Wild Atlantic Way and Western Ireland

Tom Cooper is a writer and editor who fell in love with Ireland's Atlantic coast many years ago on a six-week ride from Belfast to County Cork. He enjoyed himself so much that he has returned many times and continues to enjoy exploring western Ireland on two wheels.

• Map Key Overview Map - Wild Atlantic Way Route summary table - Wild Atlantic Way Overview Map - the 6 tours Route summary table - the 6 tours Introduction Geology Wildlife and Flowers History What's in a Name? Built heritage and architecture Culture Getting There Getting Around When to Go Accommodation Health and Safety Food and Drink Language Money Post, Phones and Internet Cycling in Ireland What to Take Maps Using this Guide Route 1 Tour of Donegal Stage 1 Derry/Londonderry to Culdaff Stage 2 Culdaff to Clonmany Stage 3 Clonmany to Letterkenny Stage 4 Letterkenny to Portsalon Stage 5 Portsalon to Downies Stage 6 Downies to Bunbeg Stage 7 Bunbeg to Portnoo Stage 8 Portnoo to Carrick Stage 9 Carrick to Donegal Town Route 1 Route Cards Route 2 Into the Atlantic Stage 1 Donegal Town to Ballyshannon Stage 2 Ballyshannon to Sligo Stage 3 Sligo to Ballina Stage 4 Ballina to Belmullet Stage 5 Belmullet to Achill Stage 6 Tour of Achill Island Stage 7 Achill to Foxford Stage 7A WAW Link from Newport (Stage 7) to Westport Stage 8 Foxford to Sligo Route 2 Route Cards Route 3 Tour of Connacht Stage 1 Westport to Roonah Quay Stage 2 Tour of Clare Island Stage 3 Roonah Quay to Tully Stage 4 Tully to Clifden Stage 5 Tour of Inishbofin Stage 6 Clifden to Kilkieran Stage 7 Kilkieran to Galway Stage 8 Galway to Cong Stage 9 Cong to Westport Route 3 Route Cards Route 4 The Aran Islands and the Burren Stage 1 Galway to Inishmore Stage 2 Tour of Inishmore Stage 3 Tour of Inisheer Stage 4 Round the Burren Stage 5 Doolin to Kilrush Stage 6 Kilrush to Ennis Stage 7 Ennis to Limerick Stage 7A WAW Link from Limerick to Tarbert Route 4 Route Cards Route 5 The Southwest Peninsulas Stage 1A WAW Link from Tarbert to Tralee Stage 1 Tralee to Dingle Stage 2 Tour of the Dingle Peninsula Stage 3 Dingle to Killorglin Stage 4 Killorglin to Portmagee Stage 5 Portmagee to Caherdaniel Stage 6 Caherdaniel to Kenmare Stage 7 Kenmare to Killarney Stage 8 Killarney to Tralee Route 5 Route Cards Route 6 The Fuchsia Coast Stage 1 Kenmare to Allihies Stage 2 Allihies to Glengarriff Stage 3 Glengarriff to Schull Stage 4 Schull to Clonakilty Stage 5 Clonakilty to Kinsale Stage 6 Kinsale to Cork Route 6 Route Cards Appendix A Useful Contacts Appendix B Glossary Appendix C Deviations from the Wild Atlantic Way Driving Route Appendix D Further Reading