157 discovery points, 1,000 attractions and more than 2,500 activities

Aiming to compete internationally with South Africa's Garden Route and America's Pacific Highway, The Wild Atlantic Way is a tourism trail on the west coast, and on parts of the north and south coasts of the Republic of Ireland.

Visit the Irish West Coast and embrace the Wild Atlantic Way of life

The 2,500 km (1,553 mile) driving route passes through nine counties and three provinces and stretches from Malin Head in County Donegal to the Old Head of Kinsale in County Cork.

Ireland's tourist industry wants to attract tourists to what it claims is the "World's longest defined coastal driving route".

Along the route there are 157 discovery points, 1,000 attractions and more than 2,500 activities. The route was officially launched in 2014 by Minister of State for Tourism and Sport, Michael Ring.

The route is broken down into 6 sections.

• Northern Headlands - County Donegal
• Surf Coast - County Donegal to County Mayo
• Bay Coast - County Mayo to County Clare
• Cliff Coast - County Clare to County Kerry
• Southern Peninsulas - County Kerry to County Cork
• The Haven Coast - The southernmost stretch of the Wild Atlantic Way

Image: The Wild Atlantic Way, source: www.failteireland.ie

Key points of interest

The North West - Counties Donegal, Leitrim and Sligo

The West - Counties Mayo and Galway

The Mid West - Counties Clare and Limerick

The South West - Counties Kerry and Cork

The North West - Counties Donegal, Leitrim and Sligo

• Malin Head - Ireland’s most northerly point located on the Inishowen Peninsula
• Lough Foyle - the estuary of the River Foyle, on the north coast of Ireland
• Lough Swilly - a glacial fjord or sea inlet lying between the western side of the Inishowen Peninsula and the Fanad Peninsula
• Fort Dunree - a coastal defence fortification located on the west side of the Inishowen Peninsula
• Buncrana - a town in County Donegal
• Grianán of Aileach (Greenan Fort) - a hillfort atop the 244 metres (801 ft) high Greenan Mountain at Inishowen in County Donegal
• Derry - the second-largest city in Northern Ireland - Further Information
• Ramelton - a town in County Donegal
• Rathmullan - a small seaside village on the Fanad Peninsula in County Donegal
• Fanad - a peninsula that lies between Lough Swilly and Mulroy Bay on the north coast of County Donegal
• Rosguill - a peninsula situated in north-north-west County Donegal
• Doe Castle - Was historically a stronghold of Clan Suibhne (Clan Sweeney). Built in the 16th century, it is one of the better fortalices in the north-west of Ireland. It was here that Owen Roe O'Neill returned in 1642 to lead the Ulster Army of the Irish Confederate forces during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms
• Derryveagh Mountains - the major mountain range in County Donegal, Ireland. It makes up much of the landmass of the county, and is the area of Ireland with the lowest population density
• Horn Head - a peninsula in Donegal, North West Ireland, close to Dunfanaghy. It forms part of Sheephaven Bay
• Tory Island - an island 14.5 kilometres (9.0 miles) off the north-west coast of County Donegal in Ulster, Ireland, and is the most remote inhabited island of Ireland
• Árainn Mhór (Arranmore Island) - an island off the west coast of County Donegal in Ulster, Ireland. Arranmore is the largest inhabited island of County Donegal
• The Rosses - a geographical and social region in the west of County Donegal, Ireland
• Mount Errigal - a 751-metre (2,464 ft) mountain near Gweedore in County Donegal
• Malin Beg Beach - Glencolmcille is a coastal district in the southwest Gaeltacht of County Donegal in Ulster. Malin Beg features The Church of St Kevin and a ringfort.
• Slieve League Cliffs - Slieve League is a mountain on the Atlantic coast of County Donegal. At 601 metres (1,972 ft), it has some of the highest sea cliffs on the island of Ireland. Although less famous than the Cliffs of Moher in County Clare, Slieve League's cliffs reach almost three times higher - Further Information
• Blue Stack Mountains - the major mountain range in the south of County Donegal
• Donegal Town - is charming and picturesque, with a small harbour where the Eske River enters Donegal Bay and a pleasant town centre, known as the Diamond - Further Information
• Bundoran - a seaside town in County Donegal. Bundoran is a world-renowned surfing area and was listed by National Geographic magazine in 2012 as one of the World's Top 20 Surf Towns
• Tullaghan - the most northerly village in County Leitrim
• Mullaghmore Head - a village on the Mullaghmore peninsula in County Sligo
• Spanish Armada shipwrecks at Streedagh Beach - In 1985 at Streedagh Strand, north of Rosses Point, marine archeologists uncovered the wrecks of three ships of the Spanish Armada, La Lavia, La Juliana, and Santa Maria de Vison, which a storm drove onto this coast in September 1588
• Aughris - a coastal townland in County Sligo, in the west of Ireland. It is also the name given to a prominent headland that includes the townlands of Aughris, Garryduff, Kilrusheighter and Rathglass
• Easky - a village in County Sligo. It is on the Atlantic coast, 26 miles from Sligo and 15 miles from Ballina, County Mayo
• Enniscrone - a small seaside town in County Sligo. Its sandy beach, tourist campsite, and golf course all attract a large number of visitors

