Three day loop from Rosslare - is this a good route?

[LeNoir UK]

Using Claude to recommend a trip at the end of May. I will be travelling solo and usually spend too much time in the saddle to will force coffee and lunch breaks! For those in the know, does this seem like a good tour?



Wednesday 27 May — Arrival Evening


The ferry docks at 5:30pm, so there's no point chasing miles. Ride the 20 minutes up the N11 into Wexford town, check in, and explore the medieval quarter. Get a good dinner and an early night — you've got a big few days ahead.


Stay: Wexford town





Thursday 28 May — Day 1: The Copper Coast & West Cork


~200 miles | Depart 7:30am


This day is all about the south coast — one of the most underrated rides in Ireland.

• Swing south out of Wexford and pick up the R675 Copper Coast Drive — UNESCO-recognised, dramatic sea cliffs, rock arches, and almost zero traffic. Through Tramore and down to Dungarvan.
• Head into Ardmore, a tiny coastal village with a round tower on the cliff. Perfect coffee stop.
• Through Youghal (an underrated walled town) and into East Cork.
• Detour into Cobh if time allows — the colourful harbour town built on a steep hill, last port the Titanic called at. The ride in over the bridge is lovely.
• Arrive Kinsale for lunch — Ireland's food capital and a beautiful harbour town. You've earned it.
• Afternoon: Stay on the Wild Atlantic Way through Clonakilty and into Bantry or Skibbereen for the night.

Stay: Bantry or Skibbereen — a good base for Day 2





Friday 29 May — Day 2: Beara Peninsula & the Kingdom of Kerry


~130 miles (but don't rush it) | Depart 7:30am


Fewer miles, maximum drama. This is the centrepiece of the tour.

• Head south to the Beara Peninsula and climb the Healy Pass (R574) — a zigzagging mountain road through the Caha Mountains with views over two counties simultaneously. One of Ireland's great rides.
• Drop down into Kenmare for a mid-morning coffee. Beautiful town.
• North on the N71 via Moll's Gap — a sweeping mountain road that winds through some of Kerry's most dramatic scenery before descending into the Killarney valley. The GS will love every corner.
• In the afternoon, take the Gap of Dunloe (R568) — fair warning: it's single-track in places and you'll share it with horse-drawn jaunting cars and tourists on bicycles. It's narrow enough that lesser bikes balk, but on the GS you're fine. Take it slow and drink it in — it's otherworldly.
• Roll into Killarney for a well-earned pint and overnight.

Stay: Killarney — book ahead, it's always busy





Saturday 30 May — Day 3: Dingle Peninsula & the Road Home


~195 miles | Depart 7:30am


The Dingle Peninsula is the jewel in the crown — save this for the last full day so it stays with you.

• Head north from Killarney and pick up the Conor Pass (R560) — the highest mountain road in Ireland accessible to traffic, at 456m. On a clear May morning this is staggering. Narrow at the top, with sheer drops on either side, but completely manageable on the GS. If it's misty, it's still atmospheric.
• Drop into Dingle town for a late breakfast or lunch. Walk the harbour. This place has soul.
• Loop back east along the southern Dingle coast via the Slea Head Drive if time allows (adds about 30 mins — worth it for the beehive huts and views of the Blasket Islands).
• Head east in the afternoon — through Tralee and Limerick, or cut south via Cahir and stop for 20 minutes at the Rock of Cashel — a 12th-century castle on a dramatic limestone outcrop. Brilliant roadside stop.
• Arrive into Kilkenny or New Ross by late afternoon — close enough to Rosslare for an easy Sunday morning.

Stay: Kilkenny or New Ross (~45 mins from Rosslare)





Sunday 31 May — Departure


~45 miles | Depart 7:00am at the latest


Easy early run down to Rosslare on the N25/N11. For an 8:15am sailing you'll want to be at the terminal by 7:30am at the absolute latest, so don't linger over breakfast. Roll in, load up, and that's your lap of honour done.

 

[Mzokk]

Seems good to me in the time misses a good bit of the Coast and Ring of Kerry but in the time available hits a good few highlights.

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Using Claude to recommend a trip at the end of May. I will be travelling solo and usually spend too much time in the saddle to will force coffee and lunch breaks! For those in the know, does this seem like a good tour?



Wednesday 27 May — Arrival Evening


The ferry docks at 5:30pm, so there's no point chasing miles. Ride the 20 minutes up the N11 into Wexford town, check in, and explore the medieval quarter. Get a good dinner and an early night — you've got a big few days ahead.


