The Wild Atlantic Way, 1600 miles (2600 km) in length, is one of the longest defined coastal route in the world. It winds its way all along the Irish west coast from the Inishowen Peninsula in the north down to the picturesque town of Kinsale, County Cork, in the south.
The Wild Atlantic Way encompasses the coastline and hinterland of the nine coastal counties of the West of Ireland – Donegal, Leitrim, Sligo, Mayo, Galway, Clare, Limerick, Kerry and Cork.
Millions of tourists visit Ireland every year with very few crime complaints or issues. If you are planning a trip to Ireland, in the grand scheme of the world, you have selected a relatively safe place. No country is completely crime or worry-free, however, Ireland does not have a super high-risk rate for crime.
The longest beach in Ireland is a continuous 20km stretch of sand in County Wexford connecting Cahore Point to The Raven Point. This includes Morriscastle and Ballinesker beaches. The northernmost point on the island of Ireland is Banba's Crown (C:396:597) at the tip of the Inishowen peninsula in County Donegal.
The route was officially launched in 2014 by Minister of State for Tourism and Sport, Michael Ring, T.D.
The distance between Limerick and Sligo is 179 km. The road distance is 218.5 km.
The distance between Galway and Tralee is 120 km. The road distance is 198.2 km.
Ireland is a very small but beautifully formed country. 280 km (175 miles) wide and 486 km (300 miles) long to be exact! This makes it about the size of South Carolina or Maine so you can cover a lot in 7 days. The best way to get around is to drive.
Whatever you do, make sure you dedicate part of your visit to the west coast to see the rugged beauty for yourself.
- The Cliffs of Moher.
- Have a dance in Galway.
- Drive the Wild Atlantic Way.
- Have a tipple in Limerick.
- Visit some stunning castles.
- Get lost in the Connemara Hills.
- Take a trip to the Aran Islands.
The Burren 100 mile Scenic Loop Drive is varied 150km figure of 8 looped driving route through the Burren National Park, a Unesco World Heritage Site and one of the most dramatic and unique landscapes in the world.
Can I walk the Wild Atlantic Way route? Yes, you can. The actual Wild Atlantic Way route is marked a driving route, covering over 2000kms of coastline along the West of Ireland. The route is well marked with the distinctive Wild Atlantic Way blue logo.
The distance between Dingle and Ennis is 117 km. The road distance is 186.1 km.
The distance between Galway and Kinsale is 178 km. The road distance is 221.1 km.
Starting from Killarney, cars should drive clockwise around the Ring of Kerry (Iveragh Peninsula) to avoid any delays from Tour Buses which MUST travel anti-clockwise around the Ring of Kerry due to narrow roads.
Driving in Ireland is not difficult , but you may want to rent an automatic car rather than one with a stick shift. Yes, it is more expensive, but the convenience is worth it if you're not used to driving on the left. If you normally drive a manual transmission shifting with the left hand should not be a problem.
The Dingle Peninsula loop trip is about 30 miles (47 km) long and must be driven in a clockwise direction. It's easy by car, or it's a demanding four hours by bike—if you don't stop.
You don't need to get an international driver's license. You can drive with a US license in Ireland and Northern Ireland, as long as it is valid while you are traveling. You must also meet the usual car rental age requirements (check rental car agency for details). The same goes for Canadian and EU citizens.
