Having spent most of my time road-tripping across the UK, I can honestly say there’s nothing quite like driving along the Wild Atlantic Way! In my opinion it should be a place everyone needs to experience, whether you’re into road trips or not. The awe-inspiring landscapes, wild beauty and the charming Irish hospitality are just a few of the reasons why you should plan your next road trip here.
So, I’ve pulled together the ultimate Wild Atlantic Way guide to help you plan an epic road trip along Ireland’s west coast. If you’re tackling the full route or just exploring a section, this guide has everything you need! Plus, if you’re looking for even more in-depth advice, our Road Trip Ireland guidebook covers the region in detail, making it the perfect companion for your adventure!
Stretching a vast 1600 miles in length, the Wild Atlantic Way is one of the longest defined coastal routes in the world. It travels along Ireland’s west coast, beginning at the Inishowen Peninsula in the north and winding its way down to Kinsale in County Cork. Along the route you’ll stop at counties Leitrim, Sligo, Mayo, Galway, Clare, Limerick and Kerry, finally finishing in Kinsale, County Cork.
You can do the trip in either direction. However, I’d recommend South to North as you’ll drive on the side of the road closest to the sea providing the best views.
The one thing I really underestimated on my first trip to Ireland was the size and scale of the country. It’s one thing looking at it on a map, but when you get down to the nitty gritty and start planning, it’s bloody huge!
Now, we’ve already established the Wild Atlantic Way is a long stretch, but did you know it’s over three times bigger than the NC500 in Scotland?! So, the density of must-see locations in Ireland especially on the Atlantic Way, is much higher. As a result, you’ll end up covering less ground each day or have to miss out on locations to cover a larger area.
You’ll certainly need a minimum of 12 days. But, from my personal experience 3-4 weeks is much better as you’ll be able to see almost everything at a more relaxed pace, with time to enjoy some experiences and excursions.
However, if you’re short on annual leave, don’t worry I know three weeks is a big commitment! Instead, you can break the trip into smaller sections, making it easier to manage while giving you the chance to explore more of Ireland along the way.
It can be difficult knowing where to start when planning a trip of this magnitude, across so many days – so I’ve done the tough bit for you! Below, you can find my ideal 12-day Wild Atlantic Way guide itinerary covering all the best bits. You can change this to include more days as needed, however it makes a good starting point and guide to follow.
DAY | JOURNEY | ACTIVITIES | ACCOMMODATiON | DRiVE TiME |
1 | Crookhaven to Allihies | Crookhaven / Barleycove / Mizen Head / Bantry / Dursey Island Cable Car / Ballydonegan Beach / Allihies | Allihies Camping | 2 hrs 49 mins |
2 | Allihies to Caherdaniel | Eyeries / Castletown-Bearhaven / Healy Pass / Gleninchaquin Park / Kenmare / O’Carroll’s Cove / Derrynane Beach | Wave Crest Caravan Park | 3 hrs |
3 | Caherdaniel to Rossbeigh | Ballinskelligs Beach / Skelligs Chocolate / Kerry Cliffs / Portmagee (Skellig Island Boat Tour) / Kells Bay / Rossbeigh Strand | Glenross Caravan & Camping Park | 2 hrs 5 mins |
4 | Rossbeigh to Dingle | Killarney & National Park / Ross Castle / Torc Waterfall / Conor Pass / Dingle | Dingle Marina Off Grid | 2 hrs 40 mins |
5 | Dingle to Kilrush | Slea Head Drive / Coumeenoole Beach / Dunquin Pier / Clogher Strand / Tralee (Optional) / Tarbert Ferry / Kilrush | Kilrush Marina | 3 hrs |
6 | Kilrush to Galway | Cliffs of Moher / Doolin (Aran Islands optional) / Fanore Beach / Aillwee Burren Experience / Galway | Salthill Caravan Camping | 3 hrs |
