Free Wild Atlantic Way Online Guide Book
Free Wild Atlantic Way Online Guide Book
Free Wild Atlantic Way Online Guide Book
t l a n t i c Way
Wild A online
guide
MALIN HEAD
FANAD HEAD
Free
SLIEVE LEAGUE Donegal Route
MULLAGHMORE HEAD
DOWNPATRICK HEAD
Mayo Route
Sligo & Leitrim Route
eBook
KILLARY HARBOUR
DERRIGIMLAGH BOG
Galway Route
CLIFFS OF MOHER
LOOP HEAD
Clare & Limerick Route
BLASKET’S VIEW
Kerry Route
DURSEY ISLAND
OLD HEAD OF
KINSALE
MIZEN HEAD
www.wildatlanticwayonline.com
Discover The Wild Atlantic Way
Ireland’s 2,500km coastal driving route known as the Wild Atlantic Way stretches from the north of
county Donegal to the southern tip of county Cork. These roads have always been favoured by locals
and tourists alike for generations even before they became to be known collectively as The Wild
Atlantic Way. The route offers truly spectacular Atlantic ocean vistas and places to visit. Over 150 of
these locations have been officially categorised as Wild Atlantic Way Discovery Points with a further
15 highlighted as Signature Discovery Points of special merit.
Our website is laid out with pages for each county along the coastal route showing a map and list of
the Discovery Points in that county plus tours, activities, events, business listings and accommodation
links for that county. This accompanying eBook follows a similar layout and is designed to be a useful
reference when travelling, particularly if you find yourself without internet access.
Our intrepid travel blogger Kate will bring your her personal take from her day trips and mini breaks
along the route in Kate’s Road Trip Blog plus we post tourism developments and updates in our Latest
News Blog.
If you would like to suggest a special must-see sight for Kate to visit please get in touch – Also if you
have a business on The Wild Atlantic Way that you would like us to visit we would be delighted to do
so and will review it for this website.
By downloading this free guide book you have joined our email list to receive our newsletters. Your
privacy is important to us. We do not share or sell your contact information and there will always be
an unsubscribe link on our newsletters so you can unsubscribe at any time.
Many Thanks
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Contents
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The Cork Route
County Cork is the southernmost section of Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way. Perhaps you are planning to travel
the entire Wild Atlantic Way coastal route starting in Cork (or ending in Cork) or are just dropping by for a
day or two? However you choose to sample the delights of County Cork you will not be disappointed.
This stretch of the Wild Atlantic Way coastline weaves through a sub-tropical landscape of inlets, islands
and Blue Flag beaches. The Discovery Points shown below are selected to help you plan your visit with the
Signature Discovery Points of Old Head of Kinsale, Mizen Head and Dursey Island offering truly special
experiences. They are marked with orange icons on our map of Cork Wild Atlantic Way Discovery Points
below.
Take the opportunity to find your sea legs with a boat trip, kayaking, sailing, whale watching or a spot of
fishing. Work up an appetite with a bracing walk in the sea air and satisfy your hunger with wonderful local
artisan food. West Cork is famous for it’s great festivals and vibrant arts & crafts community so there is
always something interesting to do and see.
Read More on website
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Cork Signature Discovery Points
The ‘must see’ locations on Cork’s Wild Atlantic Way:
The Old Head of Kinsale is a deserving Wild The Old Head of Kinsale
Atlantic Way Signature Discovery Point. The head-
land extends out into the Atlantic ocean for 3 km.
At the start of the headland is the Old Head Signal
Tower which was built during the Napoleonic era in
1805. These towers were an important line of
defence against French invasion.
Mizen Head
Mizen Head in County Cork is Ireland’s most south-westerly
point and a Wild Atlantic Way Signature Discovery Point. The
views are fantastic, be prepared to be blown away! It gets a little
windy here too!
The Mizen Head Signal Station was built over 100 years ago to
warn shipping of the dangerous rocks that lie close to the shore-
line. There is also a maritime museum close to the Signal Station.
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Cork (continued)
These day tours either depart by bus from Cork City, are
walking tours or are easily traveled to by own car from
Cork in 1 day eg: access ticket to Titanic Experience in
Cobh.
This atlas splits up the route into 30 Fold-Out maps which are detailed yet
easy to read. The coastal roads are classified so that you are instantly
aware of any narrow sections and you can also see where the really scenic
stretches are located.
Each section is drivable in one day or less and there are useful distance
charts for towns and villages to help you plan your journey. All of the
official Discovery Points are clearly shown including the 15 iconic Signa-
ture Points.
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The Kerry Route
County Kerry’s wonderful scenery and world class beaches have made it one of Ireland’s most popular
holiday destinations both for foreign visitors and for the Irish stay-at-home vacations. It is referred to by
locals as ‘The Kingdom’ because Kerry truly feels like a ‘world apart’.
