Wild Atlantic Way Itinerary (6 Places To Include On Your Ireland Road Trip)
Last Updated: November 1 2020
The Wild Atlantic Way is a 2,500km tourist route found on the west coast of Ireland. It passes through nine different counties and is where many of Ireland’s most popular attractions can be found. In this post, we are going to talk about 6 places that you need to add to your Wild Atlantic Way itinerary!
This route is a great way to experience Ireland, as there is so much to see. We spent 7 days in Ireland and got to see so many sites along the Wild Atlantic Way route. There are over 1,000 attractions to see along this route, but it is impossible to see them all in one trip!
In this blog post, we will go through some of the sites that you should add to your Wild Atlantic Way itinerary! These are places that you don’t want to miss during your Ireland road trip. We will also let you in on a little secret, and tell you a great place to stay when exploring the Wild Atlantic Way!
6 places to add to your Wild Atlantic Way itinerary
The Wild Atlantic Way runs along the west coast of Ireland, with parts of this route found in Northern and Southern Ireland.
This tourism route is a great place to explore, and one we can’t recommend enough. Here are the places that you have to visit during your West coast Ireland road trip!
The Cliffs of Moher
One of the most popular sites along the Wild Atlantic Way is the Cliffs of Moher. These cliffs are a geological wonder and they are part of a UNESCO Global Geopark. This means the landscape here is of significant geological importance.
The Cliffs of Moher are famous all across Europe and they have been for some time. 16th-century noblemen used to travel across Europe, and then visit the Cliffs of Moher to marvel at their beauty.
The cliffs were formed over 300 million years ago, when sand, silt and mud compacted together. This is what creates the layers in the cliffs, and they each show a different period of time.
The Cliffs of Moher are 14km long, and they are a must for any Ireland itinerary. The cliffs are found in County Clare, and the journey takes around 1 hour and 30 minutes from Galway. During the drive, you will get amazing views of Burren National Park.
You may get to see some incredible wildlife from up here, especially if you have binoculars. A pair of peregrine falcons live on the cliffs, and there are plenty of other seabirds here including puffins and razorbills.
If you are lucky and have binoculars you could even see dolphins, sunfish and even basking sharks down in the waters below.
The Cliffs of Moher visitor centre explains everything in detail about this area. The centre shows how global warming is affecting the area and also gives information about the wildlife that is found here.
Entrance fee
The entrance fee for adults is €8 and €7 for students. Children under the age of 16 always go free. If you book the tickets online, they are even cheaper.
Location
There are several locations you can view the cliffs from. The best place is from the visitor centre, where you can get amazing views. The centre is found near the village of Lislarkin. You can also see the cliffs from a boat trip with some trips even including the Aran Islands.
Dunguaire Castle
Dunguaire Castle is a great place to visit during your Wild Atlantic Way road trip. The castle is a 16th-century tower house found on the southeast coast of Galway Bay. It gets its name from ‘Dun of King Guaire’ who is a legendary king of Connacht.
Dunguaire Castle sits in the middle of a small lake which creates a beautiful reflection on a sunny, clear day. The area is incredibly picturesque and is a great place to explore.
The castle is commonly used to host medieval dinners and events which you can book tickets for.
Entrance fee
There is no fee for entering the castle grounds, but to get into the castle you will have to pay a fee. The price is €7.20 for adults and €4.95 for children aged 5-16yrs. You can book the tickets online HERE.
Location
Dunguaire Castle is found near the small town of Kinvara. The castle is only an hours drive away from the Cliffs of Moher so you can easily see both sites on the same day.
Galway City
Galway City is one of the most popular cities in Ireland. This vibrant harbour city is a hub for traditional Irish pubs, incredible architecture and awesome street performers! It is a must for any 7 day Ireland itinerary!
Eyre Square is where you need to visit in Galway as it is bursting with life. There are plenty of places to eat, traditional Irish music and endless pubs to grab a Guinness.
There are plenty of things to do in Galway city including paying a visit to the Spanish Arch, the city walls and Kirwan’s Lane. St Nicholas’ Church is also a great place to check out, with it being rumoured that Christopher Columbus visited this church once.
Aside from the main sites, make sure you wander around the narrow streets of Galway. There are so many interesting buildings to be found, and make sure you see the medieval walls. The harbour is also a pleasant place to have a stroll and take in the views.
The best plan is to grab a Guinness from one of the traditional pubs and then eat some amazing food from the many restaurants nearby. Galway has a variety of different food options including Chinese, Indian, Malaysian and Mexican food to name a few. The burrito restaurant has amazing food so definitely check that out!
Entrance Fee
There is no cost to enter Galway City.
Location
Galway City is located in County Galway, in the west of Ireland.
Clifden
Clifden is a coastal town in the Connemara region of Ireland. It is the largest town in Connemara and our favourite!
Think of colourful quirky shops, beautiful scenery and so many great places to eat. A lot of the cafe’s and pubs have garden areas or a balcony so you can have incredible views whilst you eat.
