Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way, hugging its epic western coast, is justly famous, but did you know it’s easy to combine its upper stretches with Northern Ireland’s equally scenic Causeway Coastal Route?
Over just three days, your clients could be teaming a World Heritage Site with kayaking, distilleries and puffins. With more time to spare, they could explore both routes in their entirety in one epic road trip.
Here’s a 72-hour taster itinerary to suggest:
Day 1: hitting the Causeway Coast
Recommend visiting the Giants Causeway in Co Antrim while exploring the Causeway Coastal Route
The 185km Causeway Coastal Route runs between Belfast and Derry-Londonderry so your clients can be hitting its natural and cultural highlights soon after arriving in the Northern Ireland capital. In fact, within around half an hour’s drive they’ll spot the first point of interest: Norman, loch-side Carrickfergus Castle.
For a warm welcome, send your clients inland around Waterfoot for traditional Irish food prepared around an open fire at heritage farm Willow & Lore. They may try making butter or threshing wheat before a fireside feast with folklore tales.
Around 130km into the coastal drive from Belfast is the region’s geological star. Unesco-listed Giant’s Causeway comprises a mind boggling 40,000 hexagonal basalt columns. A fun way to get acquainted is the Whiskey on the Rocks experience. A National Trust guide will share the site’s scientific and mythical creation stories before another, from nearby Bushmills Distillery, leads a memorable alfresco whiskey tasting.
Thrill-seekers may be tempted to stop first at historic Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge which sways 30 metres above the waves between tiny Carrick Island and the County Antrim mainland.
Ballycastle-based Causeway Coast Kayaking Tours offer a sea level perspective through half hour tasters up to half day adventures, the latter incorporating a picnic or barbecue. Or, clients could make the 25 minute passenger ferry crossing from Ballycastle to Rathlin Island and arrive among thousands of seabirds, including puffins.
Day 2: meeting the Way
Nancys Barn in Ballyliffin, Co Donegal, is the ideal spot to refuel
Continuing along the North coast, via dramatically perched 18th century folly Mussenden Temple, your clients will have reached Derry-Londonderry, their first night’s base.
They should start day two with a tour of the walled city. For a twist, on selected Saturdays, Derry by Fork weaves tales of cultural and culinary history between opportunities to sample local producers’ food and drink. Breweries also offer tours and tastings.
When your clients are ready to move on, connecting to the Wild Atlantic Way is simple. It starts at Muff, around 11 kms away. They could kick off with a 15-minute detour to impressive Grianan of Aileach, an ancient hilltop fort with views over Lough Foyle.
About two hours into the Wild Atlantic Way is scenic showstopper Malin Head. The dramatic cliffs housing bird colonies were among filming locations in Star Wars: The Last Jedi.
For something extra special, introduce some animal magic here with a walking tour with Wild Alpaca Way. As the name suggests, your clients would be trekking alongside woolly companions. Afterwards, they can relieve the day’s highlights over award-winning seafood chowder at Nancy’s Barn, a 19th century building in the nearby seaside village of Ballyliffin.
Letterkenny, an hour or so further on, is a logical night’s base.
Day 3: Wild Atlantic adventures
Fanad Head Lighthouse in Co Donegal at the mouth of Lough Swilly
A third day of coastal exploration takes your clients deeper into County Donegal.
Within an hour’s drive of Letterkenny, at the mouth of Lough Swilly, Fanad Head Lighthouse makes a pleasing stop. Guided tours with spectacular views tell of past keepers and peninsula life.
Lunch beckons at famous Leo’s Tavern at Meenaleck, a pub belonging to the family that produced Irish musicians Enya and Clannad. Clients with time to linger can enjoy live music in the evening, while whiskey fans may take the chance to tour nearby Crolly Distillery with its direct fired single malt stills. Both attractions sit between the Atlantic and Mount Errigal, County Donegal’s tallest peak.
The craggy scenery for which the Wild Atlantic Way is famed has a spectacular showcase at Slieve League. Rising nearly 600 metres from the ocean, the cliffs here are nearly three times the height of their more visited cousins at Moher.
The Slieve League visitor centre is under an hour from Donegal, a natural end point. Here, your adventurers might pick up a handcrafted tweed souvenir of their journey at century-old Hanna Hats or take to a tavern to plan epic onwards exploration.
