2,500km of Atlantic coast, from Donegal to Cork: the complete guide to driving the world’s longest defined coastal route.
- Regional legs at a glance
- Suggested 7 and 10-day itineraries
- Safety and driving tips
- Airport gateway access guide
The Wild Atlantic Way scenic drive is one of the great road trips of the world, a 2,500km coastal route running the entire length of Ireland’s west coast from the Inishowen Peninsula in Donegal down to Kinsale in County Cork. Taking in towering sea cliffs, surf beaches, mountain passes and some of the most beautiful villages in Ireland, it is best experienced slowly, with a hire car and time to wander.
This guide breaks the Wild Atlantic Way into its regional legs, suggests itineraries for a week or longer, and links to our detailed drives for the highlights along the way.
Table of Contents
The Wild Atlantic Way Scenic Drive at a Glance
The full Wild Atlantic Way scenic drive is around 2,500km (1,553 miles) and a non-stop drive would take roughly 40 hours, but that misses the entire point. Most visitors drive a section rather than the whole thing, choosing the legs that suit their time. Here are the main regions of the Wild Atlantic Way scenic drive from North to South, with their headline highlights.
| Region | Nearest Airport | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Donegal | Knock, City of Derry | Slieve League, Malin Head, Fanad Head |
| Mayo and Connemara | Knock, Shannon | Achill Island, Sky Road, the Twelve Bens |
| Clare | Shannon | Cliffs of Moher, the Burren, Loop Head |
| Kerry | Kerry, Cork | Ring of Kerry, Dingle Peninsula, Skellig Ring |
| Cork | Cork | Mizen Head, Beara Peninsula, Kinsale |
What You Need to Know Before Driving the Wild Atlantic Way
IMPORTANT: The Wild Atlantic Way is far too long to drive in one go. Pick a region or two and explore them properly rather than rushing the whole route. Many of the best sections are on narrow rural roads with single lanes, passing places and the occasional flock of sheep, so allow far more time than the distance suggests, keep your speed down and pull in to let faster local traffic pass.
Ireland drives on the left. The Wild Atlantic Way scenic drive is well signposted throughout with its distinctive blue Wild Atlantic Way logo and a series of 188 Discovery Points, official viewpoints with parking. The main spine follows national roads, but the most scenic stretches dip onto narrow regional lanes, so a smaller car is often an advantage.
Plan your fuel stops, as filling stations thin out on the remote peninsulas, and book accommodation ahead in summer. For official route information and Discovery Point maps, see the official Wild Atlantic Way site and the Road Safety Authority of Ireland.
Donegal: The Wild Northern Leg
The northern end of the Wild Atlantic Way scenic drive in County Donegal is its wildest and least crowded stretch. This is a land of towering sea cliffs, empty golden beaches and Gaelic-speaking villages, anchored by the magnificent Slieve League cliffs, among the highest in Europe, and the windswept drama of Malin Head, Ireland’s most northerly point. Much of this region falls within a Gaeltacht, where Irish is still the everyday language, and the sense of remoteness is part of its appeal.
The Fanad Head and Inishowen peninsulas offer superb looping drives, with lighthouses, hidden coves and the kind of solitude that has all but vanished from the busier southern legs. Glenveagh National Park, with its lakeside castle set among the Derryveagh Mountains, adds a touch of inland grandeur to the coastal scenery. It is the furthest to reach, with Knock or City of Derry the nearest airports, but for many it is the most rewarding part of the entire coastal drive.
Donegal eats and drinks well too. In the heritage town of Ardara, Nancy’s Bar has been run by the McHugh family for seven generations, a warren of tiny rooms famous for oysters, seafood chowder and impromptu trad sessions. Below the Slieve League cliffs at Teelin, the Rusty Mackerel serves fish landed that day and was named one of Ireland’s best pubs by Lonely Planet, while Farren’s at Malin Head, the most northerly pub in Ireland, has poured pints since 1825.
Mayo and Connemara: Mountains and Islands
Heading south, County Mayo brings Achill Island, reached by a bridge and home to the breathtaking Keem Bay, a horseshoe of blue water beneath green cliffs that featured in the film The Banshees of Inisherin. The county also offers the Great Western Greenway cycling route and the conical pilgrimage mountain of Croagh Patrick, climbed by thousands each July.
Beyond lies Connemara, a region of quartzite mountains, blanket bog and island-studded bays that many consider the most beautiful in Ireland. The Connemara National Park and the great Victorian Gothic pile of Kylemore Abbey are the obvious highlights, but the real joy is the network of quiet coastal roads around Roundstone and Ballyconneely.
The Sky Road loop near Clifden is a short, spectacular drive, while the Twelve Bens mountains and Killary Fjord, Ireland’s only fjord, provide the dramatic backdrop. Kylemore Abbey, mirrored in its lake beneath the mountains, is one of the most photographed sights in the West. Galway city sits at the southern edge of this leg, a lively base with Shannon and Knock the most convenient airports for the region.
