The Green Travel Guide #006 - Slow Travels on Ireland’s West Coast + Free Wild Atlantic Way Destination Guide

Mindful Travel for a Meaningful World

Jul 17, 2025

Home to just over 7 million people, swathed in ancient myths, known for its storytellers, musicians and writers, famous for its Guinness, traditional music and the ‘craic’, the island of Ireland makes for the perfect slow travel experience. Island life happens at its own pace outside of the hustle of its major cities, and even there people find time to connect. This week we travel to the Wild Atlantic Way on the west coast to explore what makes this green island so perfect for regenerative travel adventures.

Get your FREE Wild Atlantic Way Green Travel Guide (24 page pdf with detailed 12 day itinerary including detailed recommendations for slow stays, local eats, community-led tourism activities, highlights, sustainable travel tips, curated reading list and more) here.

Céad míle fáilte! Welcome!

Spirit of the Country: An Irish Road Trip

It’s 10 years ago and I’m sitting in Donegal at the northern tip of Ireland, in Rathmullan House - a crumbling old Manor House big on gentle hospitality, its lush gardens opening up to dunes and golden sand beach beyond. Earlier that afternoon a helicopter had landed. No-one blinked an eye.

I’m with my father, sister and daughter, on an impromptu family road trip exploring the north of the island, connecting my daughter to her Irish roots.

It’s evening time, the restaurant is quiet, just a couple of tables busy - though it’s early enough yet. At the table next to us is George Lucas and his partner. I do a double-take. Then realise, of course. This part of the island is often used by film-makers. That’ll explain the helicopter then.

Ireland is an island rich in storytelling - whether film, stage or page. From Joyce to Yeats, Oscar Wilde to Beckett, from clear-eyed Edna O’Brien to the lyrical Seamus Heaney, Ireland has always had an enduring love of story. Playwrights like George Bernard Shaw, Brian Friel, J.M. Synge or filmmakers like Neil Jordan, Jim Sheridan and Martin McDonagh have all brought the island to life on stage and screen.

Ten years ago there was a growing sense of optimism and renewal in the country. Films like Brooklyn, Room, the blockbuster series Game of Thrones, along with Vikings and Penny Dreadful were all being filmed in Ireland bringing a media boom. The country was becoming more pluralistic.

Fast-forward to today and there’s a powerful revival underway of the Irish language, with pop-up Gaeltachts and Irish-language films and TV series coming to the fore. At the same time, this small country is still struggling with economic and demographic issues, a housing crisis has fostered discontent, and Ireland is figuring out how to carve a new identity in uncertain climate times.

But head to the Wild Atlantic Way on the west coast, and you’ll still feel like you’re stepping back in time. Travel out to the islands that dot the coastline and you’ll leave modern life even further behind.

If you can spare a week or ideally 12 days, then here’s a coastal road trip that will take you from Rathmullan House in the North along the west coast and south to West Cork, island-hopping along the way, travelling slow and immersing in Irish cultural life, dipping into the local food and traditional music scenes in a gentle exploration of a country steeped in storytelling. Download the full Wild Atlantic Way Green Travel Guide here.

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Rathmullan House → Fanad Head → Horn Head (Donegal)
Tory Island (via ferry from Magheroarty)
Slieve League Cliffs (Donegal)
Achill Island (via causeway, Mayo)
Inis Bigil (Inishbiggle) (near Achill – small ferry)
Clifden & Connemara (Galway)
Aran Islands (Inis Mór from Rossaveal)
The Burren & Doolin (Clare) → Cliffs of Moher
Loop Head Peninsula (Clare)
Scattery Island (off Kilrush - ferry)
Dingle Peninsula (Kerry)
Skellig Michael (optional) or Valentia Island
Dursey Island / Mizen Head (West Cork)

📍 Key Stops & Sustainable Highlights

1. Rathmullan to Fanad & Horn Head (Donegal)

Eco-experience: Stay at eco-lodges in Dunfanaghy or glamping near Glenveagh.
Visit Fanad Lighthouse.
Horn Head: dramatic cliffs, coastal walks, puffin spotting.

2. Tory Island (Donegal)

Ferry from Magheroarty Pier.
Remote, artistic island—home to “The King of Tory.”
No cars needed—explore by foot or bike.
Overnight in small B&Bs supporting the island economy.

3. Slieve League Cliffs

Among the highest sea cliffs in Europe.
Park and use shuttle or hike in.
Visit Glencolumbkille Folk Village (sustainable heritage site).

4. Achill Island & Inis Bigil (Mayo)

Cross Michael Davitt Bridge (Achill causeway).
Cycle the Great Western Greenway from Westport to Achill.
Optional detour to Inis Bigil, a peaceful, ferry-accessible island.

5. Connemara National Park & Clifden (Galway)

Stay in eco-hostels or turf-roofed cabins.
Visit Killary Fjord, Ireland’s only fjord—try sustainable mussel tasting.
Scenic cycling along Sky Road.

6. Aran Islands – Inis Mór

Ferry from Rossaveal.
Car-free island—rent a bike or walk.
Visit Dún Aonghasa cliffs and stay in family-run guesthouses.

Tip: Bring reusable bottles/containers—limited resources on island.

7. Burren & Doolin (Clare)

Hike in The Burren, a unique limestone eco-system.
Support eco-friendly farms and perfumeries (e.g., Burren Perfumery).
Ferry to Cliffs of Moher or hike the Cliffs Trail (no car).

8. Loop Head & Scattery Island

Quiet coastal escape in County Clare.
Scattery Island: historic monastery —take ferry.
Loop Head Lighthouse: stay in eco-restored keeper’s cottage.

9. Dingle Peninsula (Kerry)

Visit Blasket Islands by ferry—Irish-language heritage and rich marine life.
Dingle town: artsy and low-waste cafés, bike rentals & eco-tours at Tralee Bay Wetlands
Camp at eco-sites like Clifden Eco Beach Camping.

10. Valentia & Skellig Coast

Drive to Cahersiveen, ferry to Valentia Island or Skellig Michael (weather-dependent).
Skellig: UNESCO site, sustainable tourism limits visitors.
Seaweed foraging tours & dark sky reserve in Kerry.

11. Dursey Island or Mizen Head (Cork)

Dursey Island: Ride Ireland’s only cable car over the Atlantic.
Mizen Head: Ireland’s south-western tip, dramatic cliffs, eco-trails.
Stay in off-grid cottages or eco-cabins near Sheep’s Head Peninsula.

Get your free copy of the Full Itinerary & Wild Atlantic Way Green Travel Guide here with:

full details of slow stays
full day itineraries
local history and travel routes
sustainable travel advice
local restaurant recommendations
cultural activity details
curated Wild Atlantic Way reading list

Community Article: Green Travel on a Budget

Think sustainable travel is expensive? Think again. Eco-friendly adventures don’t have to drain your wallet. With a little planning and smart choices, you can explore the world responsibly while keeping costs low. Here’s how to embrace green travel on a budget…

Green travel on a budget? Here’s how —> Article on www.greentravelguides.world

Laura McVeigh

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