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
80 lines
5.1 KiB
Markdown
80 lines
5.1 KiB
Markdown
# Wild Atlantic Way — Overview
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> **Type:** Long-distance scenic drive + hiking route
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> **Total length:** ~2,500 km (full route)
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> **Direction:** North to south (Donegal → Kerry)
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> **Best for:** Driving, coastal scenery, day hikes, cliffs, peninsulas, Gaeltacht culture
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## What Is It
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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.
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## Rough Timeline: Aug 10 → Aug 30
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**Deadline: Dublin by Aug 29 evening** (buffer day before Aug 30 game).
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| Dates | Base | Nights | Drive from prev. | What to do |
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|-------|------|--------|-----------------|------------|
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| Aug 10 | **Belfast** | 2 | — (ferry arrival) | Titanic; Causeway Coast day trip |
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| Aug 12 | drive only | — | 2h 45min / 155km | Belfast → Donegal Town |
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| Aug 12–13 | **Donegal Town** | 2 | — | Slieve League, Glenveagh day trips |
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| Aug 14 | drive only | — | 1h 45min / 90km | Donegal → Sligo |
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| Aug 14–15 | **Sligo** | 2 | — | Benbulben, Strandhill, Carrowmore |
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| Aug 16 | drive only | — | 2h / 105km | Sligo → Westport |
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| Aug 16–18 | **Westport** | 3 | — | Achill Island, Croagh Patrick |
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| Aug 19 | drive only | — | 1h 30min / 75km | Westport → Clifden |
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| Aug 19–20 | **Clifden** | 2 | — | Sky Road, Connemara NP |
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| Aug 21 | drive only | — | 1h 20min / 70km | Clifden → Galway |
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| Aug 21–23 | **Galway** | 3 | — | City; Aran Islands day trip; Clare as day trip (Cliffs of Moher + Doolin, 1h 25min / 75km each way) |
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| Aug 24 | drive only | — | 2h 40min / 140km | Galway → Dingle |
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| Aug 24–25 | **Dingle** | 2 | — | Slea Head Drive; Skellig boat or Ring of Kerry |
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| Aug 26 | drive only | — | 1h 30min / 55km | Dingle → Killarney |
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| Aug 26–27 | **Killarney** | 2 | — | National Park; Ring of Kerry if not done from Dingle |
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| Aug 28 | drive only | — | 1h 30min / 85km | Killarney → Cork |
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| Aug 28 | **Cork** | 1 | — | English Market; evening in the city |
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| Aug 29 | drive to Dublin | — | 2h 45min / 260km | Cork → Dublin; arrive afternoon |
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| **Aug 29** | **Dublin** | 1 | — | Settle, explore |
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| **Aug 30** | **Aviva Stadium** | — | — | 🏈 College Football |
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### Why this structure works
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- **Longer stays** — Westport (3 nights) and Galway (3 nights) are the anchors; everything else is 2 nights minimum
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- **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
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- **Dingle + Killarney split** — Kerry is split across two bases so neither feels rushed; Skellig boats leave from Portmagee (45min from Killarney or Dingle)
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- **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
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- **No nights under 1** — every stop has at least 1 proper night; most have 2+
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### What gets cut vs. the longer version
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- Donegal: Malin Head skipped (add a day if you have it)
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- Connemara: Inishbofin island ferry skipped
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- Clare: no overnight in Doolin — do it as a long day from Galway
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- Cork: Kinsale day trip either moved to a Killarney detour or dropped
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## EV Strategy Summary
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| Section | Situation |
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|---------|-----------|
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| Donegal | Sparse — worst section. Base in Donegal Town for day trips. |
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| Sligo | Reasonable. Sligo town has fast chargers. |
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| Mayo | Patchy. Charge fully in Westport before Achill. |
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| Connemara | Gap: Clifden ↔ Westport (~90km coast road, no charger mid-route). |
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| Galway | Good. Tesla SC + ESB rapids. Full recharge stop. |
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| Clare | Reasonable. Charge in Ennis before Cliffs of Moher. |
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| Kerry | Good in towns. Full battery before Ring of Kerry circuit. |
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See individual section files for detailed charger locations.
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## Practical Notes
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- **Getting around:** Drive between sections; park up and walk or take short day hikes at each stop
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- **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
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- **Hiking gear:** Bring trail runners or light boots — Croagh Patrick, Slieve League, and Diamond Hill all reward a proper walk
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- **Weather:** August is best but pack waterproofs — Atlantic squalls arrive without warning
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- **Food:** Never more than 20km from a pub serving hot food. Pubs stop food service around 9pm.
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- **Gaeltacht:** Connemara, north Mayo coast, and Donegal are Irish-speaking. Signs are Irish-first. Any attempt at Irish is met with delight.
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- **Workation bases:** Galway and Dublin are the best for heavy work days. Westport, Killarney, and Dingle for lighter days.
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## Links
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- [Wild Atlantic Way official](https://www.wildatlanticway.com)
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- [Discover Ireland — WAW](https://www.discoverireland.ie/wild-atlantic-way)
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- [ESB ecars map](https://esb.ie/ecars/charge-point-map)
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- [Zap-Map Ireland](https://www.zap-map.com/charge-points/ireland/)
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