The Best of the West of Ireland Bicycle Tour
This one-off itinerary is the trip of a lifetime - a bicycle tour that encompasses all the best that Ireland has to offer - at a fantastic price!
The West Coast exudes a romance like nowhere else in Ireland. It boasts an unsurpassable beauty and wild drama that is inextricably linked to the region’s culture, traditions and people. Ablaze with colour, it offers the chance to really get away from it all, to stand on the edge and face nature in all its glory. Here you can immerse yourself in the authentic Irish experience, from the vibrant Gaeltacht (Irish-speaking) areas and their lively céilÍs (Irish dancing) to the multitude of festivals that celebrate the history and heritage of this fascinating region.
Our itinerary ticks all the “must do” and “must see” boxes for the West of Ireland. You will travel through Connemara, The Burren, Galway, Mayo and the Aran Islands. The attractions that you will visit along the way include the Cliffs of Moher, Bunratty Castle and Folk Park, the Ailwee caves, Dun Aengus clifftop fort, the Sky Road, Kylemore Abbey, Doolough, the Twelve Bens, Killary Harbour, Croagh Patrick......and many more.
The tour is limited to 20 participants. The package will include airport transfers to and from Shannon Airport (or Dublin Airport for an additional charge), 12 nights accommodation (including breakfast) in a variety of excellent 3* and 4* hotels (see the day by day itinerary below), 9 full dinners, sag support, daily pre-ride briefing, ride options to cater for both the leisurely and the not-so-leisurely rider. Riding is all on blacktop roads, with the great majority being on beautiful minor roads that carry very low volumes of traffic.
The tour will be guided by Tony Boyd, founder of Iron Donkey Bicycle Touring. Tony’s knowledge of the West of Ireland has been built up over many years, and he never gets tired ofshowing off the wonders of the region to the Iron Donkey‘s guests.
- Day 1 (Sunday)
On arrival in ancient Ennis, 15 miles from Shannon Airport, you can check into your hotel. Ennis, the county town of Clare, is one of Ireland’s most attractive, being surrounded by the River Fergus. The bow-ways (arched tunnel passageways that link the narrow medieval streets) are a particular feature. Dominating the town is the ruined 13th century friary in which there are some wonderful medieval sculptures. In the afternoon there is a bike and equipment fitting after which you are free to explore the town or to relax. There is a meet-and-greet and a short tour briefing before dinner at the hotel.
Accommodation – Old Ground Hotel
- Day 2 (Monday) - 53km or 72km
From Ennis we pedal north through tiny villages and past sheep dotted fields to Dysert O’Dea, a fascinating collection of sites dating from prehistoric times to the 19thCentury. There is an archaeology centre in the restored 15th Century tower house. A little further north, the town of Corofin provides refreshment opportunities before we continue west through remote Clare countryside to Kilfenora and the Burren Heritage Centre, which tells you everything that you need to know about this remarkable region. We then pass through bustling Ennistimon before reaching the coast at Lehinch, renowned for its challenging links golf course and for its surfing beaches. Next comes a climb to the awesome Cliffs of Moher, best visited towards the end of the day when the tourists have mostly disappeared. The final stage takes us to the spa centre of Lisdoonvarna, location of the annual matchmaking festival.
Accommodation - Sheedy’s Hotel
- Day 3 (Tuesday) - 55km or 74 km
Today you will enjoy one of Ireland’s classic coastal rides, with wonderful vistas all the way along the dramatic Burren coastline. Leaving Lisdoonvarna we descend to the coast and pedal north along the majestic Atlantic shoreline. After rounding Black Head we follow the southern shore of Galway Bay to the town of Ballybaughan, and a welcome lunch stop. A short distance south of the town is the remarkable Ailwee Cave. There is a good climb from here onto the Burren escarpment to view the Poulnabrone Dolmen from where we follow tiny country lanes back to Lisdoonvarna.
Accommodation - Sheedy’s Hotel .
- Day 4 (Wednesday) – various riding options available on Inishmore
After breakfast we have a 6 km downhill stretch to Doolin Pier to catch the ferry (named the “Happy Hooker”) for the 45 minute crossing to Kilronan port on Inishmore, largest of the 3 Aran Islands. On disembarking we can explore the village before riding out along the coast road to Dun Aengus, the Stone Age cliff top fort that dominates the western end of the island. There is the option to continue the ride to the very western tip of the island, before returning to our Kilronan hotel by the scenic inland route. After dinner you can join in the fun at a traditional session in one of Kilronan’s pubs.
