Stretching from Cork to Donegal, Wild Atlantic Way is Ireland’s scenic showcase route and the best road trip you can take on the island. At around 1,550 miles (2,500 kilometers) long, the same distance from Brussels, Belgium to Moscow, the trip down the coast also guarantees plenty of stops along the way.
The incredibly scenic drive takes about three times longer than California’s Pacific Coast Highway. The winding route skirts the entire west coast of Ireland and takes close to 50 hours of pure driving time to complete, which is why many visitors choose to tackle it in sections.
If you have the time and skills to drive, Wild Atlantic Way is a great way to see a great part of Ireland. It passes through three Irish provinces (Munster, Connacht, and Ulster), or nine counties: Cork, Kerry, Limerick, Clare, Galway, Mayo, Sligo, Leitrim, and Donegal. All in all, depending on how much time you have to spend and exactly what you want to see, there are countless possible stops along the famous road trip route, but you need to plan a two-week trip to be able to see everything without too much rush.
We recommend doing the Wild Atlantic Way in a clockwise direction, starting in the south and continuing north. In Ireland, cars drive on the left, so heading in this direction means you’ll always be on the side of the road closest to the ocean, finding breathtaking views at every little turn.
Here’s a guide to the main stops along Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way, which runs from south to north as it travels the entire coastal route.
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Kinsale
Ireland is full of charming towns, but few are as perfect as the port city of Kinsale. The name of the city means “tidal head” and this southern town has a very pretty promenade full of sailboats floating on the waves. Get away from the ocean scenes to explore the narrow streets and colorful houses that fill the town of just over 5,000 people. It’s a great stop for a seafood lunch that will fortify you for the start of the Wild Atlantic Way, but from the museums to the haunted ruins of Charles Fort – there’s plenty to do in beautiful Kinsale.
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Mizen Head
After exploring Kinsale, head to Mizen Head, the most southwestern point in all of Ireland. These cliffs at the end of the Kilmore Peninsula in County Cork are ideal for wildlife viewing and wild scenery. Due to its strategic location on the outskirts of Ireland, Mizen Head has played an important role in warning ships and communicating across the Atlantic, which is why there are also several historical sites to visit. Pay the admission fee to visit the signal house built by Italian inventor Guglielmo Marconi to send the first transatlantic telegraph messages, or stop to see the house of light that helped ships safely pass for decades. Even if you skip the visitor center, the walks along the beach are impressive.
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Beara Peninsula
Getting used to a driving rhythm, it’s time to enjoy the road as you cruise the Beara Peninsula. The beautiful area that crosses from County Cork to County Kerry is one of the most picturesque but least visited parts of the Emerald Isle. Start with the rainbow of houses lining the streets of Eyeries before reaching the starting point for the gardens of Garnish Island, one of Ireland’s finest islands, reachable by ferry from Glengarriff. History buffs should head straight to the Derreenataggart stone circle, which dates back to the Bronze Age. Beach goers are likely to best enjoy a break on the white sand stretch of beautiful shoreline along Ballydonegan Bay.
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Isla Dursey
Park in the car at the tip of the Beara Peninsula and take a short detour to Dursey Island. The journey requires boarding a cable car that was originally built to transport more sheep than humans. In fact, there are only four people who live on the island full-time, so the best thing to do when you arrive is to immerse yourself in the quiet, rural atmosphere and enjoy a prepackaged picnic lunch before taking the cable car back to Ireland mainland.
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Sheep head
Take another road trip near Bantry in County Cork to hike the tip of the Sheep’s Head peninsula. The roads along this stretch of Wild Atlantic Way tend to be narrow and winding, but quiet because they are too small for the large tour buses that obstruct other parts of the route. Once you reach the western point, the most beautiful walks in the rugged landscape lead to the postcard-worthy lighthouse located on the edge of the cliffs.
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Ring of kerry
One of the reasons Wild Atlantic Way is such an amazing driving route is because it also incorporates many of the island’s other road trips, such as the Ring of Kerry. This popular loop along the Iveragh Peninsula is famous for good reason: along the way, you can detour into Killarney National Park to see Ross Castle, take a short hike out of the way to Torc Waterfall, or enjoy the valley-filled views. by Ladies View. This section of the Wild Atlantic Way also features old ring forts and pretty fishing villages.
