Road trip, west coast of Ireland

[Nomes]

Hi guys

My wife and I are taking the ferry across to Ireland and will be spending 4 nights in Galway. Trying to plan an itinerary and am looking for a bit of advice on the best driving routes. We won't be able to cover the whole of the Wild Atlantic way, but are there any parts of it that are particularly good from a driving perspective? In terms of sights to see, we are planning to have a day trip down to the ring of Kerry, and also to visit the cliffs of Moher. Any other must-see attractions?

Thanks

Nomes

[JJ55]

The Aran islands

[Graculus]

You could head Northwest to Clifden via Oughterard and Mamm Cross.

I'd highly recommend Achill Island (further to the Northwest). Stunning scenery and you'll pass through Westport which has some lovely pubs and restaurants.

If you're a fan of the movie "The Quiet Man", much of it was filmed around the Cong area at the North end of Lough Corrib.

[GIYess]

You will be spoilt for things to see on the West coast of Ireland. In my biased opinion, possibly the most beautiful place in the world.
The roads may not be wonderful for practicing your racing as they will be bumpy tight and have plenty of slow moving vehicles.

Are you coming into Cork? if so I could recomend:

- Kinsale
- Killarney (Including visit to Gap of Dunlo)
- If you like tiny roads, the ring of Kerry is amazing
- Achil is a must
- Cliffs of Moher
- Innishowen Penensula
- Malin Head isnt bad.
- If you make it up as far as Donegal, do not miss Glenveagh National Park. (Errigal Mountain, Glenveagh Castle)

Anywhere you look there is something to see if you like scenery and the wild.

That should keep you busy! I'm sure theres plenty Ive missed!

[coppice]

Get the boat trip to the Skelligs - we missed it by 5minutes on our last trip and I've regretted it ever since.

[Chris4410]

Some pretty good driving up this direction. Kerry is also quite a drive there and back to do in one day from where you are staying.

[GIYess]

Chris4410 said:

Some pretty good driving up this direction. Kerry is also quite a drive there and back to do in one day from where you are staying.

Didnt read where you were staying! Sorry. Thought you would be moving around.

[bucks]

Stick to the Wild Atlantic Way and you can't go too far wrong.

Are you based in Galway or starting there? I'd be inclined to start further south and travel north or vise versa. WAW is 1,600-ish miles so far too much to be trying to go both ways.

Visit Island, we did Inishbofin recently and loved it.

Check out https://www.rosleague.com/, the place is stunning and the owner is a serious petrolhead.

[Gilhooligan]

coppice said:

Get the boat trip to the Skelligs - we missed it by 5minutes on our last trip and I've regretted it ever since.

Could be worse. We were booked (months in advance) on one of the few trips there that allow access onto the islands instead of just sail around them. But it was cancelled two days before as the authorities hadn’t been able to perform the annual safety checks. Gutted!

OP, we spent 9 days there last year. Cliffs of Moher are nice if rather busy.
Gap of Dunlo is an amazing place. We went later on in the evening and had the place to ourselves and cheekily drove through it which you’re not really meant to do. (Genuinely missed the sign).

Most of the passes/ mountainous roads we found were far too busy and twisty/ poor sighted that you had to drive very slow. The stand out road for me though was the Healey Pass (see pic). Highly recommended if you get down that far.

Edited by Gilhooligan on Wednesday 3rd April 11:37

Edit number 2: also skimmed over the fact you’re staying in the one place. Ignore my post then

Edited by Gilhooligan on Wednesday 3rd April 11:40

[bucks]

Healy Pass is very short but oh so sweet. I wouldn't go for the road alone but the Beara Peninsula is a stunning area.