Till Mueller
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IoM Aug 7-9, Belfast Aug 9-10, all WAW dates shift 1 day earlier. New 06i-wicklow.md: Glendalough, upper lake walk, Powerscourt on drive to Dublin. Cork Aug 27, Wicklow Aug 28-29, Dublin Aug 30 morning. Updated all section date headers, WAW overview table, README.
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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 9 → Aug 30
Deadline: Wicklow Aug 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 30 | drive to Dublin | — | 1h 15min / 65km | Via Powerscourt if time allows |
| 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
Optional east coast extension (Cork → Dublin via coast)
If you have an extra day or two, the route Cork → Dublin via the east coast is worth considering: Waterford (Viking city, crystal heritage), Wexford (medieval town, good beaches), and the Wicklow Mountains (Glendalough monastic valley, the "Garden of Ireland"). The east coast is gentler and greener than the west — a nice contrast after the Atlantic. Currently not in the itinerary as there's no room, but if you shave a day elsewhere this is the extension to add.
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.