WILD ATLANTIC WAY

10 GREAT WALKS ON THE WILD ATLANTIC WAY

There’s a way of life that feels different when you’re in view of the Atlantic – daily pressures seem to fade away as you lose yourself in the elemental beauty of the region. Walking here is a joy, whether you’re on way-marked trails or completely off the beaten track. There are routes that are perfect for families to explore and trails that are ideal for the seasoned outdoor adventurer.

The staggering beauty of the Wild Atlantic Way can be appreciated with a walk along Donegal’s Northern Headlands, along one of its numerous Blue Flag beaches or among the sensational, unspoiled beauty of five national parks.

To find lots more inspiration on how best to explore the Wild Atlantic Way on foot, please visit www.wildatlanticway. com.

1 SHEEP’S HEAD, CORK

THE looped trail at this evocatively named headland brings you to a place of staggering natural beauty. There are towering cliffs, crystal clear lakes, including the fisherman’s favourite, Lough Akeen, and the Sheep’s Head Lighthouse which stands guard at the tip of Bantry Bay.

The loop is accessible to most, takes three hours and there are also a range of trails off it to cater for walkers of all abilities. The Funeral Path Trail or the Goat’s Path Trailhead, cater for those who like remote expeditions.

Each offers the walker the chance to immerse themselves in the rugged universe of West Cork, a region so special that scores of continental Europeans quit the rat race to set up new lives here.

2 BOLUS HEAD, KERRY

THE Kingdom is celebrated all over the world for the magnificence of its walking trails and one of the most impressive is to be found on Bolus Head, which brings walkers through the sloping hills of the sea-hugging Bolus Mountain.

This is a place from which to enjoy jaw-dropping views of the Skellig Islands, the Unesco World Heritage Site and a key location for the latest Star Wars movie.

Skellig Michael’s pyramidal shape has long transfixed travellers and the celebrated author George Bernard Shaw was moved to describe it thus: ‘An incredible, impossible, mad place…I tell you the thing does not belong to any world that you and I have lived and worked in: it is part of our dream world.’

3 LOOP HEAD, CLARE

CO Clare is home to some of the country’s most evocative landscapes, not least the vast limestone expanse of the Burren and the awe-inspiring Cliffs of Moher, both of which are best appreciated on foot. There’s something particularly elemental about the walk at Loop Head, where bracing winds and breathtaking ocean views will make you feel like you’re at one with nature.

A highlight of the walk is the Loop Head Lighthouse, one of the Great Lighthouses of Ireland series, and a beacon that has protected ships on the Atlantic for almost 350 years.

Walking here is such a part of the culture that it has got its own annual event – the Loop Head Walking and Heritage Festival.

10 GREAT WALKS ON THE WILD ATLANTIC WAY

5 INISHBOFIN, GALWAY

INISHBOFIN is one of the more accessible of our islands – there’s a ferry service from Cleggan a number of times a day. Cars are not permitted to be brought to the island, so it’s an especially wonderful place to walk.

There are three loops here, including the Westquarter loop which delivers some of the most memorable coastal vistas of the Wild Atlantic Way. But the landscape on this gorgeously located island is sensational too. A handful of hotel restaurants will sate appetites. Meanwhile, those walkers hankering for another island experience should consider the serene Inishturk. Nestled between Inishbofin and Clare Island, it features the Mountain Common loop, a haven brimming with lush views and unspoilt beaches.

6 CAHER VALLEY, CLARE

THIS loop starts and finishes in Fanore, a small village situated at the coast in north Clare. Its Irish name – Fáinne Óir – translates as ‘ring of gold’ and walkers will soon discover why: the stunning expanse of sandy beach here – a Blue Flag beach – is one of the best loved strands on the Wild Atlantic Way. The Caher Valley runs down to Fanore between Slieve Elva and Gleninagh and is named after its river, and its watercourse has the distinction of being the only one in the Burren to remain over ground.

The loop takes in part of the Burren Way – a wonderful route for those who want to truly appreciate the beauty of this park.

7 CHILDREN OF LIR LOOP, MAYO

WITH a myriad of attractions in south Mayo and in Sligo, the north Mayo coast is sometimes forgotten, but those who make themselves acquainted with it return time and again.

Starting at the village of Carrowteige in the Mayo Gaeltacht, the Children of Lir loop showcases the area’s rocky headlands and secluded coves. And it encompasses spectacular cliffs near Benwee Head.

The loop, named after one of Ireland’s most treasured myths and legends, tells the tale of children who were turned into swans and condemned to wander the countryside for 900 years, 300 of which they spent on the island of Inishglora here.

Inishglora, uninhabited since the early 20th century, is located close to Belmullet, further south.

8 LOUGH EASKEY, SLIGO

ALTHOUGH Achill has been connected to the mainland by bridge since the 1880s, it still retains a distinct island feel.

And with almost 90% of its area covered by peatland, much of its landscape remains the same as it did centuries ago. There are walks to suit all levels, including those at the top of the vertiginous sea cliffs overlooking the turquoise waters of Keem Strand, one of Ireland’s most remote spots. But one of the more accessible of these starts and ends at the seaside village of Dooagh.

It takes about an hour and covers the undulating blanket bog of the area and passes a ‘booley’ village – one of the many abandoned hamlets that characterise the landscape of Achill and remind us of the legacy of the Great Famine. THE Ox Mountains, which share a border with Mayo, boast a series of ruined churches on its slopes.

They were reputedly built by St Patrick and his name is often used to denote this rocky uplands range today. Nestled in the heart of the mountains is Lough Easkey, and the looped trail, which is of moderate difficulty, brings the walker close to the water’s edge. Thick forest plantations ring its shores and you can walk quite a distance without seeing another soul. There’s impressive flora and fauna, too, which includes the common lizard, the country’s only native reptile.

9 INISHOWEN HEAD, DONEGAL

HOME to some of the highest sea cliffs in Europe, Donegal offers jaw-dropping landscapes and that’s particularly the case on the Inishowen Peninsula, sometimes dubbed ‘Ireland in miniature’ thanks to its shape.

The Inishowen Head loop gives the walker a real sense of the elemental nature of this northerly point on the Wild Atlantic Way. It’s a wonderfully scenic route of moderate difficulty that showcases the power of the Atlantic and its impact on the people who have lived here.

History lovers are in for a treat: you’ll pass a World War II look-out tower, see the point from where St. Columba set sail for Scotland in the 6th Century and, on a clear day, catch a glimpse of the west coast of Scotland.

10 GLENCOLMCILLE PENINSULA, DONEGAL

THE Glencolmcille Peninsula in the south west of the county boasts the Drum and Glen looped walks, both of which will give you an appreciation for Donegal, both past and present.

On the Drum walk you can drink in the wonderful views from Beefan and Gaveross Mountain and take in the 5,000-year-old Mannernamortee megalithic tomb, while those who tackle the Glen loop will encounter a Martello Tower, one of several dotted all around Ireland – and the deserted offbeat and off-the-grid fishing village of Port – where your nearest neighbours are three miles up the valley.

The village is evocative of a time when fishing was the lifeblood of the area.

It boasts spectacular views and you’ll want to have your camera-phone at the ready for sunset – it really is unforgettable.