The Wild Atlantic Way Tour

Itinerary – The Wild Atlantic Way, Walking & Soft Adventure Tour of Ireland

Your Tour begins at 09:00am with a Pick up at the Molly Malone Statue on Suffolk St. (Dublin City Center)

---

Day 1: Visit the Rock of Cashel, Kiss the Blarney Stone, Stay in West Cork.

Morning /Afternoon: Your adventure starts from Dublin city center, where you meet your guide and the rest of the group. We will have plenty of time while traveling towards Cork to introduce ourselves and get to know each other a little.

We will be traveling South West to County Cork and to the coastline of the Wild Atlantic Way.

On the way there we will take one or two diversions to visit The Rock of Cashel in Tipperary (truly one of Ireland’s Icons). Then onto Blarney Castle in Cork, to kiss a very important stone.

Evening: Eventually we make our way to West Cork where we be staying for the next two nights.

When we arrive we can go for a bite to eat and relax in our wonderful surroundings.

We will be staying close to the coastal town of Bantry for the next 2 nights.

Day 2: Walk on Sheep’s Head, West Cork, Guided walk

Glanlough Loop Walk: Walk 15Km, Ascent 350m, approx 5hrs.
Grade: moderate- strenuous Length 15km, Duration: Approx. 4hrs, Ascent: 350m, Terrain: Old Roads and Lane-ways, Open Mountains trails.

Morning / Afternoon: This morning we will be making our way to one of the smaller peninsulas in this area called “The Sheep’s Head”.

The walk is known as the Glanlough Loop and walks from one side of the peninsula to the next. It gives you wonderful views of the surrounding coastline and the Atlantic Ocean. The walks on this Peninsula were created by the local farmers to bring more people into this area. They maintain the trails and are very welcoming to all guests in their small part of West Cork.

After our walk, we will return to Bantry and you could explore this coastal village or Bantry House and Gardens.

Evening: There are many places to enjoy a great meal in Bantry and your guide can recommend a few.

Day 3: Gougane Barra, Dingle, Kerry, Unique Pubs with Irish Music.

Morning / Afternoon: After breakfast we will be traveling to the small town of Dingle in County Kerry. On the way we will visit Gougane Barra the 6th century monastic site of Saint Finbarr.  The church sits in the most beautiful valley and we will have time to take a walk in this wonderful area.

“There is a green island in lone Gougane Barra,
Where Allua of songs rushes forth as an arrow;
In deep-valley’d Desmond – a thousand wild fountains
Come down to that lake from their homes in the mountains”. 

Evening: Dingle or “An Daingean” which is its Gaelic and original name is a fantastic small village on The Wild Atlantic Way. It is best known for its small quaint pubs, live Irish music and relaxed atmosphere.

There is plenty to see and do in his small town with great restaurants, pubs, coffee shops, craft stores etc. You may also be surprised when you enter a pub in Dingle that you can also buy a new pair of shoes or have your old ones mended.

We will be staying close to the centre of Dingle town for the next 2 nights.

Day 4: Walk Mount Brandon Mountain, Visit the South Pole Inn Pub, Stay Dingle

Walk on Mount Brandon:
Grade: moderate- strenuous Length 8km, Duration: Approx. 4hrs, Ascent: 750m, Terrain: Open Mountain Tracks.

Morning / Afternoon: After a hearty breakfast we will get ourselves ready for one of my favourite walks in this area, Mt Brandon. Which is named after Saint Brendan the voyager; some think he even got as far as North America.

“Is it right or left for Gibraltar?
What track do I take for Mizen Head?
I’d love to settle down near Ventry Harbour,
St. Brendan to his albatross he said.” (St Brendan’s Voyage)

Mount Brandon is a blessed mountain and there is a pilgrim trail to its summit and is one if Ireland’s holiest locations. It is less than 1000m but even though it is a pilgrim walk it is quite a challenge.

The walk will take about 4hrs and the views from its summit are breath-taking. From it you can see The Wild Atlantic Way all around you, the Blasket Islands and Ireland’s highest Mountain range on the Iveragh Peninsula.

