best cycling route in ireland

monkey 456

As ireland is known for the stunning scenary this question may prove tough. But in your opinon what is the best cycling route in all of ireland?... +add pics of it if u want!

Conneff

Off-road.... The Wicklow Way to Ballinastoe, across the tops of all the good mountains.

On-road... none so far!:D

monkey 456

Conneff wrote: »

Off-road.... The Wicklow Way to Ballinastoe, across the tops of all the good mountains.

On-road... none so far!:D

Is none not a bit harsh?

ckeego

monkey 456 wrote: »

Is none not a bit harsh?

It is a bit harsh...

Black Mountain from Omeath

Aghavannagh/Sliabh Maan and Shay Eliott

Devils Glen/Annamoe/Laragh for a coffee/Sally Gap

Most of the WW200 when it's not pissing rain

Kenmare/Caha Pass/Bantry

Killiney Hill at 6 in the morning as the sun comes up over Dublin Bay

Over the hills around Stamullen and into Bettystown for breakfast at the cafe on the beach

The fire trails around 3 Rock

daragh_

Killiney Hill at 6 in the morning as the sun comes up over Dublin Bay

Yes, yes and yes.

monkey 456

Surprised nobody metioned the stunning views in roundwood

Conneff

monkey 456 wrote: »

Is none not a bit harsh?

Well I'm a mountainbiker, so road spins are a means to an end, ie get fitter. Why be on a road looking up at a mountain, when you can be on top of the mountain looking down!

Ole Rodrigo

The coastal road from Larne to Ballycastle and Giants Causeway to Portstewart is a great cycle. Some nice hills.

DePurpereWolf

Healy pass, I think. The Cork/Kerry peninsula.
Haven't tried it yet, but I bet it's epic. The other side of the peak is a different world (Kerry), which makes getting to the top really nice.

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=cork,ireland&hl=en&ll=51.717791,-9.75276&spn=0.090929,0.222988&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=58.598104,114.169922&vpsrc=6&hnear=Cork,+County+Cathair+Chorcaigh,+Ireland&t=m&z=13&layer=c&cbll=51.717791,-9.75276&panoid=Zb3aJdRPrQFdk910DPEgyg&cbp=12,8.66,,0,11.92

ROK ON

In no particular order.

Ring of Beara. Glengariff, Castletownbere, Allihies, Lauragh, Healy Pass.
Dingle, Slea Head, Healy Pass.
Burren. Milltown Malbay, Lahinch, Cliffs of Moher, Fanore, Blackhead, Ballyvaughan, Corkscrew Hill.
Lough Derg
Slieve Blooms
Anywhere in Carlow Killenny
From Cork city I have often enjoyed the spin out by Coachford & Dripsey.

Just a

greenmat

Any route that leads from my door, and the peace and quiet it brings for just those few short hours, heaven, away from the bedlam, I leave behind.

dooverylittle

Conneff wrote: »

Off-road.... The Wicklow Way to Ballinastoe, across the tops of all the good mountains.

On-road... none so far!:D

could you do this on a cross bike? sorry for robbing the thread?

Captain Havoc

Kerry, end of discussion.

monkey 456

rocstar wrote: »

The coastal road from Larne to Ballycastle and Giants Causeway to Portstewart is a great cycle. Some nice hills.

o wow looks amazing... can only dream. is that a generally tough cycle?..

monkey 456

DePurpereWolf wrote: »

Healy pass, I think. The Cork/Kerry peninsula.
Haven't tried it yet, but I bet it's epic. The other side of the peak is a different world (Kerry), which makes getting to the top really nice.

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=cork,ireland&hl=en&ll=51.717791,-9.75276&spn=0.090929,0.222988&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=58.598104,114.169922&vpsrc=6&hnear=Cork,+County+Cathair+Chorcaigh,+Ireland&t=m&z=13&layer=c&cbll=51.717791,-9.75276&panoid=Zb3aJdRPrQFdk910DPEgyg&cbp=12,8.66,,0,11.92

oh wow brilliant!

Ole Rodrigo

Not that tough - it's mostly flat - hilly either side of Ballycastle, and further inland there is the Glens of Antrim route which isn't as steep as coming in by the coast. There's a sportive on each year that takes in a lot of that area - I bumped into some of the lads cycling it while passing through in September.

http://www.giantscausewaycoastsportive.com/

monkey 456

was that route one u did?

Ole Rodrigo

I came in over the Torr head along the coast ( and wished I didn't soon enough after ). But its very scenic and thats where the picture was taken.

monkey 456

nice one and nice bike btw and is that ur favourite route?

