ALONG IRELAND’S WILD ATLANTIC WAY

Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way, the world’s longest coastal route with the invigorating force of the sea to one side and forty shades of green on the other, is a one-of-a-kind adventure with so much to offer that visitors are literally spoiled for choice.

Stretching from County Cork to Donegal, no matter how you travel along the Wild Atlantic Way, in a group tour, by bike or even hiking, you’re sure to encounter charming towns and villages with much to offer in terms of character as well as plenty of delightful shops, cafes, restaurants and other attractions.

Here are some top choices for the major towns along the Wild Atlantic Way:

LETTERKENNY, COUNTY DONEGAL9

Letterkenny is a gateway destination and one of the fastestgrowing towns in Europe. The town has seen dramatic growth in new attractions, entertainment venues, shopping centres and accommodations over the past number of years.

BUNDORAN, COUNTY DONEGAL

Bundoran has evolved into Ireland’s premier seaside resort with a host of modern facilities for visitors and yet still remains true to its roots with its own special brand of hospitality and warmth. Bundoran is a seaside resort with a never-ending appeal.

WESTPORT, COUNTY MAYO

Located at the southeast corner of Clew Bay, in County Mayo, Westport is one of Ireland’s most popular towns. It is a heritage town and one of Ireland’s tidiest towns.

The most recent addition to Westport’s outdoor activity facilities is the Great Western Greenway, Ireland’s first off-road walking and cycling trail which is 42 km (26 miles) long and runs from Westport to Achill Island.

LAHINCH, COUNTY CLARE

Lahinch is one of the West Coast’s premier beach resort towns and a hive of activity in the summer months. As well as its stunning beach, the town has an international reputation for two distinct activities – golf and surfing.

Golfers have been coming to play the famous championship links course since the late 19th century. For surfers, Lahinch is renowned as a world-class surfing location.

KENMARE, COUNTY KERRY

Kenmare is an elegant 17th-century market town. This welcoming, lively place buzzes with five-star hotels and chic spas, B&Bs, smart restaurants, arty shops, cosy cafés and dozens of friendly pubs with live traditional music sessions and festivals all year round.

DINGLE, COUNTY KERRY

At the very edge of Europe, as far west as you can go in Ireland, is the breathtaking Dingle Peninsula, once described by National Geographic as “the most beautiful place on earth”. It’s a place of spectacular seascapes and landscapes shaped by the elements, with a wild and rugged coastline of steep cliffs and wide sandy beaches.

The Dingle Peninsula is a place the Irish love to visit but it’s still largely undiscovered by people from elsewhere.

KINSALE, COUNTY CORK

The historic town of Kinsale has an important role in Irish tourism and is known as the ‘Gourmet Capital’ of Ireland. It is also one of the most successful and popular visitor destinations in Ireland.

Kinsale has many popular attractions, which include heritage, gourmet restaurants, sailing, deep-sea angling and golf and has been designated an Irish heritage town.

CLONAKILTY, COUNTY CORK

Clonakilty is an extraordinary, multiple award-winning town positioned on the coast within the heartland of West Cork. The town, with its blue flag beach Inchydoney, has an enviable reputation for itself as a choice tourist destination.

Clonakilty has a thriving musical and artistic community. Several of its pubs are noted for great impromptu music sessions with many bigname acts taking part.