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Dingle peninsula
Get away from traffic along the Ring of Kerry to escape to the County Kerry countryside on the Dingle Peninsula. The entire Wild Atlantic Way offers incredible scenery, but the views along this stretch of the drive are some of the best in the country. Pause to stretch your legs and watch the surfers along Inch Beach before continuing to the ruins of Minard Castle. Spend the night in Dingle Town to have more time to leisurely explore the charming town and all its gastronomic offerings or to see Fungie the Dolphin, a sea creature that has a large fan base in Ireland. After recovering in the beautiful seaside village, you’ll be ready to try and decipher the mysterious Gallurus Oratory, before tackling the hairpin turns of the cliff that lead to the peninsula (but have the advantage of offering unrivaled views of the nearby Blasket Islands, found near the coast).
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Castillo Dunguaire
Located on the shores of Galway Bay, Dunguaire Castle was first built in 1520. Over the years the fortified tower has become a fortress and a lesser sensation and is now one of the most photographed castles. from Ireland thanks to its charm. surroundings and strategic position along the Wild Atlantic Way. Visit the small museum inside or stick around for the medieval-themed dinners held here in the summer.
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Galway
Known for its bustling pubs and live Irish music, Galway remains a college town at heart with plenty to do and see. The student life circulating through the city adds liveliness to the medieval streets in the pedestrianized center. The best examples of Galway’s past may be the Spanish arch on the banks of the Corrib, but you can also see the century-old fortified house of Lynch Castle on Shop Street. In good weather, walk to Salthill to watch swimmers dive into the Blackrock Dive Tower. Before leaving the city, explore the Church of San Nicolás, where Columbus supposedly prayed before leaving Europe to discover the New World.
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Cliffs of Moher
The impressive Cliffs of Moher in County Clare are one of the most incredible places in Ireland. Windswept cliffs jut out into the Atlantic, offering sheer 700-foot drops and unforgettable views. The best place to enjoy it is from O’Brien’s Tower, a historic lookout perched on the edge of the cliffs by a Victorian political entrepreneur. There is also a visitor center that can educate you more about the geology of the area, but the best way to experience this natural wonder along the Wild Atlantic Way is to take a walk along the trails that line the slopes and enjoy the incomparable Irish landscape.
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Isla Achill
Connected to mainland Ireland via a bridge in County Mayo, Achill Island is one of Ireland’s finest islands and a top stop while cruising the Wild Atlantic Way. It is also the largest island in Ireland and has much to offer visitors, including the 15th-century fortified tower of Carrick Kildavnet Castle, five Blue Flag beaches, the former home of Nobel laureate Heinrich Böll, and Neolithic ruins. It also has rural charm and excellent walking opportunities.
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Kylemore Abbey
This luxurious estate in the Irish countryside is worth stopping by on a grand tour of the Wild Atlantic Way. The incredible mansion, perfectly reflected in the calm waters of Lough Pollacapull, was once the idyllic home of the Henry family, who built the 33-room castle in the 1860s. The London-based family loved to escape this Connemara haven, including beautiful walled Victorian gardens and numerous nature walks. These days, the mansion belongs to a group of Benedictine nuns who use the setting as a quiet abbey. The first floor of the house has been completely restored and can be visited along with the extensive grounds and a Neo-Gothic church built to honor Margaret Henry, the wife of the original owner.
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Liga Slieve
Shaded by the southernmost Cliffs of Moher, the real stars of the Irish landscape spectacle are the Slieve League. This stop along the Wild Atlantic Way offers the highest sea cliffs in Europe, towering 2,000 feet above the turbulent ocean below. This rural part of Donegal is rarely crowded, which means you can enjoy the fascinating scenery without fighting for the best view. Walk along the edges carefully and enjoy the break from the trail while enjoying the wild natural surroundings.
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Malin Head
It is common to say that Ireland stretches from Mizen Head to Malin Head, and once you reach this point further north on the Emerald Isle, you will know that you have completed the journey. The rocky shoreline is a wonder in its own right, but you can also explore the history of the area by looking for the WWII era tower atop the Banba crown or the rocks that spell EIRE, which was meant to point to the passing planes that had reached neutral Ireland during the war. Celebrate the end of your epic road trip with a hike to Hell’s Hole, a rugged sea cave where the truly wild Atlantic crashes against the rocks.
