Wandering Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way
Format:Paperback
Publisher:Gill
Published:4th Mar '16
Should be back in stock very soon

Following the spirit of the world’s longest coastal driving route, Paul Clements sets out on a meandering journey to discover the real west of Ireland. He travels from Banba’s Crown, the farthest-flung northerly point in Ireland, to World’s End in Kinsale, one of the metal gates embedded into the walls that originally enclosed the old town.
Along the way he encounters memorable characters living on the Atlantic edge and presents a unique portrait of their lives. We meet the last man standing on a remote Galway island, listen to the banter at Puck Fair, and hear from a descendant of the original sixteenth-century wild Atlantic woman whose veins run thick with the blood of a warrior queen.
Twenty-five years ago Paul hitchhiked the same route. Retracing his steps along the Wild Atlantic Way – this time by car and bike, on horseback and on foot – he looks at how Ireland has changed. He discovers that, although gossip and chatter on street corners has shifted to café culture and social media, everyone still has a story to tell. Laced with wry humour and endless curiosity, this is a distinctive mix of travel writing, social history and nature, while tagging along is the swashbuckling presence of the Celtic sea god, Manannán mac Lir.
Also by this author: ‘The Height of Nonsense: The Ultimate Irish Road Trip’
Praise for this author: “Stacks of free copies should be sent to all our tourist desks abroad.” The Irish Times
“For sheer pleasure, nothing I read beat Paul Clements’ ‘The Height of Nonsense’.” The Observer
“A compulsive, educational, laugh-out-loud read.” Sunday Independent
"A fascinating journey around the hidden corners of Ireland." BBC Radio
'A very enjoyable book, filled with educational, uplifting and side-splitting stories, an engaging mix of travel, nature and social commentary.'
-- Damien Enright'Clements is an affable, thoughtful guide, always alert to the small, telling detail.'
'Utterly entertaining from beginning to end.'
'Engrossing portrait of western Ireland.'
'A good production, well designed in which the author discovers the west of Ireland, this book will appeal to a general readership.'
'The author has discovered that the Wild Atlantic Way has revitalised the west and led to a newfound energy.'
'Clements is an authority on the popular tourist route that has become the Wild Atlantic Way.'
'A wonderful book with inspiring insights.'
'The Wild Atlantic Way is far more than a tourist trail and this book charts Clements' return journey along it.'
'A must-read book in which Clements experiences both the mythic and the human.'
'An epic journey full of thoughtful observations and showing a zest for people.'
'A distinctive mix of travel writing, social history and nature.'
'Very visual writing that delves into the facts and fantasies of the west of Ireland.'
'Nature's sights and aromas are all around him while the thundering wild Atlantic plays its own soundtrack.'
'A well paced and illuminating book full of quirky stories.'
'An insight into a changing world where wit, humour and small-town Ireland anecdotes are as warm and as endearing as ever.'
'With his seamless word-tapestry, Clements has written a vibrant and honest word-picture of the rolling, rocky, craggy and compelling Wild Atlantic Way.'
'A delightfully varied book on the changing face of Ireland.'
'An informative, colourful and engaging book.'
'Laced with wry humour and endless curiosity.'
'A brilliant read.'
'Three hundred and forty fascinating pages and a beautiful storied book that touches the hearts and souls of the communities.'
'A fascinating coastal journey that starts and continues in an unhurried way. Clements discovers the marvellous in the ordinary.'
'Superb idea.'
-- Sean MoncrISBN: 9781848892606
Dimensions: 198mm x 127mm x 22mm
Weight: 361g
343 pages