Add full ITINERARY.md with ferry times and driving suggestions

- New ITINERARY.md: complete day-by-day from Aug 4 Walldorf to Sep 2 home. Includes exact ferry departure/arrival times for all 4 crossings, recommended hotel departure times on driving days, timed daily schedules. Key findings: IoM→Larne (not Belfast) every 2-3 days, Aug 10 sailing fits; Galway→Dingle via Killimer-Tarbert car ferry saves 90km vs Limerick. - IoM restored to 3 nights (Aug 7-10) to fit ferry schedule - Belfast updated: arrival from Larne, not Belfast direct - All section dates corrected; README updated with ITINERARY.md link
2026-08-03 21:34:55 +02:00
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@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 # Isle of Man

 > **Type:** Island destination
-> **Dates:** ~Aug 7–9 (2 nights — leaving 1 day for Wicklow later)
-> **Recommended stay:** 2–3 nights
+> **Dates:** ~Aug 7–10 (3 nights — ferry to Larne Aug 10)
+> **Recommended stay:** 3 nights
 > **Best for:** Coastal roads, castles, TT culture, Celtic heritage

 ## Why Visit
@@ -4,8 +4,13 @@
 > **Recommended stay:** 1–2 days
 > **Best for:** History, Titanic, murals, starting point for Wild Atlantic Way north

-## Why Via Belfast
-Arriving in Belfast (from Isle of Man via Steam Packet or Stena Line) puts you in Northern Ireland, which gives you the option to start the Wild Atlantic Way from its northern end — Donegal and the Inishowen Peninsula — heading south. This is the more dramatic and less touristy direction.
+## Arrival from Isle of Man
+**Steam Packet no longer serves Belfast directly.** Since December 2025 the route is **Douglas → Larne** (not Belfast). Larne is 20 miles north of Belfast — 30–40 min drive to the city centre.
+
+- Ferry departs Douglas 09:30, arrives Larne 14:15 (~4h 45m)
+- Sailing runs every 2–3 days — **check available dates** when booking: [steam-packet.com](https://www.steam-packet.com)
+- August 2026 sailing dates from Douglas: 3, 5, 7, 10, 12, 14, 17, 19, 21, 24, 26, 28, 31
+- **Aug 10 sailing** fits the itinerary (arrive Larne 14:15, Belfast ~15:00)

 ## Must-See

@@ -8,31 +8,31 @@
 ## What Is It
 The Wild Atlantic Way is a signed coastal route along Ireland's entire west coast — the world's longest defined coastal route. The west coast is the windward side of Ireland: constantly changing light, dramatic cliffs, remote peninsulas, and Irish-speaking (Gaeltacht) communities.

-## Rough Timeline: Aug 9 → Aug 30
+## Rough Timeline: Aug 10 → Aug 30

-**Deadline: Wicklow Aug 29, Dublin morning Aug 30.**
+**Deadline: Wicklow Aug 28–29, Dublin morning Aug 30.**

