‘A genuine trip of a lifetime’
Exploring the west coast of Ireland is a life-enriching must-do ride
Along the entire west coast of Ireland, between the Inishowen Peninsula in Donegal and Kinsale in Cork, run myriad rural roads and single tracks that together form one of the longest defined coastal touring routes in the world – the Wild Atlantic Way. It offers a unique experience, from winding around dark dramatic coastlines to skirting beautiful beaches and climbing picturesque passes. You’ll need the best part of a fortnight to ride it and at least another week to fit in all the stops. The official distance from start to finish is 2500km, that’s 1553 miles, but it’s so twisty in some places that you’ll be lucky to cover more than a couple of hundred miles per day. Road surfaces vary from racetrack smooth to pockmarked and while traffic is generally light, you’ll need to keep a look out for tourist buses. Despite the number of roads that link the route together, navigation is surprisingly easy as the Irish tourist board have marked every turn with official signage. In addition to the route itself, there are also directions to 180 designated ‘discovery points’, including sensational viewpoints and a cornucopia of places to visit. One thing to bear in mind is accommodation, as being a fairly sparsely populated part of the world hotel rooms are often in short supply. Even B&Bs and hostels will require booking way in advance and although camping is an option the unpredictable weather could be cause to disregard it. All in all, it’s a true trip of a lifetime.