Irish Eye Candy: Moll's Gap, Wild Atlantic Way

 

Moll's Gap, Ring of Kerry, Wild Atlantic Way, Ireland

Moll's Gap is a pass on the N71 road from Kenmare to Killarney in County Kerry Ireland. On the Ring of Kerry route, with views of the Macgillycuddy's Reeks mountains, the area and its shop is a panoramic spot visited by thousands of tourists each year. The rocks at Moll's gap are formed of Old Red Sandstone.

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Irish Eye Candy: Fanad Lighthouse, Wild Atlantic Way

 

Fanad Lighthouse, County Donegal, Wild Atlantic Way, Ireland

Fanad Head is a wildly exposed headland, and the northerly point of the beautiful Fanad Peninsula, perhaps best known for its iconic Fanad Head Lighthouse.

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Irish Eye Candy: Dingle Coastal Path

 

Dingle Coastal Path, Dingle Peninsula, Wild Atlantic Way, Ireland

"To travel is to take a journey into yourself." - Danny Kaye

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Irish Eye Candy: Céide Fields

 

Céide Fields, Ballycastle, County Mayo, Wild Atlantic Way, Ireland

Beneath the wild boglands of North Mayo lies the Céide Fields, the most extensive Stone Age monument in the world, consisting of field systems, dwelling areas and megalithic tombs. The stone walled fields, extending over thousands of acres are almost 6,000 years old, the oldest known in the world. They are covered by a natural blanket bog with it's own unique vegetation and wildlife.

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Top 12 Activities Along Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way

Out at the very edge of Europe, the Wild Atlantic Way stretches 1500 miles alond Ireland's western seaboard. From Malin Head in Co Donegal to Kinsale in Co Cork, through regions like Connemara, Galway Bay and Kerry, it's the longest defined coastal drive in the world!

With so much to see and do along Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way, its hard to decide! Here are the top 12 activities to experience along the way!


Angling: cast your line in the Atlantic swell, feel the salty surge beneath your feet, hook your catch, sail for deserted shores, cook your feast.

Water Activities: Experience the mighty swell of the Atlantic with a plethora of spine-tingling water activities ranging from surfing to windsurfing and kiteboarding or scuba dive in crystal clean waters to check out the abundant sea life.

Cafes: Meander into warm cosy cafes dotted like pots of jam along the western seaboard; recharge with organic cheeses, artisan breads and charcuterie, wolfed down with tea or Fairtrade coffee from across the ocean.

Christian and Spiritual Ireland: discover the uplifting beauty of this wild, rugged and sometimes penitential landscape peppered with monastic settlements; pilgrim walks and churches; learn why St. Patrick came, converted and stayed.

Cycling: freewheel along the edge of Europe where few cars go. Meander along country lanes, skirt jagged cliffs, croppy outposts of rocks and sparkling beaches; cool off in forest glades. Stop only to rest awhile amidst the salt filled Atlantic air.

Equestrian: if John Wayne could do it so can you! Ireland... the Land of the Horse caters for leisurely hackers, cross country show jumpers as well as those who simply want to ride high in the hills above the Atlantic waves.

Nature and Wildlife: Experience a myriad of colors all in one day; smell the salty Atlantic landscape after sun and rain; discover flowers amidst the crevices of the limestone plateaux; spot a Golden Eagle along the North Western seaboard; hoops of dolphins off Loop Head or the black hump of a whale in West Cork.

Pubs and Bars: at the end of the day or even if you're halfway through its nice to stroll in and sample a craft beer or the local brew; have a chat with locals; perhaps listen to a tin whistle or two.

Walking Trails: so many paths to take; through landscapes of velvet green hills; dappled forests meeting shy fawns; crossing silver streams and pristine beaches pounded white by the swell of the Atlantic.

Tracing Your Ancestry: Reconnect with your past to discover new places of old.

Golf: Perfect that swing on magnificent parklands and links courses rated amongst the Top 10 courses in the world!

Restaurants: The day is done, hunger succumbs, step into a unique array of contemporary or traditional eateries; sample seafood caught that day or hand-reared beef, smokey back and organic vegetables from local farmers or artisan cheese boards.

Try one of these top activities on your next vacation to Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way with Celtic Tours World Vacations

Take a Boat Trip - Experiences to Savor on Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way

Out at the very edge of Europe, the Wild Atlantic Way stretches 1500 miles along Ireland's western seaboard. From Malin Head in Co Donegal to Kinsale in Co Cork, through regions like Connemara, Galway Bay and Kerry, it's the longest defined coastal drive in the world!

