Cliffs, green meadows, castles and, of course, pubs welcome travelers who want to get to know an apparently non-tourist Ireland.
Tourist Ireland?
From the charming town of Kinsale in County Cork to the windswept Malin Head in County Donegal, Ireland’s west coast captivates with its spectacular scenery and mesmerizes its tranquil towns and villages. It is said to be a place – a true edge of Europe – that has inspired dreamers and wanderers, poets and artists. This part of Ireland can be explored on the Wild Atlantic Way.
This road is a 2,600 km route along the west coast of Ireland. It starts in the town of Kinsale in the south of Ireland and ends in Malin Head in the north. The most popular and famous places to visit on this road are Cliffs of Moher, Skelligs Lookout, Dingle Peninsula, Cape Kinsale, Cape Downpatrick etc.
The road winds through many charming towns and villages where you can experience Irish culture and experience the extraordinary hospitality of the local people. The Irish say it is the world’s longest continuous coastal road.
Traveler and motorcyclist K. Mieliauskas chose the Wild Atlantic Road as his new challenge. He says that although he has been to Ireland many times, he has not felt a great tourist fascination for the country until now: “That’s why I decided to refute this opinion and try a road that is popular with tourists from other countries on the west coast of Ireland – I want to make sure that the words of praise for the road correspond to reality, and at the same time to see if the views of the two and a half thousand kilometers of coasts will not become monotonous.
In addition, I set myself the goal of covering the road in five days and seeing its most impressive places. And the Irish themselves say that you can travel on the road for even two months – there are more than one and a half hundred places of interest and more than a thousand different attractions.”
Road conditions are changeable
The length of the Wild Atlantic Road is impressive, so the driving conditions are very diverse, and besides, the traffic moves on the left side of the road, which is unusual for us. The traveler says that it is not difficult to get used to driving on the left side, and the fact that the non-main roads in Ireland are very narrow causes more stress. “The Wild Atlantic Way is no exception. I think that the roads of this width might almost be called bike paths in our country, because two cars simply cannot pass on them. Special islands are equipped for this. The entire Wild Atlantic Road is paved, very winding, but the route is clearly marked. Those traveling to the north must follow the signs marked with the letter N, those traveling south must follow the signs marked with the letter S”, K. Mieliauskas shares his first impressions.
He adds that the weather conditions in the spring are amazingly changeable and admits that he has never encountered such rapidly changing weather on any other trip. “The Irish say that the wind rushes across the Atlantic and hits the shores of Ireland full force, that’s why it’s so windy. There have even been such curious situations when, following ducking under a canopy in the parking lot, I fasten additional protection once morest the rain, sit on the motorcycle, turn around – the sun is already shining, leave the village – it’s pouring once more, around the corner – the sun once more! The weather can change dramatically every few minutes, and so throughout the day,” says K. Mieliauskas.
Such rapidly changing weather conditions affect driving – dry road surfaces are replaced by wet ones, and strong gusts of wind cause additional problems. However, the traveler feels safe riding the updated CFMOTO 800MT motorcycle, which provides both safety and comfort in challenging weather conditions.
The beginning of the journey and Irish hospitality
“Some sources say that the Wild Atlantic Way begins in the south of Ireland, others in the north. But there isn’t much of a difference, just like Road 66 in America – you can drive in both directions. I start in the south, in the town of Kinsale in County Cork. According to the route description, there should be an impressive promontory with a lighthouse nearby, where the journey can officially begin. Unfortunately, it is not possible to drive to it, because there are golf courses on the cape, and the entrance is closed. I continue to Mizen Head, the southernmost point of Ireland, which should also have a lighthouse. The situation repeats itself – I find myself at a locked gate because renovation work is in progress. It turns out that such a situation is quite common in Ireland”, – says K. Mieliauskas regarding the beginning of the trip.
The changing nature fascinates him from the first kilometers – the coast, from which the mountains, meadows and sheep grazing everywhere, forests open up. As you turn away from the coast, the narrow roads are surrounded by stone fences, so it often feels like you’re driving through a kind of labyrinth.
K. Mieliauskas ends the first day in no other way than by getting to know one of the most important elements of Irish culture – a pub and hospitality. “The pub is an integral part of Irish life. A small village may not have a grocery store, but there will definitely be a bar or even a few. It is a place where community is created and people meet to chat. It is also very interesting that people always go to the same bar, because it is where the residents of the town or village with common interests gather, for example, horse breeders, in another sheep breeder, etc.
Locals go to the bar at least twice a week, usually on Thursdays and Saturdays. In addition, the Irish are a very musical people, who like to sing both in bars and on the way home, and in many bars there is live music every night. Although pubs are usually associated with alcoholic beverages, Ireland’s most popular beer always has a non-alcoholic counterpart. I am tasting this one. It’s really tasty, and the live music and noise are mesmerizing,” says the traveler.
Well, there are even more winding roads and impressive places that the traveler and motorcyclist K. Mieliauskas will tell you regarding in the second part of the cycle.
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2024-04-30 13:20:43