Central to the county lies Killarney National Park, 10,000 hectares of forest trails and the MacGillycuddy
Reeks mountains with Carrauntoohil, Ireland’s highest peak.
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Kerry Signature Discovery Points
The ‘must see’ locations on Kerry’s Wild Atlantic Way:
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Kerry (continued)
Originally aran sweaters were knitted from heavy wool with a lot
of natural oils. It was the oil in the wool that made the sweater
somewhat waterproof and warm for the fisherman.
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The Clare & Limerick Route
There are 2 Signature Discovery Points in Clare, namely the famous Cliffs of Moher and Loop Head shown
with orange map markers in the map of Clare & Limerick Discovery Points below.
County Clare is famous for it’s region of karst landscape known as The Burren. This area manages to appear
both harsh and fragile at the same time. The rocky ground is home to many rare species of alpine plants.
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Clare & Limerick Signature Discovery Points
The ‘must see’ locations on County Clare and County Limerick’s Wild Atlantic Way:
Loop Head
Loop Head is located the western tip of County Clare, a narrow peninsula of land pointing out to sea. This
finger of land would be an island if it were not for a mile of land connecting it to the rest of county Clare.
The coastline of Loop Head Peninsula boasts some of the most dramatic cliffs and spectacular views to be
found.
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Clare & Limerick (continued)
Day Tours From Clare & Limerick
Bus Tours, Ferry or Boat Cruises in or around
Counties Clare and Limerick.
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The Galway Route
County Galway is on the West coast of Ireland, in the province of Connacht. It’s many attractions include the
wild and rugged Connemara region, the Aran Islands – Inisheer, Inishmaan and Inishmore, wonderful vistas
over Galway Bay and the Wild Atlantic Way Signature Discovery Point of Derrigimlagh Bog. Derrigimlagh
Bog is marked with an orange marker in our Map of Galway Discovery Points below.
The county has many large Gaeltacht areas where Irish is widely spoken. The city of Galway is a vibrant hub
of arts, culture and music. It’s large University population ensure that there is an active night life.
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Galway Signature Discovery Points
The ‘must see’ location on County Galway’s Wild Atlantic Way:
Derrigimlagh Bog
Derrigimlagh Bog is one of the Signature Discovery Points of the Wild Atlantic Way. It is uniquely beautiful
area of blanket peat bog and lakes important not only for it’s rich and diverse willdlife and plantlife but also
as the scene of two significant events in international travel and communications history.
Amazingly this same remote and isolated location was also the site of the crash landing of John Alcock and
Arthur Whitten Brown in 1919 on the first non-stop flight across the Atlantic. They took off from New-
foundland 16 hours earlier on the morning of the 15th June 1919. The spot is marked by a white memorial
shaped like an aeroplane wing.
There is a new walkway through the bog marked by interactive information points telling the fasincating
history of this area. Viewing through the binocular style information points one can see the existing land-
scape overlaid with images of the view as it was in the early 20th century.
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Galway (continued)
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The Mayo Route
County Mayo is located on the west coast of Ireland and is the third largest county in Ireland. It has over 300
miles of coastline, with inlets, bays, headlands and islands. Weave along this route at a leisurely pace,
find your own private spot and lose yourself for a while.
The Mayo Discovery Points are all well worth checking out but if you are pushed for time you should really
try to visit the 3 Wild Atlantic Way Signature Discovery Points Downpatrick Head, Keem Strand
and Killary Harbour.
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Mayo Signature Discovery Points
The ‘must see’ location on County Mayo’s Wild Atlantic Way:
Downpatrick Head
Downpatrick Head is a Signature Discovery Point
on Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way Route and deserv-
edly so. The headland and sea stack of Dún Briste
(the broken fort) is as beautiful, dramatic and
inspiring on wild and windy days as it is on calm and
sunny days. Do take care, particularly with young
children, and do not venture close to the cliff edge
as there are no safety barriers.
Keem Strand
Keem Strand is an idyllic sheltered beach on
Achill Island and a Wild Atlantic Way Signature
Discovery Point.
Killary Harbour
Killary Harbour is in the heart of Connemara and is a
great example of a fjord (and one that every Irish
geography student remembers from their school
days!). It forms part of a natural border between the
counties of Galway and Mayo. From this point you can
see the Maumturk Mountains and the Twelve Bens.
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Mayo (continued)
You can count on Rick Steves to tell you what you really need to know
when traveling in Ireland.
With this guide, you can explore lively Dublin, quaint Kilkenny, and the
moss-draped ruins of the Ring of Kerry. Navigate meandering back
roads that lead to windswept crags on the dramatic Dingle Peninsula.
