Till Mueller
7fb5bdf69a
- WAW overview: new table with driving times/distances per leg, base town + nights columns, day-by-day logic - Galway extended to 3 nights (Aug 21-23); Clare becomes a day trip - Kerry split: 2 nights Dingle (Aug 24-25) + 2 nights Killarney (Aug 26-27) - Cork reduced to 1 night (Aug 28); drive to Dublin Aug 29 - 06f-clare.md rewritten as day trip guide with timed itinerary - All section file date headers updated; README table updated
5.1 KiB
5.1 KiB
Wild Atlantic Way — Overview
Type: Long-distance scenic drive + hiking route Total length: ~2,500 km (full route) Direction: North to south (Donegal → Kerry) Best for: Driving, coastal scenery, day hikes, cliffs, peninsulas, Gaeltacht culture
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 10 → Aug 30
Deadline: Dublin by Aug 29 evening (buffer day before Aug 30 game).
| Dates | Base | Nights | Drive from prev. | What to do |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 10 | Belfast | 2 | — (ferry arrival) | Titanic; Causeway Coast day trip |
| Aug 12 | drive only | — | 2h 45min / 155km | Belfast → Donegal Town |
| Aug 12–13 | Donegal Town | 2 | — | Slieve League, Glenveagh day trips |
| Aug 14 | drive only | — | 1h 45min / 90km | Donegal → Sligo |
| Aug 14–15 | Sligo | 2 | — | Benbulben, Strandhill, Carrowmore |
| Aug 16 | drive only | — | 2h / 105km | Sligo → Westport |
| Aug 16–18 | Westport | 3 | — | Achill Island, Croagh Patrick |
| Aug 19 | drive only | — | 1h 30min / 75km | Westport → Clifden |
| Aug 19–20 | Clifden | 2 | — | Sky Road, Connemara NP |
| Aug 21 | drive only | — | 1h 20min / 70km | Clifden → Galway |
| Aug 21–23 | Galway | 3 | — | City; Aran Islands day trip; Clare as day trip (Cliffs of Moher + Doolin, 1h 25min / 75km each way) |
| Aug 24 | drive only | — | 2h 40min / 140km | Galway → Dingle |
| 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 | — | National Park; Ring of Kerry if not done from Dingle |
| Aug 28 | drive only | — | 1h 30min / 85km | Killarney → Cork |
| Aug 28 | Cork | 1 | — | English Market; evening in the city |
| Aug 29 | drive to Dublin | — | 2h 45min / 260km | Cork → Dublin; arrive afternoon |
| Aug 29 | Dublin | 1 | — | Settle, explore |
| Aug 30 | Aviva Stadium | — | — | 🏈 College Football |
Why this structure works
- Longer stays — Westport (3 nights) and Galway (3 nights) are the anchors; everything else is 2 nights minimum
- Clare as a Galway day trip — Doolin and the Cliffs of Moher are 75km from Galway (1h 25min each way). No need to move accommodation for 2 nights — do it in a day from Galway, leave early, beat the Cliffs crowds
- Dingle + Killarney split — Kerry is split across two bases so neither feels rushed; Skellig boats leave from Portmagee (45min from Killarney or Dingle)
- Cork 1 night — just enough for the English Market morning and an evening in the city; Kinsale becomes a day trip from Killarney on day 2 instead (40min drive), or skip it
- No nights under 1 — every stop has at least 1 proper night; most have 2+
What gets cut vs. the longer version
- Donegal: Malin Head skipped (add a day if you have it)
- Connemara: Inishbofin island ferry skipped
- Clare: no overnight in Doolin — do it as a long day from Galway
- Cork: Kinsale day trip either moved to a Killarney detour or dropped
EV Strategy Summary
| Section | Situation |
|---|---|
| Donegal | Sparse — worst section. Base in Donegal Town for day trips. |
| Sligo | Reasonable. Sligo town has fast chargers. |
| Mayo | Patchy. Charge fully in Westport before Achill. |
| Connemara | Gap: Clifden ↔ Westport (~90km coast road, no charger mid-route). |
| Galway | Good. Tesla SC + ESB rapids. Full recharge stop. |
| Clare | Reasonable. Charge in Ennis before Cliffs of Moher. |
| Kerry | Good in towns. Full battery before Ring of Kerry circuit. |
See individual section files for detailed charger locations.
Practical Notes
- 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
- 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.