Quarter.
Knowing where to stop is an essential part of any road trip. The Wild Atlantic Way is a dot-to-dot route of traditional towns, cultured cities, and thatched villages, like Adare. Stop for lunch at Doolin, take a dolphin tour at Dingle, and stay a day or two in Galway, aka the “gateway” to the Wild Atlantic Way.
Beyond towns and villages, some of the best things to do on the Wild Atlantic Way are stopping at viewpoints. There are obvious attractions, like the Cliffs of Moher and Slieve League, which are amongst the highest cliffs in Europe. Inland, there are blink-and-you-miss-it scenes, too, like the Quiet Man Bridge, on the road from Galway to Clifden.
The Slieve League cliffs are amongst the tallest in Europe.
For hikers, Croagh Patrick is an absolute highlight — although summiting without shoes, as the traditional pilgrims do, is not for the fainthearted. Connemara National Park and Killarney National Park are complete sanctuaries, with peaceful trails like the 7km Diamond Hill route.
Another possibility is detouring to the Irish islands. The cultured trio of the Aran Islands is perfect for experiencing a slower pace of life, especially in Inis Mór, where ponies and traps (traditional carts) are still used to get around the island. Off the coast of Galway, Inisbofin is known for its white sand beaches and snorkeling.
From March to November, there are boat trips to the UNESCO site of Skellig Michael.
Further south, Sherkin Island has a 15th-century abbey and opportunities to spot humpback whales minke or basking sharks. Between March and November, it’s also possible to spend a few hours on Skellig Michael, a UNESCO-listed site with monastic ruins and a thriving population of puffins.
Where to Stay on the Wild Atlantic Way
For beachgoers, Donegal has many towns, including Portnoo, with beautiful sandy beaches.
Along the Wild Atlantic Way, there are over 800 places to stay. The most popular itinerary starts near Malin Head on the Inishowen Peninsula, then journeys south via Letterkenny, Donegal, Sligo, Achill Island, Galway, the Aran Islands, Dingle, Killarney, and Kinsale.
In Galway, choose the 18th-century estate, Glenlo Abbey Hotel, for a peaceful base on the city’s outskirts, or the Galmont Hotel & Spa to stay in the thick of it. If your itinerary allows for an overnight detour inland, the Dromoland Castle Hotel is an ancestral home of Irish royalty. Nearby, the neo-Gothic Adare Manor Hotel is a gateway to medieval ruins and the thatched cottages of Adare.
Near Killarney, The Dunloe Hotel and Gardens is a restorative break, offering horseback riding and complimentary fishing on the River Laune. The property is within walking distance of the 13th-century ruins of Dunloe Castle.
After reaching Kinsale, finish with a stay at the red-brick Hayfield Manor, which sits within a walled garden in Cork.
A word of warning: book accommodation in advance. There are ample places to stay on the Wild Atlantic Way, but given that much of the route is strung together by small towns and family-owned B&Bs, rooms go fast, especially in summer.
How Long Does it Take to Drive?
Driving the Wild Atlantic Way is incredibly scenic, following roads that cling to the coastline.
2600km is no mean feat. Equivalent to approximately 40 hours of driving, you should ideally allow 10 to 14 days to complete the Wild Atlantic Way. The views are beautiful, but you'll want to step out from behind the wheel — hiking Croagh Patrick, photographing cottages in Adare, and spontaneously stopping for meals at family-run B&Bs.
For those wanting a shorter experience, there are Wild Atlantic Way tours from Galway. These tours tend to include the Cliffs of Moher and a scenic drive through Connemara National Park, providing an efficient snapshot of the route.
If possible, however, go it alone. There is something irreplaceable about the liberating feeling of rolling down the western coastline, windows down and salt breeze blasting.
Takeaway
A bright morning on the Dingle Peninsula, a particularly beautiful stretch of the Wild Atlantic Way.
Forget the crowds of Dublin and the seaside infrastructure of the east. The Wild Atlantic Way clings to the highlights of Ireland's wind-battered western coastline. From Gaeltacht communities like Falcarragh — where traditional Irish remains the dominant language — to teetering sea cliffs, this route is an introduction to Ireland at its rawest.
