Wild Atlantic Way
Atlantic shores, mountain roads & western towns
The west of Ireland is at its best when you give yourself permission to stop.
A road through the mountains, a walk by the sea or an old building with a story can be more memorable than another hour of scenic driving. The Wild Atlantic Way is a starting point for exploring that western landscape, including the inland places you might miss by keeping strictly to the coast. Choose a stretch that interests you and give it time; there is no need to turn the whole route into a single trip.
Plan your Wild Atlantic Way trip
Choose an area
Kerry & Killarney
Killarney makes a useful base when you want the national park as well as the wider Iveragh Peninsula. Walking or cycling gives the lakes and woodland a different place in the trip from simply seeing them through a windscreen. For the Ring of Kerry, choose the stops that interest you before deciding how much driving to do. Ballaghbeama Gap is an inland contrast that can be especially rewarding if you enjoy the mountains.
Choose an area
Connemara
Connemara gives you mountains, bog, lakes and coast in changing combinations, with more history within that landscape than a quick drive might suggest. Repeat visits have made me favour a stay long enough to choose outings around the weather. Use the main guide to decide what you want to see, then choose accommodation and places to eat that fit the area you’ll actually be exploring.
Choose an area
Westport & Croagh Patrick
Westport is a town I have used as a base on several trips, with enough to enjoy in town as well as access to the landscape around Clew Bay. Croagh Patrick is a substantial outing if the climb suits your ability and the conditions; it needn’t be the measure of a successful stay. The Westport guide gives you other ways to spend the time, including the wider coast and its stories.
A useful rule
Let the weather change the order
Keep some flexibility between days out in the landscape. A long drive for a view may make less sense in poor visibility, and an indoor room does not turn an otherwise outdoor estate into an all-weather visit. Choose an alternative you would actually enjoy, rather than force the original plan.
Make the base part of the trip
A comfortable place to return to matters after a day outdoors. The Killarney accommodation guides include holiday rentals and a separate review of Cahernane House, where I stayed. For Connemara, the area comparison is a useful first step before narrowing down a property.
Every published guide
All Wild Atlantic Way guides
Browse all 12 Wild Atlantic Way guides
- Ballaghbeama Gap – a Mountain Pass Drive in Kerry Worth Taking
- Best Accommodation in Connemara: Castles, Lodges & Coastal Stays
- Best Restaurants in Connemara, From Fine Dining to Food Trucks
- Cahernane House Hotel Review: Luxurious Stay in Killarney
- Climbing Croagh Patrick: Exclusive Info + Expert Tips
- Driving the Ring of Kerry: Route, Tips & the Right Direction
- Ring of Kerry Highlights – Best Stops & Map [+ bonus detours!]
- Sky Road Clifden: The Loop Drive, Viewing Points & What to Know
- The Best Things to do in Killarney: An Insider’s Guide
- Things to Do in Connemara: Wild Coast, Mountains & Ireland’s Only Fjord
- Things to Do in Westport, Ireland: One of the West’s Best Towns
- Top Airbnb Rentals in Killarney: Find Your Perfect Stay
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