Wild Atlantic Way

SafeSurfer

Lots of debate last year about "the Gathering" but what do you think of Tourism Ireland's next big idea, The Wild Atlantic Way?

I think it could be a very useful approach to marketing the area outside of Dublin to international, hopefully longer stay, visitors as well as weekending easterners, in a simple pitch, "visit the Atlantic coast".

My favourite signature point is:

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Followed by

So whers's your favourite place on the Wild Atlantic Way? Is it a gimmick? Will you be visiting this summer or plan to in the future?

The Backwards Man

My favourite part is the part that runs past my house.

Kylo Ren

SafeSurfer wrote: »

Lots of debate last year about "the Gathering" but what do you think of Tourism Ireland's next big idea, The Wild Atlantic Way?

I think it could be a very useful approach to marketing the area outside of Dublin to international, hopefully longer stay, visitors as well as weekending easterners, in a simple pitch, "visit the Atlantic coast".

My favourite signature point is:

Followed by

So whers's your favourite place on the Wild Atlantic Way? Is it a gimmick? Will you be visiting this summer or plan to in the future?

Ah yes, the error followed by the error. Classic.

SafeSurfer

Both filmed at night.

Adamantium

Mrs Doyle: Your Grace, Father Crilly: I've just heard they've taken the roads in!

Bishop Brennan: They've taken the roads in?

Father Ted: Yes, when the weather is bad they store them in a warehouse on the East side of the island.

Rucking_Fetard

Yea, it's class. I did it before they named it.

Need 10-14 days and a fat wallet.

Sir Arthur Daley

Rucking_Fetard wrote: »

Need 10-14 days and a fat wallet.

I0 -14 days to travel the wild Atlantic way? are you cycling?

SoulTrader

The Backwards Man wrote: »

My favourite part is the part that runs past my house.

I like that part too.

<puts down binoculars>

JONJO THE MISER

Its a great idea, whats not to like, no junkies no jackeens just us salt of the earth country folk, oh i forgot salt of the earth is a dub saying.

Balmed Out

Sir Arthur Daley wrote: »

I0 -14 days to travel the wild Atlantic way? are you cycling?

I think to see it property you could triple that. You could spend that to do West cork and kerry alone

Hootanany

Linky no worky

jester77

I took the family home last month and we drove part of it down the west. We had one of those once every decade week of sun and no rain that Ireland seldom gets. It was spectacular, shame it rains so much in Ireland as it would be a fairly miserable drive in the rain. Beautiful scenery and lots of lovely food along the way, although they do rip the piss a bit with their prices.

If you live in Ireland and haven't done it, then you definitely should.

Sunnyisland

Heading down to Cork/Kerry this morning, hopefully the wether stays fine.

Rhys Essien

Sir Arthur Daley wrote: »

I0 -14 days to travel the wild Atlantic way? are you cycling?

The whole route is 2,500km long.

Thargor

Good idea but they've gone mad with the roadsigns everywhere along it, theres a Wild Atlantic Way sign every 100 meters or so, its actually distracting on the road. Also they've put up loads of random placenames with bizarre spellings for places even the locals dont remember or use themselves, whoever got the sign contract for it made a killing. In Galway anyway.

Shiraz 4.99

I like the fact that Waterford got cut, this week we take 200 jobs off you then slash the remaining wages, next week we'll cut you out of the most lucrative tourist project since the Blarney stone.
Ha ha f*ck you Waterford, f*ck you.

I've no idea why they are being treated this way I just find it amusing in a gallows humour sort of way, maybe we should turn off their water too, ha ha & their electricity, poor ould Waterford.

Conmaicne Mara

Too many signs is right, half of them could be removed and there'd still be too many. Also two fairly well known beaches here locally, signs in Irish. Where they are is technically a Gaeltacht, no one speaks Irish there, no one, what's the point. Bilingual fine, but putting place names in a language most of the locals don't use, never mind the tourists, is stupid.

Davarus Walrus

It's a great idea and will be a massive success. Rather like The Gathering was despite what the Online Merchants of Collective Misery thought beforehand.

Tokyo

Should have a Boards Atlantic Way - figure out who lives along it. Anyone's welcome to pull up for a cupán tae in my place in Galway if you decide to do it

Dublinflyer

Some TD in the west has invited the Top Gear boys to drive it for one of the shows.

Buzz Killington the third

Dublinflyer wrote: »

Some TD in the west has invited the Top Gear boys to drive it for one of the shows.