Ole Rodrigo

Thanks.So far yes. I've not been down south much - burren, kerry and cork and those mentioned in the previous posts - but hope to do some in 2012.

Conneff

dooverylittle wrote: »

could you do this on a cross bike? sorry for robbing the thread?

I'd say you could do 3/4 of it, mostly the fireroad bits. Its the other 1/4 that would be a no-no.

WakeyTyke

The Loop Head peninsula.

The rugged Atlantic coastline, views of the Aran islands, Connemara, the Dingle peninsula, hugging Shannon estuary and best of all - quiet roads:D

L'Enfer du Nord

Leenane-Louisburgh (Mayo)










Gap of Dunloe:

monkey 456

anyone know any quiet routes in dublin?...

Ole Rodrigo

Backroads of North Dublin are good - through Finglas, St Margarets, Oldtown, Garristown, Naul etc.

monkey 456

thansk a million i am fairly new so i want to start small eg 20 km and build up so just trying to get an idea of easy flat routes.

Cazale

L'Enfer du Nord wrote: »

Leenane-Louisburgh (Mayo)










Gap of Dunloe:

I would agree especially the first one.

Ole Rodrigo

monkey 456 wrote: »

thansk a million i am fairly new so i want to start small eg 20 km and build up so just trying to get an idea of easy flat routes.

the clontarf cycle track would be about 20k both ways

monkey 456

rocstar wrote: »

the clontarf cycle track would be about 20k both ways

sry i dont reli have a clue but eh can u go on that with a road bike nd just cycle?

Ole Rodrigo

Cazale wrote: »

I would agree especially the first one.

And Westport to Leenane also - really nice coming into Connemara.

Ole Rodrigo

monkey 456 wrote: »

sry i dont reli have a clue but eh can u go on that with a road bike nd just cycle?

Yep. Cycle path I should have said.

http://levieenvelo.blogspot.com/2009/07/cycle-path-at-clontarf-road.html

Colmhayden76

Cazale wrote: »

L'Enfer du Nord wrote: »

Leenane-Louisburgh (Mayo)










Gap of Dunloe:

I would agree especially the first one.

The Coast rd in Waterford from Tramore to Dunmore East is Just fantastic on a summer morning and then on to Passage with church hill in Dunmore as a masochistic option!
The balloch oisin pass in kerry is fantastic as well but my favorite route at the moment starts at my front gate and goes 14 km offroad and comes back out on the road 1km from where I started the only tracks on the trail are mine from the last time. Pure magic

Ole Rodrigo

Colmhayden76 wrote: »

The Coast rd in Waterford from Tramore to Dunmore East is Just fantastic on a summer morning and then on to Passage with church hill in Dunmore as a masochistic option!
The balloch oisin pass in kerry is fantastic as well but my favorite route at the moment starts at my front gate and goes 14 km offroad and comes back out on the road 1km from where I started the only tracks on the trail are mine from the last time. Pure magic

Ah - I've a mate down in Tramore who also says the road to Dunmore East is great.

Roadtoad

Out from Ardara up the Glengesh to Glencolmkill, a quick mug of t then lash up the Nire Valley and loop back past Mahon Falls. Need a banana about here. Clip back in outside Foxy Johns, leg it out past Baile an Féirtirigh, down past Dún Chaoin and with the setting sun our your back tell the other half to pick you up outside Foxy's at 1am. She'll never believe the day you just had!

monkey 456

Roadtoad wrote: »

Out from Ardara up the Glengesh to Glencolmkill, a quick mug of t then lash up the Nire Valley and loop back past Mahon Falls. Need a banana about here. Clip back in outside Foxy Johns, leg it out past Baile an Féirtirigh, down past Dún Chaoin and with the setting sun our your back tell the other half to pick you up outside Foxy's at 1am. She'll never believe the day you just had!

Intensive!

Hermy

Cazale wrote: »

I would agree especially the first one.

Drove through Do Lough Pass and surrounding areas earlier this year. Spectacular!

Esroh

The other road to leenane from Westport via Tourmakeady along the shore of Lough Mask leads you to this
Lough Na Fooey


Road runs on right of the lake. then climbs between the hills at the far end and brings you down into the Maam Valley a few km away from leenane

smacl

Waterville - Baligasheen - Glencar - Glenbeigh - Cahirciveen - Waterville. The descent from Baligasheen to Glencar and around the lakes was a real highlight for me this year. As others have said, the coast road around Ballyvaughan - Black head - Cliffs of Moher is also a breathtaking spin. Coming from Dublin, Wicklow is my regular stomping ground, but the Military road from Sallygap to Laragh is also amazing, as is Sally gap - Seefin - Sehan - Bohernabreena.