Welcome to the Wild Atlantic Way Map & Online Guide

Planning a trip to Ireland, It’s exciting to imagine the ideal holiday in Ireland, but often that excitement can soon turn to stress when faced with endless tempting options. Should I head south to Cork, west to Galway or north to Donegal? The Wild Atlantic Way route will take you all along this incredible coastal journey.  Our online guide aims to give you the answers you need to help you plan your vacation in Ireland whether it’s a quick weekend break or the holiday of a lifetime.

• What is the Wild Atlantic Way?

  Ireland’s 2,600km coastal driving route known as the Wild Atlantic Way stretches from the north of County Donegal, down the west coast to the southern tip of County Cork. These roads have always been favoured by locals and tourists alike for generations even before they became known collectively as The Wild Atlantic Way Route. The route offers truly spectacular Atlantic ocean vistas and places to visit.

• How long is Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way in miles?

  The route is 1600 miles (or 2600 kilometers) in length.
  It is one of the longest defined coastal routes in the world. According to the Ordinance Survey of Ireland the entire coastline of the island of Ireland is 3,171 km.

• Where does the Wild Atlantic Way begin and end? What counties are on the route?

  It starts in Co. Donegal and goes south through counties Leitrim, Sligo, Mayo, Galway, Clare, Limerick and Kerry, ending up in County Cork. Of course, you can go the other way! Or take your time to do parts of the route, leaving the rest for future holidays.

• Where Can I Go on the Wild Atlantic Way? What are the highlights?

  Over 150 locations have been officially categorised as Discovery Points with a further 15 highlighted as Signature Discovery Points of special merit. Our site details every one of these places to visit but these 15 Signature Discovery Points is a great list to have when planning your holiday in Ireland.

• How long does it take to do the Wild Atlantic Way?

  We think it is more important to slow right down and let the nature of this wonderful country soothe your soul rather than try to cram it all into a few days. Even though Ireland is a small country it takes time to get around and make those memories. Three to four weeks would be ideal to explore the full Wild Atlantic Way route but of course, most of us take shorter breaks with most returning as often as they can!

Enjoy our FREE Guide Book and Map with maps and highlights for each county (useful to have as an offline PDF).