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 519 matches, showing 121 -
130 below.
Connemara, Co. Galway
Café / Restaurant
Eva Caulwell and Tom Mullan brought an enviable reputation with them when they opened this charming restaurant on the main street of Cleggan, in 2022. Both had hospitality experience in some Dublin hotspots, including The Old Spot where Tom may be reme ...
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Handily located between Tralee's most famous attraction, the Aqua Dome, and the dramatic Blennerville Windmill, the Tralee Bay Wetlands Visitor Centre is another unique family attraction for the area, offering a wide range of indoor and outdoor ...
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Co. Mayo, West
Restaurant
Unique is an overused word but it really does apply in this modest roadside pub in Co. Mayo - a place that you could easily drive past, as classical fine dining is the last thing you’d expect here.
Pleasant but plain, this is a very unusual set ...
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Ballyvaughan, Co. Clare
Café / Producers Shop
Visitors to this 2-million-year-old cave will see more than the amazing illuminated tunnels and waterfalls, for there is also much of interest to food lovers.
Cheese-making demonstrations show how the local Burren Gold cheese is made and, even if the ...
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Ballyvaughan, Co. Clare
Baking/Bakery / Café
Approached from the harbour side through a lovely front garden, this delightful stone restaurant dates back to 1790, when it was built as a residence for 'coast security officers'. Nearly two centuries later it was bought in a derelict condition by the ...
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Ballyvaughan, Co. Clare
Hotel
Open fires in public areas create the welcoming atmosphere for which the Hylands Burren Hotel is famous - and, owned by the Quinn family, who are local with many years in business in Ballyvaughan village, it has the personal touch that only hands-on fa ...
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Bunratty, Co. Clare
Character Pub / Restaurant
Although often seriously over-crowded with tourists in summer, this famous and genuinely characterful old pub in the shadow of Bunratty Castle somehow manages to provide cheerful service and consistently above-average food to the great numbers who pass ...
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Carron, Co. Clare
Café / Producers Shop
When touring Clare you will be pleased to find this charming spot - the perfumery is beautifully laid out, with a herb garden (where many native plants are grown - and later used in the organic herbal teas), pleasing old buildings and lovely biodynamic ...
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Ennis, Co. Clare
Hotel / Restaurant
This family-owned hotel was built in the mid '90s on the site of a 19th century convent, to a design that retains the older features including a church.
Existing Gothic themes have been successfully blended into the new throughout the hotel, creating ...
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Ennistymon, Co. Clare
Restaurant
Located in a brightly painted period house at the top of this old market town, Byrnes is a stylishly laid back restaurant with views of Ennistymon's famous cascading river from the airy restaurant and an extensive outdoor dining area at the rear.
The ...
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