Sure they'd do it in around 3 hours. Hardly exciting.

Tokyo

Dublinflyer wrote: »

Some TD in the west has invited the Top Gear boys to drive it for one of the shows.

2011: India Special
2012: Vietnam Special
2013: Africa Special
2014: Burma Special

2015: Kerry to Donegal (via Connemara) Special...?


Nope, not seeing it....

Dublinflyer

yea it would not exactly fall into the most exotic place they have ever been. I can't see it happening myself. In saying that they have run out of ideas for shows so you never know........

Conmaicne Mara

mike_ie wrote: »

2011: India Special
2012: Vietnam Special
2013: Africa Special
2014: Burma Special

2015: Kerry to Donegal (via Connemara) Special...?


Nope, not seeing it....

Top Gear magazine (connection?)

http://www.thefreelibrary.com/KING+OF+THE+ROADS%3B+N59+Galway+to+Clifden+voted+62nd+best+road+in+the...-a0167871417

Buzz Killington the third

Dublinflyer wrote: »

yea it would not exactly fall into the most exotic place they have ever been. I can't see it happening myself. In saying that they have run out of ideas for shows so you never know........

Phase 1: Hammond and Clarkson get €500 each to trawl through done deal and find a car with tax and NCT.

Phase 2: Hammond buys a glanza (1.6 on the log book boss). Clarkson buys an old 7 series.

Phase 3: They race James May who's riding a dolphin!

Rhys Essien

Shiraz 4.99 wrote: »

I like the fact that Waterford got cut, this week we take 200 jobs off you then slash the remaining wages, next week we'll cut you out of the most lucrative tourist project since the Blarney stone.
Ha ha f*ck you Waterford, f*ck you.

I've no idea why they are being treated this way I just find it amusing in a gallows humour sort of way, maybe we should turn off their water too, ha ha & their electricity, poor ould Waterford.

Is the water off Waterford and Wexford not the Celtic Sea??.Same as the East coast is the Irish Sea.

Remember its called the Wild Atlantic Way.

iwillhtfu

I've done parts of it on the push bike. Ireland really is stunning when the sun shines. I don't see tge appeal of doing it by car but I guess with our usual weather it would be the drier option. best parts I've seen are from Belmullet heading north.

The Backwards Man

Completing The Wild Atlantic Way in its entirety should be on the bucket list of every man, woman and child on the planet.

What are you waiting for? Get out there and do it.



(and don't forget to leave a few pound behind you )

Rucking_Fetard

The Backwards Man wrote: »

(and don't forget to leave a few pound behind you )

The only place to shop is Aldi and Lidl.

Everywhere else is taking the perverbial, especially down in Kerry. Prices down there at the min are shocking.

The Backwards Man

Rucking_Fetard wrote: »

The only place to shop is Aldi and Lidl.

Everywhere else is taking the perverbial, especially down in Kerry. Prices down there at the min are shocking.

There's more to Ireland than Kerry.

In fact if I win the lotto i'm going to buy two mile-wide banners stating this and erect them at the entrances of JFK and O'Hare.

Sir Arthur Daley

I cant wait to do the wild atlantic way, the 13 step process in Turf Cutting is a mystery that needs to be seen.

Spanish Eyes

Is it only good for drivers and cyclists?

Are there options for the remainder of people?

Just thinking out loud. But it is spectacular alright.

The Backwards Man

Sir Arthur Daley wrote: »

I cant wait to do the wild atlantic way, the 13 step process in Turf Cutting is a mystery that needs to be seen.

It's a rare event these days, you need to find three things; spade turf, bad weather, and somebody with too much time on their hands. But you're welcome on the WAW any time.

The Backwards Man

Spanish Eyes wrote: »

Is it only good for drivers and cyclists?

Are there options for the remainder of people?

Just thinking out loud. But it is spectacular alright.

Everyone is welcome on the Wild Atlantic Way.

(I feel like that monorail guy)

Celly Smunt

mike_ie wrote: »

2011: India Special
2012: Vietnam Special
2013: Africa Special
2014: Burma Special

2015: Kerry to Donegal (via Connemara) Special...?


Nope, not seeing it....

Maybe they could throw the rugged irish sea trail in there going from wexford to belfast.

Spanish Eyes

The Backwards Man wrote: »

Everyone is welcome on the Wild Atlantic Way.

(I feel like that monorail guy)

Ah thanks, I know that!

But if you cannot or do not drive, and are not a cyclist......it's not an option really, is it?

