The third route in our Wild Atlantic Way series covers the northwestern stretch of Sligo and Donegal.
We’ve compiled suggestions from our own campervan adventures on the Wild Atlantic Way, and from other seasoned campers in our Craic N Campers community, to give you tried & tested recommendations. Keep reading to find out where to stay, where to eat and what to do on your journey to the most northern tip of Ireland.
Day 1 & 2 DONEGAL
The fastest route to the campsite for your first two nights is a 3-hour drive via Ballybofey & Letterkenny, but you’ll be missing out on some of the best bits! You’re on holidays, take your time and take the scenic route, heading westward after Donegal town towards Ardara. This will allow you to take in some of the most dramatic Donegal scenery such as the Assaranca Waterfall.
Where to eat:
Time to refuel. Continue 40 minutes further up the road from Ardara until you reach the Gaeltacht town of Dungloe. Call into McCafferty’s and try their locally sourced steak. We love how they offer a selection of ‘steak toppers’, our favourite is the Sauté Garlic Tiger Prawns!
Back on the road, you’re now just an hour away from the Rosguill Holiday Park, arriving just in time to enjoy a Donegal sunset, which never disappoints.
Where to stay:
Rosguill Holiday Park is a four-star, family-owned campsite that has been providing the Irish campervan community with scenic pitches and plenty of delightful extras for over 30 years. Some of our families’ favourite on-site facilities at Rosguill include the tennis court, the pitch & putt course, and the new children’s play park.
What to do:
Visit Malin Head, Ireland’s most northerly point. A two-hour drive from the campsite that will take you through the lively market town of Letterkenny on the way. (Make a pitstop at Bru Lab for the best coffee in town and a treat from their in-house bakery!).
Apart from the magnificence of Malin Head itself, some other famous landmarks to look out for once you get there are Hell’s Hole Cavern and the natural arch formation known as Devil’s Bridge. You might even get to see the Lighthouse on Inishtrahull Island if it’s a good enough day weather wise.
If you want to stay closer to the campsite, there’s a hidden gem nearby called Murder Hole Beach – It’s hard to reach and a bit of a hike, but don’t be put off by its misleading name, it’s actually a hidden piece of heaven on earth!
Where to eat:
For dinner on day two we recommend The Singing Pub, a cosy, traditional thatched cottage with tasty pub grub that’s only a short 5-minute drive from your campsite.
Day 3 SLIGO
Later today you’ll be swapping the hills of Donegal for the sandy beaches of Sligo, but before you leave, take a small detour to see the Slieve League Sea Cliffs (they’re almost three times the hight of the Cliffs of Moher!). You’ll also be passing through the friendly fishing village of Killybegs. It’s worth a stop to sample some fresh seafood or take the sea safari tour to do some Dolphin spotting.
Where to stay:
When you reach Sligo, we suggest staying at Greenlands Caravan Park, a five-minute walk away from the village of Rosses Point, or if you want to wild camp, Silver Strand Beach has some suitable locations close by.
Where to eat:
The Driftwood Smokehouse Restaurant wins the vote hands down for its gorgeous views over Sligo Bay and an equally beautiful menu with very reasonable prices.
Austies Pub and Kitchen is another popular option for food or a drink, especially for those travelling with pets as it’s a dog friendly pub!
What to do:
The Gleniff Horseshoe loop is a half hour drive that showcases some of the most spectacular views. You can walk the loop either, but you will have to give yourself a good 3 hours if walking.
Enjoy the beautiful beaches at Rosses Point, Strandhill and Mullaghmore.
Climb Benbulben, Ireland’s famous flat top mountain. There are several routes but the most popular is starting from a landmark known as Luke’s Bridge. This is a little bit of a longer route than some others, but there is less climbing involved this way.
Day 4 SLIGO & LEITRIM / ROSCOMMON
As with all of our Wild Atlantic Way itineraries, we like to give suggestions of campsites close to the depot for the last night of your trip, leaving it handier for you for drop off at the depot the following morning.
For this route we suggest Battlebridge Caravan and Camping Park, in Carrick-On-Shannon, a favourite of many of our previous campervan rental customers, and our own families. It was recently selected as one of the ‘5 best campsites in Ireland 2024’.
Settle in on your last night at this stunning river-side location on the new Shannon Blueway and enjoy all the facilities on offer including the award-winning Gastro Pub onsite.
Another popular option for night 4 is Lough Key Forest & Activity Park in Boyle Co. Roscommon. This is a particularly good choice if you are travelling with children and have time to spare on your last day (or want to extend your trip by a day) There are loads of activities on site including a massive play park, a zip lining course, kayaking, and loads more.
It’s worth mentioning that all the campsites included in this itinerary are listed as dog friendly and we have a selection of dog friendly campervans for hire too, get in touch to find out more!
Check out our other blog posts for more suggested routes and itineraries for your next Wild Atlantic Way campervan adventure.
