diff --git a/locations/06-wild-atlantic-way.md b/locations/06-wild-atlantic-way.md index bf64476..c6c319c 100644 --- a/locations/06-wild-atlantic-way.md +++ b/locations/06-wild-atlantic-way.md @@ -43,10 +43,14 @@ If you arrive in Belfast later than Aug 8: compress Donegal to 2 days (skip Mali See individual section files for detailed charger locations. ## Practical Notes -- **Wind:** Prevailing southwest — expect headwinds on exposed Atlantic sections heading south. Plan shorter days in Donegal and Mayo. -- **Workation bases:** Westport, Galway, Dingle, Killarney — best wifi and cafés + +- **Getting around:** Drive between sections; park up and walk or take short day hikes at each stop +- **Bike rental:** Available in Galway, Westport, Clifden, Killarney, and Dingle for day rides — worthwhile on Achill Island and Inis Mór where roads are quiet and flat-ish +- **Hiking gear:** Bring trail runners or light boots — Croagh Patrick, Slieve League, and Diamond Hill all reward a proper walk - **Weather:** August is best but pack waterproofs — Atlantic squalls arrive without warning -- **Gaeltacht:** Connemara, north Mayo, and Donegal are Irish-speaking. Signs are Irish-first. +- **Food:** Never more than 20km from a pub serving hot food. Pubs stop food service around 9pm. +- **Gaeltacht:** Connemara, north Mayo coast, and Donegal are Irish-speaking. Signs are Irish-first. Any attempt at Irish is met with delight. +- **Workation bases:** Galway and Dublin are the best for heavy work days. Westport, Killarney, and Dingle for lighter days. ## Links - [Wild Atlantic Way official](https://www.wildatlanticway.com) diff --git a/locations/06a-donegal.md b/locations/06a-donegal.md index 5aa04f3..434a32b 100644 --- a/locations/06a-donegal.md +++ b/locations/06a-donegal.md @@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ Morning: Glenveagh National Park — walk to the castle (3km each way) or take t ## Practical Info - **Base:** Donegal Town — best selection of accommodation, restaurants, and EV charging -- **Roads:** Narrow, hilly, and very quiet. Perfect for cycling but allow extra time +- **Roads:** Narrow and hilly — allow extra time. Park up and walk at Slieve League and Glenveagh rather than trying to rush between them. - **Currency:** Euro (Republic of Ireland) - **Driving:** Left side diff --git a/locations/06b-sligo.md b/locations/06b-sligo.md index 3d0c65b..616f664 100644 --- a/locations/06b-sligo.md +++ b/locations/06b-sligo.md @@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ Morning: Carrowmore (1–2h). Lunch in Sligo town. Afternoon: drive or cycle the ## Practical Info - **Base:** Sligo town — central, good food, EV charging, accommodation variety -- **Cycling:** Flatter and more manageable than Donegal; the coast road to Strandhill is a good short ride +- **Getting around:** Compact and easy to drive. Strandhill is 8km from Sligo town — a quick drive or a pleasant walk along the estuary path. - **Seaweed baths:** Book Voya (Strandhill) or Kilcullen's (Enniscrone) in advance in August - **Currency:** Euro diff --git a/locations/06c-mayo.md b/locations/06c-mayo.md index 393ca0d..b376341 100644 --- a/locations/06c-mayo.md +++ b/locations/06c-mayo.md @@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ Mayo contains two of the best experiences on the entire Wild Atlantic Way: Achil ## Must-See - **Westport** — Planned Georgian town on the Carrowbeg River, consistently voted Ireland's favourite town. Outstanding pub and restaurant scene for its size, good EV charging, excellent base for the whole section. Matt Molloy's pub (owned by The Chieftains' flautist) has traditional music nightly. -- ⭐ **Achill Island** — Ireland's largest island, connected by a bridge — no ferry needed. **Keem Bay** is a pristine turquoise beach in a natural cliffside amphitheatre; the drive/cycle to it is one of the most dramatic in Ireland. The Slievemore Deserted Village (over 100 stone houses abandoned during the Famine) is haunting and very quiet. Excellent cycling on quiet Atlantic Drive roads. +- ⭐ **Achill Island** — Ireland's largest island, connected by a bridge — no ferry needed. **Keem Bay** is a pristine turquoise beach in a natural cliffside amphitheatre; the drive out to it is one of the most dramatic in Ireland. Rent a bike in Keel village for a few hours — the island roads are quiet and flat enough to be genuinely enjoyable. The