SCENIC ROUTE Ireland's WILD ATLANTIC WAY This drive twists, turns and tucks into the soul of the original Emerald Isle. By Amity Moore Joyce Malin Head Slieve League Cliff View Achill Island Donegal Great Western Greenway Connemara National Park Dun Aonghasa Cliffs of Moher Explored as an adventure all its own or as an extension of a visit elsewhere in Ireland, the Wild Atlantic Way travels roughly 1,600 miles through nine counties and six regions, revealing dramatic landscapes and cultural treasures that ignite the senses. Admire the marvelous sea stacks of Donegal in the north to the bucket list-worthy Old Head Golf Links of Kinsale in the south, making sure to pause in a pub for some foot-tapping traditional music in between - not to mention delicious fresh catches pulled from the Atlantic Ocean. It doesn't matter where you pick up this coastal route, although many travelers find it easiest to self-drive from Shannon or Cork due to the cities' convenient airports and rental car access. Additionally, road trips can last from just a couple of days to a few weeks, depending on how long - and how deeply - you wish to delve into this Gaeltacht, a region where Irish is still the dominant language. Kinsale Cliffs of Moher TRAVELER FALL 2019 25