Wild Atlantic Way in a Moho?

[chenderson1965]

Hi All,

This doesn’t seem the right place to post this but I can’t find a better one…

We’re off to Ireland for a month in August. We plan to do the Northern half of the WAW from Galwey to the top of Donegal. Our method is to drive short distances and stay a couple of days in each place. We’re pretty self sufficient - the main limitation is needing a black tank emptying site every 4 days max.

When we did the North Coast 500, we almost didn’t go because of all the dire warnings we were given of how busy it would be. Other than the formal campsites (which we don’t tend to use), we didn’t find this at all - especially as we tend to arrive places to stop by lunchtime. We found plenty of gorgeous stops - mainly in harbours and by beaches. So, I’d be grateful for some realistic advice/insight from those who have travelled it.

What I’d love to know is what the WAW is like to travel in a MoHo (in August)?

- Is it busy at the informal and semi-formal Moho stops in nice locations?
- Looking at the site finding apps (and Motorhome Ireland) there don’t seem to be that many places to park. Is that right?
- How easy is it to find services (water, grey & black emptying)?
- Are there any local conventions/expectations that we should know about (beyond the usual, sensible courtesies)?

Thanks a million

Chris

 

[PaulC70]

August! Good luck!

 

[jollyrodger]

May help

Wild Camping on the Wild Atlantic Way

Just wondering if its frowned upon to wild camp along the wild Atlantic way or if we would need to book campsites along the route? We looking at doing the route over Oct/Nov and ive heard that most camp sites are closed. TIA

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

 

[jollyrodger]

Some vids on YouTube



Was thinking of doing it but at over 6m think it will be up to Scandinavia and free camp that way again

 

[TheTurnips]

We've had April on the WAW but came from Roscoff to Cork. Nice Aire at Cobh for 2 nights then Jameson whisky Distillery Midleton. Then over to Kinsale to start WAW we followed the coast and only got as far as Doolin. Had 5 nights on campsites in 3 weeks wildcamped the rest no problem. After Doolin swung inland over Craggy island and towards Dublin to meet friends for weekend. Parked up at Skerries now looking at the sea. Ferry bkd tomorrow night Dublin to Holyhead. You'll enjoy WAW i know we've done a different section to what your planning but it'll be great but busier in August. Happy Travels.

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[Kups]

We drove the WAW from Galway to Cork in our Adria integrated mh in July.
Main comment is that we did not attempt some parts as the roads were simply too narrow.
So best advice is to check road size as best you can before you start. Not easy to find the info so best of luck.

 

[Figaro]

I did it from Larne to Westport last September. Had hoped to get to Galway but ran out of time, too much to see. I did a mix of sites and wild camping. Never struggled to find somewhere and not overly busy but august may be different ?
Loved Donegal, great beaches.
Causeway coast also spectacular.
I doubt you'll have problems but expect it to be busy.
Total motorhome Ireland on Facebook is a good resource.

 

[chenderson1965]

August! Good luck!

Have you done this then? What was your experience?

 

[chenderson1965]

I did it from Larne to Westport last September. Had hoped to get to Galway but ran out of time, too much to see. I did a mix of sites and wild camping. Never struggled to find somewhere and not overly busy but august may be different ?
Loved Donegal, great beaches.
Causeway coast also spectacular.
I doubt you'll have problems but expect it to be busy.
Total motorhome Ireland on Facebook is a good resource.

Thanks.

 

[chenderson1965]

We drove the WAW from Galway to Cork in our Adria integrated mh in July.
Main comment is that we did not attempt some parts as the roads were simply too narrow.
So best advice is to check road size as best you can before you start. Not easy to find the info so best of luck.

Thanks

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[chenderson1965]

We've had April on the WAW but came from Roscoff to Cork. Nice Aire at Cobh for 2 nights then Jameson whisky Distillery Midleton. Then over to Kinsale to start WAW we followed the coast and only got as far as Doolin. Had 5 nights on campsites in 3 weeks wildcamped the rest no problem. After Doolin swung inland over Craggy island and towards Dublin to meet friends for weekend. Parked up at Skerries now looking at the sea. Ferry bkd tomorrow night Dublin to Holyhead. You'll enjoy WAW i know we've done a different section to what your planning but it'll be great but busier in August. Happy Travels.

Thanks.

