HELP ME TO FILL IN THE ROUTE PLEASE

degsey

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Me and the Mrs are travelling over from the Isle of Man on the dates below, we are looking for some ideas

14th July arrive in Dublin at lunch time and thinking of heading to Galway and going south, only because the Mrs fancies the Atlantic way after watching the TV program

15th ??

16th ??

17th ??

18th ??

19th Ferry back to the Isle of Man 1030 am

cheers
 
when arriving at Dublin , you should try to take in the Causeway coastal route to…head north from dublin towards the Giants Causeway ..superb roads and scenery… from there cross over to Westport and drop south from there ….you will have a great time
 
We did across to Galway, stayed there a night, really nice place, though don't go there when the races are on as it is a tad busy:blast

Then made our way down the coast..stunning!...to Kilarney, where we stayed for two nights. Rode round the ring of Kerry, apparently the wrong way!!.. again, very nice. Then into Cork to visit relatives..

You won't be dissapointed. The scenery and roads are good. The people we met were all very nice..No trouble in getting a B and B..

oh...and the guinness goes down very well...:beer:
 
14th July arrive in Dublin at lunch time and thinking of heading to Galway and going south, only because the Mrs fancies the Atlantic way after watching the TV program

19th Ferry back to the Isle of Man 1030 am

Assuming you're going to head to Galway & stay somewhere there on the 14th, and that you're not afraid of a few miles each day, I'd suggest something like this :

15th - before you head south go north for the day for some of the best of Connemara. From Galway you'll head to Oughterard, Maam Cross & Maam. Continue towards Leenane but take the right turn marked Lough Nafooey & after the lake keep left for Tourmakeedy & then follow signs for Westport. Plenty of places in the town & at Westport Quay for lunch. Westport to Louisburgh. Rather than WAW from L'burgh I'd go south through Doo Lough valley to Delphi. If you're making good progress & you've 'time in hand' turn left near the bottom of the lower lake for Sheeffry Pass & Tawnyard Lough (it's a narrow twisty road but I'm assuming you're an accomplished at two-up riding) all the way to the N59 where you turn south again to Leenane. If you're tight for time just continue from Doo Lough to Delphi, around Killary Fjord to Leenane. From Leenane go back onto WAW through Clifden (try & do the Sky Road as you come to Clifden) which will eventually bring you back to Galway where you could stay a second night.
Can you tell this is my favorite part of the country ? :D

16th - head on the WAW around the southern side of Galway Bay to Ballyvaughan, Doolin & Kilkee from where you can head to Killimer for the ferry across the Shannon to Tarbert, avoiding any need to go near Limerick. Then more WAW to Slea Head, the most westerly point of this little island, through Dingle, have a look at Inch Beach, on to Killorglin & Cahersiveen. Maybe stay somewhere around here.

17th - more WAW - Valentia, Ballinskelligs, Waterville, back onto the Ring of Kerry to Kenmare & onto the Beara Peninsula. Go at least as far as Allihies but if you're not afraid of heights take the cable car to Dursey Island (as featured here) Ever onwards to Sheeps Head & then Mizzen Head, the most southerly point of Ireland, and then eastwards towards Cork city where you'll find plenty of accommodation.
If you wanted a bit of a break from coast & sea I'd recommend turning left at the big church just before Waterville, marked for Glencar, & head to Ballaghisheen Pass before turning right for Ballaghbeema Pass. At the end of the road turn left & then take the left for Lough Brin & Black Valley. At the end of that road turn right & that'll bring you to Molls Gap & hence to Kenmare.

18th - Head for Lismore & do the Vee to Clogheen & then Cahir. From there you can either jump on the M8 to Dublin to save time & have an afternoon / evening in Dublin or continue across country through Clonmel, Kilkenny, Athy, Naas. Or for a bit of hillyness head from Athy to Baltinglass, Glenmalure, Laragh & across Sally Gap to Dublin.
 
Jochens suggestion is pretty hard to beat Degsey. Follow that and you'll see a lot of the best our country has to offer. :thumb2

Yep. that's as good a 4 day spin as you will get anywhere.
 
Yep. that's as good a 4 day spin as you will get anywhere.

if you wanted a slightly more rugged route on your last day - from Cork to Dublin and if you were happy two-up, then you could try:

Cork, Midleton, Lismore, Cappoquin, Newcastle, Ballymacarbery, thro the Nire Valley, Kilsheelan, Killamery (over Slievenamon if you wish), Kilmaganny, Thomastown, Graiguenamanagh, Scullogue Gap to Kiltealy, Bunclody, Shielagh, Tianhely, Glenmaluere, Laragh.

That's about 5 hours of good biking- even with a short lunch stop.
If you have a dry day, this is a grand spin with a combination of mountains, wooded areas and less travelled country-roads.

