In a year in which we've never before found ourselves so restricted in our movements, the urge to hit the open road and not look back has never been so appealing.
To feel the wind rushing through your hair as you zoom down the motorway (within the speed limit of course). To explore the wonders Ireland has to offer beyond the constraints of your 5km, hell even 20km radius. And perhaps most importantly, to get that all important Instagram of your travels to remind your followers, and indeed yourself, that you are someone who truly knows how to live.
It's ideal then that a road trip route which boasts some of the most sought-after Instagram opps exists right along our coastline in the form of the revered Wild Atlantic Way. As it happens, the popular tourism trail has recently come out on top as the most Instagrammed road trip in all of Europe, according to research released by the car insurance company USwitch as reported by Lovin.ie this week.
The insurance company collated hashtags of the world's most famous road trips and found that, in Europe, the Wild Atlantic Way had generated 1,373,838 hashtags - more than any other well known driving route.
A road trip along the Wild Atlantic Way can include such precious sights as Downpatrick Head and Croagh Patrick in Co. Mayo, the Slieve League Cliffs in Co. Donegal and Skellig Michael in Co. Kerry. Of course, no trip along the Wild Atlantic Way is complete without a look at the route's most famous sight, the breath-taking Cliffs of Moher in Co. Clare.
As if we weren't spoiled for choice as it was, only two spots down on the Top 20 list of most Instagrammed road trips is the famed Ring of Kerry coming in at number three which has generated a respectable 206, 798 hashtags.
To nobody's surprise, the road trip which has inspired the most Instagram opportunities in the entire world is the USA's classic Route 66. This road trip has generated 1,908,149 hashtags, followed next by the Big Sur Coast Highway in California with 1,422,501.
Other road trips that will have you wiping your lens with your sleeve to take that perfect picture every five minutes include Snowdonia in Wales, the Cabot Trail in Canada, the South Island Circuit in New Zealand and Costa Verde in Brazil.
If you're seeking inspiration for the next time you get to hit the road, you can find the full list below:
Topics: Ireland