7 | Galway to Clifden | Quiet Man Bridge / Gurteen Bay & Dogs Bay / Mannin Bay Blueway / Clifden / Clifden Sky Road | Clifden Eco Beach Camping | 2 hrs 30 mins |
8 | Clifden to Achill Island | Renvyle Beach / Kylemore Abbey / Killary Harbour / Aasleagh Falls / Drive to Louisburgh / Westport / Keel Beach | Keel Camping | 3 hrs |
9 | Achill Island to Ballycastle | Keem Beach / White Cliffs of Ashleam / Grace O’Malley’s Towerhouse / Cloughmore Viewpoint / Ballycroy Visitor Centre (short walk),Céide Fields / Downpatrick Head (Dun Briste Sea Stack & Blowhole) | Off Grid Ballycastle or Belleek Park Camping | 2 hrs 45 mins |
10 | Ballycastle to Donegal | Sligo / Glencar Waterfall / Devils Chimney Walk (optional) / Benbulben Forest Walk / Gleniff Horseshoe / Streedagh Beach / Donegal | Off Grid Donegal Riverside Parking | 3 hrs |
11 | Donegal to Ardara | Slieve League Cliffs / Silver Strand / Glencolumbkille Beach / Maghera Caves (optional) / Assaranca Waterfall / Ardara | Off Grid Ardara or Tramore Beach Caravan and Camping | 2 hrs 25 mins |
12 | Ardara to Fanad Head | Glenveagh National Park / Falcarragh Beach / Downings Bay Beach / Murder Hole Beach / Fanad Head Lighthouse | Knockalla Caravan & Camping Park | 3 hrs |
You can also find more itineraries within my Road Trip Ireland guidebook, which covers the entirety of the wild Atlantic and more of Ireland!guide
There’s a reason Donegal often tops “must-see” lists. Towering sea cliffs at Slieve League, the windswept shores of Malin Head, and hidden beaches like Silver Strand are perfect if you love nature in its most untouched form.
Sligo is a surfer’s paradise, with Strandhill and Mullaghmore drawing wave-chasers from around the globe. Farther along in Mayo, places like Downpatrick Head and Achill Island are must-sees. But be warned, you’ve got to brave the wind!
If you’re looking to hike somewhere with epic views, then Connemara National Park is the place to go. Spanning 3000-hectares it has an incredible landscape of mountains, woodlands, grasslands and bogs. In contrast, the street of Galway city are lined with old Irish pubs buzzing with the sound of trad music. You’ll also find an endless number of restaurants and a maze of colourful shops.
The Cliffs of Moher might be world-famous, but Clare is full of other gems. Explore the rocky landscape of the Burren, ferry over to the Aran Islands, or enjoy some traditional Irish music in Doolin.
It’s said in Kerry that, “There are only two kingdoms, the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Kerry.” That should give you an insight into the scale of this mammoth county. Stretching from the Beara Peninsula all the way to Tarbert, Kerry is home to some of Ireland’s most spectacular natural scenery. Don’t miss Slea Head Drive and be sure to enjoy a boat trip to the Skellig Islands.
End (or start) your journey in the vibrant county of Cork. Home to Mizen Head offering some of the best coastal views in the country and the beautiful Barleycove Beach. Also be sure not leave without sampling the local seafood!
Ultimately, unlike some more relaxing road trips, the Wild Atlantic Way offers a very different type of experience, but a spectacular one nonetheless! I had such an amazing time exploring it with friends last year, and with so much more of Ireland left to see, I’m already planning another trip later this year.
If you want to keep on top of my Ireland adventures head over to my YouTube channel Robbie Roams – don’t forget to hit the subscribe button!
Collie dog lover, keen traveler and travel guide writer. In 2022, I launched No Fuss Travel Guides with 'North Coast 500 - The Road Trip of a Lifetime' which became an Amazon best seller. I've since worked with tourism boards including Visit Wales and have been featured in The Guardian 'Best of Travel'.
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Rob, Staffordshire, UK