It is all road - with only the bit over Slievenamon being a bit rough.
Watch out for cow-dung and tractors.

As Jockser previously said from Laragh to Dublin via Sally Gap is a lovely way to finish it.
 
+1 for the roads Jockser has listed in Connemara. I ride those roads at least once a year and they have spent a lot on the roads over the last year or two. Incidentally, I spent a lot of summer holidays as a child in Finny. Fantastic GS roads. Go into the Peacocks in maam cross for a spot of lunch. Under new ownership and they do nice food. Say Owen suggested them... their relatives of mine and I'd like to see them do well! Have a GREAT time! ooh, and don't forget the happy tea kettle if your passing through Finny:D
 
Cheers I'm going to put the route in basecamp tonight and have a look

I'll be on a RT so I hope it will be ok
 
Cheers I'm going to put the route in basecamp tonight and have a look

I'll be on a RT so I hope it will be ok


Never rode an RT, but all of the roads should be doable.
Just might take a bit longer or be a bit bumpier than a GS.

The roads I suggested do not get much worse that the ones attached.
A lot are better.

CIMG1891.jpg

CIMG1897.jpg

CIMG1915.jpg

You can figure out if you want to ride those roads for a few hours or not.
You can also drop some of the poorer ones for better roads as you go along if you had enough of them.

Either way enjoy the trip.
 
Wild Ireland Should have been BANNED, now ever box driver,caravaner and coach tours will be out in their droves round the West Coast.Enjoy your run Degsey it's a beautiful part of the world.
Mind you Christine looked well
 
Assuming you're going to head to Galway & stay somewhere there on the 14th, and that you're not afraid of a few miles each day, I'd suggest something like this :

15th - before you head south go north for the day for some of the best of Connemara. From Galway you'll head to Oughterard, Maam Cross & Maam. Continue towards Leenane but take the right turn marked Lough Nafooey & after the lake keep left for Tourmakeedy & then follow signs for Westport. Plenty of places in the town & at Westport Quay for lunch. Westport to Louisburgh. Rather than WAW from L'burgh I'd go south through Doo Lough valley to Delphi. If you're making good progress & you've 'time in hand' turn left near the bottom of the lower lake for Sheeffry Pass & Tawnyard Lough (it's a narrow twisty road but I'm assuming you're an accomplished at two-up riding) all the way to the N59 where you turn south again to Leenane. If you're tight for time just continue from Doo Lough to Delphi, around Killary Fjord to Leenane. From Leenane go back onto WAW through Clifden (try & do the Sky Road as you come to Clifden) which will eventually bring you back to Galway where you could stay a second night.
Can you tell this is my favorite part of the country ? :D

16th - head on the WAW around the southern side of Galway Bay to Ballyvaughan, Doolin & Kilkee from where you can head to Killimer for the ferry across the Shannon to Tarbert, avoiding any need to go near Limerick. Then more WAW to Slea Head, the most westerly point of this little island, through Dingle, have a look at Inch Beach, on to Killorglin & Cahersiveen. Maybe stay somewhere around here.

17th - more WAW - Valentia, Ballinskelligs, Waterville, back onto the Ring of Kerry to Kenmare & onto the Beara Peninsula. Go at least as far as Allihies but if you're not afraid of heights take the cable car to Dursey Island (as featured here) Ever onwards to Sheeps Head & then Mizzen Head, the most southerly point of Ireland, and then eastwards towards Cork city where you'll find plenty of accommodation.
If you wanted a bit of a break from coast & sea I'd recommend turning left at the big church just before Waterville, marked for Glencar, & head to Ballaghisheen Pass before turning right for Ballaghbeema Pass. At the end of the road turn left & then take the left for Lough Brin & Black Valley. At the end of that road turn right & that'll bring you to Molls Gap & hence to Kenmare.

18th - Head for Lismore & do the Vee to Clogheen & then Cahir. From there you can either jump on the M8 to Dublin to save time & have an afternoon / evening in Dublin or continue across country through Clonmel, Kilkenny, Athy, Naas. Or for a bit of hillyness head from Athy to Baltinglass, Glenmalure, Laragh & across Sally Gap to Dublin.


I hate having to agree with anyone , theres no entertainment in that !.
But , after reading this from the Boul Jockser , I have to say ,, Its a hard act to Follow.
The only bit that i think could be added to this is : This week , i Sold a GBP cheque in an Irish Bank and got €1.385 , so i would
be looking at Selling My GBPs as soon as you can , whilst the UK,ers are still on the crest of "camerons wave" ..

Enjoy
 
Hey Jockser, bit of advise please

Other than Gallways accommodation for a couple of night I've got nowt else book is it easy enough to get digs around Killorglin and cork etc

Cheers
 
No problem at all with either Hotels or B&B's, plenty around, just turn up.

Have a great trip, and post up a ride report. :aidan
 


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