Launched in spring 2014, the Wild Atlantic Way is a 2,500 km coastal route that invites the visitor to explore Ireland’s dramatic western seaboard.
Flagged as ‘the world’s longest coastal drive’, thanks to the many headlands and inlets that beg to be investigated along the way, it aims to highlight the most dramatic landmarks and attractions while also making it easier to find the interesting little out of the way places that might otherwise be by-passed.
It can be joined at any point and is divided into five sections, the first being Donegal in the north, with the other four (Donegal-Mayo; Mayo-Clare; Clare-Kerry; Kerry-Cork) leading you right down the Atlantic seaboard to the southern counties of Cork and Kerry.
A simple route map is available on discoverireland.ie where full information on each section is given, including activities and key ‘discovery points’.
The very distinctive bright blue ‘wave’ road signs make it virtually impossible to get lost - and we have plenty of suggestions for the best places to eat, drink and stay along the way, many of which are run by people who know the west coast back to front and will help visitors to find a genuine sense of discovery along this beautiful and fascinating coastline.
Found 518 matches, showing 391 -
400 below.
Castlebar, Co. Mayo
Bakery / Café
Horkan’s Lifestyle and Garden Centre, a few hundred metres along the road from the wonderful Museum of Country Life in Turlough, Castlebar, is a garden centre with a difference, one where you could spend many happy hours.
Having browsed to your ...
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Letterkenny, Co. Donegal
Café
There are catering facilities in the Visitor Centre, but this terrific tearoom in the castle courtyard is the place to head to for really tasty home cooking.
Whether it’s a bowl of hearty soup and some freshly baked brown bread on a chilly day o ...
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Ballinasloe, Co. Galway
Hotel
With Galway to the west, Clare to the south-west and Athlone and the Shannon lakes to the north-east, there’s an entire region to be enjoyed from Ballinasloe and this modern four star hotel would make a good base for exploring it.
While not exac ...
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Doolin, Co. Clare
Baking/Bakery / Hotel / Preserves / Restaurant
In the centre of traditional Doolin village, this privately owned hotel is outstanding for its contemporary style - and a vibrant local food philosophy that has earned it a reputation beyond the county. The energetic and inspiring Donal Minihane, who h ...
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Kinsale, Co. Cork
Restaurant
An unusual triangular building is the unlikely venue for Tom Walsh and Fiona Russell’s delightful Italian restaurant in the heart of Kinsale. Featuring whitewashed stonewalls and exposed beams in a split level building that follows the slope of t ...
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Galway City, Co. Galway
Pub
Located in the heart of Galway’s ‘Latin Quarter’ and steeped in history, The Kings Head is an 800-year-old pub that has been owned and run by Paul and Mary Grealish since 1989. A relatively small frontage belies the extent of this la ...
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Bellharbour, Co. Clare
Bakery / Baking/Bakery / Café / Chocolate / Producers Shop
Although it is well signed near north Clare’s famous Flaggy Shore, John and Kasha Connolly’s charming little chocolate factory, bakery and café still comes as a surprise. John, who knows The Burren like the back of his hand, is well ...
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Ahakista, Co. Cork
Café / Speciality Store
The tiny village of Ahakista on the Sheep’s Head Peninsula is choc-a-bloc with charm and beauty, and it has more than its fair share of quirky places to visit.
Artist Annabel Langrish’s gallery and café is one of the most charming s ...
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Rosses Point, Co. Sligo
Pub
There’s plenty of history surrounding this fifth generation Rosses Point landmark.
Overlooking Sligo Bay and its islands, Oyster and Coney, it has recently been renovated and extended but it has been in the Ewing family since it was built, by pr ...
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Grange, Co. Sligo
Character Pub / Pub / Restaurant
Formerly a pub, grocery and drapery store - in situ since 1890 and still with the old front bar pretty much intact - this North Sligo classic is known for its excellent pints of Guinness and wholesome food.
The present owner, John Burke, is the second ...
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