Wild Atlantic Way Itineraries. 6-, 7-, 10- and 14-Day Versions and a FULL MAP to Build your own

Causeway Coastal Route Recently Added!

5 Spectacular Itineraries and a build your own version!

Travel South to North or North to South.

If you need a good Wild Atlantic Way Itinerary, you have come to the right place.

Embark on a journey filled with breathtaking landscapes, charming coastal villages, and unforgettable experiences. Enjoy the craic at the local pubs with a bowl of seafood chowder or real Irish Stew. Try a pint of Guinness and listen to some traditional Irish music.

Welcome to the adventure of a lifetime along the stunning Wild Atlantic Way on the West Coast of Ireland!

We have curated five unique itineraries to help you maximise your exploration along this rugged coastline. These routes do not take you to all the Discovery Points but are designed to take you to the main highlights in the limited time you have available. So the routes do not always exactly follow the Wild Atlantic Way, but they take you to all the areas worth seeing. One itinerary is also included for the Causeway Coastal Route for those who want to visit Northern Ireland. But remember to check your hire car insurance if you do this.

Route Start-End

All itineraries can be completed assuming an arrival at Dublin or Shannon or even Belfast airport. As Shannon is already on the West Coast, it requires less driving than if you fly to Dublin. An arrival in Belfast is fine if you wish to to the Coastal Route and travel the WAW North to South. The Causeway Coastal Route is actually based on an arrival or departure from Belfast airport.

NEW EXTRA INFORMATION!

Note that the maps provided with these itineraries and the FULL MAP contain more information (photos and links to videos) that are not always provided in the FREE maps on this site. On 24.7.25 they have all been updated with links to new YouTube videos shot recently. You can now travel the WAW from the luxury of your armchair without having to brave the rain!

It is recommended to check the local internet sites of the locations before visiting, as some may be closed out of season. Mizen Head, for example, was closed in 2024 until the Spring.

1. Wild Atlantic Way 7-Day Itinerary. The Southern Counties

Begin your adventure at the Old Head of Kinsale and journey north along the Wild Atlantic Way up to Galway. Visit the 6 Signature Points of the Old Head of Kinsale, Mizen Head, Dursey Island, Blasket Island View, Loop Head and the Cliffs of Moher.

The journey travels the Mizen, Beara, Iveragh and Dingle Peninsulas. It passes through the counties of Cork, Kerry, Clare and Galway. Famous Discovery Points such as Slea Head Drive, Conor Pass, Inch Beach, Ring of Kerry, the Gaps of Mamore and Ballaghbema, and the Burren Coast Road are included on this route.

This trip is about 22-25 hours of driving time and includes about 20 hours of exploration time to stop at places along the way. Explore ancient abbeys, swim in the surf beaches, enjoy the scenic views and the stunning Cliffs, and savour fresh seafood along the way. You will love this journey.

2. Wild Atlantic Way 7-Day Itinerary. The Northern Counties

This itinerary begins in Galway and takes you as far as Letterkenny in Donegal. The route passes through 7 Signature Points; Derrigimlagh, Killary Harbour, Keem Beach, Downpatrick Head, Mullaghmore, Slieve League and Fanad Head. You will pass through the Counties of Galway, Mayo, Sligo and Donegal. (It also passes through a very small part of Leitrim, but there are no Discovery Points from the Wild Atlantic Way in Leitrim). The total driving time is a little over 23 hours and the stopping time is about 18,5 hrs.

This route takes you past interesting Discovery Points such as Dog’s Bay, Connemara, Clifden, Kylemore Abbey, Aasleagh Falls, Doolough Valley, Achill Island, Keem Beach, Benwee Head, Gleniff Horseshoe, Classiebawn Castle, Rossnowlagh Beach, Malin Beg, Assaranca Waterfall, Errigal, Glenveigh National Park and Doe Castle, to name but a few. The route does not completely follow the WAW and misses out on the Mullet Peninsula.

The scenery along this route, especially in Connemara, Mayo and Donegal is really astoundingly beautiful.

