Gap of Dunloe?

Chips Lovell

Anyone ever ridden it? Is it worth a spin? Thinking of trying it if I go down to Killarney for the Ring of Kerry.

Raam

el tonto wrote: »

Anyone ever ridden it? Is it worth a spin? Thinking of trying it if I go down to Killarney for the Ring of Kerry.

LDB and myself did it. Very very scenic.

ROK ON

el tonto wrote: »

Anyone ever ridden it? Is it worth a spin? Thinking of trying it if I go down to Killarney for the Ring of Kerry.

Yes. Did it twice last week. Well worth it.

I would suggest the following route. Molls Gap, then road to Sneem for about 1km, then right turn down a steep drop into the Black Valley. this road is sort of like Kippure, and will take you to the Gap of Dunloe in about 15km.

Climb itself is a collection ofhairpins, not too high, but the gradient is much steper than any climb on the Ring of Kerry.

Scenery is absolutely stunning. Unreal. I would not recommend that you climb the Gap from Beaufort side, as this is the route that the horse and traps bring tourists up from Beaufort. If you get stuck behind one, then that can seriously disrupt your effort - the road is often not wide enough to safely pass a horse and cart.

When I descended this way, many horse and trap drivers pulled over where the could to let me pass, which was nice - but it means you wont break any speed records on the descent.

I would highly recommend two other clibs in the near viscinity - Ballaghbeama and Ballaghoisin. Both are 15km past Glencar, and Glencar is about 20km past the turnoff for Carrantouhil.

I will be living in Kerry by then, and would be happy to guide ye on a boards spin. There are a few other kerry boardsies who may even come along.

Will post map soon.

Raam

ROK ON wrote: »

I would not recommend that you climb the Gap from Beaufort side, as this is the route that the horse and traps bring tourists up from Beaufort. If you get stuck behind one, then that can seriously disrupt your effort - the road is often not wide enough to safely pass a horse and cart.

When I descended this way, many horse and trap drivers pulled over where the could to let me pass, which was nice - but it means you wont break any speed records on the descent.

For that reason we did it very early in the morning. There was no one else about.

ROK ON

http://www.mapmyride.com/route/ie/gap%20of%20dunloe/glencar/373124414938414719

I did this starting from Kenmare and finishing in Caherdaniel two weeks ago, then last Saturday, I started in Caherdaniel and went to Waterville, Glencar, Ballaghbeama and the Gap of Dunloe before fininshing outside Killarney.

Raam

ROK ON wrote: »

http://www.mapmyride.com/route/ie/gap%20of%20dunloe/glencar/373124414938414719

I did this starting from Kenmare and finishing in Caherdaniel two weeks ago, then last Saturday, I started in Caherdaniel and went to Waterville, Glencar, Ballaghbeama and the Gap of Dunloe before fininshing outside Killarney.

Nice route. Ballaghbeama is lovely.

ROK ON

Raam wrote: »

Nice route. Ballaghbeama is lovely.

Sure is. I actually think that that route would make a way better Ring of kerry Route.

Actually realised that I didnt end the map. For folks looking at the map, Ballaghbeama is that peak about 10km before the route ends.

Chips Lovell

Thanks guys, that's really useful.

I would have gone up the Beaufort side since that's the way I'm familiar with. Didn't realise that the jarvies would be such an issue. But by the sounds of it ROK ON, the Black Valley side is the tougher climb? How early did you tackle it Raam?

Will try and go down to Kerry a day early so I can do a shorter spin on the Friday.

Raam

el tonto wrote: »

Thanks guys, that's really useful.

I would have gone up the Beaufort side since that's the way I'm familiar with. Didn't realise that the jarvies would be such an issue. But by the sounds of it ROK ON, the Black Valley side is the tougher climb? How early did you tackle it Raam?

Will try and go down to Kerry a day early so I can do a shorter spin on the Friday.

me log says that we hit the approach to the gap at about 9.30. So not exactly up with the birds. That was on a Sunday and the weather wasn't great.

ROK ON

el tonto wrote: »

Thanks guys, that's really useful.

I would have gone up the Beaufort side since that's the way I'm familiar with. Didn't realise that the jarvies would be such an issue. But by the sounds of it ROK ON, the Black Valley side is the tougher climb? How early did you tackle it Raam?

Will try and go down to Kerry a day early so I can do a shorter spin on the Friday.

I agrre that is tougher from Black Valley - it is a much shorter climb from this direction, in that you spend a fair bit of time descending from Molls Gap and then there is a flat winding section along the floor of the valley until you come to a school. The clib starts about now, right hairpin, climb, left hairpin climb, then the gap.

Apart from hikers there was no one on the road until I descended toward Kate Kearneys cottage.
If you were doing it early then a worthwhile spin would be Killarney - Beaufort - Gap of Dunloe - Molls Gap.
The climb out of the Black Valley back to the Molls Gap is toughy - however you will be rewarded when you get to the top - turn left in direction for Sneem and you come to Pancake Cottage at Strawberry Fields. Great coffee, even better pancakes.

CheGuedara

ROK ON wrote: »

If you were doing it early then a worthwhile spin would be Killarney - Beaufort - Gap of Dunloe - Molls Gap.

Stick in the drop to Kenmare and route home to Killarney via Kilrgarvan and the new road and its a nice spin. 85km with the first 40 with climbs ands the last half with mostly flat or rolling road.

http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/ireland/killarney/557430727

Alternatively there's always the nice fast drop from the gap into the national park giving a scenic shorter loop

Chips Lovell

CheGuedara wrote: »

...via Kilrgarvan and the new road and its a nice spin.

Is this the famous Healy Rae Highway?

ROK ON

el tonto wrote: »

Is this the famous Healy Rae Highway?

Yep, and much improved on the road 10 years ago.
Passes the wife's family home, so if you want to pop in for tee then you would be welcome.
You would have to cover the shaved legs however, or else I would be scandalised;).

PS: If you were using Che's suggest and heading back to Killarney via Kilgarvan, then once you hit the N22, you will have a fantatsic stretch of road into Killarney, with a big hard shoulder for nearly all of the way).

rottenhat

Just to add to the chorus, yes, it's well worth the ride. I did it a few weeks ago (hmmm...meant to write that up here to thank ROK ON and Cantalach for directions and advice...thanks guys!). We went Kenmare - Moll's Gap - Black Valley - Gap of Dunloe - some other places which temporarily elude me - Glencar - Ballaghbeama - Molls Gap. Many, many fantastic views and the roads were empty once you were off the Ring of Kerry itself.

I'm surprised to hear that the climb from the Black Valley side is the harder approach - it seemed steeper on the other side. That said, I didn't find any of the climbs that we did (Caha Pass and Healy Pass also) hard going though we never got to Priest's Leap.

ROK ON

rottenhat wrote: »

. . .though we never got to Priest's Leap.

I was doing that route a last week, spoke to the father in law (who is very knowledgeable on local geography), carried an OS map and still managed to get lost. I ended up back on the main road and went up to the tunnels at Caha Pass instead.

rottenhat

I did check out a couple of your food recommendations though - had a great lunch in Purple Heather, at the table next to fire. Could have spent the rest of the day there. Had pancakes at Strawberry Fields and pints at Florry Batts too. Will be back to check out the rest of them at some point.

ROK ON

@ Rottenhat. Good man, thats what leisure cycling is all about IMO - building up an appetite.
The harder the cycle, the better the appetite:).