Connemara is famous for its lamb and its seafood, especially Killary mussels and oysters. In Clifden, Mitchell’s has won acclaim as one of Ireland’s best seafood restaurants, while Griffin’s, the town’s oldest family pub, claims the finest pint of Guinness in Clifden and hosts trad music nightly. For a pint by an open fire, Cloverfox in Letterfrack pairs Connemara mountain lamb with proper craic.
Clare: Cliffs and the Burren
County Clare delivers two of the Wild Atlantic Way scenic drive’s signature sights. The Cliffs of Moher, rising 214m straight out of the Atlantic, are Ireland’s most visited natural attraction, and for good reason. Arrive early or late in the day to avoid the heaviest coach crowds and catch the best light. There is a modern visitor centre built into the hillside, and the cliffs are at their best in the softer light of early morning or evening once the coach tours have moved on.
Just inland, the Burren is a vast and otherworldly limestone landscape, bare grey pavements scattered with rare Arctic and Mediterranean wildflowers and dotted with ancient tombs like the much-photographed Poulnabrone dolmen.
The lesser-known Loop Head Peninsula at the mouth of the Shannon Estuary is a quieter highlight, with a fine lighthouse and dramatic cliffs minus the crowds. The lively seaside towns of Lahinch, a noted surf spot, and Doolin, famous for traditional music and as the ferry gateway to the Aran Islands, make excellent bases. Shannon Airport sits right at the southern edge of this leg, making Clare one of the easiest regions to reach.
The coastal village of Doolin is the traditional-music capital of Ireland, and no visit is complete without an evening in its pubs. Gus O’Connor’s, opened in 1832, is the most famous, while McDermott’s, family-run since 1887, serves a celebrated seafood chowder and beef and Guinness stew alongside nightly sessions. In Lisdoonvarna, the Roadside Tavern pours its own Burren Brewery craft beer with smoked fish from the Burren Smokehouse next door.
Kerry: The Iconic Southwest
County Kerry is the most famous leg of all, home to the celebrated Ring of Kerry drive around the Iveragh Peninsula and the quieter, equally beautiful Dingle Peninsula with its spectacular Slea Head Drive. This is classic Ireland: mountains tumbling to the sea, ancient stone forts, colourful towns and the Atlantic always at your shoulder. Dingle town is a gem in its own right, a brightly painted harbour town with a famously high concentration of pubs and a thriving music and food scene.
Killarney makes the perfect base, with its national park, lakes and easy access to both peninsulas. The town itself is lively year-round, with plenty of restaurants and traditional pubs to round off a day on the road. Kerry Airport is right on the doorstep, while Cork Airport offers more flights about 90 minutes away. For most visitors, Kerry is the heart of any Wild Atlantic Way scenic drive.
Kenmare is the gourmet base, with the Lime Tree known for oak-smoked salmon and seafood chowder, and PF McCarthy’s for great Guinness and trad. Over in Killarney, Murphy’s Bar pours what many call the finest pint in Kerry. Our full Ring of Kerry drive guide covers the region’s food and pub stops in detail.
Cork: The Southern Finale
The southern end of the Wild Atlantic Way scenic drive runs through West Cork to its finish at the pretty harbour town of Kinsale. This is a gentler, greener stretch of three peninsulas, Beara, Sheep’s Head and Mizen. The Beara, shared with Kerry, carries the spectacular Healy Pass road over the mountains, one of Ireland’s great drives.
Mizen Head, the most southwesterly point of mainland Ireland, has a dramatic signal station clinging to the cliffs, reached by an arched footbridge high above the crashing sea. The three peninsulas are quieter and less visited than Kerry next door, which is much of their charm.
West Cork is famous for its food, its arts and its relaxed pace, with colourful villages like Clonakilty and Schull, and the magnificent gardens of Bantry House overlooking the bay. The Beara Peninsula, shared with Kerry, offers one of Ireland’s great off-the-beaten-track drives over the Healy Pass. Kinsale itself, a gourmet town of narrow streets, historic forts and a sheltered harbour, is a fitting place to raise a glass at the journey’s end. Cork Airport is the natural gateway for this southern leg.
West Cork is one of Ireland’s great food regions. Kinsale, the gourmet capital, is home to the renowned Fishy Fishy and the long-established Jim Edwards, a classic pub and seafood restaurant serving since 1971. Clonakilty is famous nationwide for its black pudding, made to the Twomey family’s 1800s recipe, best sampled at a local breakfast, while De Barra’s Folk Club is a legendary traditional music venue. Note that Cork’s local stout is Murphy’s, brewed in the city.
Food and Drink on the Wild Atlantic Way
Half the pleasure of the Wild Atlantic Way scenic drive is what is on the plate and in the glass. The cold, clean Atlantic yields superb seafood the length of the Wild Atlantic Way scenic drive, so look out for chowder, oysters, mussels and the day’s catch wherever you stop. Each region has its own specialities worth seeking out.
