Adventure Week along the Wild Atlantic Way
Regions
Southwest, West, Northwest
Starting Point
Cork, Dublin, Shannon
Best time to travel
All year
Recommended Length
14 - 16 days
Minimum Age*
Road Trip Adventure
Activity Level **
4/5
This adventure road trip follows along the iconic Wild Atlantic Way that runs over 2,000 km along Ireland's Atlantic coast from Kinsale in the south to the Inishowen peninsula in Co. Donegal. Enjoy hiking and cycling in scenic national parks, discover authentic heritage and culture in traditional towns and villages and enjoy thrilling activities water adventures all along the beautiful rugged coastline. From the gentle green hills and mountains in the southwest, along high sea cliffs and through beautiful boglands in the West to the rough wilderness in the very northwest, this tour will let you experience many of Ireland's iconic landscapes first hand.
Family Adventure Holidays
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
✓ follow the Wild Atlantic Way from Co. Kerry to Co. Donegal
✓ hiking, cycling, kayaking and much more in some of Ireland's most beautiful scenery
✓ take in the iconic landscapes of Kerry, Dingle, the Cliffs of Moher or Connemara
✓ Irish culture and heritage in Kinsale, Killarney, Galway and Westport
✓ local artisan culinary experiences and tours all along the way
✓ learn how to surf in one of Ireland's best surfing spots
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TOUR OVERVIEW
Day 1 - arrival - overnight in Kinsale
Day 2 - hiking on the Beara peninsula - overnight in Kenmare/Killarney (180km)
Day 3 - Ring of Kerry - kayaking on the Killarney lakes - overnight in Kenmare/Killarney (190km)
Day 4 - hiking in the Killarney National Park - overnight in Dingle (130km)
Day 5 - Slea Head tour - catch your own dinner fishing tour - overnight in Dingle (60km)
Day 6 - Shannon Estuary - Cliffs of Moher - overnight in Co. Clare (150km)
Day 7 - eco-cycling tour in the Burren - whiskey walking tour - overnight in Galway (80km)
Day 8 - hiking in the Connemara National Park - coastal foraging tour - overnight in Westport (150km)
Day 9 - cycling tour on the Greenway to Achill island - overnight in Westport (90km)
Day 10 - hiking on the Slieve League Cliffs - artisan distillery visit - overnight in Donegal (270km)
Day 11 - coasteering along the Donegal coast - Taste of Donegal walking tour - overnight in Donegal (130km)
Day 12 - departure
DETAILED ITINERARY
DAY 1 - WELCOME TO IRELAND
Welcome to Ireland. Transfer to Kinsale, a beautiful coastal town in the south of Ireland known for it's trading and culinary traditions. Enjoy some free time to stroll through the lively streets and along the beautiful marina before enjoying a guided walking tour, which will tell you more about the history of Kinsale and hold some delicious surprises for you.
Overnight in Kinsale.
DAY 2 - HIKING THE BEARA PENINSULA
Transfer to West Cork in the morning and enjoy a relaxed guided hiking tour through some of the most beautiful areas of the unspoiled Beara peninsula. Enjoy fantastic views over the stunning coastline, green mountains and beautiful valleys. The moderate route will take you around the slopes of Knockgour Mountain to the picturesque village of Allihies.
Overnight in the Killarney National Park area.
DAY 3 - RING OF KERRY - KAYAKING ON THE KILLARNEY LAKES
Follow along one of the most iconic ring roads of Europe - Ireland's Ring of Kerry will lead you along spectacular coastlines, dramatic mountain ranges and traditional villages, offering fantastic views over the Atlantic ocean and the peninsulas all along the way. Visit the charming fishing village of Portmagee before taking to the waters in Killarney, where you will enjoy a guided kayaking tour on the calm waters of the Killarney Lakes around Ross Castle. Learn about the history of the castle and the incredible geology of the lakes while enjoying the fantastic views over the lakes and the National Park.
Overnight in the Killarney National Park area.
DAY 4 - HIKING KILLARNEY NATIONAL PARK - DINGLE
The morning starts with a private hiking tour in the beautiful Killarney National Park, taking you from Torc Waterfall all the way up to the Ladies View viewpoint, from where you will enjoy spectacular views over the National Park and the Killarney Lakes. Spend some free time in the lively town of Killarney before heading to the beautiful fishing town of Dingle.