Here is just one of the experiences to savor on Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way:

Take a boat trip round historic Kinsale's natural harbour: This will bring you past the famous headland Old Head, and out to where the transatlantic Lusitania was sunk by a German u-boat in 1915...a seismic event that brought the US into WW1. Onboard the Spirit of Kinsale, there's freshly brewed coffee, blankets to keep you warm and best of all -stories that will stay will you from skipper and historian Jerome Lordan.

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Feel the Force of the Wild Atlantic - Experiences to Savor on Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way

Out at the very edge of Europe, the Wild Atlantic Way stretches 1500 miles along Ireland's western seaboard. From Malin Head in Co Donegal to Kinsale in Co Cork, through regions like Connemara, Galway Bay and Kerry, it's the longest defined coastal drive in the world!

Here is just one of the experiences to savor on Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way:

Feel the full force of the wild Atlantic at Ireland's most south-westerly point: the tip of West Cork's Mizen Head Peninsula offers a short, exhilarating walk from the Maritime Museum on the clifftop down 99 steps and across the suspension bridge to the Signal Station, perched on a rocky crag above foaming seas where south and west-coast currents collide with mid-Atlantic swells before they crash against the shore.

Travel to Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way with Celtic Tours World Vacations

Discover the History - Experiences to Savor on Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way

Out at the very edge of Europe, the Wild Atlantic Way stretches 1500 miles along Ireland's western seaboard. From Malin Head in Co Donegal to Kinsale in Co Cork, through regions like Connemara, Galway Bay and Kerry, it's the longest defined coastal drive in the world!

Here is just one of the experiences to savor on Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way:

Discover the history of hard lives lived on the Atlantic's Edge: by visiting the Coppoer Mining Museum and following the waymarked walking trail around the tiny village of Allihies, right on the edge of the Beara Peninsula. It's hard to believe that 1500 people lived in this remote and tranquil spot in the mid 19th century, when copper mining was at its peak. The Museum - housed in a chapel built by Cornish miners in 1845 - has a cafe with delicious home bakes, and stunning views along the rugged coast.

Travel to Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way with Celtic Tours World Vacations

Discover a Dreamworld - Experiences to Savor on Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way

Out at the very edge of Europe, the Wild Atlantic Way stretches 1500 miles along Ireland's western seaboard. From Malin Head in Co Donegal to Kinsale in Co Cork, through regions like Connemara, Galway Bay and Kerry, it's the longest defined coastal drive in the world!

Here is just one of the experiences to savor on Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way:

Learn of a 'dreamworld' on an Atlantic crag: Boat trips to the UNESCO World Heritage Site Skellig Michael are only possible when the weather is fine. And numbers are limited to safeguard this remarkable place. But you can still get a sense of the stunning achievement of the early Christians who built their hermitage on this jagged ocean crag. 1500 years ago - described by George Bernard Shaw as "part of our dreamworld" - from the film they show at the Skellig Experience Visitor Center on Valentia Island. Then it's a short drive or a walk up to the top of nearby Geokaun Mountain, whose gentle owner Muiris O'Donoghue will show you panoramic views of the Skelligs themselves, and tell you stories from the edge of the world.

Travel to Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way with Celtic Tours World Vacations.

Make Chocolate - Experiences to Savor on Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way

Out at the very edge of Europe, the Wild Atlantic Way stretches 1500 miles along Ireland's western seaboard. From Malin Head in Co Donegal to Kinsale in Co Cork, through regions like Connemara, Galway Bay and Kerry, it's the longest defined coastal drive in the world!

Here is just one of the experiences to savor on Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way:

Make Chocolate in St. Finian's Bay: Europe's most westerly chocolate factory is right on the Atlantic at St. Finian's Bay - where the monks embarked en route for Skellig Michael. Ebullient owner, Colm Healy and his team, run workshops where you can learn more about choclate and get hands-on experience in decorating, making and designing your own chocolate masterpiece. While surf crashes onto the tiny beach outside, you are enveloped in the warm smells of chocolate-making, inside the family-run Skelligs Chocolate factory, at the edge of the world. Heavenly!

Travel to Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way with Celtic Tours World Vacations.

Explore Ireland's Literary Heritage - Experiences to Savor on Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way

Out at the very edged of Europe, the Wild Atlantic Way stretched 1500 miles alond Ireland's western seaboard. From Malin Head in Co Donegal to Kinsale in Co Cork, through regions like Connemara, Galway Bay and Kerry, it's the longest defined coastal drive in the world!

Here is just one of the experiences to savor on Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way:

Remember Ireland's greatest born storytellers: Out on the very edge of Europe, as far west as you can go in Ireland, lies a deserted village on an archipelago. These are the mystical Blasket Islands - famous in Ireland for their Gaelic storytellers, and deeply symbolic of the Irish story of emigration. Halfway round the Slea Head Drive - a scenic route circling the edge of the Dingle Peninsula - is the Blasket Center. Its director, Irish speaking Micheal de Modha, provides moving insights into the islanders' hard lives, the sorrows of emigration and the literary heritage of the Blaskets. A long glass fronted gallery overlooks the Atlantic and the Great Blasket itself: a constant reminder of that poignant place.

