Trip Help Please

[Annette]

We've been granted a child free week in the middle of August, and want to take a bike trip to Ireland. We are planning on going Fishguard to Rosslaire on the way out and Dublin to Holyhead on the return.

Neither of us has ever been to Ireland before. Does anyone have any suggestions for a good circuitous route and some decent B&Bs to visit.

All help welcomed.

Cheers guys

 

[Aidan1150]

I'd recommend turning left after Rosslare and following the coast through west Cork and Kerry as far as Limerick from where you could head back for Dublin. The southwest corner has arguably some of the best scenery in the country and the pace of life is pretty relaxed. Depending on the pace you set yourselves, and if time allowed you could carry on up along the western seaboard as far as Galway before turning east towards home again.

B&B's are everywhere and almost all are of a very high standard. That phrase you have over there "bike friendly" does not apply at all over here, you can turn up anywhere on a bike without fear of refusal. Googling B&B's of Ireland or Irish country b&b's should give you an idea of what you can expect. Quite often you can get hotels as cheaply as B&B by using booking.com or the like, worth keeping an eye on. But as I said above you will find B&B's literally everywhere.

If you needed some routes for your gps I'm sure some of us could oblige.

Anything else, just shout.

 

[Flintlock]

As above, you could make a bee line for Kinsale and from there follow the Wild Atlantic Way, a well signposted route, that will take you through some lovely parts. When you run out of time, just peel off and head back to the ferry & come back and do the rest some other time.

 

[GerryC]

You have a week - my suggested route takes in the following; Rosslare to the Ballyhack ferry to the Copper coast to Lismore over the Vee. Whatever way you like towards the west Cork coast to Missen / Crookhaven to the lap of Beara (possibly including the Healy pass) to Blackwater bridge to Balligabeama gap (missing the Ring of Kerry) to Dingle & the lap of Slea head to the Connor pass to the Shannon ferry to the Burren to the Sliabh Blooms to the Wicklow gap.
Some spellings may be wrong there - beyond that general outline I'd not be prescriptive on routes other than to say the back roads are best (this is a GS site!). Accommodation is where you get tired or like the look of the place & as said above is easy to find. The route is 1,200 Kilometers which is two days riding on some roads but not on these roads. Taking your time to savour the experience there's a week's riding there. if you fancy more throw in Connemara but any more than that is gluttony. I hope the weather is kind - if it is you will ENJOY - trust me.

 

[Annette]

Thanks for all the info, really appreciate it. Will take a good look at your routes and see what we can up with.

 

[Jockser]

my suggested route

But I'd sacrifice some of the eastern stuff to ride some of the roads in Connemara.....

 

[Mrsminx]

But I'd sacrifice some of the eastern stuff to ride some of the roads in Connemara.....

Agreed I probably enjoyed Connemara the most when I visited last year, truly stunning

 

[GerryC]

But I'd sacrifice some of the eastern stuff to ride some of the roads in Connemara.....

Hard to disagree with that but as the ferries are on the East it is a necessary part of the meal - I was trying to "put a little sugar on the porridge"