Wild Atlantic Way is one of the best coastal drives in the world

With a length of 2,500 km (1553 miles), the Wild Atlantic Way from Donegal to Cork along Ireland's Atlantic coast isone of the best coastal drives in the world. The route passes through nine counties and three provinces. It’s said to be the longest defined coastal touring route in the world.

The Wild Atlantic Way, or Slí an Atlantaigh Fhiáin hugs the coastline for 2,500 km (1553 miles). Its many twists, turns and narrows can pose a challenge to even the most experienced drivers. The road is not easy, though. Up, down, right, left all the time. It’s totally asphalted stretching from County Donegal’s Inishowen Peninsula to the southern town of Kinsale in County Cork on the coast of the Celtic Sea. There are a number of variations to the route but the main one takes a seasoned rider a solid 2 weeks to complete due to the small and often difficult roads.It’s listed as one of the Lonely Planet's Top 50 Epic Drives of the World. 
Much of the roads of this journey are narrow, windy one track affairs and are very slow going. Driving at night, or in poor visibility, is not recommended for drivers unfamiliar with the road. Not planned on covering much more than 250km-300km per day max. This is definitely not a Sunday drive. A large part of this route is most definitely closed to coaches and “difficult” for any large vehicle due to the small roads. This route gives visitors the opportunity to truly discover the wild west of Ireland.

The road is subject to strong winds and rapid weather changes. The best time to ride this route is from late March to mid June and September to mid November. July and August is obviously far busier. Be prepared for the cold and wind! High winds blow here all year long. Adverse weather conditions can prompt closure of the road. It’s also easily possible to ride it from December to February as snow is rare along the coast, but there are some amazing routes through the mountain regions which can easily be off limits during the coldest months due to snow or ice. December to early March will see some proper Atlantic storms blow in and some small roads closer to the sea may simply disappear. 
The journey offers an exhilarating driving experience, with superb views. An incredible journey, an unforgettable experience. From brutally rugged coastal landscapes and cliff’s carved by 20 meter waves to challenging and remote mountain back roads that never leave one’s memories is only part of the deal. This is definitely one road trip that you want to record with lots of photographs. There are lots of viewpoints, official and unofficial. It has some of the most dramatic and dazzling coastal views in the world and includes more than 150 discovery points along the way. These points of interest come from different perspectives of culture, history, nature or natural history. The road is a delight to drive, with every kind of twist and turn. Along the route there are places and attractions which have been designated as points of interest for travellers.
More info&pics: www.roadtrooper.com/the-wild-atlantic-way-for-bikers-overview/