 

[chenderson1965]

May help

Wild Camping on the Wild Atlantic Way

Just wondering if its frowned upon to wild camp along the wild Atlantic way or if we would need to book campsites along the route? We looking at doing the route over Oct/Nov and ive heard that most camp sites are closed. TIA

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

Thanks

 

[chenderson1965]

Some vids on YouTube

Was thinking of doing it but at over 6m think it will be up to Scandinavia and free camp that way agai

Thanks

 

[andy63]

ive been round the wild Atlantic way a couple times over the yers from kinsale up to muff.. used a few sites but found plenty of parking at little harbours and a few locations marked as viewing points on maps..
ive just checked the photos and while a lot of them take in the southern parts I have a few of the area you are planning on doing..
I have to say I always find co Donegal as good as any of it,,


Malin head

Donegal town..

sleeve league.. out past killybegs...some of the tallest sea cliffs in europe

Downpatrick head..

ceide fields, may be worth a visit if you are into that sort of thing

no visit to Ireland would be complete without a litle information on bogs

hope you have a great time... the Irish tourist board do or did a great series of booklets on the various features covering the wild Atlantic way...well worth calling in and picking up the ones on the area you plan to visit..
Andy

 

[chenderson1965]

ive been round the wild Atlantic way a couple times over the yers from kindle up to muff.. used a few sites but found plenty of parking at little harbours and a few locations marked as viewing points on maps..
ive just checked the photos and while a lot of them take in the southern parts I have a few of the area you are planning on doing..
I have to say I always find co Donegal as good as any of it,,


Malin head
View attachment 611352

Donegal town..
View attachment 611353

sleeve league.. out past killybegs...some of the tallest sea cliffs in europe
View attachment 611354

Downpatrick head..
View attachment 611355

ceide fields, may be worth a visit if you are into that sort of thing
View attachment 611356

no visit to Ireland would be complete without a litle information on bogs
View attachment 611359
View attachment 611358

hope you have a great time... the Irish tourist board do or did a great series of booklets on the various features covering the wild Atlantic way...well worth calling in and picking up the ones on the area you plan to visit..
Andy

Wow. Thanks.

Your reassurance on parking places is helpful. Seems to chime with what others are saying too…

Yes. We have seen some wonderful pics - and yours are up with any of them. Donegal does look amazing - and we’re deliberately doing that last so we have it to look forward to!

Chris

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[PaulC70]

Have you done this then? What was your experience?

Not in August, grew up in Ireland and know from experience it'll be mad, middle of school holidays etc. No thanks, don't think in the last 30 years I've been home in either July or August.

 

[chenderson1965]

Not in August, grew up in Ireland and know from experience it'll be mad, middle of school holidays etc. No thanks, don't think in the last 30 years I've been home in either July or August.

Thanks. I think I’ll base my decisions on information from people who have been there in August more recently.

 

[Figaro]

I wouldn't worry too much about the roads, they do vary but the narrowest / worst you'll find will be single track with passing places.
The Wild Atlantic Way is very well signposted with WWW signs and either N or S depending on which direction you're heading in.

 

[PaulC70]

Thanks. I think I’ll base my decisions on information from people who have been there in August more recently.

Don't think a single person in the thread meets that criteria to be fair. But I hope you enjoy.

I wouldn't worry too much about the roads, they do vary but the narrowest / worst you'll find will be single track with passing places.
The Wild Atlantic Way is very well signposted with WWW signs and either N or S depending on which direction you're heading in.

Ummmm actually the worst you will find will be single lane hairpin sections with NO passing places.

 

[chenderson1965]

Don't think a single person in the thread meets that criteria to be fair. But I hope you enjoy.


Ummmm actually the worst you will find will be single lane hairpin sections with NO passing places

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[chenderson1965]

Don't think a single person in the thread meets that criteria to be fair. But I hope you enjoy.


Ummmm actually the worst you will find will be single lane hairpin sections with NO passing places.

That may be true, but at least they are trying to be helpful rather than just pouring cold water.

If there are tricky bits of road, why not offer some useful insight about where they are or how to avoid them?

If you think August is a problem, how about offering some specifics about what or where the difficulties would be?

 

[PaulC70]

That may be true, but at least they are trying to be helpful rather than just pouring cold water.

probably because I was being to the point combined with being in the middle of 3 x 14 hour night shifts but if my posts aren't "nice" enough for you you're welcome to ignore them.