Alternative morning activity: You can also visit the Blasket Islands or do an ECO Tour in this area instead of the walk:(not included in cost but the guide will organize for you)

Afternoon: We will then take a short drive to Annascaul and visit Tom Crean’s South Pole pub for a refreshing pint. Tom Crean is a very famous explorer and went on expeditions to the South Pole with Shackleton and Scott. The book an “Unsung Hero” about Tom Crean is well worth a read and may help you enjoy the Dingle Peninsula even more.

Evening: In the evening when after we get back you have plenty of time to stroll around Dingle, visit some of the craft shops, enjoy a bite to eat and relax.

Day 5: Inch Beach, Doolin, Cliffs of Moher Coastal Walk, Doolin.

Cliffs of Moher – Cliff Walk:
Grade: easy / moderate, Length: 8km, Duration: 2.5hrs, Ascent:100m, Terrain: Grass and Field Trails.

Morning: Today we visit one of the finest beaches in all of Ireland “Inch” Beach. Which sits on The Wild Atlantic Way.

There are many fine beaches on the Dingle Peninsula and this is probably the best of them all. Here you try your hand at some surfing, horse riding, swimming or just enjoy a fine beach walk.

Inch Beach is also home to where the famous “Ryan’s Daughter” was filmed. Dusting off those cobwebs and taking a walk on this beautiful sandy beach, the same spot where Sarah Miles as Rosy Ryan met Robert Mitchum as Charles Shaughnessy.

Afternoon: In the afternoon we will travel to the famous “Cliffs of Moher” and Doolin in County Clare. The small town of Doolin is another small fishing port town made famous by its charm and Irish Music.

We will be taking a Ferry across the mouth of the river Shannon into County Clare and head north on one of the most scenic coast roads in Ireland with views out across the Atlantic Ocean.

“Take a view o’er the mountains, fine sights you’ll see there;
 You’ll see high, rocky mountains on the west coast of Clare,
Oh, the towns of Kilkee and Kilrush can be seen,
From the high, rocky slopes ‘round the Cliffs of Dooneen.”

We will stop at the Cliffs of Moher and you can enjoy a beautiful coastal walk into Doolin approx 2hrs where we will be staying.

Evening: Doolin really is the capital of Irish music in the West of Ireland, a small and wonderful little village. So, relax and soak up the atmosphere.

We will be staying near Doolin for the next 2 nights

Day 6: Doolin, Cycle on the Aran Islands, Cliffs of Moher Cruise

Morning / Afternoon: There are many small islands of the The Wild Atlantic Way. Today weather permitting we will visit one of the most spectacular places in all of Ireland; the Aran Islands.

We will take a Ferry from Doolin to Inis Mor, the largest of the three Aran Islands. This is a Gaeltacht area where Irish is still the main language.

The Island is full of wonder and absolutely beautiful, I’m sure you will not want to leave. We can hire some bicycles; this is the best way to explore this island. We will visit the world heritage site of Dun Aonghasa Fort. This Fort stands over a dramatic 300ft cliff.

There are some wonderful beaches on this Island and you might want to bring your swim gear with you.

After this we will all enjoy a 1 Hour Cruise underneath the stunning Cliffs Of Moher. The Cliffs Of Moher rise to a height of over 700ft/214 meters.

Evening: We will then get the Ferry back and relax for the rest of the evening in Doolin.

Day 7: Walk in the Burren, Galway, Connemara, Clifden.

Burren Loop Walk:
Grade: moderate, Length: 7.5km, Duration: 3hrs, Ascent:140m, Terrain: Limestone karst, smooth rocky surface.

Morning: This morning we will visit one of the most incredible places to walk or visit in the west of Ireland “The Burren”.

The Burren is a limestone karst whose flora are internationally famous. The Bloody Cranesbill, Mountain Avens and Spring Gentians are among the many plants from the Arctic, Alps and Mediterranean which grow here.

