Wild Atlantic Way
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The Wild Atlantic Way (Irish: 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,[1] through nine counties and three provinces, from County Donegal's Inishowen Peninsula in Ulster to Kinsale, County Cork, in Munster, on the south coast.[2]
The route is broken down into five sections:[3]
- 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.[4]
Key points of interest
Donegal
- Malin Head, Ireland’s most northerly point
- Lough Foyle
- Lough Swilly
- Isle of Doagh
- Carrickabraghy Castle
- Fort Dunree
- Buncrana
- Grianán of Aileach (Greenan Fort)
- Ramelton
- Rathmullan
- Fanad
- Rosguill
- Doe Castle
- Derryveagh Mountains
- Horn Head
- Tory Island
- Árainn Mhór (Arranmore Island)
- Gaoth Dobhair
- The Rosses
- Errigal
- Malin Beg beach
- Slieve League cliffs
- Blue Stack Mountains
- Donegal Town
- Bundoran - popular with surfers
County Leitrim
Sligo
- Mullaghmore Head
- Spanish Armada shipwrecks at Streedagh Beach
- Rosses Point
- Aughris
- Easky
- Enniscrone
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
- Killary Harbour
- Connemara
- Clifden
- Inishbofin - accessible by ferry from Cleggan, County Galway
- 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
- The Burren
- The Cliffs of Moher and the Doolin Cliff Walk
- Loop Head
Limerick
- The Shannon Estuary and the Shannon dolphins
Kerry
- Allihies and the Allihies Copper Mine Museum on the Beara Peninsula
- Bere 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 beach
- The Skellig Experience Visitor Centre
Cork
- Dursey Island - at the end of the Beara Peninsula and accessible by Ireland's only cable car
- Heir Island
- 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
- Wild Atlantic Way
- Wild Atlantic Way: Tourism Ireland
- Wild Atlantic Way in County Mayo
References
- ↑ "Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way aims to rival California's Pacific Coast Highway". Belfast Telegraph. 28 February 2014. http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/republic-of-ireland/irelands-wild-atlantic-way-aims-to-rival-californias-pacific-coast-highway-30049958.html. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
- ↑ Charles Karel Bouley (23 March 2014), "Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way: Heading West On Adventure", The Huffington Post, http://www.huffingtonpost.com/charles-karel-bouley/irelands-wild-atlantic-wa_b_5014529.html, retrieved 31 March 2014
- ↑ "The Wild Atlantic Way". 28 January 2017. http://wildatlanticwayroute.com/. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
- ↑ "Minister Ring officially launches Wild Atlantic Way", Fáilte Ireland, 27 February 2014, http://www.failteireland.ie/Footer/Media-Centre/Minister-Ring-officially-launches-Wild-Atlantic-Wa.aspx, retrieved 28 June 2016