Rick's candid, humorous advice will guide you to good-value hotels and
restaurants. He'll help you plan where to go and what to see, depending
on the length of your trip. You'll get up-to-date recommendations on
what is worth your time and money. More than just reviews and direc-
tions, a Rick Steves guidebook is a tour guide in your pocket.
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The Sligo & Leitrim Route
There are 7 Discovery Points in Sligo including 1 Wild Atlantic Way Signature Discovery Point at Mul-
laghmore Head. We show all 7 Sligo Discovery Points in our map of Sligo below.
With so much on offer from it’s perhaps more dramatic neighbours, you might be tempted to completely
bypass County Leitrim which has only two and a half miles of Wild Atlantic Way coastline. This would be a
pity as ‘Lovely Leitrim’ has much to offer. Take a break from the high energy of the Atlantic and head inland
for while to cruise along the more tranquil canals, rivers and lakes of one of Ireland’s smallest counties.
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Sligo Signature Discovery Point
The ‘must see’ location on County Sligo’s Wild Atlantic Way:
Mullaghmore Head
Mullaghmore Head in County Sligo is a very special place and a deserving Signature Wild Atlantic Way
Discovery Point. The village of Mullaghmore is a charming fishing village with a working harbour and a
beautiful sandy beach with great views of Benbulben.
Mullaghmore is a famous surfing destination with some of the highest waves in Europe. It is often the
venue for international surfing competitions. There is a life guard on duty during the summer months but
do check locally. Boat trips and fishing excursions are also available.
Do take the opportunity to walk around Mullaghmore Head. The photo opportunities are endless. Starting
at Mullaghmore village walk north away from the village with the Atlantic on your right hand side. Follow
the road all the way round Mullaghmore Head enjoying the views and watch out for sightings of wild birds
such as Fulmars, Oystercatchers, Manx Shearwaters and Gannets. As you walk around the headland you
will see the imposing sight of Classibawn Castle. This is an easy walk taking about 1 hour.
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Sligo (continued)
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The Donegal Route
It could well be said that Donegal puts the Wild into the Wild Atlantic Way. Whether you are starting your
road trip here or ending your journey you will not be disappointed and our map of Donegal will show you the
way. Donegal has it all – windswept headlands, awesome Atlantic vistas, lakes, mountains and truly authen-
tic Irish villages and towns with great food, music and history. Much of the county, over one third, is Irish
speaking (Gaeltacht) but of course English is also spoken everywhere.
See our Map of Donegal Wild Atlantic Way Discovery Points below plus the Ferry embarkation points.
Donegal Discovery Points & Ferry Embarkation Points Read More Online
Page 21
Donegal Signature Discovery Points
The ‘must see’ location on County Donegal’s Wild Atlantic Way:
Slieve League
Slieve League (or Sliabh Liag in Irish meaning ‘Grey
Mountain’) in County Donegal, Ireland are among the
highest marine cliffs in Europe. There is a car park
with benches and picnic tables from which it is just a
few kilometres to the top of the cliffs, at 601 metres.
The views on the way up are impressive ensuring
Slieve League’s staus as a Signature Discovery Point
on Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way.
You can take boat trips around the cliffs from nearby
Teelin. Read More Online
Fanad Head
Fanad Head truly deserves to be a Signature Discovery Point on
Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way. It is on Donegals’ north coast
between Lough Swilly and Mulroy Bay. The road to Fanad from
Rathmullan will reward you with some of the most spectacular
views of the Inishowen
Peninsula, Portsalon, Ballymastocker Bay and of course the
Atlantic Ocean.
Malin Head
Malin Head is the most northerly point of the island of
Ireland and a name familiar to sailors and those who
listen to the weather and shipping forcasts. It is a Wild
Atlantic Way Signature Discovery Point. From here,
on a fine day, you can glimpse the hills of Scotland.
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Donegal (continued)
Slieve League Tour from Dublin
Discover the mountains of Slieve League, which are at a
height of 609m, almost three times as high as the Cliffs
of Moher!
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Kate’s Road Trip
#KatesRoadTrip Blog is the personal take of our travel blogger Kate who will be
visiting each of the Wild Atlantic Way Discovery Points starting in Cork and working
her way up the coastline to Donegal.
www.wildatlanticwayonline.com/category/kates-road-trip
If you would like to suggest a special must-see sight for Kate to visit please get in
touch – Also if you have a business on The Wild Atlantic Way that you would like us
to visit we would be delighted to do so and will review it for our website.
You can also create a listing with links and photos for your business in our online
Business Directory at :
www.wildatlanticwayonline.com/location
Finally, we hope you will get to visit Ireland and enjoy all there is to offer on the
Wild Atlantic Way!