1. This route is full of winding roads, some of them are even unnamed, so this is the perfect journey to get lost along the way. I highly recommend buying a road atlas. Google Maps won’t always be there to save you in rural Ireland! A physical map is not only reliable, it can be fun to see what tiny roads leads to a hidden beach or other unassuming hidden gems. Taking last-minute detours is one of the best ways to explore this route. I can’t recommend buying a map highly enough! There are always hidden gems to be found, and even the journeys leading to these hidden gems are beautiful.
2. Bring a rain jacket, regardless of when you come. Emerald Isle, lost of rain etc, etc.
3. Good footwear is essential if you’re hiking, especially in area’s along the coast, as it can be rocky with uneven ground.
4. Ireland uses a three-pin plug (type G), so don’t forget to bring an adaptor!
5. Because lots of the spots on this route are off the beaten track, some establishments you visit may not accept card, so make sure you have some cash handy.
6. Outside of Dublin, Irish public transport is not the most reliable or cheap. While public transport isn’t really relevant for our route anyway (because it’s all on rural coastal roads), this is nevertheless an important point to note if you’re thinking of combining your WAW trip with a few cities further east.

• If you’re dining out, tipping is not as ingrained in the Irish culture as in other countries. Service staff don’t typically rely on tips for their income, so don’t freak out if the bill is higher than what you expected! But of course, if you receive really excellent service, a tip is always appreciated!
• Ireland is expensive. Sorry. To save money on accommodation, and for a better WAW experience, I think there is no better way to do it than with a tent or caravan. Ireland has some beautiful campsites that keep you in touch with nature while never being too far from civilisation. Another reason to travel in the summer.
• Apart from cheap accommodation, the car+tent or car+caravan options also have the added benefit of agility. You simply unhitch from your caravan/leave your tent safe and sound at the campsite and go about exploring the route in your car. In general, this route is suitable for all forms of vehicles – from cyclists to camper vans, but some stretches of road can be narrow and winding, and bigger vehicles will struggle.

English is the co-official language of Ireland. Irish (Or Gaelic) is also an official language, but due to past colonial occupation, the use of it has declined sharply over the years. While many people understand Irish, it is no longer the first language for the majority of Irish people. There are, however, a few pockets of spoken Irish left in Gaeltacht areas. In these places, Irish is the first language, and English is spoken secondly. In these Gaeltach areas, street signs will be exclusively in Irish, but otherwise, you will see both languages on display.

Irish people have incorporated lots of words from Gaelic into English, to form a unique dialect. One word you’re sure to hear thrown around like confetti during your trip is “craic” It sounds identical to the English word “crack”, but means literally “fun”. Irish people still use it in the sense of ‘fun’ (e.g.”the party was great craic’), but also to ask people how they are, or if they have any news: (“Hey, what’s the craic?/Any craic?”). As visitors to the country, the quickest way to a local’s heart is by incorporating Irish slang words into your conversations with them.