Overnight in the Dingle area.
DAY 5 - SLEA HEAD TOUR - FISHING IN THE DINGLE BAY
Enjoy the magnificent landscape and the fantastic views over the Atlantic as you will take a tour around Slea Head in the morning, the most western point of Ireland and Europe! Venture off on a hiking tour along the coastline or simply enjoy the drive around this stunning part of Ireland. An exciting boat trip is waiting for you in the afternoon as you will take to the sea waters with local skippers to experience the thrills of deep water fishing in the Dingle Bay. Enjoy the scenery, learn some basic fishing skills and with a bit of luck, you will catch your own dinner, which you will then enjoy freshly prepared for you in a local restaurant!
Overnight in the Dingle area.
DAY 6 - SHANNON ESTUARY - CLIFFS OF MOHER
Travel from Kerry to Co. Clare today along the Shannon estuary, taking you along the beautiful scenery of Ireland's longest river. Visit the fantastic Cliffs of Moher sea cliffs falling 200m into the ocean. The fantastic views stretches as far as the Aran Islands in the Galway Bay on a clear day and you will enjoy the beautiful scenery while following the coastal path on top of the sea cliffs all the way to the lively fishing town of Doolin.
Overnight in Co. Clare.
DAY 7 - ECO-CYCLING TOUR IN THE BURREN - GALWAY CITY
The Burren National Park is a fascinating region composed of limestone mountains and plateaus that give the area a moonlike appearance. Despite the vast grey fields of soft rock, the area comes with a stunning beauty made of scenic valleys, rugged hilltops and a beautiful green coastline. A cycling tour will take you through some of the beautiful valleys and you will learn about the formation, nature, history and the environmental significance of the area. Relax over a rustic Irish lunch made from local produce before continuing to Galway city, the vibrant, young university town and cultural center in the West of Ireland. You will get to explore some of the towns buzzing nightlife on a guided Whiskey walking tour taking you to different pubs across the center wile learning more about Irish Whiskeys and their unique character.
Overnight in Galway city.
DAY 8 - CONNEMARA NATIONAL PARK - SEAWEED FARM AND TASTING
Connemara is one of the most unspoiled landscapes around Ireland where you will find wide bogs, mysterious lakes, dramatic valleys and a stunning rugged coastline. Enjoy a half day hiking tour in the Connemara National Park climbing up to Diamond Hill, towering 442m over the shoreline and providing spectacular views over the Twelve Bens and the Atlantic ocean. Learn more about Connemara's history and the secrets of seaweed and other edible sea plants on a guided foraging tour along the coast before enjoying a tasting of some of the delicious and surprising products from the sea.
Overnight in the Connemara/Westport area.
DAY 9 - CYCLING THE GREENWAY
This morning you will embark on a cycling journey on Ireland's longest off-road walking and cycling trail, following the route of the renowned Westport to Achill railway that closed in 1937. The route takes you along the beautiful Clew Bay, the scenic coastline and through picturesque villages. Enjoy some free time in the lively town of Westport before transferring to Donegal.
Overnight in Co. Donegal.
DAY 10 - SLIEVE LEAGUE CLIFFS - AN DULAMAN GIN DISTILLERY
With it's diverse scenery, wild coastlines and rich traditional heritage, Donegal is Ireland's most spectacular county on the Wild Atlantic Way and it is a paradise for anybody looking to get active while enjoying the great outdoors. Discover the stunning Slieve League Cliffs on a hiking tour, taking you over the cliffs plunging 600m into the Atlantic and providing spectacular views across the ocean and the coastline. Visit the An Dúlamán gin distillery in the afternoon and learn about the artisan gin produced on site in a traditional way.
Overnight in Co. Donegal.
DAY 11 - COASTEERING - DONEGAL FOOD EXPERIENCE
A thrilling coasteering adventure is waiting for you today as you will experience the wild coastline in a fun way, climbing in and out of the water, jumping into and swimming in the refreshing sea while exploring caves, sea cliffs and observing some of the marine life along the coast. Visit the beautiful Glenveagh National Park in the afternoon or enjoy a food themed tour along the remote areas of Donegal learning more about the region and its food traditions.
Overnight in Co. Donegal.
DAY 12 - DEPARTURE
Transfer to the airport and departure.
