Southwest Ireland - Cork to An Líonán / Leenane / Leenaun

[john_aero]

As ever. It’s the first question I ask of bods, asking for non-motorway routes of a thousand miles across France and Germany. It’s often something they keep secret.

I fancy staying in bars / B&B’s, simply as a safeguard against the weather. You look, now it’ll be scorching hot….. or not!

Vehicle: Assuming I still have a motorcycle, it’ll be my Himalayan 450 (none of that ‘on trend’ scooter stuff) or a car. As with the Aston Martins we encountered, it would be no great fun in an outright and very large sports car on the truly single car width (or less) tracks. Not least I think it’s a form of selfish / irresponsible transport, if you meet a local, very probably forcing them to reverse.

If I can create (or have sugggested) some half decent routes, it would perhaps be nice to take the Healey. On reasonable (in UK terms, B / French D) roads, it might be fun to cruise along?

If as people are saying, Clare / and parts of Kerry are ignored, then it lends itself to my idea of going to places that are not on every broad ‘must do’ list. I have enjoyed doing this in Germany and even in parts of France.

Id allocate more time for kerry and cork. Clare is lovely but you will pass though it fast enough as while its worth going there is a lot fo the same view. till not worth missing. Just use it instead fo the motorway to Galway.

Monks bar is lovely and food is excellent.

Once get near Leenaun there is also plenty places to just get lost in the hills.

 

[john_aero]

https://maps.app.goo.gl/DwWUz2KPBPB8Ens59

A nice route could do in a long day and take your time.

Gets most of the big ticket areas off but amazing scenery

Dinner in Murphy Bar in Brandon point.

B&B then can get a few in Glin where I live and is a popular spot for bikers on their trips. its 5-10mins from ferry

 

[john_aero]

Ha now that i look at it, might do it in reverse myself with my son for a weekend trip

 

[Wapping]

Ha now that i look at it, might do it in reverse myself with my son for a weekend trip

It’d be interesting to hear how that goes, please.

 

[john_aero]

It’d be interesting to hear how that goes, please.

Did it before on my own and a tent, loved it and also went up some trails when fancied some gravel work

 

[HGS]

We are basing our trip next June in a rental house in Knockognoe to cover the SW area

In the process of creating some day out routes in base camp (still persisting with it), so watching this thread

Ex Call Centre Chimps threads have been very helpful too

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Just driven up to Wicklow from Bantry Bay today, via Cork.
It’s a fair old hike

 

[GerryC]

About 600 Miles of the best bits - as dictated by my prejudices. 3 days would be ambitious.
Mizen head, a taste of Sheep's head, Priests leap, Healy pass, Dursey cable car, Ballighabeama & Ballaghoisin, Skellig ring, Valentia island, Slea head, Conor pass, Clare (worth a look especially Black head). Go on, go on, go on, go on, go on.

 

[Wapping]

Dinner in Murphy Bar in Brandon poin

Murphy's Bar Brandon

Murphy's Bar is a family run bar in Brandon village on the Dingle Peninsula. Situated on Brandon pier along the Dingle Way at the foot of Mount Brandon, you can soak up the amazing views of Brandon Bay and the surrounding mountains

www.murphysbarbrandon.com

I feel a calling….

 

[Mzokk]

Lots of good advice on this thread. Shame this place is permanently closed. It was always worth a stop.



The story of Tom Crean

Tom Crean (explorer) - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[ChasMill]

There again, the Caen ferry is not in Caen, as my friend discovered one morning.

But it does leave at 9am …. Or does it?

 

[Wapping]

But it does leave at 9am …. Or does it?

No! “Right….”

Happy days.

 

[john_aero]

Lots of good advice on this thread. Shame this place is permanently closed. It was always worth a stop.

View attachment 537981

The story of Tom Crean

Tom Crean (explorer) - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

And a nice spot to camp out in the back. Was for sale recently

 

[Wapping]

It’s arrived from the Amazon:



I might well hunt around for a different scale / detail map, only for the section of Ireland between Cork and Leenane, or for just the ‘bottom half’ of the island of Ireland.

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

It’s arrived from the Amazon:

View attachment 538352

I might well hunt around for a different scale / detail map, only for the section of Ireland between Cork and Leenane, or for just the ‘bottom half’ of the island of Ireland.

That’s what I used
Decent enough for must do roads

 

[GerryC]

It’s arrived from the Amazon:

View attachment 538352

I might well hunt around for a different scale / detail map, only for the section of Ireland between Cork and Leenane, or for just the ‘bottom half’ of the island of Ireland.

The roads with the green "highlights" are most worthy of exploration. West Cork & Kerry are rich in that regard.

 

[Hillhound]

If you are doing any of the Wild Atlantic Way I would recommend this book/atlas. The maps are first class.
I have two copies, one I keep good for planning and the other I take the maps out for reference when I’m on the bike.

 

[Ex-Call Centre Chimp]

If you are doing any of the Wild Atlantic Way I would recommend this book/atlas. The maps are first class.
I have two copies, one I keep good for planning and the other I take the maps out for reference when I’m on the bike.

As per post #10.