Should I choose the Wild Atlantic Way, Ireland's Ancient East, Dublin or Northern Ireland first?
For a first trip, most people should start with one of two. The Wild Atlantic Way, if the picture in your head is coast, cliffs and small towns: it is the west from Donegal to Cork, best taken in sections rather than end to end. Dublin and Ireland's Ancient East, if history is the draw and time is short: the capital, the Boyne Valley passage tombs and Kilkenny sit within easy reach of each other. Northern Ireland pairs naturally with Dublin on a longer trip: Belfast, the Causeway Coast and Derry make a strong three or four days. Trying to sample all four in a week gives you the motorways between them and little else.
Useful pages: Where to go · Ready-made itineraries · The Wild Atlantic Way road trip · Dublin · County Cork · County Kerry · County Galway · Northern Ireland · Portrush · Visiting Irish castles · Plan your journey · Heritage · Golf in Ireland · Ireland's cities · Ireland in the movies · Best hiking trails in Ireland · The Southwest in 5 Days · The Great Links golf itinerary · Quieter places
Sources
- Failte Ireland: the Wild Atlantic Way route, failteireland.ie
More in Regions and itineraries
- How long do I need to drive the Wild Atlantic Way properly?
- What are the best bases on the Wild Atlantic Way for a seven day trip?
- Which counties give the best first taste of the southwest?
- Dublin or Galway: which city should be my main base?
- Cork or Killarney: which is the better base for the southwest?