Slievemore Deserted Village (over 100 stone houses abandoned during the Famine) is haunting and very quiet. - **Croagh Patrick** — Ireland's holiest mountain; pilgrims climb it barefoot on the last Sunday of July (Reek Sunday). The quartzite cone above Clew Bay is one of Ireland's most iconic views. The hike takes 3–4h return; the summit (764m) has a small chapel and extraordinary views over the bay's 365 islands on a clear day. - **Céide Fields** — The world's most extensive Stone Age monument: a complete 5,000-year-old farming landscape (field walls, houses, tombs) preserved intact under the bog. On the north Mayo coast; good detour if driving the full coastal route. diff --git a/locations/06d-connemara.md b/locations/06d-connemara.md index 8c938f6..ac7e2a5 100644 --- a/locations/06d-connemara.md +++ b/locations/06d-connemara.md @@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ Connemara is unlike anywhere else in Ireland. The landscape is elemental: vast b ## Must-See -- **Sky Road, Clifden** — 16km circular coastal road from Clifden town with elevated views over the Atlantic, offshore islands, and the Clifden Castle ruins below. One of Ireland's best cycling roads: manageable gradient, spectacular at every turn, and quiet enough even in August. +- ⭐ **Sky Road (Clifden)** — 16km circular coastal road from Clifden with elevated views over the Atlantic and offshore islands. One of Ireland's best scenic drives; spectacular at every turn. You can also rent a bike in Clifden to ride it — the gradient is manageable. - **Connemara National Park** — The Twelve Bens mountain range with marked walking trails from easy bog boardwalks to full hill walks. Visitor centre at Letterfrack with good introduction to the landscape. The Diamond Hill walk (2h return) is the most rewarding short hike. - **Kylemore Abbey** — Gothic Revival castle built 1867 on the shore of a mountain lake, now a Benedictine monastery. The setting is one of the most photographed in Ireland. The walled Victorian garden is worth the entry fee. Busy in August — go early. - **Clifden** — The "capital" of Connemara. Small but with a good food scene, traditional music, and the only reliable fast charger in the section. Good workation base. @@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ Morning: Inishbofin ferry from Cleggan if taking that option (book ahead in Augu - **Base:** Clifden — central for all Connemara sights, has EV charging, good food - **Workation:** Clifden has decent café wifi; Galway (next section) is much better for serious work days - **Language:** Many signs are Irish-only in Connemara. Navigation apps handle this fine; just be aware. -- **Inland roads:** The L-roads and boreens through the bog are far quieter than the N59 in summer and far more beautiful. Prefer these for cycling. +- **Inland roads:** The L-roads and boreens through the bog are far quieter than the N59 in summer and far more beautiful — take them where they run parallel to the main road. - **Currency:** Euro ## Links diff --git a/locations/06e-galway.md b/locations/06e-galway.md index 8181f7b..370c620 100644 --- a/locations/06e-galway.md +++ b/locations/06e-galway.md @@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ Galway is Ireland's most vibrant city outside Dublin — a university town with ## Must-See - ⭐ **Latin Quarter** — The medieval heart of Galway: Shop Street, Quay Street, Kirwan's Lane. Tigh Neachtain at the corner of Cross Street is the traditional music epicentre — session most nights. Buskers fill the streets in August. -- ⭐ **Aran Islands (Inis Mór)** — Day trip or overnight from Rossaveal (40 min ferry; Rossaveal is 37km west of Galway). Inis Mór is the largest island: **Dún Aonghasa** is an Iron Age fort perching directly on the edge of a 100m Atlantic cliff — one of the most dramatic ancient sites in Europe. Rent a bike on the island; flat-ish roads, no cars to speak of. +- ⭐ **Aran Islands (Inis Mór)** — Day trip or overnight from Rossaveal (40 min ferry; Rossaveal is 37km west of Galway). Inis Mór is the largest island: **Dún Aonghasa** is an Iron Age fort perching directly on the edge of a 100m Atlantic cliff — one of the most dramatic ancient sites in Europe. Rent a bike at the pier for the day — the island roads are nearly car-free and flat enough for anyone. - **Salthill Promenade** — 2km seafront walk; kick the wall at the end (a Galway tradition taken