A Wild Atlantic Way Guide
Everything you need to plan a
Great Western Adventure
Soaring cliffs, buzzing towns, beautiful beaches, and spectacular views......a road trip along the Wild Atlantic Way is an epic journey of discovery.
Stretching 2,500km from the Inishowen Peninsula in Co Donegal down to the picturesque town of Kinsale in Co Cork, the Wild Atlantic Way is the longest defined coastal route in the world. Now that the lockdown restrictions have finally lifted, this is the perfect time to load up your car and see what all the fuss is about.
Discover awe-inspiring seaside drives, walk along remote beaches that are perfect for social distancing, take in the region’s unspoiled landscapes and experience the thrill of outdoor activities in dramatic coastal settings. It’s all there, just waiting to be explored.
We're bringing you this 'Great Western Adventure' guide so you can plan the ultimate road trip along the Wild Atlantic Way.
5 scenic drives in the west
1. Yeats Country, Co Sligo
Witness the spectacular sights and stunning scenery in Co Sligo that inspired one of Ireland’s most enduring poets, WB Yeats.
Drive the 42km tour from Innisfree to Lissadell and onto Drumcliff, where the great poet is buried. Stop and explore Sligo Abbey, which appears in two stories by Yeats, go surfing at Strandhill Beach, and walk Knocknarea Mountain whose beauty and legends fascinated Yeats. Drive along the spectacular coastal road at Mullaghmore and make sure to get some photos of the gothic-looking Classiebawn Castle!
2. The Atlantic Drive, Co Donegal
Stretching out into the Atlantic between the bays of Sheephaven and Mulroy, Rosguill Peninsula offers some of the most scenic views on the Wild Atlantic Way.
This drive is quite short at just 12km, but it doesn’t mean it’s any less exceptional. Stop off at Dunfanaghy, the seaside village near a sandy beach that offers windsurfing and canoeing. Then drive past the sculpted rocks at Crohy Head, the fiery headland known as Bloody Foreland and the seascapes around Horn Head and Rosguill.
3. Slea Head Drive, Dingle Peninsula, Co Kerry
This 47km circular touring route takes you on a journey through historic sites, Irish speaking villages, Hollywood film locations, and unrivalled views of the Blasket Islands and Skellig Islands. The most westerly part of the mainland, it boasts several beaches, so why not stop off and have a barefoot walk on Coumeenoole Strand?
4. Burren Beauty Drive, Co Clare
the perfect way to take in the unique landscape of the Burren with its bare, pale grey limestone and rare flora and fauna.
Starting in Kilfenora, it winds its way through Lisdoonvarna and up the coast to Black Head. Stop at Fanore beach and the stunning Flaggy shore and take in the fresh Atlantic air and spectacular landscape. Check out the charming village of Ballyvaughan on the coast and explore the Aillwee Caves located right in the heart of the Burren.
5. Sheep’s Head Peninsula, Co Cork
This 70km drive starts from Bantry town in West Cork and loops around the Sheep's Head Peninsula, which protrudes into the wild Atlantic Ocean in-between the larger Beara Peninsula and Mizen Peninsula. The drive takes in the entire headland where you get fantastic views of the Atlantic, and features some incredible local beauty spots like the Sheep’s Head Lighthouse.