The Wild Atlantic Way - Good Idea?

JupiterKid

I saw this really good proposal on FB to create a 2,400 kilometre long coastal drive along the Atlantic coast, from Inishowen in Donegal right down to Baltimore in West Cork.

It would link up existing tourist routes such as the Ring of Kerry, Connemara
Way, Atlantic Drive etc creating what is claimed would be the longest coastal tourist route in the world.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNjsFzyKJOI

I must say it looks like a far better concept that the Gathering. The advert is also very well done IMO - not too twee or over-sentimental. It would be particularly good if this new coastal route could be launched with a TV programme which would travel along the route but I won't be holding my breath for RTE to do it.

IMO the West coast is one of the greatest assets that Ireland has.

So what do Boardies think? Great idea or cynical tourist marketing re-hash?

MadsL

Ruin some of the wildest coastline in Europe by building a road on it. What an idiotic idea.

Better would be to buy the shoreline all around Ireland and keep it in National Trust for the nation with access for all.

Falthyron

Are you suggesting we guide tourists towards Limerick? Surely not...

Insect Overlord

Falthyron wrote: »

Are you suggesting we guide tourists towards Limerick? Surely not...

:rolleyes:

Arcsin

JupiterKid wrote: »

I saw this really good proposal on FB to create a 2,400 kilometre long coastal drive along the Atlantic coast, from Inishowen in Donegal right down to Baltimore in West Cork.

It would link up existing tourist routes such as the Ring of Kerry, Connemara
Way, Atlantic Drive etc creating what is claimed would be the longest coastal tourist route in the world.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNjsFzyKJOI

I must say it looks like a far better concept that the Gathering. The advert is also very well done IMO - not too twee or over-sentimental. It would be particularly good if this new coastal route could be launched with a TV programme which would travel along the route but I won't be holding my breath for RTE to do it.

IMO the West coast is one of the greatest assets that Ireland has.

So what do Boardies think? Great idea or cynical tourist marketing re-hash?

2400 kilometres long? Are they planning on taking in the coast of Africa as well?

I can see at least one big watery problem with that plan.

Pinewoo

A road to the USA, across the Atlantic...now there's an idea

wretcheddomain

I'd love to know what makes it Wild.

JupiterKid

MadsL wrote: »

Ruin some of the wildest coastline in Europe by building a road on it. What an idiotic idea.

Better would be to buy the shoreline all around Ireland and keep it in National Trust for the nation with access for all.

No, it wouldn't be a new road. Basically the plan would be (as far as I can gather) to re-sign, redesignate and upgrade the existing coastal roads along the Atlantic coast into one major tourist route called the Wild Atlantic Way.

There are already a number of existing tourist drives along the Atlantic coast - like the Ring of Kerry, Sky Road, Atlantic Drive - this would link them all upinto one route.

Arcsin

wretcheddomain wrote: »

I'd love to know what makes it Wild.

The potholes.

errlloyd

by my rough calculations (using gmaps) its about 450 kilometres from north to south, how are they managing to get 5 times that distance?

grenache

Falthyron wrote: »

Are you suggesting we guide tourists towards Limerick? Surely not...

You trying to be funny there?

MadsL

JupiterKid wrote: »

No, it wouldn't be a new road. Basically the plan would be (as far as I can gather) to re-sign, redesignate and upgrade the existing coastal roads along the Atlantic coast into one major tourist route called the Wild Atlantic Way.

There are already a number of existing tourist drives along the Atlantic coast - like the Ring of Kerry, Sky Road, Atlantic Drive - this would link them all upinto one route.

So the country is broke, and you want to spend money on upgrading rural roads in the arsend of nowhere. Meanwhile 16 Moore St and numerous other heritage buildings around Ireland have the arse hanging out of them and are about to collapse.

Sounds about right.

MadsL

errlloyd wrote: »

by my rough calculations (using gmaps) its about 450 kilometres from north to south, how are they managing to get 5 times that distance?

In out and shake it all about.

errlloyd

I like the idea of a walk btw, maybe the standard of track to allow cycling too?

Something around the level of the wicklow way.

WayneMolloy

wretcheddomain wrote: »

I'd love to know what makes it Wild.

Ever experience the wind on the west coast during a winters night?

WayneMolloy

MadsL wrote: »

So the country is broke, and you want to spend money on upgrading rural roads in the arsend of nowhere. Meanwhile 16 Moore St and numerous other heritage buildings around Ireland have the arse hanging out of them and are about to collapse.

Sounds about right.

They were considering a proposal to knock number 16 during the boom and opening another fecking shopping centre.