After our walk in the Burren, we will drive along The Wild Atlantic Way coastline, with one or two stops along the way to Galway city.
Once we reach Galway there will time to enjoy exploring this small but interesting little city.

For those of you on the 7-Day tour we have to say goodbye and hope you enjoyed your tour with us. You will be brought to the Bus station in Galway where you can get a connecting bus back to Dublin.

For those of you on the 15-Day tour, it’s time to say goodbye to new friends you made and your adventure continues.

Afternoon: In the afternoon we will travel to Connemara which is the area that “the Quiet Man” and “the Field” where both filmed in and when you visit the place it will not be difficult to understand why.

Connemara holds a special place in anyone’s heart that has visited here. It captures the idea of Ireland with small cottages, beautiful landscapes, dry stone walls and undisturbed beauty.

We will be staying in Clifden in the heart of Connemara for the next 2 nights. Clifden is renowned for it’s Oysters and holds an Oyster festival every year. So, it is the right place to enjoy a few with a pint of Guinness, a very traditional Irish dish.

Day 8: Connemara National Park, Walk Diamond Hill and Visit Kylemore Abbey.

Walk on Diamond Hill – Connemara National Park.
Grade: moderate, Length: 7 km, Duration: 2.5 hrs, Ascent: 400m, Terrain: Gravel tracks and paved mountain paths.

Morning / Afternoon: Today we will walk Diamond Hill which sits in the Connemara National Park. It is a 7km loop walk with an ascent of 400m but from it’s summit you get commanding views of the Connemara mountains and it’s coastline.

After our walk we will visit Kylemore Abbey, the oldest of the Irish Benedictine abbeys on a lakeside which is infamous with the area of Connemara.

The Benedictine nuns moved here in the 1920s from Belgium to escape the war. They had been in Ireland before but after the Battle of the Boyne in 1690 and the persecution of Catholics they moved to Belgium. The Castle we see today was or originally built by Mitchell Henry who used to some here for hunting and fishing and fell in love with the area.

Evening: Relax for the evening. Discover Clifden town.

Day 9: Walk Croagh Patrick or Cycle the Green Way, Stay Westport.

Walk on Croagh Patrick – Ireland’s holiest mountain.
Grade: moderate /strenuous, Length: 7 km, Duration: 3.5 – 4 hrs Terrain: Stoney track

Morning / Afternoon: Today we will visit the town of Westport, voted Ireland’s best town.

You can’t mistake the peak of Croagh Patrick as it hovers above Clew Bay. This is the most sacred mountain in Ireland and legend has it, that this is where St. Patrick banished all the snakes from Ireland.

Croagh Patrick is walked as a pilgrimage in Ireland on the last Sunday of July and is known as the reeks walk. Don’t be fooled into thinking like many do that because this is a pilgrimage walk it is easy; it isn’t but it is well the effort.

Alternative activity: There are is choice of activities to do today, walk on Croagh Patrick or Cycle the new Green-way Cycle Track where you can take a great bike ride all the way to Achill Island if you fancy.

The small town of Westport has been voted one of Ireland’s best locations. So after our walk or cycle we can take some time to relax and enjoy this town.

Evening: We will be staying in Westport, there are many fine restaurants, cafes and pubs with live Irish music.

Day 10: Rest Day, This is your day to do your own thing – Stay Westport

There are numerous things to do in Westport.

It has also known as the “Adventure Capital of Ireland”. Your guide will help you organise whatever activity you wish from Cycling, Horse-Riding, kayaking, Supping or recommend a good walk in the region.

If you are not feeling too adventurous, then Westport can be a lovely town to explore. With it’s bright small streets, hanging baskets of flowers and a river slowing through it. There are also many craft shops, cafes, and restaurants in this small town.

Day 11: Walk on Queen Meabh’s Tomb, Sea-Weed Bath, Stay Sligo.

Knocknerea walk:
Grade: easy – moderate, Distance: Approx. 6Km, Ascent: 180m Time: approx.2hrs, Terrain: Trail and good track.

