Key Sites To Visit Along The Wild Atlantic Way
Malin Head
Looking out over the North Atlantic from the mainland, Ireland’s most northerly point at Malin Head feels a bit like reaching the end of the world, with little separating you from the Arctic other than ocean, you can even see the Northern Lights from here if you time it right.
Fanad Lighthouse
The crowning point of County Donegal’s Fanad Peninsula, is a lighthouse dating back to 1818. Fanad Head Lighthouse is one of 12 that make up Great Lighthouses of Ireland, an initiative allowing visitors the chance to visit or stay in an Irish lighthouse.
Letterkenny
Donegal’s largest town, Letterkenny is known as the Cathedral Town, for having Donegal’s only Roman Catholic cathedral. It is also home to the Donegal Museum, set in a former famine workhouse and officially recognised by the Irish government as the best of Ireland’s county museums.
Sliabh Liag
Sliabh Liag’s cliffs aren’t as well-known as the Cliffs of Moher, but they are nearly three times taller. Europe’s highest sea cliffs at 601 metres, seeing them is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Inis Meáin, Aran Islands
The smallest of Galway Bay’s Aran Islands in terms of population,
Inis Meáin is described as ‘one of the most important strongholds of traditional Irish culture’. An extension of The Burren’s karst landscape, this beautifully remote area is a must-visit for any tourist on the route.
Strandhill
Strandhill, a surfer’s paradise, is the biggest coastal village in County Sligo and one of its most scenic, nestled at the base of Knocknarea hill and looking out across the Atlantic.
Kylemore Abbey
A Benedictine monastery based in a 19th Century castle on a picturesque lakeshore, Kylemore Abbey in Connemara is well worth visiting. As well as exploring the abbey itself, visitors can tour the entire 1,000 acre estate, including six acres of Victorian walled gardens.
Galway City
Welcoming and colourful, the harbour city of Galway has everything you could possibly want from an Irish city and for 2020, Galway City has been chosen to be the European Capital of Culture for 2020.
Doolin Cave
Inside the Doolin Cave in County Clare, you will find the longest free-hanging stalactite in the entire Northern Hemisphere. A staggering 7.3 metre (23 feet) structure hanging from the ceiling, it was formed from calcium deposits from a single drop of water, dripping over thousands of years.
The Cliffs Of Moher
As one of Ireland’s most visited sites, the majestic Cliffs of Moher on the Clare coast need no introduction. Providing views of the Aran Islands, the Maumturks and Twelve Pins mountain ranges, and Loop Head peninsula, these spectacular cliffs are a natural national treasure.
Bunratty Castle
Clare’s 15th-Century tower house known as Bunratty Castle has become another major tourist attraction, famous for its long history (the site was originally a Viking trading camp in 970) and its medieval-style banquets – a tradition that has survived since 1963.
Slea Head Drive
Taking in some of Ireland’s most striking vistas, Dingle’s circular Slea Head driving route has so many fabulous stopping points that it’s impossible to pick just one. Travellers are advised to set aside at least a half-day to get the most out of this breathtaking journey.
Skellig Micheal
The site of a former monastery and featured in the recent Star Wars films, the larger of County Kerry’s two Skellig islands is as arresting in person as it looks on film.
Mizen Head Signal Station
The southerly equivalent of Malin Head, the cliffs at Mizen Head has their own visitor centre, where the brave can cross a startlingly high bridge and watch for seals, whales and dolphins in the waves below.