Wild Atlantic Way, Cork to Connemara
Kinsale's colourful shops in County Cork
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Explore dramatic coastal scenery & welcoming villages on this self-drive holiday touring the Wild Atlantic Way from Cork through Kerry to Connemara.
Imagine the West of Ireland and you think of pretty coastal villages, dramatic seas, brightly-painted shops and bars and a warm welcome. Now you can enjoy all of this on the captivating coastal driving route known as Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way. Wherever you travel, you will encounter moments of magic, moments to treasure and experiences that you will want to return to, again and again.
Our specially designed self-drive tour takes a leisurely approach to the southern half of the driving route, starting in Cork, famous for its superb seafood before traversing Kerry with its spectacular scenery. Then its on to County Clare and the mysterious landscape of the Burren before reaching Connemara, with its dramatic coastline, beautiful beaches and fascinating social history.
As always, this holiday features our careful selection of hand-picked accommodation in delightful guest houses and hideaway coastal hotels. We’ve done the leg-work and the research so that you can enjoy every moment of your precious holiday time, and explore well off the beaten path.
Your first destination in this tailor-made holiday touring Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way, is the colourful village of Kinsale, on the south-west coast and less than an hour from the city of Cork. With it’s situation right by the sea, this spot is world-renowned for culinary delights, from the freshest local delicacies to more internationally-inspired menus. We’ll use our local knowledge and connections to point you in the right direction of the current hotspots.
In a splendid harbourside location at the gateway to the Wild Atlantic Way, your accommodation in Kinsale is a quietly stylish hotel, blending contemporary flair with an old-world nautical charm.
Subject to recent extensive refurb, there’s a bright and cheerful feel throughout, with whitewashed timbers setting off the splashes of colourful fabric, with exposed masonry adding a touch of brawn here and there.
One of the most delightful aspects here is that every room treats guests to a harbour view, the decor and layout of each designed to take full advantage of the floor-to-ceiling glass. Perched in the oversized bed with a morning brew, looking out across the River Bandon towards watchful James Fort is a perfect way to start the day.
Breakfast is unhurried, and served in the first-floor restaurant overlooking the harbour, while in the evening the in-house tavern – planned by an acclaimed local yacht designer – brings a new twist to the traditional Irish pub, a cocktail on the terrace the perfect precursor to dinner in the well-regarded in-house restaurant.
Time to explore the cobbled streets and quirky shops of this historic and very colourful village. Alternatively, take a trip along the coast, where you’ll find plenty of beaches and welcoming villages.
Your second base, less than two hours further south, is the seaside village of Baltimore with its bustling natural harbour a haven for yachts and ferries to local islands. This is where the Irish themselves like to holiday, but they don’t mind sharing the secret! Seeing whales and dolphins in the wild is still one of the greatest thrills in nature, and it’s perfectly possible on a boat trip in the company of an expert marine biologist from here – add an extra night and we will pre-book the whale & dolphin watching trip for you (see pricing details below).
Just on the outskirts of the village, this traditional inn features a bar area crammed with memorabilia of years gone by, leading into a bright and airy restaurant. Eat sumptuously-fresh seafood as you gaze out to the boats bobbing on the water, or chat over a Murphy’s with the locals. Rooms are extremely spacious and neatly decorated with splashes of cheery colours. A feeling of being beside the seaside pervades the place, and the welcome is every bit as friendly as you’d expect.
Time to explore on your own, perhaps heading further west to the village of Schull, with its colourful craft shops, drive to Mizen Head, visit the imposing Bantry House and estate, or enjoy one the numerous coastal walks in the Baltimore area.
Your journey now takes you northwest, with options to explore one or more of the fingers of land at the south of Ireland, including the Bere peninsula, before reaching your next base.
In the vivacious little Kerry town of Kenmare, ths hotel simply oozes relaxed comfort and easygoing Irish charm, with a distinct twist of fun thrown in for good measure.
Family owned and run for many years, there are just 22 rooms here, each of which is a stylish haven from the town’s natural fizz, with bespoke fittings skilfully set alongside handcrafted creations commissioned from local artisans.
One of our favourite things hereis the dining; take as long as you wish over a traditional Irish breakfast as it’s served til 11am, the homemade bread, pastries and preserves serving as tempting accompaniments. Perhaps enjoy a light tapas-style lunch in the bar, or a more substantial evening meal in the restaurant; or should you wish to dine out, Kenmare’s streets are awash with choices mere moments from the front door.
By night, the bar comes alive, attracting locals and visitors with traditional music helping create a uniquely Irish atmosphere.
This is your chance to drive the famous Ring of Kerry, the 120 mile circular drive and one of the country’s most popular tourist trails. Although busy, there are plenty of options to avoid most of the crowds and still enjoy the open views of the mountains, coast and islands of the area. Look out for the myriad squiggly signs of the Wild Atlantic Way highlighting spots of interest.
Turning north you cross the Shannon by ferry and reach County Clare, where you really experience the pounding might of the Atlantic Ocean. Your next base is one of the county’ most famour villages.