Morning / Afternoon: In the morning we move onto County Sligo. Sligo is one of the most scenically beautiful counties in Ireland and offers endless opportunities for walkers.

From it’s Mountainous Landscape, Long stretches of Sandy Beaches, Forest Trails, Beautiful Waterfalls and Valleys, all overlooked by Benbulben.

We will walk Knocknarea, a tomb which folklore says was built for the mythical Iron Age Queen Maeve, whose father, the high king of Ireland, gave her Connaught as a gift.

We will also visit the Carrowmore Megalithic tombs – This is the largest cemetery of megalithic tombs in Ireland and is also among the country’s oldest, with monuments ranging from five and a half thousand to six and a half thousand years old.

Alternative activity: Surfing in Sligo. There are many fine beaches in Sligo and it is the capital of surfing in Ireland. You could also relax after your walk in a sea weed bath near Strand Hill.

We will be Staying near the town of Sligo for the next 2 nights.

Day 12: Yeats Grave, Lissadell house, Glencar Waterfall, Walk on Benbulben

Benbulben Walk:
Grade: Moderate – Strenuous, Distance: Approx. 10Km, Ascent: 380m Time: 3-4hrs, Terrain: Mountain roads and open mountain track.

Morning: On the way to Glencar Waterfall and our walk on Benbulben we will also visit the grave of W.B. Yeat’s at Drumcliff.                                        

Afternoon / Evening: We will visit Lissadell house, the childhood home of Countess Constance Markievicz. She was an Irish Patriot and first woman to be elected to the House of Commons at Westminster.

“I do wish your lot had the decency to shoot me.” – Countess Markievicz, to the officer at Kilmainham Jail who had just informed her she was not to be executed for the part she had played in the 1916 rising on account of her gender.

Then we can relax after a long day.

Day 13: Donegal, Slieve League Cliff Walk, Glencolmcille, Stay Ardara

Slieve League Cliff Walk:
Grade: Moderate – Strenuous, Distance: Approx. 12Km, Ascent: 380m Time: 3-4hrs, Terrain: Mountain roads and open mountain track.

Morning / Afternoon:  We will travel onto Donegal
Walk the Slieve League Cliffs, which are the highest sea cliffs in Europe. With an almost sheer drop of roughly 2,000 feet (600 m) separates the highest point of the cliffs from the raging Atlantic Ocean below.

This walk is weather permitting as it can get quite windy up there and if that is the case, we will take another safer walk close by.

We will be staying in the small town of Ardara, in Donegal for the next 2 nights.

Day 14: Glenveagh National Park, Glenveagh Castle.

Glenveagh Lakeside Walk:
Grade: easy, Length: 3.5km (Not a looped walk), Time: 40mins, Terrain: mostly flat gravel path

Morning: Donegal sits in the far north west of Ireland and has some of the most amazing beaches and unspoiled scenery in all of Ireland. This morning we will visit one of the jewels of Donegal the Glenveagh National Park.

This is Ireland’s second largest National Park and covers 170Km above Glenveagh Castle. The park also contains approx 100 hectares of natural and semi natural woodland.

Afternoon: After our walk we will take some time to visit the Castle at Glenveagh. Once owned by Professor Arthur Kingsley Porter of Harvard University who came to this area to study Irish archaeology. The castle is ideally located at the lake side and full of history.

Evening: This being our last evening together on the trip we can all go and enjoy a meal and take in some fine Irish music.

Day 15: Short walk on Beach and return to Dublin

Morning/Afternoon: After breakfast we can make our way to one of the many beautiful beaches that Donegal has to offer.

If it’s a fine day, then we can take a swim in the Wild Atlantic or enjoy a stroll along a sandy beach.

After our swim or stroll, we can have a snack before we say Goodbye to Donegal, the West of Ireland and the Wild Atlantic Way.

Hopefully you have collected some wonderful memories along the way and some new friends.

We should arrive back in Dublin for 6pm, depending on traffic.

Slan agus beannacht (Goodbye and blessings).

---

Inquire about this Tour: info@hilltoptreks.ie