‘This 1,500-mile route skirts the ragged extremities of Ireland’

Wild Atlantic Way, Ireland

As marketing masterstrokes go, Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way was truly inspired. Celebrating its 10th anniversary in February, it has swiftly attained bucket-list road trip status.

This 1,500-mile route skirts the ragged extremities of Ireland, twisting, turning and wiggling its way in either direction from Malin Head on County Donegal’s Inishowen Peninsula to the charming seaside town of Kinsale in County Cork.

And the scenery? It has it all: lonely windswept beaches, hauntingly empty landscapes, roiling waves for surfers, mist-snagged mountains, heritage sites, music filled pubs and buzzing cities such as Galway and Cork.

The classic West Cork village of Ballydehob will soon welcome one of the Wild Atlantic Way’s newest places for a pit stop. Native is both a guesthouse and an ambitious rewilding project; a clutch of cabins are expected to follow later in the year.

Ladyville House is another hotly anticipated opening for 2024, located on County Wexford’s Hook Peninsula. The grand mansion, formerly known as Loftus Hall and reputedly one of Ireland’s most haunted houses, has been transformed into a luxurious retreat.

In terms of accessibility, Londonderry, Ireland West Knock, Shannon, Kerry and Cork airports are the closest to the Wild Atlantic Way. These are served by a number of airlines from the UK, including Aer Lingus, Ryanair and British Airways.

How to do it

Inntravel (01653 617 000; inntravel. co.uk) is launching a new Ireland programme in 2024 and has a self-guided seven-night Wild Connemara & Galway walking holiday costing from £1,465 pp including B&B, some dinners, luggage transportation, transfers and maps; excludes flights.

Aoife O’Riordain is a travel writer who can often be found roaming the mountains, clifftop paths and beaches of County Kerry.