Which itinerary is best if you only have 7 days to explore the Wild Atlantic Way? It is very difficult to decide whether to choose from itinerary 1 or 2. Everyone has their own preferences. But if I were to choose, I would probably prefer this route over route 1, even though I live in County Clare. And just remember to pray for some good weather to enjoy the spectacular scenery.

3. Wild Atlantic Way 10-Day Itinerary.

This journey, starting in Kinsale, passes through the same locations as the first 7-day itinerary and goes as far as Burtonport in Donegal. So it passes through 8 of the Wild Atlantic Way counties. This journey does not get completely to the top of Donegal, however. Driving time is about 40 hours in total, with approximately 27 hours of stopping time on locations.

This route brings you to 12 of the 15 Signature points along the Wild Atlantic Way. The map is split into two parts.

4. Wild Atlantic Way 14-Day Itinerary.

This journey passes through all the same locations as the first two 7-day itineraries. The difference is that the extra days allow for an excursion in Kerry to Valentia Island and the Bray Head Signature Point. There is also a full rest of day built into the itinerary in Galway, halfway through the journey. This allows you to explore the wonderful city of Galway. Or maybe you could even fly out to the Aran Islands, or just have a day of rest. You could also use the extra time to explore more of Connemara or include the Belmullet Peninsula.

Like the 10 day itinerary, this map is also split into two parts.

This Itinerary will take you to ALL the Signature Points on the Wild Atlantic Way. It is about 47 hours of driving and about 2,600 km in total. But there are about 47 hours of stopping time along the way which means you can see a lot more than on the other trips.

Whether you are seeking coastal marvels, hidden gems, cultural heritage, or the ultimate adventure, our curated itineraries offer something for every traveller along the Wild Atlantic Way.

Prepare to be enchanted by the beauty of Ireland’s west coast as you embark on an unforgettable journey of discovery. It will be a journey you will never forget.

5. Causeway Coastal Route 6- Day Itinerary

This route assumes a start in Belfast and takes you along the Causeway Coastal Route in Northern Ireland. It will take you to the Dark Hedges, the Carrick-a-rede rope bridge, the Giant’s Causeway, Bushmills Distillery, the Titanic Museum in Belfast, amongst others. It is scheduled for 6 days, but this depends on which sights you wish to visit along the way. I managed to do it in 4 days, but I missed out on actually spending time at some of the sights.

6. Build Your Own Itinerary. FULL MAP.

Obviously, it is impossible to estimate how long people travelling in Ireland will be in the country for or which places they would like to visit. It depends on their interests, age, gender and purpose of their journey. Some wish to play the beautiful golf courses, others are interested in Irish history, beaches, hiking, city trips, culinary delights or just sampling the craic. Everyone has their own wishes and agenda.

So this option gives you a comprehensive Google Map with all the options. With one Download the entire route is on your phone and you can wing it from day to day, or plan intricately to make the most of your trip. Use the map on your desktop beforehand to decide where you want to go and put a basic schedule together. Or download it to your phone or tablet to guide you as you travel up or down the routes.

This option includes the entire Wild Atlantic Way route PLUS the Causeway Coastal Route. You get the entire map, without a day-to-day itinerary, but with all the information in the 624 + POI icons (photos, descriptions and links to helpful information, including YouTube movies of some of the roads that I have made along the way). All in one handy map to download to your phone or tablet. You will not regret it.

And another advantage is that the map updates every time I add a new POI or relevant information.

The latest update was 24.07.25 after a recent trip I made to Cork and Kerry and added new videos and pictures .

How to get your itinerary

Click below to get to find out more information on these routes.

Remember when you hire your car that you make sure that you are insured for the countries in which you are driving – Northern Ireland is part of the UK and is a different country to the Republic of Ireland. Sometimes you may have to pay more if you intend to drive in both countries.

Before you travel, make sure you have read this article about driving in Ireland.

If you do enjoy using this product, please provide any feedback BELOW in the comments section to help us improve it. Many thanks!!

Last Updated on October 13, 2025 by Gav