The Wild Atlantic Way and Western Ireland

Tom Cooper is a writer and editor who fell in love with Ireland's Atlantic coast many years ago on a six-week ride from Belfast to County Cork. He enjoyed himself so much that he has returned many times and continues to enjoy exploring western Ireland on two wheels.

Map Key
Overview Map - Wild Atlantic Way
Route summary table - Wild Atlantic Way
Overview Map - the 6 tours
Route summary table - the 6 tours


Introduction
Geology
Wildlife and Flowers
History
What's in a Name?
Built heritage and architecture
Culture
Getting There
Getting Around
When to Go
Accommodation
Health and Safety
Food and Drink
Language
Money
Post, Phones and Internet
Cycling in Ireland
What to Take
Maps
Using this Guide


Route 1 Tour of Donegal
Stage 1 Derry/Londonderry to Culdaff
Stage 2 Culdaff to Clonmany
Stage 3 Clonmany to Letterkenny
Stage 4 Letterkenny to Portsalon
Stage 5 Portsalon to Downies
Stage 6 Downies to Bunbeg
Stage 7 Bunbeg to Portnoo
Stage 8 Portnoo to Carrick
Stage 9 Carrick to Donegal Town
Route 1 Route Cards


Route 2 Into the Atlantic
Stage 1 Donegal Town to Ballyshannon
Stage 2 Ballyshannon to Sligo
Stage 3 Sligo to Ballina
Stage 4 Ballina to Belmullet
Stage 5 Belmullet to Achill
Stage 6 Tour of Achill Island
Stage 7 Achill to Foxford
Stage 7A WAW Link from Newport (Stage 7) to Westport
Stage 8 Foxford to Sligo
Route 2 Route Cards


Route 3 Tour of Connacht
Stage 1 Westport to Roonah Quay
Stage 2 Tour of Clare Island
Stage 3 Roonah Quay to Tully
Stage 4 Tully to Clifden
Stage 5 Tour of Inishbofin
Stage 6 Clifden to Kilkieran
Stage 7 Kilkieran to Galway
Stage 8 Galway to Cong
Stage 9 Cong to Westport
Route 3 Route Cards


Route 4 The Aran Islands and the Burren
Stage 1 Galway to Inishmore
Stage 2 Tour of Inishmore
Stage 3 Tour of Inisheer
Stage 4 Round the Burren
Stage 5 Doolin to Kilrush
Stage 6 Kilrush to Ennis
Stage 7 Ennis to Limerick
Stage 7A WAW Link from Limerick to Tarbert
Route 4 Route Cards


Route 5 The Southwest Peninsulas
Stage 1A WAW Link from Tarbert to Tralee
Stage 1 Tralee to Dingle
Stage 2 Tour of the Dingle Peninsula
Stage 3 Dingle to Killorglin
Stage 4 Killorglin to Portmagee
Stage 5 Portmagee to Caherdaniel
Stage 6 Caherdaniel to Kenmare
Stage 7 Kenmare to Killarney
Stage 8 Killarney to Tralee
Route 5 Route Cards


Route 6 The Fuchsia Coast
Stage 1 Kenmare to Allihies
Stage 2 Allihies to Glengarriff
Stage 3 Glengarriff to Schull
Stage 4 Schull to Clonakilty
Stage 5 Clonakilty to Kinsale
Stage 6 Kinsale to Cork
Route 6 Route Cards


Appendix A Useful Contacts
Appendix B Glossary
Appendix C Deviations from the Wild Atlantic Way Driving Route
Appendix D Further Reading