I await correction. :P

Conmaicne Mara

The Backwards Man wrote: »

It's a rare event these days, you need to find three things; spade turf, bad weather, and somebody with too much time on their hands. But you're welcome on the WAW any time.

Don't forget getting ate by midges and bitten by horseflies, authentic or nothing.

Sir Arthur Daley

Conmaicne Mara wrote: »

Don't forget getting ate by midges and bitten by horseflies, authentic or nothing.

Would that make turf cutting a 14 step process then?

Conmaicne Mara

Sir Arthur Daley wrote: »

Would that make turf cutting a 14 step process then?

Yes, but it won't seem that way, as when the midges come out in clouds you'll step a hell of a lot faster

Sir Arthur Daley

Maybe turf cutting could be part of the Top Gear Challenge.

The Backwards Man

Spanish Eyes wrote: »

Ah thanks, I know that!

But if you cannot or do not drive, and are not a cyclist......it's not an option really, is it?

I await correction. :P

Never fear, there are dozens of tour operators that will only be too happy to accommodate you. A quick Google and you will see.


Some of the route isn't suitable for large coaches though, motorhome, car, bike or bicycle is the best way to go if you can.

RikkFlair

The Backwards Man wrote: »

Everyone is welcome on the Wild Atlantic Way.

(I feel like that monorail guy)

The Mizen-Malin-Monorail, I can see it now.

Adamantium

You don't know the wild atlantic way until you've teetered at 60 miles on on the cliff road rounding the Ceide fields, in the back of a air freshner disguised Jetta held together with rust, circa 1998.

dee_mc

I had American customers yesterday who'd planned to 'do' the WAW in the space of a week (including the drive back down to Shannon airport). They landed in Shannon, and drove down to Cork. Stayed there 2 nights instead of 1 as they were wrecked with the driving. Drove on to Doolin, stayed 2 nights instead of 1 as they were wrecked with the drink. Cancelled all their hotel bookings for the rest of the week and fecked away over to the Aran Islands for the rest of their stay

Wompa1

Call me crazy but when the reports came out, I could have sworn that we were going to be developing the largest coastal scenic driving route in Europe. I had taken that to mean there would be actual development work...not just putting up a bunch of signs. Some of the roads around the coast are feckin' lethal

Judgement Day

Wompa1 wrote: »

Call me crazy but when the reports came out, I could have sworn that we were going to be developing the largest coastal scenic driving route in Europe. I had taken that to mean there would be actual development work...not just putting up a bunch of signs. Some of the roads around the coast are feckin' lethal

This is just another rebranding exercise beloved of the stuffed suits in Bord Failte/Tourism Ireland. A chance for Government minsters to have photocalls for gullible journalists, repeated relaunches of the same programme and signs, lots of signs....:rolleyes:

Judgement Day

Judgement Day wrote: »

This is just another rebranding exercise beloved of the stuffed suits in Bord Failte/Tourism Ireland. A chance for Government minsters to have photocalls for gullible journalists, repeated relaunches of the same programme and signs, lots of signs....:rolleyes:

For once I think it's a sensible branding exercise. Think of the "Great Ocean Road" in Australia. Everyone knows about it and talks about it, tells you "you must do the Great Ocean Road" etc etc. Is it any better / more scenic than the west coast of Ireland? Not really.

Giving the drive a name makes it easy for people to say "I'm doing the wild atlantic way". It makes it an easy to understand destination or holiday.

oceanman

its a nice idea but I would be bringing my own sambos....any meals along the route will be a total rip off!

Judgement Day

Well I hope the Wild Atlantic Way is better than the website http://www.ireland.com/en-gb/wild-atlantic-way which is very unresponsive. I love the West of Ireland having holidayed there many times and managed it with no more than an old AA guidebook - a new edition could have been done for a lot less than the sexy (?) website.

John_Rambo

JONJO THE MISER wrote: »

Its a great idea, whats not to like, no jackeens

Sorry to disappoint, but we've been doing it for years.

I'd bet I've done more of it than you.

Rucking_Fetard

Judgement Day wrote: »

Well I hope the Wild Atlantic Way is better than the website http://www.ireland.com/en-gb/wild-atlantic-way which is very unresponsive. I love the West of Ireland having holidayed there many times and managed it with no more than an old AA guidebook - a new edition could have been done for a lot less than the sexy (?) website.

http://www.discoverireland.ie/Wild-Atlantic-Way

http://tourireland.com/wildatlanticway/