I dont agree with the coastal proposal, but using moore street as an example just offers the governmental department a get out clause for everything. Great idea there, but sorry cant help, the remainder of our funds are going towards the back of the gpo.

Capt'n Midnight

The tourists could visit all the wind farms while they are going around. :pac:

Celly Smunt

Being Ireland,it would be so badly designed you'd end up in Frankfurt.

WayneMolloy

pmcmahon wrote: »

Being Ireland,it would be so badly designed you'd end up in Frankfurt.

New tourism board slogan - 'Visit Ireland, who knows where the f*ck you will end up.'

With 'It could be Rotterdam, or anywhere, anywhere at all' playing in the background.

JupiterKid

Of course we need to protect our historic built heritage but I don't see how creating a new Atlantic Coast tourist route would damage that?

Here a link to the actual proposal. The reason the route would be 2,400 km in length is obviously it will follow the jagged inlets and peninsulas of the West coast closely, thereby adding greatly to its overall length.

http://www.failteireland.ie/Develop-Your-Business/Key-Projects-Carousels/The-Wild-Atlantic-Way.aspx


I think it's a great idea.

WayneMolloy

JupiterKid wrote: »

I saw this really good proposal on FB to create a 2,400 kilometre long coastal drive along the Atlantic coast, from Inishowen in Donegal right down to Baltimore in West Cork.

It would link up existing tourist routes such as the Ring of Kerry, Connemara
Way, Atlantic Drive etc creating what is claimed would be the longest coastal tourist route in the world.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNjsFzyKJOI

I must say it looks like a far better concept that the Gathering. The advert is also very well done IMO - not too twee or over-sentimental. It would be particularly good if this new coastal route could be launched with a TV programme which would travel along the route but I won't be holding my breath for RTE to do it.

IMO the West coast is one of the greatest assets that Ireland has.

So what do Boardies think? Great idea or cynical tourist marketing re-hash?

If done properly, it could possibly work. But it being Ireland, the land of vested interests - it would probably be a mechanism for the connected few, to enrich themselves.

Do it in small stages and take if from there. You are right in your assertion about our coastline being an amazing usp. The coastline around the west and south west is simply breathtaking. Every tourist should experience it.

For a lot of tourists unfortunately, dublin airport, city centre, temple bar, Guinness factory, temple bar, kilmainham gaol, temple bar and maybe Glendalough - are all they experience.

I say that as a xxx generation Dub. Dublin is a great city to live in and crap to visit as a tourist. Unless you have someone with you, who knows where to go.

The west and south west are much better places for tourists to visit. And also places that desperately need employment and revenue from tourism,

CianRyan

From a car guy's perspective, if they relayed the roads and built it like PCH in the US and the Great Ocean Road in Aus it would be a brilliant asset to the country.
From a tourism point of view, marketing it right could have it bring thousands into the country.

I vote yes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XavOgn-dJ7A

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ICHAa0LRg_k

errlloyd

I can't imagine anything more terrifying than driving the ring of kerry for 2400 clicks.

MadsL

CianRyan wrote: »

From a car guy's perspective, if they relayed the roads and built it like PCH in the US and the Great Ocean Road in Aus it would be a brilliant asset to the country.
From a tourism point of view, marketing it right could have it bring thousands into the country.

I vote yes.

Right. And cost €1.5 bn to bring it up to the standard of the PCH.

Genius.

Perhaps we could also go around burying pots of gold to attract tourists to find them at the end of the rainbow? It would bring in thousands and only cost 150 million.

MadsL

WayneMolloy wrote: »

They were considering a proposal to knock number 16 during the boom and opening another fecking shopping centre.

Still on the table - a development from one of the Anglo 10 golden circle - NAMA'd to hell and they are still trying to build the thing.

Arse backwards.

WoollyRedHat

Pinewoo wrote: »

A road to the USA, across the Atlantic...now there's an idea

That'd be a hell of a road trip all right
Are we theeeeeeeerreeee yettttttttttttt????

JupiterKid

I really don't see why people are objecting to this plan.
We're not talking about building a new series of highways or motorways along the Atlantic coast.

What the Wild Atlantic Way proposal plans to do is simply designate a new route from Inishowen in Donegal all the way along the West coast through Sligo, Mayo, Galway, Clare, Kerry and Cork to Baltimore.
The roads involved are existing roads and will just be re-signed and, in a couple of places, upgraded by resurfacing (badly needed in many places) and widening/straightening in a few spots where currently passing is tight.