Accommodation - Aran Islands Hotel
- Day 5 (Thursday) - 37km
After breakfast there is plenty of time to visit the Black Fort and to ride out to the eastern tip of the island before embarking on the noon ferry to Rossaveal on the northern shores of Galway. The ride from here takes us towards the distant Twelve Bens, the mountain range that dominates the centre of the Connemara landscape. A longer more testing option follows the coast while a shorter option traverses atmospheric moorland (where you can watch peat being dug for fuel) to the tiny coastal village of Cashel.
Accommodation - Zetland Country House
- Day 6 (Friday) - 49km
From Cashel we continue to follow the coast west to the fishing village Roundstone. Here you can watch the manufacture of traditional musical instruments at the Roundstone Bodhran Centre. The road from Roundstone to Ballyconneely , where we stop for lunch, hugs the coast and overlooks beautiful Dogs Bay and Gurteen Bay. Just outside the village is the site where Alcock and Brown crash landed in a bog after the first transatlantic flight in 1919. Clifden, the unofficial capital of Connemara, is a lively and colourful market town. To the west of the town, the Sky Road offers magnificent views of the coastline to the south – on a clear day you can see all the way to the Ring of Kerry.
Accommodation - The Quay House
- Day 7 (Saturday) - 18km or 51km
Today is designated as a rest day, giving you the opportunity to explore bustling Clifden and its environs on foot, or to enjoy one on the many activities on offer in the area. You could play a round of golf, go pony trekking, try deep sea fishing or take a hike in the Connemara National Park. However if you can’t bear to be away from your bike, there is the option of a spectacular coastal loop ride. In the evening you will be able to enjoy a traditional music session in one of Clifden’s many lively and welcoming pubs.
Accommodation - The Quay House
- Day 8 (Sunday) - 40km or 63 km
Leaving Clifden we follow the remote, scenic Bog Road to the impressive Ballynahinch Castle for a morning coffee. From here there is a beautiful ride up the Lough Inagh Valley to Kylemore and the opportunity to visit Kylemore Abbey, one of Connemara’s best known attractions. The ride around the coast from here via Tully Cross is especially impressive. The last section follows the southern shore of Killary Harbour, Ireland’s only true fjord, to Leenane. There is the option to take an educational cruise on the waters of the fjord before dinner.
Accommodation - Leenane Hotel
- Day 9 (Monday) - 62km
From Leenane we pedal south into the Maam Valley. A good climb is rewarded by great views of the beautiful but strangely named Lough Nafooey and by the exhilarating descent to its shores. There is then an easy ride on delightfully quiet country roads to the village of Tourmakeady on the shores of Lough Mask. After lunch we face a tough but very exhilarating and scenic climb through the Partry Mountains to Aghagower with its round tower. Our destination is the historic town of Westport, situated at the head of island-strewn Clew Bay.
Accommodation – Westport Plaza Hotel & Spa
- Day 10 (Tuesday) - 41 km or 68km
Our last ride is a loop with a wonderful variety of scenery. We first head south to skirt around the back of the impressive cone of lofty Croagh Patrick and then climb over the Sheefry Hills before dropping down to Doolough, a hauntingly beautiful lake in a remote valley which hides a tragic secret from the days of the Irish Famine. Following the valley north we arrive at Louisburgh on the shores of Clew Bay, once the home port of Grace O’Malley, the infamous Irish pirate queen. East along the shores of the bay from here lies ancient Murrisk Abbey. Close by is the start point for the ascent of Croagh Patrick, Ireland’s holiest mountain, at the summit of which St Patrick is reputed to have spent 40 days and nights and from where he banished the snakes from Ireland. The ascent is rewarded by stupendous views over the islands of Clew Bay. A pleasant waterfront ride brings us back to Westport and the end of the journey.
Accommodation - Westport Plaza Hotel & Spa
- Day 11 (Wednesday)
Departure after breakfast – there are trains to Dublin, or bus to Galway, private transfers can be arranged.
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