In the Southwest, Clonakilty in West Cork is famous nationwide for its black pudding, made to a secret 1800s recipe, while Kerry and Connemara are renowned for their mountain lamb. Connemara and Donegal both prize their smoked salmon, and Galway is celebrated for its oysters, with a festival each September. Killary Harbour supplies rope-grown mussels to half the restaurants in the West.
The traditional pub is central to the experience, and the Wild Atlantic Way scenic drive has some of the best in the country. Doolin in Clare is widely regarded as the home of Irish traditional music, with nightly sessions, but you will find a fiddle and a fine pint of Guinness or Murphy’s in almost every village along the coast. Many of the best pubs double as the best places to eat, serving fresh seafood and hearty stews by an open fire.
Suggested Wild Atlantic Way Itineraries
Because the full Wild Atlantic Way scenic drive takes two to three weeks, most visitors pick a section. Here are three suggested approaches depending on how long you have, all easily driven with a hire car.
You can also build your own day-by-day route with our free Wild Atlantic Way trip planner, just choose your days, region, interests and pace.
The Southwest in 7 days: Fly into Cork or Kerry and focus on the iconic south. Base in Killarney for the Ring of Kerry and Dingle Peninsula, then work south through West Cork to Kinsale and the Mizen. This is the highlights reel, the most famous scenery in the least driving, and ideal for a first visit. Two nights in Killarney lets you tackle each peninsula without backtracking, and a third in Kinsale rounds off the trip in gourmet style.
The classic middle in 10 days: Fly into Shannon and combine Clare and Kerry. Take in the Cliffs of Moher and the Burren, cross the Shannon by the Killimer car ferry, then explore the Kerry peninsulas at leisure before finishing in West Cork. This is the most balanced route, with a strong mix of cliffs, mountains and coast. The Killimer to Tarbert car ferry across the Shannon Estuary saves a long inland detour and is a pleasant 20-minute crossing in itself.
The full route in 14 days or more: Fly into Knock or Derry and drive the lot, North to South, from the wild cliffs of Donegal through Connemara and Clare to the Kerry and Cork peninsulas. Only attempt this if you have a fortnight or more, as the distances are real and the joy is in not rushing. Breaking the Wild Atlantic Way scenic drive with two or three nights in each region, rather than one, is the secret to enjoying rather than enduring the full route.
Hiring a Car for the Wild Atlantic Way
A hire car is essential for the Wild Atlantic Way scenic drive, since public transport along the remote west coast is sparse and the best sights are well off the beaten track. Which airport you choose depends on your chosen leg: Cork and Kerry for the south, Shannon for the middle, Knock or Derry for the north. For everything you need on collecting a car and the best rates, see our guide to car hire in Ireland.
The highlight of any trip is the Kerry leg, so be sure to read our full guide to the Ring of Kerry drive before you go. Compare car hire deals below and start planning your Wild Atlantic Way scenic drive.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to drive the Wild Atlantic Way?
A non-stop drive of the full 2,500km route would take around 40 hours, but realistically you should allow two to three weeks to drive it all properly. Most visitors instead choose a single region, such as Kerry or Clare, and spend a week exploring it in depth, which makes for a far more relaxed and rewarding trip.
What is the best part of the Wild Atlantic Way?
County Kerry, with the Ring of Kerry and Dingle Peninsula, is the most famous and popular leg, while County Clare offers the Cliffs of Moher and the Burren. For wild solitude, Donegal in the North is unbeatable. The best part depends on what you want, but most first-time visitors focus on the iconic Southwest around Kerry and Cork.
Which airport is best for the Wild Atlantic Way?
It depends on your chosen leg. Cork and Kerry airports are best for the famous Southwest, Shannon for Clare and the middle of the Wild Atlantic Way scenic drive, and Knock or City of Derry for the wild northern stretches in Donegal. Shannon is the most central choice if you want to combine several regions of the Wild Atlantic Way scenic drive in one trip.
Do you need a car for the Wild Atlantic Way?
Yes. The Wild Atlantic Way scenic drive runs through remote coastal areas where public transport is limited and infrequent, and the most spectacular viewpoints and beaches are well away from any bus route. A hire car is by far the best way to explore the Wild Atlantic Way scenic drive at your own pace and reach the hidden corners that make the trip special.
Plan Your Wild Atlantic Way Scenic Drive
From the wild cliffs of Donegal to the gourmet villages of West Cork, the Wild Atlantic Way scenic drive is a journey through the very best of Ireland’s coast. Whether you have a week for the Southwest or a fortnight for the full Wild Atlantic Way scenic drive, it rewards those who take it slowly and let the road lead the way.
Pick up a hire car at the airport nearest your chosen leg, point it towards the open Atlantic, and Ireland’s spectacular west coast is yours. Compare car hire deals below and start planning your unforgettable Wild Atlantic Way scenic drive.