Wild Atlantic Way

Pick up your car at Dublin Airport and make your way to your hotel in the city center. The remainder of the day is yours to explore at your own leisure.

Depart for the West of Ireland and travel to Sligo. At Parke’s Castle, cruise Lough Gill on the Rose of Innisfree tour-boat. This county is also known for its beaches and surfing spots at Strandhill and Mullaghmore where you can take a rejuvenating seaweed bath.

(Approximately 200 km)

Discover the magnificent cliffs at Slieve League that are amongst the highest sea cliffs in Europe, then continue to the village of Carrick. Make the easy climb to the top of Knocknarea mountain to view Queen Maeve’s Cairn and enjoy the vista over Sligo Bay.

Journey further west to explore the Céide Fields at Ballycastle. This is the largest Stone Age monument and the oldest known field system in the world, set in a vast prehistoric landscape of bogs, dramatic cliffs and coastline. Continue via the picturesque town of Newport, famous for its freshwater fishing and sea angling grounds.

(Approximately 90 km)

Explore the island of Achill between various activities like hillwalking, fishing, golfing, windsurfing, scuba diving, and much more. See the Slievemore Deserted Village or the spectacular Greenway route that stretches from Achill Island to Westport town. Discover the small charming town of Westport and its delightful Georgian streetscapes and stone bridges over Carrowbeg River. On the edge of town, visit Westport House and Country Park, filled with activities for all ages.

(Approxiamtely 65 km)

Travel to the Twelve Bens in North and West of Connemara for amazing views of nearby bogs, lakes and mountains. Stop just outside the little village of Leenane for a spectacular cruise aboard “The Connemara Lady.” Continue to Clifden and stop at Kylemore Abbey, known for its historic Victorian Walled Garden. Close by, golfers can take a swing at the Connemara Championship Golf Links overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. From there, continue to the fishing village of Roundstone to sample some locally sourced seafood.

Walk down the streets of the City of the Tribes in Galway, one of the most popular and lively cities in Ireland. This area hosts a myriad of festivals and events every summer such as the Galway International Arts Festival and the famous Galway Races. Then, travel to Clare County and discover the unique lunar-like and karst limestone region of Burren. Finally, continue to the world-famous Cliffs of Moher until you reach the Loop Head Lighthouse for exceptional views of the nearby landscape.

(Approximately 80 km)

Take a ferry ride from Killimer to Tarbert and visit the Foynes Flying Boat & Maritime Museum, Then, continue to Tralee and check out the Tralee Bay Wetlands Eco and Activity Park beside the Tralee Bay Nature Reserve. Head west to the stunningly beautiful Dingle Peninsula—a Gaelic-speaking area famous for its Celtic monuments and churches—or take a stroll down Inch Beach. From Dingle, take a scenic coastal drive to Slea Head and explore the area at your leisure.

(Approximately 150 km)

Depart for Cork and travel along the scenic route to the Caha Mountains at the Beara Peninsula. Encounter stunning views of Bantry Bay before arriving in Glengarriff. On route to Garinish Island, which hosts a flourishing ensemble of greenery and flora thanks to its unusual climate, enjoy the magnificent views of the bay as well as Seal Island’s seal colony from a distance. Then, continue to Cork via Clonakilty and Skibbereen.

(Approxiamtely 90 km)

Before leaving for Dublin, spend the morning visiting the famous English Market in Cork City’s commercial centre, known to have all kinds of imported food and delicacies, or check out the Shandon Bells & Tower of St Anne’s Church. On your way to Dublin, see Cork’s Golden Vale region and Tipperary, where much of the country’s cattle herd is reared on the fertile land to produce high quality beef and dairy products. Stop in Cashel town to visit one of the most photographed sites in Ireland: The Rock of Cashel’s preserved round towers. Once in Dublin, check in to your hotel.

(Approxiamtely 296 km)

After breakfast, return your rental car at the airport and board your return flight back to Canada.