The Wild
Atlantic Way
About 2,500 km of signed coastal road down Ireland's west coast, from Kinsale to Malin Head: sea cliffs, peninsulas, small towns and pubs with live music. Allow ten days or more.
Cork and Kerry
The Wild Atlantic Way is a signed coastal route of roughly 2,500 km along Ireland's west coast, from Kinsale in County Cork to Malin Head in County Donegal. You can drive it in either direction, but starting in the south means the sea is on your right on the way north.
Kerry is the first big highlight. The Ring of Kerry and the smaller Dingle Peninsula both offer sea views and mountain roads; Slea Head Drive on Dingle is the more intimate of the two.
Drive on the left
In Ireland you drive on the left. Many rural roads are narrow with stone walls and no shoulder, so take your time and pull in to let faster traffic pass.
Clare, Galway and Connemara
The Cliffs of Moher in County Clare rise about 200 metres above the Atlantic and are best visited early or late in the day to avoid the crowds. Further north, Galway is a lively city, and Connemara beyond it is a landscape of lakes, bog and mountains.
Mayo, Sligo and Donegal
The northern half of the route is quieter. Sligo has Yeats country and Benbulben, and Donegal has the huge sea cliffs of Slieve League. The route ends at Malin Head, the northernmost point of the island of Ireland.
Slea Head Drive
A short, scenic loop around the end of the Dingle Peninsula.
Seafood and pubs
Fresh seafood and live music in the small towns along the coast.
Book ahead in summer
B&Bs and small hotels fill up quickly from June to August.
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