WAW - Wild Atlantic Way

28srf0c wrote: »

It's pretty good, but confusing even for me. Was driving around Galway recently and the signage is a bit confusing. At many junctions, there would be a couple of signs for the Atlantic way, each pointing in a different direction.

Of course there'll be signs pointing in two different directions. It goes north & south.

I think it's great. I was in Mayo a few weeks ago & we did a couple of great drives around the north Mayo section of it. Saw some absolutely stunning scenery, that I'd never even heard of before hand, as it doesn't have the great reputation that the likes of the Ring of Kerry have. Probably wouldn't have even attempted it, but for knowing how well the WAW was sign posted in other parts of the country. A few things bugged me though.

1. When there was a detour off the official route, there wasn't much info or signage, on what it was you were detouring off to see, so you can make the decision on whether or not you wanted to venture down some pretty crappy roads to see it. As it was Feb and the county has had some pretty crappy weather of late, some of the side roads were in a bad way, so attention should be paid to that. Not all the visitors will be in the summer. Accept that having the app and the official map would have helped, but when driving its good to be able to rely on the signs alone.

2. When on the detours, some of the signage to get back to the WAW isn't great. Then when there is one, it doesn't say if its north or south bound, so you go right or left, not knowing which way you are going.

3. The north/south signs are often right at the cross roads, so you have to stop, or slow down to see them. That's not great if there are cars behind you. They could do with being bigger, and a good bit before the junction, so you know which way you need to turn, before you get to the junction itself.

When going thru towns, there are usually lots of other signs for various things, so the small WAW signs can get lost in the shuffle. When the WAW sign is on the same sign post as a multitude of signs for local B&B's, attractions, restaurants etc and is the same brown colour and same rectangular size & shape as other tourist signs, it can be easy to miss. Bigger & more attention getting signage would be a good idea imo.

I'm looking at driving from dublin to Kerry and follow the coast up to the cliffs of moher and back to Dublin via athlone.
This will be done over 3/4 days.

Problem is I'll have two kids under 5 and I'm thinking it could be too much driving for them.
Has anybody done this type of trip.

Phil.x wrote: »

Problem is I'll have two kids under 5 and I'm thinking it could be too much driving for them.
Has anybody done this type of trip.

Two kids under 5 shouldn't be driving.

PARlance wrote: »

Two kids under 5 shouldn't be driving.

s'alright, can't drive a stick-shift anyway

Rhys Essien wrote: »

West Cork featured on Dutch TV last night so that can't be bad.I think the WAW was a great idea but to follow up last year with Ireland's Ancient East was cringey.I thought one of the reasons of the WAW was to let tourists know that there is more to Ireland than Dublin.

So South Leinster & East Munster don't count as being marketable or interesting enough for tourists & overseas visitors then? :rolleyes:

Let's just send all the tourist passing trade straight to the west, even though the weather is better & accommodation is actually cheaper. :pac:

Any plans / suggestions on a Not-so-wild-IrishSea-Way on this side of the country?

"The Viking Way" perhaps?

My girlfriend came over from Berlin two weeks ago and we drove this route as she had never seen the west. She was absolutely blown away, as was I, even having seen it before.

Brilliant idea and a great way to market the west

Hats off the marketing guys - defo never said that before

Phil.x wrote: »

I'm looking at driving from dublin to Kerry and follow the coast up to the cliffs of moher and back to Dublin via athlone.
This will be done over 3/4 days.

Problem is I'll have two kids under 5 and I'm thinking it could be too much driving for them.
Has anybody done this type of trip.

Yes, I did it two weeks ago. If they are prone to car sickness i'd rethink the plan. It is long and the roads are winding. Not crazxy about long car drives myself but as I was driving wasn't too bad.

If I was a chiseller in the back, I would probably have been green. but with lots of breaks could be ok.