The Ultimate Wild Atlantic Way Roadtrip

Wild Atlantic Way:

Wild Atlantic Way is one of the most scenic drives we have ever experienced! We rented a car for a weekend and it was one of the most “out of our comfort zone” and incredible experiences we had in Ireland. At first, we were nervous because we weren’t used to driving on the left side of the road, nonetheless used to driving in such narrow lanes. But, being on your own time, not traveling with a group, and having the ability to experience driving in a different country made the nerves worth it and it was truly unforgettable.

We rented our vehicle from Sixt Car Rental. There are 7 locations around the city, including one in the Dublin Airport. Make sure you make a reservation a week before if you want an automatic vehicle. There are only a few automatic vehicles because most people drive manuals in Ireland. Since I’m an Independent Travel Agent, I was able to earn back commission on my booking. If you have questions about becoming registered, please feel free to reach out. Be sure to keep an eye out for the insurance plan. We had a 1,500 euro hold on our account as insurance in case we damaged the car at all. There may have been some close calls, but we did get our 1,500 euros back!

Day One:

The Wild Atlantic Way did not disappoint! Starting in Dublin, our first stop was Trim Castle. Located an hour from Dublin, in Trim Co. Meath, shows the ruins of a historic symbol dating back to 1176. We loved exploring the winding tunnels and soaring towers of these beautiful buildings.

Our next stop was Glencar Waterfall. We spent a lot of time here exploring, taking photos, and watching the sunset behind the mountains. After sunset, we headed to our hotel for the night for a comfortable stay at The Glasshouse in Sligo. Most restaurants in Ireland take reservations but sometimes if you are just looking to eat a quick meal and be gone by the reservation time, they’ll squeeze you in!

Day Two:

The next day we got an early start heading to Downpatrick Head. We were fortunate enough to have a bit of the luck of the Irish as the day was beautiful, but high winds kept us with both hands on the wheel. Make sure you definitely have a jacket and do not bring an umbrella, you’ll definitely lose it to the winds! Next, we travelled to Céide Fields which provided us with spectacular views of the North Sea and Iraland’s famous cliff shoreline.

Our next destination was a stop at Keem Bay. Keem Bay has a hidden beach at the very end of Achill Island. We found the roads to be full of twists and turns and the length of the drive kept us on our toes. With every turn, we met a new herd of sheep. A walk along Keem Beach proved to be a highlight of the day with brilliant views, even as the raindrops fell; well worth the damp clothing you’ll head home with.

After the beach we drove south along the Atlantic Way while the sun set behind the mountains. For dinner, we stopped in the small town or Westport and got a bite to eat at a wonderful little restaurant called Cosy Joe’s. The restaurant itself has 4 floors, each with a different personality. We were seated on the first floor, right next to the bar in a booth that was situated under a staircase. We split a rather large shaved steak sandwich and a pint of Guinness. With a cosy booth, live Irish music and the friendliest of staff, Cosy Joe’s definitely lived up to its name.

Our second night was spent in a The Sleepzone Connemara Hostel. When we arrived, it was 10:30pm. There were some winding roads leading to the hostel and it was set back in the woods. Driving there felt like we were in a horror movie. But to our surprise, the hostel was quite lovely. We only needed a bed to rest our heads and a shower, but in addition, we got a wonderfully welcoming staff, access to the essentials (PB&J, coffee, tea, pasta), and a stunning view of the coast.

Pro Tip: If you register as an Independent Travel Agent, you will save money. You’ll have access to industry rates and be able to earn 10-20% commission back on your stay. Feel free to reach out if this is something you want more information about. We’re now able to travel more, for less!

Day Three:

We drove more of the Wild Atlantic way, on our way to Galway. We loved the feel of Galway and were disappointed to only have spent a few hours there. We parked our car and explored the cobblestone roads by foot. If we were to visit again, we would definitely spend more time.

Tips:

We went to Tesco before we took this adventure to buy food for the road. Less stops means more time to see new things!
Driving the west coast was incredible, but remember the weather in Ireland is unreliable, especially in the West because of all the mountains. It rained 2 of our 3 days but we did not let the weather stop us from capturing every moment we could. We brought every article of clothing we could ever need! Be sure to pack rainboots, extra socks, a durable raincoat, an umbrella, and several pairs of jeans/shirts in case they get wet.
Gas is expensive in Ireland. Our three day adventure cost us almost 100 euros in just fuel for our rental car. The pumps are quite different than the United States so, if you do need help figuring the pumps, the locals are so helpful and very willing to help!
Don’t be scared to take the road least travelled, they may lead you to somewhere beautiful. We did this quite often on the road trip and made some of the most memorable moments. Once landing us in directly in the middle of 100s of sheep blocking the road!
There are brown signs that point you to scenic or historic landmarks. Don’t shy away from following those signs!

Perhaps renting a car to see the country isn’t in your budget and you would rather let someone else do the driving? No worries! Bus tours are another great way to see other parts of the country! We took three bus tours while we were there and they were all within our budget of 55+ euros per ticket. You can either find a company tour office, or purchase online. We would suggest any bus tour that included a stop at Giants Causeway. Simply spectacular and well worth your time.