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[[File:Skellig Michael03(js).jpg|right|thumb|350px|Skellig Michael, off the coast of County Kerry]]
{{county|Kerry}}
The '''Wild Atlantic Way''' ({{lang|ga|Slí an Atlantaigh Fhiáin}}) is a scenic driving route along the west coast, and on parts of the north and south coasts, of the [[Republic of Ireland]], through some of the greatest spectacular scenery of Ireland.

The route stretches for about 1,600 miles,<ref>{{cite news | title=Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way aims to rival California's Pacific Coast Highway | work=Belfast Telegraph |date=28 February 2014 | url=http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/republic-of-ireland/irelands-wild-atlantic-way-aims-to-rival-californias-pacific-coast-highway-30049958.html | accessdate=1 February 2017}}</ref> through nine counties and three [[Provinces of Ireland|provinces]], from [[County Donegal]]'s [[Inishowen|Inishowen Peninsula]] in [[Ulster]] to [[Kinsale]], [[County Cork]], in [[Munster]], on the south coast.<ref>{{Citation
|title=Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way: Heading West On Adventure
|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/charles-karel-bouley/irelands-wild-atlantic-wa_b_5014529.html
|author=Charles Karel Bouley
|journal=The Huffington Post
|date=23 March 2014
|accessdate=31 March 2014
}}</ref> 

The route is broken down into five sections:<ref>{{cite web | title=The Wild Atlantic Way | date=28 January 2017 | url=http://wildatlanticwayroute.com/ | accessdate=1 February 2017}}</ref> 

* [[County Donegal]]
* [[County Donegal]] to [[County Mayo]]
* [[County Mayo]] to [[County Clare]]
* [[County Clare]] to [[County Kerry]]
* [[County Kerry]] to [[County Cork]]
 
Along the route there are 157 discovery points, 1,000 attractions and more than 2,500 activities. The route was officially launched in 2014.<ref>{{Citation
|title=Minister Ring officially launches Wild Atlantic Way
|url=http://www.failteireland.ie/Footer/Media-Centre/Minister-Ring-officially-launches-Wild-Atlantic-Wa.aspx
|journal=Fáilte Ireland
|date=27 February 2014
|accessdate=28 June 2016
}}</ref>

==Key points of interest==
===Donegal===
[[File:Slieve league panorama.JPG|right|thumb|600px|[[Slieve League]], on the south-west coast of County Donegal]]
[[County Donegal]]:
*[[Malin Head]], Ireland’s most northerly point
*[[Lough Foyle]]
*[[Lough Swilly]]
*[[Isle of Doagh]]
*[[Carrickabraghy Castle]]
*[[Fort Dunree]]
*[[Buncrana]]
*[[Grianan of Aileach|Grianán of Aileach]] (Greenan Fort)
*[[Ramelton]]
*[[Rathmullan, County Donegal|Rathmullan]]
*[[Fanad]]
*[[Rosguill]]
*[[Doe Castle]]
*[[Derryveagh Mountains]]
*[[Horn Head]]
*[[Tory Island]]
*''[[Arranmore|Árainn Mhór]]'' (Arranmore Island)
*''[[Gaoth Dobhair]]''
*[[The Rosses]]
*[[Errigal]]
*[[Malin Beg (Glencolumbkille)|Malin Beg]] beach
*[[Slieve League]] cliffs
*[[Blue Stack Mountains]]
*[[Donegal Town]]
*[[Bundoran]] - popular with surfers 

===County Leitrim===
[[County Leitrim]]:
*[[Tullaghan]]

===Sligo===
[[County Sligo]]:
*[[Mullaghmore, County Sligo|Mullaghmore Head]] 
*Spanish Armada [[Rosses Point#Spanish Shipwrecks|shipwrecks at Streedagh Beach]]
*[[Rosses Point]]
*[[Aughris]]
*[[Easky]]
*[[Enniscrone]]

===Mayo===
[[File:Sheep by the Great Western Greenway.JPG|right|thumb|250px|By the Great Western Greenway near Mulranny]]
[[County Mayo]]:
*The [[Céide Fields]]
*The [[Mullet Peninsula]]
*[[Achill Island]]
*[[Clew Bay]]
*[[Croagh Patrick]]
*[[Clare Island]] 
*[[Inishturk]] - accessible by ferry from [[Louisburgh, County Mayo]]
*[[Doolough]]
*[[Killary Harbour]]

===Galway===
[[County Galway]]:
*''[[Killary Harbour]]''
*[[Connemara]]
*[[Clifden]]
*[[Inishbofin, County Galway|Inishbofin]] - accessible by ferry from Cleggan, County Galway
*''[[Aran Islands|Oileáin Árann]]'' (Aran Islands) - accessible by ferry from [[Inverin]] County Galway and [[Doolin]] County Clare, and by plane from [[Connemara Airport]] [[Rossaveal]] County Galway.
*[[Salthill]]

===Clare===
[[County Clare]]:
*[[The Burren]]
*The [[Cliffs of Moher]] and the Doolin Cliff Walk
*[[Loop Head]]

===Limerick===
[[County Limerick]]:
*The [[Shannon Estuary]] and the Shannon dolphins

===Kerry===
[[File:Cliffs in Kerry.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Cliffs of Kerry's west coast]]
[[County Kerry]]:
*[[Allihies]] and the [[Allihies Copper Mine Museum]] on the [[Beara Peninsula]]
*[[Bere Island]]
*[[Cape Clear Island|Cape Clear]]
*[[Caherdaniel]]
*Derrynane beach
*[[Garnish Island]] in Glengarriff
*The ruined cottages of [[Great Blasket Island]]  and Blasket Centre in Dunquin
*[[Dingle]], Ireland’s largest ''[[Gaeltacht]]'' town
*[[Rossbeigh|Rossbeigh beach]]
*The [[Skellig Islands|Skellig]] Experience Visitor Centre

===Cork===
[[County Cork]];
*[[Dursey Island]] - at the end of the [[Beara Peninsula]] and accessible by Ireland's only cable car 
*[[Heir Island]]
*[[Long Island, County Cork|Long Island]]
*[[Sheep's Head]]
*[[Mizen Head]] - Ireland's southernmost point, with views of [[Fastnet Rock]] and its lighthouse
*[[Kinsale]]
*[[Whiddy Island]], viewed from the R572 road

==Outside links==
*[http://www.wildatlanticway.com Wild Atlantic Way]
*[http://www.ireland.com/wild-atlantic-way Wild Atlantic Way]: Tourism Ireland
*[http://www.mayo-ireland.ie/en/wild-atlantic-way Wild Atlantic Way in County Mayo]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Roads in the Republic of Ireland]]