The Ring of Kerry has been in place for over 50 years, and the Connemara Way and Atlantic Drive in Galway and Donegal respectively have been signed as tourist drives since the 1970s. This proposal would link all these up.
Most of the money spent on this would be on marketing and the benefits in terms of tourist revenue could be enormous. This is taking advantage of Ireland's greatest natural asset IMO.

If it draws some tourists away from a Dublin/Temple Bar booze-filled weekend into spending money in places which badly need investment then it is a good thing.

Here's a link the proposal to show what's actually involved:

http://www.failteireland.ie/Develop-Your-Business/Key-Projects-Carousels/The-Wild-Atlantic-Way.aspx

CianRyan

MadsL wrote: »

Right. And cost €1.5 bn to bring it up to the standard of the PCH.

Genius.

Perhaps we could also go around burying pots of gold to attract tourists to find them at the end of the rainbow? It would bring in thousands and only cost 150 million.

****ed if I care, I just want a new road to drive on, sour puss.
PCH isn't a great surface anyway, some spots are perfect but there's some rough stuff along the way.

Ya gotta spend money in life, get used to it.

kneemos

Some might argue that the west gets more than it's fair share of marketing money and maybe other areas could do with a slice of the action.Most counties could put together a few scenic drives I'd imagine,the west coast is rather spectacular though in fairness.

Call Me Jimmy

WayneMolloy wrote: »

Ever experience the wind on the west coast during a winters night?

Ever danced with the devil in the pale moonlight?

southsiderosie

errlloyd wrote: »

I like the idea of a walk btw, maybe the standard of track to allow cycling too?

Something around the level of the wicklow way.

Agreed - millions of people do the Camino de Santiago every year not necessarily as pilgrims, but as people just looking for a walking vacation. And bicycle vacations are getting increasingly popular - they are actually a big thing in China, so that could be a potentially huge untapped market for Ireland.

kneemos wrote: »

Some might argue that the west gets more than it's fair share of marketing money and maybe other areas could do with a slice of the action.Most counties could put together a few scenic drives I'd imagine,the west coast is rather spectacular though in fairness.

I can see that being true for, say Kerry, but what about Donegal? Personally, it is one of my favorite parts of the island, precisely because it is so remote and wild, and certainly it could use the economic boost. This could also be a good opportunity for cross-border cooperation: the north leg could be Derry - Galway, and the south leg Galway - Cork.

I think they can come up with a better name than the "Wild Atlantic Way" though.

Grayson

southsiderosie wrote: »

I can see that being true for, say Kerry, but what about Donegal? Personally, it is one of my favorite parts of the island, precisely because it is so remote and wild, and certainly it could use the economic boost. This could also be a good opportunity for cross-border cooperation: the north leg could be Derry - Galway, and the south leg Galway - Cork.

I think they can come up with a better name than the "Wild Atlantic Way" though.

If you're travelling to say Dungloe fron dublin, when you get to donegal town you're only half way there. Most of the distance is tarvelled, but the roads are so mad it still takes forever. If we're going to try and get tourists there, we need to have better roads and possibly rail.

galwayrush

We can't even get a by pass built Galway, i wouldn't hold out much hope for this.

squod

galwayrush wrote: »

We can't even get a by pass built Galway, i wouldn't hold out much hope for this.

Galway bypass? To where?

electrobanana

with it being Ireland it will need to have at least 2000 roundabouts on it so you wouldn't see anything because you'll be just going around in circles for days.

V_Moth

It is an interesting idea, especially if it is a walk/cycling trail rather than a road. However, if their first priority is to "Develop brand proposition and identity, and key market segments" than it will end up as some many things do here - crap.

I mean, does a road really need a "brand identity"?

kneemos

squod wrote: »

Galway bypass? To where?

New York.

Peetrik

Spending large quantities of money on making it faster for tourists to zip round Ireland? Surely we should be trying to keep them here as long as possible?

Why not a cycle track along the length of it, plenty of opportunity for actual citizens to set up shops, hostels, bike rental/repairs, etc etc instead of just a few tour companies benefiting from roads we all pay for?

Madam

Peetrik wrote: »

Spending large quantities of money on making it faster for tourists to zip round Ireland? Surely we should be trying to keep them here as long as possible?

Why not a cycle track along the length of it, plenty of opportunity for actual citizens to set up shops, hostels, bike rental/repairs, etc etc instead of just a few tour companies benefiting from roads we all pay for?

You don't think tourists will plan their trip? Most won't want to rush around, indeed thats part of the reason they visit Ireland - the pace is supposed to slow down (well in their touristy little heads that is )!

robp

JupiterKid wrote: »

I really don't see why people are objecting to this plan.
We're not talking about building a new series of highways or motorways along the Atlantic coast.

