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Add IoM ferry file and Wild Atlantic Way EV charging guide

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- New 03-iom-ferry.md: Steam Packet from Liverpool or Heysham, booking notes, EV on board
- WAW: full section-by-section EV charging table (Donegal to Kerry)
  Highlights the two critical gaps: Connemara (Clifden–Westport) and Donegal coast
  Adds ESB ecars/Zap-Map links and practical overnight charging tips
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Till Mueller
2026-08-03 12:14:02 +02:00
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locations/07-wild-atlantic-way.md
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@@ -109,6 +109,37 @@ The iconic postcard Ireland: ring roads, peninsulas, dramatic mountains.
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## EV Charging on the Wild Atlantic Way
The west coast has significant charging gaps — this requires more planning than mainland Europe. The ESB ecars network is the primary public infrastructure in Ireland.
**General strategy:** Charge at every opportunity in towns, don't rely on finding a charger in remote areas. A rule of thumb: if you're leaving a town with a charger, top up even if you don't strictly need to.
### Section-by-section charging
| Section | Situation | Key chargers |
|---------|-----------|--------------|
| **Donegal** | Sparse — worst section for EV | Letterkenny (22kW ESB), Donegal Town (ESB), Bundoran. Gaps of 60–80km on the coast road. |
| **Sligo** | Reasonable | Sligo town has multiple ESB chargers incl. fast; Enniscrone has a slow charger |
| **Mayo** | Patchy | Westport (ESB fast), Castlebar, Ballina. Achill Island has a slow charger at Keel — charge in Westport before going to Achill. |
| **Connemara** | Most challenging after Donegal | Clifden has an ESB charger (22kW); Letterfrack area is a dead zone. Galway city is the reliable anchor before and after. |
| **Galway** | Good | Multiple ESB rapid chargers in city; Tesla SC at Galway Retail Park. Treat this as a full recharge stop. |
| **Clare** | Reasonable | Ennis (ESB fast), Ennistymon, Lahinch. No rapid charger at Cliffs of Moher — charge in Ennis or Lahinch first. |
| **Kerry** | Good coverage in towns | Killarney (ESB fast + Tesla SC), Tralee, Dingle (22kW ESB), Kenmare. Ring of Kerry road has no chargers mid-circuit — full battery before starting. |
### Tips
- **App:** ESB ecars app for live availability; Zap-Map Ireland for broader network view
- **Speed reality:** Most rural ESB chargers are 22kW AC (fast, not rapid) — plan 1–1.5h stops in smaller towns
- **Accommodation:** Ask when booking if the property has a socket or charger — many rural B&Bs and hotels in Kerry and Galway now have at least a 7kW home charger
- **Connemara gap:** The stretch from Clifden north to Westport (~90km of coast road) is the most exposed gap on the whole route. Charge fully in Clifden or Westport before attempting the other direction.
- **Donegal gap:** The Slieve League / Glencolmcille area has no public chargers. Plan a there-and-back with Killybegs or Donegal Town as your base with charging.
### Useful links
- [ESB ecars map](https://esb.ie/ecars/charge-point-map)
- [Zap-Map Ireland](https://www.zap-map.com/charge-points/ireland/)
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## Practical Cycling Notes
- **Bike hire:** Available in major towns (Galway, Westport, Killarney, Dingle). For a serious tour, bring your own.