The West - Counties Mayo and Galway

• The Céide Fields - an archaeological site on the north County Mayo coast in the west of the Republic of Ireland - Further Information
• The Mullet Peninsula - also known as the Mullet and sometimes as the Erris Peninsula is a peninsula in the barony of Erris in County Mayo
• Clare Island Lighthouse at Clew Bay - a mountainous island guarding the entrance to Clew Bay in County Mayo, Ireland. It is famous as the home of the pirate queen Gráinne O'Malley. Approximately 145 people live there today
• Achill Island - in County Mayo is the largest island off the coast of Ireland - Further Information
• Inishturk - accessible by ferry from Louisburgh, County Mayo - an inhabited island of County Mayo
• Doolough - known locally as the "Black Lake" is a coastal townland covering an area of 2,493 acres (10.09 km2)
• Connemara - a cultural region in County Galway
• Clifden - a coastal town in County Galway - Further Information
• Inishbofin - a small island off the coast of Connemara, accessible by ferry from Cleggan
• Oileáin Árann (Aran Islands) - a group of three islands located at the mouth of Galway Bay - Further Information
• Salthill - a seaside area in the City of Galway in the west of Ireland
• Rinville Park, near Oranmore - Oranmore is a village in County Galway on the outskirts of the city of Galway

The Mid West - Counties Clare and Limerick

• The Burren - a region in County Clare, Ireland. It is dominated by karst landscape and measures at least 250 square kilometres - Further Information
• The Cliffs of Moher and the Doolin Cliff Walk - located at the southwestern edge of the Burren region in County Clare - Further Information
• Loop Head - a headland on the north side of the mouth of the River Shannon, in County Clare - Further Information
• The Shannon Estuary and the Shannon dolphins - a large estuary where the River Shannon flows into the Atlantic Ocean

The South West - Counties Kerry and Cork

• Garnish Island in Glengarriff - an island in Glengarriff harbour, part of Bantry Bay in southwest Ireland
• The ruined cottages of Great Blasket Island - the principal island of the Blaskets, County Kerry
• Dingle - a town in County Kerry, Ireland. The only town on the Dingle Peninsula - Further Information
• Rossbeigh Beach - a beach located approximately 1.6 km from the village of Glenbeigh, in County Kerry
• The Skellig Experience Visitor Centre - two small, steep, and rocky islands lying about 13 km west of Bolus Head on the Iveragh Peninsula in County Kerry - Further Information
• Dursey Island - Accessible by Ireland’s only cable car - is one of 7 inhabited West Cork islands and is located at the end of the Beara Peninsula
• Sheep's Head - One of the European Destinations of Excellence for sustainable tourism, the Sheep's Head peninsula is home to the Sheep's Head Way walking and cycling routes
• Mizen Head - Ireland's southernmost point, with views of Fastnet Rock and Lighthouse
• Allihies and the Allihies Copper Mine Museum on the Beara Peninsula - Allihies is a coastal parish in County Cork
• Kinsale - a historic port and fishing town in County Cork - Further Information
• Cork - a university city in Ireland, located in the South-West of the island - Further Information

The official website of The Wild Atlantic Way

Lots of information can be found on the official website and it includes a handy trip planner to help you on your way.