What the Wild Atlantic Way proposal plans to do is simply designate a new route from Inishowen in Donegal all the way along the West coast through Sligo, Mayo, Galway, Clare, Kerry and Cork to Baltimore.
The roads involved are existing roads and will just be re-signed and, in a couple of places, upgraded by resurfacing (badly needed in many places) and widening/straightening in a few spots where currently passing is tight.

The Ring of Kerry has been in place for over 50 years, and the Connemara Way and Atlantic Drive in Galway and Donegal respectively have been signed as tourist drives since the 1970s. This proposal would link all these up.
Most of the money spent on this would be on marketing and the benefits in terms of tourist revenue could be enormous. This is taking advantage of Ireland's greatest natural asset IMO.

If it draws some tourists away from a Dublin/Temple Bar booze-filled weekend into spending money in places which badly need investment then it is a good thing.

Here's a link the proposal to show what's actually involved:

http://www.failteireland.ie/Develop-Your-Business/Key-Projects-Carousels/The-Wild-Atlantic-Way.aspx

I wonder what per cent of the route has sea views. I would also add that the route has a surprising number of options which may not be necessarily a good thing. I guess if it is just a promotional idea instead new infrastructure its not a big deal.

Madam

Grayson wrote: »

If you're travelling to say Dungloe fron dublin, when you get to donegal town you're only half way there. Most of the distance is tarvelled, but the roads are so mad it still takes forever. If we're going to try and get tourists there, we need to have better roads and possibly rail.

This route takes about an hour and a half and as I said tourists don't want to rush about the place - most want to see a bit of the place while their here.

https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&tab=wl&q=donegal%20town%20to%20dungloe

Peetrik

Madam wrote: »

You don't think tourists will plan their trip? Most won't want to rush around, indeed thats part of the reason they visit Ireland - the pace is supposed to slow down (well in their touristy little heads that is )!

Complete speculation of course, but I think there would be a lot more opportunity for them to diverge from plans if they aren't in a tour bus that is on a schedule... or indeed under the control of a bus driver who is getting a few bob to stop at a particular petrol station/gift shop on the way.

The benefit of a slow pace, no rushing around should be my point not yours

Nermal

JupiterKid wrote: »

If it draws some tourists away from a Dublin/Temple Bar booze-filled weekend into spending money in places which badly need investment then it is a good thing.

The west of Ireland is not badly in need of investment, it already receives more than it deserves. Be happy with the monorail we already built you and keep quiet please.

wendell borton

They won't be building any new roads just "rebranding" the existing ones around the coast.

PrincessPreach

It's a shame the weather is so bad though 99% of the time ffs!

southsiderosie

PrincessPreach wrote: »

It's a shame the weather is so bad though 99% of the time ffs!

That makes it even nicer when you finish your day and sit down in front of a fire with a bowl of soup and some warm brown bread! Nobody comes to Ireland for the weather.

Meangadh

I think this is a brilliant idea, I'd love to drive it. I'd imagine it would do well with both domestic and foreign tourists.

I'm not even from the west of Ireland but I honestly don't think you've really seen Ireland until you go west of the Shannon. The west coast of Ireland is stunning- I drove the Great Ocean Road in Australia and whilst I thought it was beautiful, it didn't take my breath away as much as Slea Head drive in Kerry or the Inishowen Peninsula. And I think the weather is irrelevant- if it's nice, then great- and if it's not, then you get the wildness of the Atlantic that it's known for. I hope it works out.

Lando Griffin

errlloyd wrote: »

by my rough calculations (using gmaps) its about 450 kilometres from north to south, how are they managing to get 5 times that distance?

Must be read in
Healy Rea.
Every time you stop to resht and get away form the drive and go to the pub you are obliged to drive one of the locals home to their rural bed

LiamoSail

I'd give it four months before Healy Rae is campaigning for drink driving and gun yielding to be legalised on the road, while the rsa litter the thing with speed ramps much to the anger of the Gatso vans parked on every second corner

The guy with the "Wexford strawberry's" stall would be happy enough though

Dally

I think it's a great idea. We've never been much good at signposting in Ireland, so that alone is worth the investment.

And I think the West coast is seriously under utilised.

It's got a Wikipedia entry.

Auldloon

The best thing about Ireland is the wildness of the west coast. I'm delighted it's finally being recognised and promoted. It would want to be an awfully long holiday to travel it all though. I'd say certain sections will see 90% of the traffic and hopefully it's the more beautiful parts that get promoted and not just the commercial centres.