Stay: Wexford town





Thursday 28 May — Day 1: The Copper Coast & West Cork


~200 miles | Depart 7:30am


This day is all about the south coast — one of the most underrated rides in Ireland.

• Swing south out of Wexford and pick up the R675 Copper Coast Drive — UNESCO-recognised, dramatic sea cliffs, rock arches, and almost zero traffic. Through Tramore and down to Dungarvan.
• Head into Ardmore, a tiny coastal village with a round tower on the cliff. Perfect coffee stop.
• Through Youghal (an underrated walled town) and into East Cork.
• Detour into Cobh if time allows — the colourful harbour town built on a steep hill, last port the Titanic called at. The ride in over the bridge is lovely.
• Arrive Kinsale for lunch — Ireland's food capital and a beautiful harbour town. You've earned it.
• Afternoon: Stay on the Wild Atlantic Way through Clonakilty and into Bantry or Skibbereen for the night.

Stay: Bantry or Skibbereen — a good base for Day 2





Friday 29 May — Day 2: Beara Peninsula & the Kingdom of Kerry


~130 miles (but don't rush it) | Depart 7:30am


Fewer miles, maximum drama. This is the centrepiece of the tour.

• Head south to the Beara Peninsula and climb the Healy Pass (R574) — a zigzagging mountain road through the Caha Mountains with views over two counties simultaneously. One of Ireland's great rides.
• Drop down into Kenmare for a mid-morning coffee. Beautiful town.
• North on the N71 via Moll's Gap — a sweeping mountain road that winds through some of Kerry's most dramatic scenery before descending into the Killarney valley. The GS will love every corner.
• In the afternoon, take the Gap of Dunloe (R568) — fair warning: it's single-track in places and you'll share it with horse-drawn jaunting cars and tourists on bicycles. It's narrow enough that lesser bikes balk, but on the GS you're fine. Take it slow and drink it in — it's otherworldly.
• Roll into Killarney for a well-earned pint and overnight.

Stay: Killarney — book ahead, it's always busy





Saturday 30 May — Day 3: Dingle Peninsula & the Road Home


~195 miles | Depart 7:30am


The Dingle Peninsula is the jewel in the crown — save this for the last full day so it stays with you.

• Head north from Killarney and pick up the Conor Pass (R560) — the highest mountain road in Ireland accessible to traffic, at 456m. On a clear May morning this is staggering. Narrow at the top, with sheer drops on either side, but completely manageable on the GS. If it's misty, it's still atmospheric.
• Drop into Dingle town for a late breakfast or lunch. Walk the harbour. This place has soul.
• Loop back east along the southern Dingle coast via the Slea Head Drive if time allows (adds about 30 mins — worth it for the beehive huts and views of the Blasket Islands).
• Head east in the afternoon — through Tralee and Limerick, or cut south via Cahir and stop for 20 minutes at the Rock of Cashel — a 12th-century castle on a dramatic limestone outcrop. Brilliant roadside stop.
• Arrive into Kilkenny or New Ross by late afternoon — close enough to Rosslare for an easy Sunday morning.

Stay: Kilkenny or New Ross (~45 mins from Rosslare)





Sunday 31 May — Departure


~45 miles | Depart 7:00am at the latest


Easy early run down to Rosslare on the N25/N11. For an 8:15am sailing you'll want to be at the terminal by 7:30am at the absolute latest, so don't linger over breakfast. Roll in, load up, and that's your lap of honour done.

@ikkje

 

[ikkje]

Beara is fabulous and me and JB are thinking of another trip to spend a bit more time there. Can’t comment on the south coast bit, but it sounds pretty compelling to me. Long days in the saddle is likely to be the issue mind and I think I’d rather just spend a bit more time on Beara and leave Dingle for another trip.

 

[ikkje]

Doh…. I didn’t twig that Claude is Anthropothic’s AI thingymajig - Blooming heck, scary or what as the recommendations sound pretty damn good. Right, that said I’ll crawl back into my hole with my fingers in my ears.

 

[glenn2926]

We’re having a short trip to that area in July.
Yorkshire to Fishguard and ferry to Rosslarge. 1st night in Wexford.
Across to Castleisland for two nights with a loop around the Ring of Kerry on the third day.
Galway via the river Shannon crossing and the Burren for the 4th night.
A night in Dublin for our 5th and final night before the Dublin- Holyhead ferry and backup to Yorkshire.
Our first time going south for a long number of years.