4 Amazing Irish Destinations Along The Wild Atlantic That Will Make Your Jaw Drop

The Wild Atlantic Way is Ireland’s first long-distance touring route, stretching along the Atlantic coast from Donegal to West Cork. It would take between three weeks to a month to drive the full length at a leisurely pace. The Kerry stage of the Wild Atlantic Way is 450kms long and contains some of the most beautiful coastal scenery and terrain. Here are some of the stops not to miss on your journey;

1. Dingle Peninsula

The Dingle Peninsula is an area of land protruding out into the North Atlantic Ocean. On the peninsula, there is an impressive collection of well-preserved monuments dating back almost 6000 years. There is a mixture of pre-historic ring forts, beehive huts, early Christian chapels, crosses and holy wells that make up this ancient landscape. The area also has a fascinating history in both folklore and mythology and the views of the surrounding coastal areas are absolutely stunning.

2. Blasket Islands

The Blanket Islands are at the very tip of the Dingle Peninsula, off the coast of Kerry and have been uninhabited since 1953. They were originally inhabited by Irish speaking natives who were talented in writing and composed numerous books about the life and times of the islands, all in the Irish language. Needless to say, the islands are not reachable by road, you will need to take a short ferry ride across but it is well worth a couple of hours exploring their wild beauty.

3. Glenbeigh /Rossbeigh Beach

Glenbeigh is a small, peaceful village and a place you won’t often find many tourists. The mountain scenery here is magnificent as the town is surrounded by a horseshoe of hills and mountains. It is probably most well-known for its golden ‘blue-flag’ beach, Rossbeigh. Rossbeigh beach is located about 2 miles from the village of Glenbeigh on the Ring of Kerry. It is 7kms of peace, tranquillity and unspoiled nature and it is also said to be the location where Oisín and Niamh took to the sea on their white horse to live in the land of youth, also known as ‘Tir na nÓg’.

4. Skellig Michael

You may have heard of this one, or at least seen it on the big screen! This iconic pair of islands stand 12 km southwest of Valentia Island in Kerry. Skellig Michael is well-known as a site of a well-preserved monastic outpost. Small Skellig is also renowned for its archaeology but more so as being the home to 27,000 pairs of gannets – large, seagull-like birds with bright yellow heads. The island also had a small part in the recent Star Wars films Episode VII and Episode VIII.

With so much to see and do throughout the Wild Atlantic Way, you will need a quiet, comfortable and modern place to rest your head. While traveling in Kerry, Cahernane Hotel is the ideal place to relax and refuel before another day of exploring. 

Author Bio: Katie McGarr is a daytime writer for Cahernane House Hotel Killarney, a charming four-star boutique hotel, beautifully set on a picturesque private estate and near the bustling Killarney town centre. Her fondness for travel, food, and cultural appreciation makes it easy for her to write inspiring pieces of content about them.