Ireland is a country with impressive nature, friendly people and beautiful music. I have been a fan for years and loved my visits to Dublin and Belfast and my road trip in the South West of Ireland! When I received an invitation to visit the famous Wild Atlantic Way, I packed my bag immediately! With my cousin Annemarie, I open the doors of our car with the steering wheel on the right side, help (!), and we start this incredible road trip on the west coast of Ireland. If you follow me on Instagram, you have probably seen some photos and stories already.

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Slieve League | Wild Atlantic Way

Wild Atlantic Way: where to start

Our Wild Atlantic Way route starts in Sligo and ends in Donegal, in the North of Ireland. On the way we stop at unique hotels, accommodations and country houses! Our first stop is Temple House. We find our zen at this huge country house. At night we enjoy dinner with the other guests and the food is amazing! A famous Dutch cookbook writer likes to stay here too and I can see why. It is important to know that dinner and breakfast are with the other guests, sitting at a large table. You are part of the family here!

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Temple House & Knocknarea | Wild Atlantic Way

Recommended stops near Sligo

There is so much to see and do while exploring the Wild Atlantic Way, but we only have 4 days, so unfortunately we have to skip some of the recommended stops. These are the highlights near Sligo worth adding to your route:

Eagles Flying for impressive birds of prey. Carrowmore Megalithic Cemetery, the largest and oldest cemetery in Ireland with graves that date back to thousands of years before Christ. Queen Maeve’s Grave at Knocknarea, a beautiful and not too intense hike to the burial mound on top, from where you have a panoramic view over the area and Ben Bulben. Ben Bulben itself, Ireland’s impressive Table Mountain. Strandhill, a cute little surf town where you should have lunch at Shell’s Café, try a seaweed bath next door and grab an ice cream at Mammy Johnston’s!

If you decide to spend the night close to Sligo, visit restaurant Knox. Hargadon Bros. is a famous pub there!

Eithna’s by the sea | Wild Atlantic Way

Heading north: Mullaghmore and Donegal

While driving on the left side of the road, with a sweaty moustache that is finally starting to disappear, we are heading north. Unfortunately we don’t have enough time to visit Streedagh Beach, but we heard great stories about this place. We stop at cosy Mullaghmore, where we try the delicious mussels and oysters at Eithna’s by the Sea, including a glass of champagne. Love this little restaurant!

Harvey’s Point: best hotel on the Wild Atlantic Way

After a long day full of impressive landscapes and various playlists in the car, we arrive at our second hotel: Harvey’s Point. This hotel has won many awards, including the award for best hotel in Ireland! When we open the door to our room, our jaws drop to the floor. We have a huge suite, including a jacuzzi and little cakes in the bedroom. What a treat! The rooms at Harvey’s Point are very affordable. Try the cheese board when you have dinner at the restaurant. Loved it! Breakfast is amazing too. I think I need a gym when I get home.

ROOMS & RATES AT HARVEY’S POINT

Harvey’s Point Hotel | Best hotels Ireland

Lough Eske Castle and Slieve League Cliffs

After checkout, we visit Lough Eske Castle next door. We are not that impressed by our lunch here, but it is a beautiful spot for a drink and definitely worth a visit for the setting alone. I finish my glamorous Bellini and we continue our trip to the famous Slieve League Cliffs. This is a must visit! So stunning! My drone finally wakes up, so I take some shots while the sun is slowly going down.

ROOMS AND RATES

Slieve League | Wild Atlantic Way

Hotel Caisléan Oir: comfort food and live music

We need a little rest when we arrive, later than expected, at hotel Caisléan Oir. After dumping our bags in our room for the night, we enjoy a delicious meal at the hotel restaurant. This is next level comfort food! The nachos with cheese and huge scallops with mozzarella are so good. After an Espresso Martini After Eight (very popular here) we have another drink at the pub of the hotel. There is live Irish music and on the menu there are over 30 different whiskeys. Such a great vibe!

ROOMS & RATES AT HOTEL CAISLEAN OIR

Day 3: Carrickfinn and Glenveagh National Park

The next day our first stop is Carrickfinn Beach. This beach with large rocks is very photogenic! It seems like a thunderstorm is coming our way and the sky turns dark grey within minutes, so we decide to drive to Glenveagh National Park. We have lunch at the cosy Thyme Out café in the park. You can either walk to the castle from the parking or take a bus. Other tourists advised us to skip the tour of the castle but to enjoy the beautiful gardens instead. The surroundings are stunning and this area has a couple of nice walking trails.