 | Dates | Base | Nights | Drive from prev. | What to do |
 |-------|------|--------|-----------------|------------|
-| Aug 9 | **Belfast** | 2 | — (ferry from IoM) | Titanic; Causeway Coast day trip |
-| Aug 11 | drive only | — | 2h 45min / 155km | Belfast → Donegal Town |
-| Aug 11–12 | **Donegal Town** | 2 | — | Slieve League, Glenveagh day trips |
-| Aug 13 | drive only | — | 1h 45min / 90km | Donegal → Sligo |
-| Aug 13–14 | **Sligo** | 2 | — | Benbulben, Strandhill, Carrowmore |
-| Aug 15 | drive only | — | 2h / 105km | Sligo → Westport |
-| Aug 15–17 | **Westport** | 3 | — | Achill Island, Croagh Patrick |
-| Aug 18 | drive only | — | 1h 30min / 75km | Westport → Clifden |
-| Aug 18–19 | **Clifden** | 2 | — | Sky Road, Connemara NP |
-| Aug 20 | drive only | — | 1h 20min / 70km | Clifden → Galway |
-| Aug 20–22 | **Galway** | 3 | — | City; Aran Islands day trip; Clare as day trip (Cliffs of Moher + Doolin, 1h 25min / 75km each way) |
-| Aug 23 | drive only | — | 2h 40min / 140km | Galway → Dingle |
-| Aug 23–24 | **Dingle** | 2 | — | Slea Head Drive; Skellig boat or Ring of Kerry |
-| Aug 25 | drive only | — | 1h 30min / 55km | Dingle → Killarney |
-| Aug 25–26 | **Killarney** | 2 | — | National Park; Ring of Kerry if not done from Dingle |
-| Aug 27 | drive only | — | 1h 30min / 85km | Killarney → Cork |
-| Aug 27 | **Cork** | 1 | — | English Market; evening in the city |
-| Aug 28 | drive only | — | 3h / ~230km | Cork → Wicklow (via N81) |
-| Aug 28–29 | **Wicklow** | 1 | — | Glendalough, upper lake walk |
+| Aug 10 | **Belfast** | 2 | — (ferry from Larne, 35min drive) | Titanic; Causeway Coast + Black Cab Tour |
+| Aug 12 | drive only | — | 2h 45min / 155km | Belfast → Donegal Town (via Derry) |
+| Aug 12–13 | **Donegal Town** | 2 | — | Slieve League, Glenveagh day trips |
+| Aug 14 | drive only | — | 1h 45min / 90km | Donegal → Sligo (stop: Drumcliff/Yeats grave) |
+| Aug 14–15 | **Sligo** | 2 | — | Benbulben, Strandhill, Carrowmore |
+| Aug 16 | drive only | — | 2h / 105km | Sligo → Westport (stop: Céide Fields optional) |
+| Aug 16–18 | **Westport** | 3 | — | Achill Island, Croagh Patrick |
+| Aug 19 | drive only | — | 1h 30min / 75km | Westport → Clifden (stop: Kylemore Abbey) |
+| Aug 19–20 | **Clifden** | 2 | — | Sky Road, Connemara NP (Diamond Hill) |
+| Aug 21 | drive only | — | 1h 20min / 70km | Clifden → Galway |
+| Aug 21–23 | **Galway** | 3 | — | Aran Islands day trip (Aug 22); Clare day trip (Aug 23) |
+| Aug 24 | drive only | — | 2h 40min / 140km | Galway → Dingle (via Killimer–Tarbert ferry) |
+| Aug 24–25 | **Dingle** | 2 | — | Slea Head Drive; Skellig boat or Ring of Kerry |
+| Aug 26 | drive only | — | 1h 30min / 55km | Dingle → Killarney |
+| Aug 26–27 | **Killarney** | 2 | — | Ring of Kerry (counterclockwise); Torc Waterfall |
+| Aug 28 | drive only | — | 1h 30min / 85km | Killarney → Cork |
+| Aug 28 | **Cork** | 1 | — | English Market; Shandon; evening in the city |
+| Aug 29 | drive only | — | 3h / ~230km | Cork → Wicklow (via M8/N81; stop: Rock of Cashel) |
+| Aug 29 | **Wicklow** | 1 | — | Glendalough + upper lake walk |
 | Aug 30 | drive to Dublin | — | 1h 15min / 65km | Via Powerscourt if time allows |
 | **Aug 30** | **Aviva Stadium** | — | — | 🏈 College Football |

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 # Donegal

 > **Type:** WAW Section 1 of 7
-> **Dates:** ~Aug 11–12 (2 nights)
+> **Dates:** ~Aug 12–13 (2 nights)
 > **Recommended stay:** 2–3 nights
 > **Best for:** Dramatic cliffs, remote coast, Celtic heritage, wild landscapes

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 # Sligo

 > **Type:** WAW Section 2 of 7
-> **Dates:** ~Aug 13–14 (2 nights)
+> **Dates:** ~Aug 14–15 (2 nights)
 > **Recommended stay:** 2 days
 > **Best for:** Yeats country, surf beaches, megalithic sites, gentler cycling

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 # Mayo

 > **Type:** WAW Section 3 of 7
-> **Dates:** ~Aug 15–17 (3 nights)
+> **Dates:** ~Aug 16–18 (3 nights)
 > **Recommended stay:** 3 days
 > **Best for:** Ireland's best small town (Westport), Achill Island, holy mountain, ancient bog

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 # Connemara

 > **Type:** WAW Section 4 of 7
-> **Dates:** ~Aug 18–19 (2 nights)
+> **Dates:** ~Aug 19–20 (2 nights)
 > **Recommended stay:** 2–3 nights
 > **Best for:** The most haunting landscape in Ireland — bog, quartzite mountains, wild ponies, Atlantic inlets

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 # Galway

 > **Type:** WAW Section 5 of 7
-> **Dates:** ~Aug 20–22 (3 nights)
+> **Dates:** ~Aug 21–23 (3 nights)
 > **Recommended stay:** 3 nights — includes Clare as a day trip
 > **Best for:** Best city on the WAW, Aran Islands, traditional music, workation base

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 # Clare

 > **Type:** WAW Section 6 of 7
-> **Dates:** ~Aug 22 (day trip from Galway)
+> **Dates:** ~Aug 23 (day trip from Galway)
 > **Recommended stay:** Day trip — 75km / 1h 25min from Galway; no overnight needed
 > **Best for:** Cliffs of Moher, The Burren, traditional music in Doolin

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 # Kerry

 > **Type:** WAW Section 7 of 7
-> **Dates:** ~Aug 23–24 Dingle, Aug 25–26 Killarney (2 nights each)
+> **Dates:** ~Aug 24–25 Dingle, Aug 26–27 Killarney (2 nights each)
 > **Recommended stay:** 2 nights Dingle + 2 nights Killarney
 > **Best for:** Dingle Peninsula, Ring of Kerry, Skellig Michael, the best seafood in Ireland

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 # Cork

 > **Type:** City stop — between Kerry and Dublin
-> **Dates:** ~Aug 27 (1 night)
+> **Dates:** ~Aug 28 (1 night)
 > **Recommended stay:** 1–2 nights
 > **Recommended stay:** 2 days
 > **Best for:** Food scene, rebel history, day trips to Kinsale and Blarney