Wild Atlantic Wonders – Northern Tour

Enjoy the Wild Atlantic Wonders of Donegal and Connacht

Welcome to our Wild Atlantic Wonders – the Northern Tour in 2024. Please note our tour only caters for the north and west of the Wild Atlantic Way route going from Donegal down to the Aran Islands.

Set over five days starting in Derry, I will drive you around the top half of the route getting you as far as the islands. We’ll do some of the famous Signature Discovery Points along the way, but also go off the beaten path to treat you to what the real west of Ireland is about. It focuses on some very special places, most of which no tour will ever go to, or indeed has heard of.

See the itinerary below for how the tour shapes up. It is a limited tour offered in the middle of each summer month. Book early to avoid disappointment!

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2024 Day By Day Itinerary

Pre-tour collection day in Dublin taking clients to Bishop’s Gate, Derry.

D1: Greencastle – Malin Head – Doagh – Dunree – Rathmullan

D2: Fanad – Dunfanaghy – Sliab Liag cliffs – Donegal Town

D3: Mullaghmore – Yeats Country – Country Life Museum – Achill

D4: Westport – Leenaun – Omey Island – Inishbofin – Sky Road – Clifden

D5: Derrygimlagh – Roundstone – Rosaveel – Inis Mór

If required, we can transport you to Galway/Dublin.

Day One

Day One starts in Derry with time for a visit to the Guildhall and Derry Walls. The Wild Atlantic Way starts right on the border with Donegal and we’ll follow it with a trip along the coast to Greencastle going on to Malin Head. We are on the magnificent peninsula of Inishowen with its hundred miles of coast. We’ll visit the Doagh Famine Village.before lunch at Nancy’s Barn in Ballyliffin. The scenic route to our stay includes Mamore and Fort Dunree. We’ll then take the ferry to Rathmullan House on the far side of Lough Swilly.

Overnight stay: Rathmullan House

Day Two

Day Two starts with a trip along the Fanad peninsula to the iconic Fanad Lighthouse. A trip across the Blaney bridge then takes us to Carrigart and Dunfanaghy for a pitstop. We’ll be making our way down the coast to the Rusty Mackerel for lunch. Afterwards, it’s up to the famous Sliab Liag cliffs, three times higher than the Cliffs of Moher. We’ll then be driving right along Donegal Bay to Donegal Town. Hopefully we will be in time for the last sailing of the waterbus out into the bay, but hey, we are going at your pace. Alternatively, there’s a castle to visit and some great shopping in the likes of Magee’s.

Overnight stay: Donegal House

Day Three

We’ll be sticking by the Wild Atlantic as we make our way to the surfer’s paradise that is Mullaghmore. Once home to Lord Mountbatten, we’ll pass by his castle before making our way to Yeat’s Country where WB Yeats found inspiration in the landscape of the Celtic Twilight. Lunch will be in the Museum of Country Life in Mayo. After here, we’ll be making our way to the scenic Achill Island, home to some of the most iconic coastal scenery in Ireland. Finally, we’ll get to the lively town of Westport where we’ll be staying.

Overnight stay: Roscaoin House

Day Four

Day Four has us leaving Westport for the Doolough Valley where we’ll reveal its secrets. We’ll be making our way through some more stunning scenery to Leenaun where the film The Field was made. From there we will make our way to Cleggan and set sail for Inishbofin. Once back, it’s a delicious lunch in the Little Fish café. We’ll be looking out for Connemara ponies and be feeding them some apples before going for a stroll out to Omey Island. We finish the day by going along the Sky Road with wonderful views of the Atlantic as we weave our way down the valley into Connemara’s capital, Clifden.

Overnight stay: Abbeyglen Castle Hotel

Day Five

Day Five has us leaving Clifden. Once on the road, we’ll be saluting two great events in science and technology that happened in these very parts. !910 saw Marconi successfully transmit messages across the Atlantic and 1919 saw Alcock and Browne fly across that ocean. We’ll wind our way along to the villages of Roundstone, Inver and Costelloe before getting to Rosaveel. Here we’ll be getting the 13.00 sailing to Inis Mór, the largest of the Aran Islands. After lunch, we’ll take a leisurely cycle around the island to see its many attractions. Ensure you have your swimwear with you!

Overnight stay: Aran Islands Hotel

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Going the extra mile

We are keen to ensure your guided tour with us is a memorable and pleasant one. If there are any milestones being celebrated along the way or ancestral sites you wish to visit, please let us know when booking. We will endeavour to get you there if at all possible.

We can also take you back to Dublin after the tour if needs be. Just let us know. Finally, please note that western Atlantic weather is unpredictable, so prepare for the worst and bring sturdy walking boots and rain gear. Also bring your swimming gear – we will be swimming on more than one occasion with any luck!

Whilst we are not doing the southern part of the Wild Atlantic Way, we are more than happy to recommend Rabbie’s who can collect you from Galway to take you down to Clare, Kerry and Cork. However, we’d highly recommend just taking time out on the three Aran Islands and getting to experience the real wild Atlantic.