Owned by the same family for some 400 years, delighting guests since the 1930s, your accommodation in the famous ‘matchmaking’ town of Lisdoonvarna is a compact country house hotel, consistently offering a reassuringly traditional Irish experience.
Hidden away just off Main Street, a well-tended garden leads to the elegant yellow ochre frontage, guests welcomed at the door and an immediate sense of calm descending. It’s true that the friendly owners possess that rare Irish knack of making you feel part of the family the moment you arrive.
Inside, the place seems to radiate history, beautifully presented throughout, each piece of art and every fixture having its own story to tell. With just 16 peaceful, classically styled rooms, there’s little danger of overcrowding here; each feature soft colours, crisp fabrics, relaxing sitting areas and well-appointed en-suites.
Perhaps the main attraction here is the food. Owner John prepares a menu of classic French flair, making use of the very best local, seasonal produce, as well as the crop from his own extensive kitchen garden.
With a sheer drop of over 200m into the sea, the Cliffs of Moher are a spectacular sight. Unsurprisingly, the visitor centre is one of the most popular places along Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way, so we recommend a trip early or late in the day to enjoy them without too many crowds. It’s easier to find a bit of solitude by heading inland to the unusual and fascinating landscape of the Burren – with over a hundred square miles of limestone pavement and network of narrow country lanes. We can arrange a local guide to accompany you if you wish to learn more about the ancient history, legends and flora and fauna of the area. Another option is to take a boat trip to visit the famous Aran Islands.
For the final leg of your tour, pass Galway City and head to the west and the mountains, loughs and coastline of Connemara, where you will once again stay right by the sea, just beyond the traditional village of Clifden. The peninsula of Connemara retains a wild-side, with peat bogs stretching inland to the towering Twelve Bens. Its’ name derives from “Conmhaicne Mara” (meaning: descendants of Con Mhac, of the sea)and it is a delight to meander along roads right by the dramatic coastline and sandy beaches.
This 200-year-old elegant waterfront building has been sensitively restored into a warm and welcoming bed and breakfast, offering individually decorated bedrooms with a quirky and eclectic twist. At every turn you’ll find antiques, original art and other artefacts: you will be forgiven for thinking you have stumbled into a carefully arranged stage-set.
Breakfast is very special – linger as long as you can below the Virginia creeper in the airy conservatory, enjoy fresh baking from the Aga, and a wide range of homemade treats. The house is situated right at the river’s edge, so it is a short walk (under ten minutes) up a gentle hill into the centre of Clifden.
A full day to relax and take in the scenery of Connemara, one of our favourite parts of Ireland. As your tailor-made Irish holiday nears its end, it might also be a good time to treat yourself to a lasting memory: you’ll find tweed jackets and traditional knits, hand-crafted jewellery and special works by local artists in the shops and galleries in and around Clifden. The town is crammed with traditional pubs and excellent local restauarants too.
You are about two hours from Shannon airport, or four from Dublin. This route could work equally well in reverse, from Connemara to Cork.
This holiday tours round the south and west of Ireland, round the coast of County Cork, then to Kerry, north through Clare and finishes in Connemara, County Galway.
£975 per person for April & October, £1075 per person in May to September, for 10 nights on a bed & breakfast basis.
Why not add a half day whale-watching boat trip and extra night in Baltimore for £120 per person.
We would be delighted to book your travel to Ireland for this holiday.
The most convenient ferry routes are those from Pembroke or Fishguard to Rosslare, though connections through Dublin are also possible.
There are direct flight connections to Cork from several UK airports. You could also easily base this holiday on return flights to Dublin, or Shannon.
Before your departure, you will receive personalised holiday information including full directions, recommended routes, and suggestions on places to visit depending on your interests and our local knowledge to help you get the most from your holiday.
All Ireland itineraries and room types are presented subject to availability at specific hotels.
All our holiday prices include a service charge of £9 per person per night towards the costs we incur in researching, planning and designing your holiday.
We guarantee to refund this service charge if you believe that arranging your holiday through McKinlay Kidd has not met your expectations for value. All we ask is that you write to us within 7 days of your return and explain your reason for claiming the refund. This will ensure that we can improve the experience for all our future guests.
As a child I spent a very memorable holiday in Connemara, in the west of Ireland. Although we had explored many parts of Ireland and Scotland before, ...
The driving route was memorable and we really appreciated the personal care and attention that had gone into the choice of places to stay.David & Olive, Nottingham
Too many amazing sights to mention. We loved it all! Staying in some truly special places and meeting friendly, kind, warm and interesting people.Trisha & David, Suffolk
There was no one favourite - each stop provided a different and varied scene. Spectacular scenery throughout.Valerie & Neil, London, UK
This holiday can be arranged from April to October
To check the latest availability for this holiday complete the form below or call us. We will respond to your availability check within one working day if at all possible. Please bear with us on this - we work with a hand-picked selection of smaller hotels, guest houses, and other independent businesses, ensuring that you have the chance to explore off the beaten track and really get under the skin of the destination.
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