Travel to Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way with Celtic Tours World Vacations

Throw a pot - Experiences to Savor on Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way

Out at the very edged of Europe, the Wild Atlantic Way stretched 1500 miles alond Ireland's western seaboard. From Malin Head in Co Donegal to Kinsale in Co Cork, through regions like Connemara, Galway Bay and Kerry, it's the longest defined coastal drive in the world!

Here is just one of the experiences to savor on Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way:

Throw a pot inspired by the wold Atlantic: At the far end of the Dingle Peninsula, on the scenic Slea Head Drive, is the workshop of one of Ireland's leading potters - the renowned Louis Mulcahy. The low building - with its studio, factory, shop and cafe - folds into the fields, mountains at its back and the tumultuous waters of the Blasket Sound below. This is the setting that inspires Louis's wonderful work: he talks of the rapid changing colors of the light and the sea - from greys to blues to light greens...the purples and browns of the heather and shadows on the mountains...and the roaring red sunsets. Come in the summer months, meet Louis, take the workshop tour and try your hand at throwing a simple shape, inspired by the wild Atlantic on the doorstep. You can take the raw simple pot away with you or have it glazed, fired and delivered to your door.

Travel to Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way with Celtic Tours World Vacations.

Traditional Music - Experiences to Savor on Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way

Out at the very edged of Europe, the Wild Atlantic Way stretched 1500 miles alond Ireland's western seaboard. From Malin Head in Co Donegal to Kinsale in Co Cork, through regions like Connemara, Galway Bay and Kerry, it's the longest defined coastal drive in the world!

Here is just one of the experiences to savor on Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way:

Enjoy traditional music in West Clare: West Clare is famous for its music - and the Long Dock in the fishing village of Carrigaholt at the mouth of the Shannon is just one of the many pubs in these parts that offers traditional music nights, as well as Carraigaholt oysters, mussels, lobster and of course their own chowder. Come for one of the Dock's special Irish Nights, when you can sing, dance and play pub games with the locals.

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Sun Set over the Aran Islands - Experiences to Savor on Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way

Out at the very edged of Europe, the Wild Atlantic Way stretched 1500 miles alond Ireland's western seaboard. From Malin Head in Co Donegal to Kinsale in Co Cork, through regions like Connemara, Galway Bay and Kerry, it's the longest defined coastal drive in the world!

Here is just one of the experiences to savor on Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way:

Watch the sun set over the Aran Islands: The viewing platform at O'Brien's Tower is said to be the best place to see the sunset from the iconic Cliffs of Moher. The tower was built at the highest point on the cliff edge in 1835, as an observation point for tourists, by far-sighted landowner Cornelius O'Brien. Before arriving at the Tower, you could try a guided walk along the cliff-edge paths with a Cliffs of Moher ranger. The walks take just over an hour and depending on the time of year, you'll see the puffins, guillemots, kittiwakes, chough, peregrine falcone, fulmar, and shags among other birds.

Travel to Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way with Celtic Tours World Vacations

Cultural Immersion - Experiences to Savor on Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way

Out at the very edged of Europe, the Wild Atlantic Way stretched 1500 miles alond Ireland's western seaboard. From Malin Head in Co Donegal to Kinsale in Co Cork, through regions like Connemara, Galway Bay and Kerry, it's the longest defined coastal drive in the world!

Here is just one of the experiences to savor on Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way:

Go for cultural immersion in a resored 17th century hill-village: In their unique center dedicated to traditional Irish culture, Dearbhaill Standun and Charlie Troy of Cnoc Suian offer an introduction to Gaelic language, music, history, nature and landscape from groups. They've restored the group of cottages, which lay deserted for more than half a century in a tranquil setting on the southern foothills of the Connemara mountains, overlooking Galway Bay, the Burren, the Cliffs of Moher and the Aran Islands.

Plan your group travel to Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way with Celtic Tours World Vacations

Cruise Ireland's Fjord - Experiences to Savor on Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way

Out at the very edged of Europe, the Wild Atlantic Way stretched 1500 miles alond Ireland's western seaboard. From Malin Head in Co Donegal to Kinsale in Co Cork, through regions like Connemara, Galway Bay and Kerry, it's the longest defined coastal drive in the world!

Here is just one of the experiences to savor on Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way:

Cruise on Ireland's only fjord: With luck, a pod of dolphins will accompany you for some of your cruise on Killary Harbour, said by some to be Ireland's only true fjord. Dotted with mussel rafts, with mountains to the north and south, the fjord reaches due east from the Atlantic for 10 miles, ending at the Asleagh Falls. Killary Cruises start from a mile or so outside the village of Leenane on the road to Clifden at 'Nancy's Point'. Leenane is known as the Gateway to Connemara - you may recognise some of the locations from the movie version of John B Keane's poignant play "The Field" filmed here in 1989.

