Ireland in September

Thanks Gents. A revised day 1 from Dublin to Sligo is now drafted.

Maynooth, Trim, Athaboy, Oldcastle, Ballinagh, Drumlea, Drumshanbo, Dowra, Killarga then Sligo via the R286. Does this sound good?

Overnight in Sligo then see if I can condense Donegal into Day 2. Plan would be to swing by Mrs S's grandmothers stomping ground then end in Westport? Does this sound viable?
If you are looking go from Sligo to the Innishowen in day 2, then back through Sligo to Westport that would be some distance (In Ireland) to cover in a day. Donegal is a big county.
Have you considered heading straight up to the Innishowen on day 1 (granted, some motorway miles required) then progressing along the WAW (south).
Also, you should prepare to be flexible re which way you head , depending on the weather. Accommodation should not be a problem booking at short notice in September.
If you do decide to start at the Innishowen, you could include the Mourne Coastal Route (Newry to Belfast) & the Causeway Coastal Route (Belfast to Derry) which links I nicely with the WAW.- extra time would be needed of course.
 
That all sounds good Flintlock but we did a coastal tour of Northern Ireland and Ireland in 2023 and rode the Mourne Mountains. I also play golf there every year at Ardglass and Royal County Down in Pat Jennings Golf Classic so I know there well already.
 
You seem to have it well planned, fair play.

As has been said, I would question the time spent doing Sligo twice and wicklow twice. It would also be a shame to miss out on the ring of Beara while you are in the area. I only mention it as I did it again myself not long ago. And it is stunning.
 
It would also be a shame to miss out on the ring of Beara while you are in the area. I only mention it as I did it again myself not long ago. And it is stunning.
Couldn't agree more. But there's so many other places in West Cork & Kerry worth seeing / roads worth riding and the poor chap only has 8 days :D
 
Right. Change of plan.

Day 1 - Arrive by
If you are looking go from Sligo to the Innishowen in day 2, then back through Sligo to Westport that would be some distance (In Ireland) to cover in a day. Donegal is a big county.
Have you considered heading straight up to the Innishowen on day 1 (granted, some motorway miles required) then progressing along the WAW (south).
Also, you should prepare to be flexible re which way you head , depending on the weather. Accommodation should not be a problem booking at short notice in September.
If you do decide to start at the Innishowen, you could include the Mourne Coastal Route (Newry to Belfast) & the Causeway Coastal Route (Belfast to Derry) which links I nicely with the WAW.- extra time would be needed of course.

I am changing plan aligned with this. Day 1 - Arrive Belfast then do the Antrim coast and get the ferry to Innishowen.
 
Makes sense - you now have the option of returning via Rosslare or Dublin.
You say you have done the Antrim coast, there are some excellent roads just inland from the coast that take you north through the Glens of Antrim as an alternative on the way up.
 
Is Letterkenny a nice place to stay around there?
 
Day 6 - you show Kenmare and Bantry

"Priests Leap* joins both and is a very nice ride. you might like to check google/youtube

hope you have a great trip
 
Correct. Similarly, I question the sense in doing Wicklow twice. The time saved would be better used on the west coast


https://www.instagram.com/killybegseafoodshack/?hl=en (don't do FB either
Well worth a detour even if you're planning on passing Killybegs
No longer on the pier but in a little yard just off the Main Street. Google says it's temporarily closed but that could just be a winter thing, check around Easter.

You don't say if you're coming on the bike or in the car but either way be careful about overly ambitious mileages. A lot of the (non-national) roads are quite small & not conducive to riding fast. In addition a lot of our local rural (L) roads have recently been downgraded to 60kph from 80. Keep an eye on signage rather than what the sat nav says as most seem to be still showing the old limit. Generally a calculation based on an average speed of 60kph / 35mph will work well for planning the day.
More detail here - https://www.rte.ie/news/ireland/2025/0207/1495220-speed-limits-explainer/
Signposts are in kilometres. If you treat them as miles you will get your timing better.

tom
 
Quick Question: Is the riding better on the Wild Atlantic Way in Donegal or alternatively, through the Glenveagh National Park? We plan to overnight in Donegal itself on day 2. Ta.
 
In your case, where you will be doing more of the WAW later, maybe round Glenveagh. If you are staying around the Letterkenny area, I would recommend you do the WAW up to Portsalon, stunning approach Northbound on the R268, then inland to Glenveagh and back onto the WAW, maybe around Dungloe.
 
Can anyone suggest improvements to this with a bit of local knowledge - ah, cannot add a picture as it is larger than 1MB.
 
Should we definitely include Achill Island?
Achill is definitely worthy of a visit if you can fit it in. If the weather is good ride to the top of Minaun for a spectacular view of the island. Keem beach is not to be missed. Park up, grab a 99 ice cream and soak in the view. The road in and out of Keem makes for some savage views of the Atlantic. Stop into Lynotts pub for a sneaky Guinness while on the island. Job's Oxo. 👍
 
Achill is definitely worthy of a visit if you can fit it in. If the weather is good ride to the top of Minaun for a spectacular view of the island. Keem beach is not to be missed. Park up, grab a 99 ice cream and soak in the view. The road in and out of Keem makes for some savage views of the Atlantic. Stop into Lynotts pub for a sneaky Guinness while on the island. Job's Oxo. 👍
Fantastic - many thanks.
 


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