 

[TerryL]

Don't know about August but I do know that at weekends the Irish love to get out and enjoy themselves which can sometimes make finding overnight parking a bit hit and miss. Might be worse in August? Even campsites get fully booked quickly.

Roads wise, the WAW does have some narrow and twisty bits - it's how they get the scenery of course, but we never had a problem in our 8m (with rack) m/h. Just need to be observant and don't rush - the Irish don't understand "rush" or "hurry" anyway! Only thing we had a problem with was disposing of domestic rubbish - no litter bins as Irish pay commercial contractors and councils don't provide rubbish collection. However that does mean that we never once encountered litter in the Republic - until we crossed back into N.I.

 

[OCD]

I'm from Ireland and Connemara is my favourite place ...its pure Ireland !

 

[PaulC70]

I'm from Ireland and Connemara is my favourite place ...its pure Ireland !

Never been to Connemara until last week, lovely but jesus I got tired of all the rocks in the fields, at least there were some horses too lol. Made me appreciate Donegal all the better too.

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[OCD]

Never been to Connemara until last week, lovely but jesus I got tired of all the rocks in the fields, at least there were some horses too lol. Made me appreciate Donegal all the better too.

It's what they call "The savage beauty "

 

[Shevaun]

Hi All,

This doesn’t seem the right place to post this but I can’t find a better one…

We’re off to Ireland for a month in August. We plan to do the Northern half of the WAW from Galwey to the top of Donegal. Our method is to drive short distances and stay a couple of days in each place. We’re pretty self sufficient - the main limitation is needing a black tank emptying site every 4 days max.

When we did the North Coast 500, we almost didn’t go because of all the dire warnings we were given of how busy it would be. Other than the formal campsites (which we don’t tend to use), we didn’t find this at all - especially as we tend to arrive places to stop by lunchtime. We found plenty of gorgeous stops - mainly in harbours and by beaches. So, I’d be grateful for some realistic advice/insight from those who have travelled it.

What I’d love to know is what the WAW is like to travel in a MoHo (in August)?

- Is it busy at the informal and semi-formal Moho stops in nice locations?
- Looking at the site finding apps (and Motorhome Ireland) there don’t seem to be that many places to park. Is that right?
- How easy is it to find services (water, grey & black emptying)?
- Are there any local conventions/expectations that we should know about (beyond the usual, sensible courtesies)?

Thanks a million

Chris

Hi Chris. Would highly recommend the WAW but as a resident of Co. Kerry I would have to recommend the southern half, starting in Galway , down through Clare,the Cliffs of Moher the Burren across the ferry to North Kerry taking in Ballybunion and circling the coast by Kerry head to Ballyheigue, Banna Strand , Barrow , Fenit , Tralee onto the Fingle Penninsula. From there to South Kerry and the Ring of Kerry … depending on the size of your MH most roads a navigable… Valentia Island is fabulous and onto the Sceilig Ring and the Kerry cliffs … onto west Cork and the Beara Penninsula … etc. Ordnance Survey Ireland do a great WAW toad atlas which i use. Google could send you down pretty challenging roads for a MH!!
August is a very busy month but there are lots of apps to help you find a park up spot. I would recommend TMI. Enjoy our country …

 

[Motörhead Fun]

We went from Donegal down to Doolin last August. Found somewhere to stay each night without any problems. It was busy in a few places but nothing like Cornwall or Yorkshire coast in August.

 

[Orion]

It's what they call "The savage beauty "

Confused.

 

[chenderson1965]

Hi Chris. Would highly recommend the WAW but as a resident of Co. Kerry I would have to recommend the southern half, starting in Galway , down through Clare,the Cliffs of Moher the Burren across the ferry to North Kerry taking in Ballybunion and circling the coast by Kerry head to Ballyheigue, Banna Strand , Barrow , Fenit , Tralee onto the Fingle Penninsula. From there to South Kerry and the Ring of Kerry … depending on the size of your MH most roads a navigable… Valentia Island is fabulous and onto the Sceilig Ring and the Kerry cliffs … onto west Cork and the Beara Penninsula … etc. Ordnance Survey Ireland do a great WAW toad atlas which i use. Google could send you down pretty challenging roads for a MH!!
August is a very busy month but there are lots of apps to help you find a park up spot. I would recommend TMI. Enjoy our country …

Thanks. That’s the plan for August 2023!

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