Travel to Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way with Celtic Tours World Vacations

Forage For Wild Food - Experiences to Savor on Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way

Out at the very edge of Europe, the Wild Atlantic Way stretches 1500 miles along Ireland's western seaboard. From Malin Head in Co Donegal to Kinsale in Co Cork, through regions like Connemara, Galway Bay and Kerry, it's the longest defined coastal drive in the world!

Here is just one of the experiences to savor on Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way:

Forage for wild food along the Killala shoreline: Spend an afternoon with Denis Quinn of Wild Atlantic Cultural Tours - foraging for food out along the shoreline under the huge skies of north Mayo. As the wild Atlantic booms and seabirds swirl and swoop, Denis will guide you expertly across Killala Bay, crossing mudflats, scrambling over rocks, gathering edible seaweeds, rooting around in rockpools and spooning cockles, mussels, clams and winkles from the vast expanse of soft sand uncovered at low tide.

Visit Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way with Celtic Tours World Vacations

Ceide Fields - Experiences to Savor on Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way

Out at the very edged of Europe, the Wild Atlantic Way stretched 1500 miles alond Ireland's western seaboard. From Malin Head in Co Donegal to Kinsale in Co Cork, through regions like Connemara, Galway Bay and Kerry, it's the longest defined coastal drive in the world!

Here is just one of the experiences to savor on Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way:

Probe the peat at Ceide Fields: An award-winning architect designed pyramid built into the clifftop, high above the Atlantic, houses the Visitor Center for Ceide Fields.This is the largest Stone Age monument in the world, set in a vast prehistoric landscape of bog, dramatic cliffs and coastline. Preserved beneath  the wild blanket bog are 5000 year old stone walled fields, dwellings and megalithic tombs. Take the guided tour and use the archaeologists probe, sliding down the peat till you feel it striking stone placed there 5000 years ago. This is the largest of thousands archaeological sites along the Wild Atlantic Way - hundreds in this part of North Mayo alone, including standing stones, ring forts, stone circles and court tombs.


Travel to Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way with Celtic Tours World Vacations.

Slieve League - Cliffs Experiences to Savor on Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way

Out at the very edged of Europe, the Wild Atlantic Way stretched 1500 miles alond Ireland's western seaboard. From Malin Head in Co Donegal to Kinsale in Co Cork, through regions like Connemara, Galway Bay and Kerry, it's the longest defined coastal drive in the world!

Here is just one of the experiences to savor on Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way:

Get up close to cliffs that are amongst the highest in Europe: Paddy is the skipped of the Nuala Star. He'll pick you up from Teelin Harbour on the north side of Donegal Bay, to sail below the sheer granite walls of Slieve League - at 1970 ft. They are amoungst the highest accessible sea cliffs in Europe and the huge panoramas presented to you from these cliffs can look different from every angle. Bright azure skies appear next to blue grey shafts of rain which bolt sea and sky together. Still further across this ever changing canvas, beams of light, diffused wisps of thin cloud, gold the wild sea, warming the cool grey water into pools of liquid gold. Sometimes the Nuala Star is joined by dolphins, seals and whales. And in June you may see basking sharks, feeding on the plankton. There's the option to go swimming in the little coves: wetsuits are provided says Paddy, "if you think the water's cold". Once back on dry land, the climb up the Pilgrim's Path is optional. On a fine day, the views from the top - across sever counties - are glorious.

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Heritage on Horseback - Experiences to Savor on Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way

Out at the very edged of Europe, the Wild Atlantic Way stretched 1500 miles alond Ireland's western seaboard. From Malin Head in Co Donegal to Kinsale in Co Cork, through regions like Connemara, Galway Bay and Kerry, it's the longest defined coastal drive in the world!

Here is just one of the experiences to savor on Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way:

Heritage on Horseback in the Atlantic: This ride takes about four hours with a lunch stop in the old O'Connor's homestead on Connors Island to the North of Streedagh Beach in North Co Sligo. Begin at Island View Riding Stables near Grange and walk along the shore to Milkhaven Harbour. You will then cross a magnificent tidal lagoon at low tide, going on to the back of Streedagh dunes. See archaeology along the way, have a nice packed lunch out of your saddle bag and hear all about the Spanish Armada ships that wrecked here after a horrendous gale on September 21st 1588. Continuing then to Dernish Island, enjoy this remote seasacape - with ruined cottages standing quiet, lost in time at the back of the island. Heading home then, you can refresh your horses legs in seawatrer and relax, sit back and take it all in!

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