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SERVICES INCLUDED
Family Adventure Holidays
- accommodation in good standard middle-class hotels and/or guesthouses
- private care hire for the entire trip
- activities, visits and tours as outlined, with a certified, English speaking guide where desired/required
- all taxes and insurances for the activities
- expert travel planning, trip preparation and 24/7 on-tour support
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TIMES & RATES
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Description
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GALLERY
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Contact us for a quote
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TRAVEL TIPS
When to travel
With its mild climate and its easy access, Ireland is a country that can be visited all year round. The most popular time to travel is between May and September with July and August being by far the busiest months.
Ireland's eastern coast tends to be drier and warmer than the western part, where, especially over the winter months, the conditions can be stormy, cold and wet. Temperatures all over Ireland hardly ever fall below 0 degrees though. From late October to mid March, the days tend to be quite short, so if you are looking at touring, the longer days of the year would be more suitable.
Ireland usually sees the driest and warmest season in May and June, making the time perfect for outdoor activities all across Ireland when the often boggy underground has dried up. While there is a chance of storms due to the hurricane season across the Atlantic, September can bring some lovely late summer weather with mild and sunny days, especially on the east coast.
How to travel
With an annual passenger volume of almost 33 mio in 2019, Dublin airport is by far the busiest airport in Ireland. To compare, Shannon Airport in the west saw around 1,7 mio passengers while Cork airport saw just under 300,000 passengers over the same period.
Dublin serves an extensive network of destinations and airlines, connecting Ireland to mainland Europe and North America. Direct routes are also operated to the UAE and Asia. The best European hubs to connect to Dublin are London Heathrow, Paris, Amsterdam and Frankfurt.
In Ireland, the easiest way to get around is by rental car. The bus network is extensive and connections are frequent, but public transport mainly connects the main centers and it can be challenging to travel in rural areas or off the beaten track. The Irish train operates a centralized system through Dublin, so depending where you want to go, the journey might be intricating due to the detour to Dublin.
Travelling with children
The wealth of exciting ancient history, outdoor opportunities and fantastic scenery makes Ireland a great destination to visit with the whole family. The country is not large and a good road network makes it easy and reasonably fast to travel across the country.
Though Ireland would not be considered to be a beach destination by many, Ireland offers some extraordinary long sandy beaches with calm waters, which are perfect for swimming, surfing or watersports. Further, Ireland has some exciting marine wildlife and it is possible in many places to spot seals, dolphins and whales in their natural habitat.
Ireland’s rich cultural and historical heritage includes ancient castles, vibrant cities and fabled creatures. Many sights exploring the mythical world are laid out for kids and offer great entertainment for old and young.
Hotels and B&Bs offer family accommodation with family rooms or separate lodges to house larger family groups. Restaurants nearly always offer a kids menu or will prepare smaller portions. It is always possible to request a cot or high chair for small kids.
What to bring
It is not a myth that it rains a lot in Ireland, so whenever you travel, the most important thing to bring is a waterproof jacket. Umbrellas might be used in urban areas, though rain is often accompanied by strong winds, making the use of umbrellas often challenging.
Comfortable and decent shoes are essential as no matter where you go or what you plan to do, you should prepare to walk quite a bit, also in the cities. If you are planning on hiking, waterproof hiking shoes or boots are advisable as trails are not always well maintained and often lead through boggy and wet terrain.
Even though people tend to be obsessed with the weather, temperatures are moderate and never get extremely low or high. Warm evenings are rare, even at the height of summer, so always prepare for chilly evenings with a warmer jumper, cardigan and jacket.
The sun gets surprisingly strong over the summer months, so sun lotion, a sun hat and sunglasses are recommendable. A small backpack or handbag will be perfect to carry your belongings when out and about.
While people enjoy a casual style in their routine or when outdoors, especially the younger generations love to dress up in the evening, so you should also pack a nice outfit if you plan to hit the town in the evenings.
For more practical travel advise and general information on visiting to Ireland, please visit our Useful Information on Ireland page.
Family Adventure Holidays
* The minimum age is based on the overall tour, some activities can require a higher minimum age, this will be advised at proposal stage. While not all activities are suitable for very small children, we are happy to tailor the tour to meet your specific wishes and needs.
** The activity level is based on the amount of tours and activities included (1 - few tours and activities with a lot of free time, 5 - a lot of tours and activities with little free time). The activity level does not reflect the difficulty of the activities or tours included. Itineraries can be tailored to match the preferred level of activity.