Carrickfinn Beach & Glenveagh NP | Wild Atlantic Way best stops

Rathmullan House: the perfect last night

It is our last night in Ireland and we spend it at a stunning country house: Rathmullan House. What a beautiful and classy place to stay! Our room has a fireplace and I relax in an old fashioned bath tub with legs. Dinner is excellent and the wines are amazing. The prices are a little higher than average here, but staying at Rathmullan House is a unique experience. What a way to end this road trip.

Also travelling to other parts of Ireland? Read all about my South West Ireland road trip, my Belfast City Guide and my Dublin City Guide for more inspiration!

After a delicious breakfast with apple cider vinegar tea and pancakes with blueberries, we drive back to Dublin in 3 hours and 45 minutes. What an adventure, what a road trip. Take your time for the Wild Atlantic Way. There are so many beautiful stops along the way. We were very lucky with the weather and had sun almost every day. Goodbye Ireland, you made me love you even more.

MY ROADTRIP IN THE SOUTH WEST OF IRELAND

Best accommodations on the Wild Atlantic Way

These are all the unique hotels and country houses on our Wild Atlantic Way route.

– Click on the names for rooms and rates –

Harvey’s Point: award-winning hotel in Donegal with incredible suites and an amazing breakfast.
Lough Eske Castle: a stunning castle hotel next to Harvey’s Point, beautiful for a drink or dinner.
Markree Castle: one of Ireland’s oldest inhabited castles, now a romantic hotel near Sligo.
Rooms at 32: my personal favorite for a cosy, characterful stay on the route.
Caisléan Oir: great comfort food, live Irish music and 30+ whiskeys on the menu.
Coopershill House: a beautiful Georgian country house with a wonderfully personal atmosphere.
Ashford Castle: one of Ireland’s most celebrated castle hotels, a real splurge worth making.
Temple House: a unique country house with communal dinners, one of the most special stays on the route.
Rathmullan House: a classy country house with fireplace rooms and exceptional wine.
Finn Lough Resort: sleeping in a dome under the stars.

Best day trips and activities on the Wild Atlantic Way

The Wild Atlantic Way passes some of the most dramatic landscapes in Europe. These are the tours and day trips worth booking from the route:

Cliffs of Moher tours

The Cliffs of Moher are one of the most visited sights in Ireland and for good reason. The easiest way to see them properly is on a guided tour. From Galway, this full day trip to the Cliffs of Moher and The Burren combines both highlights in one go. If you are coming from Dublin, this guided day trip via the Atlantic Edge to Galway City is a spectacular way to see the west coast in a single day.

Connemara and the Aran Islands

Connemara is one of the wildest and most beautiful parts of Ireland, with dramatic boglands, mountains and coastline. This Connemara and Connemara National Park day trip from Galway covers the best of the region without needing a car. For something even more special, this Aran Islands and Cliffs of Moher tour with cruise combines a ferry crossing to the islands with views of the cliffs from the water. One of the best experiences in all of Ireland.

Wild Atlantic Way: renting a car

A rental car is absolutely essential for the Wild Atlantic Way. Public transport barely covers the route and the best viewpoints and country houses are all off the main roads. You will also want the flexibility to stop whenever a landscape demands it, which happens every few kilometres. Compare prices and book easily via Discover Cars. Remember that driving is on the left side of the road and the roads in Donegal can be narrow, so a smaller car makes life easier.

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Wild Atlantic Way: frequently asked questions

How long does the Wild Atlantic Way take?

The full Wild Atlantic Way stretches over 2,500 kilometres from Donegal to Cork. Most people drive a section rather than the full route. Our trip from Sligo to Donegal took 4 days, which felt like the perfect pace for that stretch.

What is the best hotel on the Wild Atlantic Way?

Harvey’s Point in Donegal is our absolute favorite; it has won the award for best hotel in Ireland multiple times. For something more intimate, Rooms at 32 is my personal top pick on the route.

What are the best stops on the Wild Atlantic Way?

The Slieve League Cliffs, Glenveagh National Park, Carrickfinn Beach and the area around Sligo are absolute highlights. Further south, the Cliffs of Moher and Connemara are unmissable. Book this guided Cliffs of Moher day trip if you want to combine both in one go.

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