seriously by locals). Blackrock diving tower for the brave. - **Spanish Arch** — Medieval arch at the mouth of the River Corrib; good spot to sit and watch the city. - **Food:** Galway punches well above its size — Ard Bia at Nimmos (riverside, excellent), Cava Bodega (Spanish tapas), Dela (café/brunch). diff --git a/locations/06f-clare.md b/locations/06f-clare.md index 57aeb94..2a268da 100644 --- a/locations/06f-clare.md +++ b/locations/06f-clare.md @@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ Clare is where the Wild Atlantic Way delivers its most famous image — the Clif ## Must-See - ⭐ **Cliffs of Moher** — 8km of sea cliffs rising to 214m. Ireland's most visited natural attraction, and the crowds show it mid-afternoon. Go **before 9am or after 6pm** to avoid the coach tour peak. The walk south from the visitor centre to Hag's Head (3km return) gives the best elevated views and loses most of the crowd within 500m. -- **The Burren** — 250km² of limestone pavement unlike anything else in Ireland. Arctic, Mediterranean, and alpine plants grow in the same cracks. The **Green Road** above Ballyvaughan is an old drove road with wide views; the **Burren Way** cycling route follows quiet lanes through the heart of it. +- **The Burren** — 250km² of limestone pavement unlike anything else in Ireland. Arctic, Mediterranean, and alpine plants grow in the same cracks. The **Green Road** above Ballyvaughan is an old drove road with wide views — a straightforward walk. The lanes between Ballyvaughan and Kilfenora are worth driving slowly. - ⭐ **Doolin** — A tiny village with a global reputation for traditional Irish music. Three pubs — McGann's, Gus O'Connor's, and McDermott's — all have live sessions every night in August. The most unpretentious traditional music you'll find anywhere on the WAW. - **Poulnabrone Dolmen** — A portal tomb on open Burren limestone, 5,500 years old. Roadside, free, and genuinely striking — the stone is elevated enough above the flat karst to be visible from a distance. - **Lahinch** — Atlantic surf beach at the southern end of Clare; busy in summer, great fish and chips. diff --git a/locations/06g-kerry.md b/locations/06g-kerry.md index 5ee84ef..bca016a 100644 --- a/locations/06g-kerry.md +++ b/locations/06g-kerry.md @@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ Kerry is the final section before Dublin and the one most people picture when th ## Must-See - ⭐ **Dingle Peninsula** — More intimate than the Ring of Kerry, less touristy, arguably more beautiful. The **Slea Head Drive** (55km loop from Dingle town) passes 6th-century beehive huts (*clochán*), ruined Gallarus Oratory, the Blasket Islands viewpoint across the water, and **Connor Pass** — the highest mountain pass in Ireland driveable by road, with views down to both coasts. Dingle town has the best seafood restaurants and traditional music on the peninsula. Fungie the dolphin has been replaced by an actual thriving harbour. -- **Ring of Kerry** — The classic 180km circuit of the Iveragh Peninsula: Killarney National Park, Kenmare, Waterville (Charlie Chaplin's favourite holiday spot), Cahersiveen, Portmagee. Busy with tourist coaches — if driving, go **counterclockwise** (opposite to coach direction) to avoid head-on meetings. If cycling, start before 8am. +- **Ring of Kerry** — The classic 180km circuit of the Iveragh Peninsula: Killarney National Park, Kenmare, Waterville (Charlie Chaplin's favourite holiday spot), Cahersiveen, Portmagee. Busy with tourist coaches — drive **counterclockwise** (opposite to coach direction) to avoid head-on traffic on the narrow sections. - ⭐ **Skellig Michael** — UNESCO World Heritage Site; early Christian monastery built on a sea stack 12km offshore. 618 stone steps to the beehive huts at the summit, puffins everywhere in August, otherworldly. Also a Star Wars filming location. **Boats from Portmagee and Ballinskelligs — book months in advance.** If you haven't booked, check now. - **Killarney National Park** — The three Lakes of Killarney, Torc Waterfall (15 min walk from the road), Muckross House (Victorian mansion, free grounds), and the Gap of Dunloe (glacial valley; walk it or hire a jaunting car). Ireland's oldest national park and genuinely beautiful. - **Kenmare** — Elegant small town on the estuary between the Iveragh and Beara peninsulas. Good food, good pubs, stone circle just outside town.