By Rupert Shanks
Published: Jan 16, 2015 More by Rupert
We were delighted and amazed to be included in Curious Animal’s Adventure Travel Hot List for 2015!
Curious Animal online magazine has pulled together a Top 10 list of some incredible locations around the world for adventure travel, such as Namibia, New Zealand and Haiti. It is a huge compliment for Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way to be included and with Wilderness Ireland as a recommended tour operator we are over the moon.
Curious Animal describes the Wild Atlantic Way as;
“a newly launched tourist trail running along the west coast of Ireland, from Malin Head in County Donegal right down to Kinsale in County Cork. Exploring the likes of Connemara, the cliffs of County Clare or the wild landscapes of Country Kerry, you’ll find many of the things the Irish are famous for, including world class seafood, Guinness, castles and some of the world’s friendliest people in some of the world’s friendliest pubs.”
We have agree with the folks at Curious Animal, especially with regard to how best to experience the Wild Atlantic Way. We recommend two wheels as the best way to soak up the landscapes alongside the local hospitality.
“You could drive the Wild Atlantic Way; it’s being put out there as a scenic drive, Ireland’s answer to California’s Pacific Coast Highway or Italy’s Amalfi Coast. But perhaps it’s more fun to pick a chunk and hike it, kayak it or bike it. The fantastically green and hilly landscapes of Cork and Kerry, for example, make for excellent cycling, taking in Dingle and the Ring of Kerry, with a chance to see the Skelligs (jagged rock islands off the coast).”
The Monk’s beehive huts at the top of Skellig Michael.
Editor of Curious Animal magazine, Graeme Green joined the Wilderness Ireland team as we led a road cycling trip through the Wild Atlantic Way last summer as part of the Adventure Travel World Summit.
“I really enjoyed seeing a small section of the Wild Atlantic Way on two wheels with Wilderness. Getting to the top of the tough Conor Pass, the highest pass in Ireland, on a blustery day was certainly memorable and it did no harm that there was good beer at the local distillery at the end of that day. The landscapes in this part of Ireland are really wild and rugged; quite often we were cycling along with views of the Atlantic ocean, as well as the famous UNESCO Skelligs. Meeting local people in the village pubs, eating really good seafood and sampling a Guinness or two along the way was also a big part of the trip. Like any ‘taster’ trip, it made me want to see more…” Graeme Green, editor of Curious Animal online magazine (www.curiousanimal.com)
Check out a short video from the same trip with us last year:
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