If you are in Clifden, make sure you visit Walsh’s Bakery & Coffee Shop! They have delicious food, fresh cakes and a beautiful view of the local area. Visiting this bakery is one of the top things to do in Connemara as it is the only bakery in the region.
Saint Joseph Church, Clifden Castle and Clifden Eco Beach are just some of the amazing sights in this colourful town. The Sky Road here is considered one of the most beautiful parts of Connemara so it’s worth a visit!
Every year Clifden hosts the oldest community arts festival in Ireland. The festival combines all sorts of different arts and crafts including music performances, and visual pieces.
Entrance fee
There is no cost to enter Clifden.
Location
Clifden is located in County Galway, in the west of Ireland.
Aran Islands
The Aran Islands are a must for any Wild Atlantic Way itinerary! They are a set of three islands found off the west coast of Ireland. The islands are all accessible by boat from the mainland via ports such as Rossaveel.
These three islands are; Inishmore, Inisheer and Inishmaan. All three islands have plenty to see but in our opinion, you will want to visit Inishmore island.
Inishmore is the largest island, and probably has the most to see. Many of the sights on this island have historical importance both in Ireland and throughout the world.
Dun Aonghasa is a prehistoric hill fort and is the most popular site on Inishmore. The fort sits on the edge of a 1o0ft cliff, so as you can imagine the views are incredible. Dun Aonghasa is impressive and has been called “the most magnificent barbaric monument in Europe”. The fort dates back to around 1100BC and still stands today!
Other sites you will want to see include the seal colony, wormhole and Kilmurvey beach. The wormhole is actually where the Redbull cliff diving takes place in Ireland.
The thing we love most about Inishmore is that you can cycle around the whole island. The island isn’t that big so cycling is a great way to get around! If you want the perfect Irish road trip along the Wild Atlantic Way then you need to include the Aran islands!
Entrance fee
There is no entrance fee for the Aran Islands, you will just need to pay for your ferry and bicycle hire. The ferry to Inishmore costs €30 (£26) for adults and €15 (£13) for children for a return trip.
Location
You can get to the Aran Islands from the port in Rossaveel.
Roundstone
Roundstone is a small village in the region of Connemara. It is a picturesque little village with a lovely atmosphere.
There are plenty of antique shops to explore, and some great coastal paths that lead to beautiful white-sand beaches. A lot of the beaches in Ireland have a tropical feel to them because the water is so beautifully clear. Visiting at least one of Ireland’s beaches is a must because the views are incredible.
Roundstone is known for its music shops that sell a variety of traditional Irish instruments. There are also plenty of lessons for those wanting to learn a new instrument. Roundstone Musical Instruments & Crafts is a spot you should visit, and they even have a little cafe inside.
Entrance fee
There is no cost to enter Roundstone.
Location
Roundstone is located in County Galway, in the west of Ireland.
Viewpoints along the Wild Atlantic Way
The landscape along the Wild Atlantic Way is unreal. There will be numerous spots where you can just pull over, and take amazing photographs of places!
This happened to us so many times, especially on the way to the Cliffs of Moher. We stopped at a small church, which had plants growing all up the side. The church was a great spot to have a look around, and the views around were beautiful.
We had the perfect view of the lush countryside, the lake located nearby and animals grazing in the fields next to us. The bright coloured flowers made the spot even more beautiful!
Another example was the beautiful village of Kinvara. The Wild Atlantic Way is stunning and there are lots of unique little places that will draw you in!
Where to stay
We stayed with our family in Lettermullen which is a small island and village found in Connemara. This was our base during our stay in Ireland.
You must pick somewhere that is in a prime location for your Wild Atlantic Way trip. Lettermullen was only an hour or two drive from the sites that we wanted to see and was a beautiful place in itself. There were plenty of beautiful walks in the area and lots of beaches.
We stayed in a little cottage, with a large garden which backed onto a lake. The owners even had a little rowing boat here, which you could take out whenever we wanted. You can find this cottage by clicking here!
It cost around £380 for 7 nights. We will definitely be going back one day!
Hopefully, this post has shown you some amazing places to add to your Wild Atlantic Way itinerary! There are many more places to visit on this coastal route, but of course, it is impossible to visit them all during a short stay in Ireland.
We have put this list together so that you have the perfect Wild Atlantic Way road trip itinerary. Next time we go to Ireland we will stay there longer than a week, so we can see more of the amazing places this route has to offer!
Have you ever done a road trip around Ireland? Where is your favourite place if you have?
P.S If you want to follow our travels, you can find our Instagram HERE.
Thank you for reading,
Jack & Abbie
MORE IRELAND BLOG POSTS!
Cliffs Of Moher Day Trip (A Guide To Ireland’s Favourite Visitor Attraction)
Aran Islands Day Trip – Inishmore Island (The Best One Day Itinerary)
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I’m one half of Acouplescalling. I'm passionate about all things travel and photography and I love sharing my experiences with others. I've seen a lot of the world already and I want to help as many people as I can do the same thing!
