Advice on cycling the coast of Ireland

62429268

Hey,

After a recent cycling trip through France, the idea of cycling the coast of Ireland has arisen, not every single coast road, but the main ones. I reckon its aprox 2,400km, while covering 140km a day, would take 2.5 weeks to complete. approx.

Has anyone completed such a cycle? I would be interested in checking out someones route maps, blogs, etc. Also any advice? I have heard its better to do it clockwise, (dublin, wexford, cork etc) to get best views as the coast will always be on your left then.

Thanks in advance

Beasty

My advice - wait until the tide's out;)

(time to get my coat I think ....)

macken04

cant give any advice, but sitting in a lab typing my thesis now and this makes me dream. Sounds amazing.

JMJR

62429268 wrote: »

Hey,
.....I have heard its better to do it clockwise, (dublin, wexford, cork etc) to get best views as the coast will always be on your left then.
....

I have to ask -Why is it preferable to view to the left?

wanderer 22

Of course, it'll be a slightly shorter trip if you go counter-clockwise...

Harrybelafonte

JMJR wrote: »

I have to ask -Why is it preferable to view to the left?

Traffic? or you're just closer to coast?

Vélo

I'd travel clock-wise. At least that way you're closer to the sea when you are on the coast roads.

Nicer scenery.

Harrybelafonte

Vélo wrote: »

I'd travel clock-wise. At least that way you're closer to the sea when you are on the coast roads.

Nicer scenery.

I'm confussed now, is clockwise to the left or to the right... If I'm facing the coast in dublin, it's... hold on...

thebouldwhacker

If you want to enjoy it, 150 per day is too much, you'll spend all your time on the bike and have no time to stop in interesting places, unless this is a 'see how fast I can do it' kinda thing.

hunkymonkey

I e done the Coastal route (anti-clockwise) back in 2007. Nice route, boulderwhacker has a point about the mileage (I covered 100miles a day in 15 days) but depends on what type of cyclist ya are. If ya do less than 130k, ya might be struggling for things to do & see when finished cycling. Ya see plenty out cycling.
In all my cycling I don't think I've ever noticed a difference in scenery whether it's the left or right side of the road tbh.
Avoid any main town as much as possible.
Avoid any main roads as much as possible.
Do some routes inland, especially to avoid main towns i.e. Belfast, Galway, Limerick, Cork etc unless ya wanna stay there. It makes it a hassle especially at the end of the day when trying to find your accom.

Cookie_Monster

Clockwise would mean you are cycling with the wind in general along the windier west coast surely?

High Nellie

Sounds like a nice trip. Lost of variables:

Are you going 'expedtion style' and bringing the kitchen sink, or going 'credit card' style with a minimalist approach? Probably somewher in between.
What kind of bike will you use - e.g. hybrid or fast road bike etc.
How fit are you?
Etc. Etc.
100 miles a day is not too demanding if you are reasonably fit and travelling lightweight. Think of breaking it up into four 25-mile trips during the day, and it is a long day during the summer. So, start early and you'll have 25 done handy before a coffee break, and another 25 handy before a lunch break. Another 25 in the afternoon etc. I often arrived at a destination around 5 or 6 PM, and by 7 PM felt like heading off again for another 20 miles.
Also dependes on how near you stick to the coast. The best parts will mean long routes - Beara Peninsula, Iveragh Peninsula, DinglePeninsula, Loop Head, Achill Island, Belmullet Peninsula, Inisowen, etc, etc. And, is there any point really in riding the east 'coast' south of Carlingford, other than to 'do' it? If I was stuck for time I'd skip that bit and spend more time out on the peninsulas.

High Nellie

Oh, and statistically you will have more wind at your back if you keep the sea at your left - i.e. go 'up' the west coast.

blorg

Have you ever averaged 100 miles a day, loaded touring, for an extended period? I did, for 20 days, and it is bloody hard. Not to be underestimated IMO. 100km average is far easier to keep up.

High Nellie

blorg wrote: »

Have you ever averaged 100 miles a day, loaded touring, for an extended period? I did, for 20 days, and it is bloody hard. Not to be underestimated IMO. 100km average is far easier to keep up.

No, I've never done that kind of mileage loaded - more 'credit-card' touring type of fling. I'd say abouts 60 is managable loaded.

gaza123

Hey, myself and my cousin are planning a similar trip. Not quite a full circumnavigation, but a coastal cycle. Starting in Limerick, heading north following the Coast to Dublin. Never even crossed my mind to go south instead, I think since I've seen more of the south than the north. Or it could just be an instinct thing.

We're planning on camping rough for the most part, which makes the coast a handy choice with beaches to camp on. Leaving in a week and a half. Hope the weather picks up for it.