Hi Has anyone taken a biggish motorhome down the Atlantic seaboard road known as the Wild Atlantic Way? It looks great but I have an Auto-trail 740SE which has quite a long overhang so don't want to find myself stuck on any bends! Also if you have done this route any recommendations for good sites or sights?
------------- Auntie H
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The Wild Atlantic Way is a tourist route made up of mostly R class roads which is the equivalent to your B class roads in the UK. your Camper should bit fine on them. Just take your time and beware a lot of farmers are on these roads with their tractors. so if you see something big coming towards you just pull in. if you cant pull in or pass don't panic Everyone in Ireland are very good drivers and have no problem reversing
I've done sections of the Wild Atlantic Way, long before the tourist board called it that!
The roads are fairly minor, but they are all passable and have a large community of Motorhomers who do the route.
If you start in the North, you can kick of with the Wild Atlantic Way campsite in Creeslough. Follow the route west to the Bloody Foreland for spectacular views and plenty of places to pull in. Head for Crolly, and turn right and head for the airport. Just after you've turned right, call in at Leo's Pub for lunch. Leo is Enyas (the singer) Dad. There are loads of gold discs all over the walls for Clannad and Enya. If you like beaches, a really nice one is along side the airport, which is mainly light aircraft. Head for the airport, go straight past the entrance to find the beach car park.
The next stretch of coast I'm familiar with is the Murvagh Beach to Sligo stretch. Murvagh beach has a golf club going out on a headland and they serve really good food. Rossnowlagh along a bit has a campsite called Boortree, only new last year. Carry on South to Ballyshannon, music fans can stop off with the Rory Gallagher Statue in the middle of town. On to the seaside resort of Bundoran, a bit tacky but lots to do. Sligo has two choices of campsite. Rosses Point is a favourite and has great views, Strandhill is right behind a sand dune system - go over the top - there's the beach! Lastly, there's a lovely wee pub at Aughris Head called The Beach Bar which lets people camp in the front garden.
Then next bit I know about is Co. Kerry. Mannix Point Campsite is the jewel in the crown here, and go round the coast to visit Derrybane House and Beach, one of my favourite beaches ever!
As an aside, when at Bunbeg (north of Crolly) it is definately worth a 20 minute detour to drive up the length of the Poison Glen. A spectacular drive up through a Valley with Errigle Mountain on one side. You'll see Errigle from miles away with it's 'pyramid' silhouette and it' a popular walk as apparently it's quite an easy ascent! (not tried it though!). There's parking spaces galore and even a visitors centre halfway along it called Dunlewey.
Sorry for the long post!
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The Wild Atlantic Way is over 2500 kms long, running from Donegal in the North West to Cork in the South of the country. Unless you have weeks to spend travelling, it would probably be better to decide which part or parts of the Way you want to travel and concentrate on those. For instance, you could spend some time in the Inishowen area of Donegal, then head down to Sligo to take in some of the areas that Campernic mentioned. As the route follows the heavily indented coastline, you may find yourself at times on some rather twisty roads but in general the roads are quite good and usually not too busy.
The official website doesn't seem to be very helpful as it doesn't include links to maps but there a Wild Atlantic Way app available for both android and iphone.
Your main problem will be deciding where to go on the route - the scenery all along the way is stunning!
The Wild Atlantic way was only really adopted last year so I don't think it's really that well known yet.
I reckon you'd need a couple of months to take in the whole thing. I live here, and I've only ever seen bits of it. This year we are planning a trip from the North, to Clifden in Connemara, going to Actons Campsite and using is as a base for a few days, before moving on to Cong to see Ashford Castle and then heading home, maybe via Battlebridge - see how it goes.
I've done road trip around England, Wales and France, but I still prefer to explore this island, as I will never in my lifetime see it all. I prefer wild, sparsely populated places and the west coast of Ireland has all the wildness you can get! Downside is that groceries are dear, campsites are expensive. But for wild beauty it can't be beaten.
If you do the Donegal bit, try to ensure you divert off to Portnoo/Rosbeg, just north of Ardara (plenty of pubs here for food and music). I may be a bit biased as OH is from Rosbeg, but it's a magical area. There are sites at both villages.
I have spent the last week checking out the maps and guide books and still more to go. Thank you all. I think I shall have a grand time and probably have to revisit Eire to see more.
We decided today on our Road Trip Route. 2 weeks with possibly two nights at each place, except the Killary Adventure centre where we are hostelling for one night.
So first stop Aughris Head camping at 'The Beach Bar' which is near sligo and about a two hour drive from home. We are going to drive from there (cutting out a headland) to Clifden and Actons Eco Camping. Then it's Gurteen Bay Campsite or I've checked out a couple of wild camping possibilies so might go for it depending on how I feel at the time. Then round to Cong Campsite to Ashford Castle and the location of the 'Quiet Man' movie, and then back up home again straight up North. A round trip! Depending on weather and whim, might stay longer at any one of those locations. Can't wait! I've even bought a new tent for the trip...a 4m Bell Tent!
Well we are back from a great trip back and forth across Eire. What a fabulous place! Thanks to all the contributions for places to go. We did some this time and will definitely be back to do more. Really friendly welcome, superb scenery and wonderfully litter free. Good roads (almost always and a great deal less potholes than in the UK)with plenty of passing places, considerate Irish drivers and very little traffic made the drive a real pleasure. Give it a go.
A day of all things motorhome and campervan. The show is held both in the main indoor arena and across the grounds. Catering, hot drinks and food options are available. Easy access to the site and free parking included. Win one of five pairs of day tickets
Topic: WILD ATLANTIC WAY EIRE
