Scenic and quiet place to go for a spin in West/South-West/South

Postit

I was thinking about putting my bike in the car and heading off to rent a small secluded cottage somewhere in a scenic part of the West, South-West or South for about three days sometime between 29/01/12 and 04/02/12.

Does anyone have any recommendations for somewhere like this, that would be good for a couple of approx 60km - 70km spins? Would need decent(ish) roads for my skinny tyres!

Also, if you know of accomodation in same area, let me know. House only, no B&B's etc.

Plastik

Base yourself in Kenmare and the Healy Pass, Caha Pass, Priests Leap, Molls Gap, Gap of Dungloe and others are all within striking distance.

ROK ON

Hi.

If you want something to do after you cycle, then you should be aware that several restaurants, bars etc in Kenmare close from January to about Paddys w/e.
The best place to get shoort stay holiday rentals I find is Daft.

If you need any advice on routes around South Kerry/West Cork then let me know.
Also, Lahinch can be a good base in that there is some lovely cycling and also a bit of surfing.

Murph100

Head to Ventry, just beyond Dingle, or Ballyferriter. There's tons of holiday cottages around there, which will be rock bottom price for that period. Loads of possible routes there, roads will be quiet at this time of year, and the scenery is jaw-dropping, undoubtedly the best in the country, and thats coming from a West Cork man ! In a word ... EPIC !

thehangtenguy

Plastik wrote: »

Base yourself in Kenmare and the Healy Pass, Caha Pass, Priests Leap, Molls Gap, Gap of Dungloe and others are all within striking distance.

+1

Benbecul97

You could do worse than base yourself in Clifden.

thebouldwhacker

I'd have to agree with Kenmare, fantastic cycling to be had but you have to be into hills, hard to find a better place tbh.

If your looking for something less sweat inducing the endless beaches of the copper coast between Waterford and Dungarvan certainly has its challenges but is slightly more forgiving and is beautiful, you are spoilt for choice then with Sean Kelly routes all around the South East. As above, Daft is a good source for sourcing a house.
Best of luck and enjoy!!!

Buceph

Murph100 wrote: »

Head to Ventry, just beyond Dingle, or Ballyferriter.

Two of my aunts have houses down there. One of whom rents her place out. One of the aunts' husbands did a lot of cycling around there, you can either go around all the bays and harbours or head up into the hills/mountains. If you want I can pass you on her details, or I can give her your details if you'd like. Just be warned that there's no pubs or restaurants within real walking distance (especially at night.) So it's really only a place for daytime walks/cycles (or even a winter swim in the nearby beach (something my hirsute Basque friend did a few October's ago,)) and at nighttime making yourself dinner with a bottle of red. That is unless you stay in Ballyferriter village itself, which is small and Kerry-quaint.

(Mods, if me pimping my aunt's place is against the rules here, just let me know and I'll take it out of the post and leave the Ballyferriter info. It's a lovely spot, and I know a lot of people cycle down there.)

Edit: This is the area: http://maps.google.ie/maps/place?ftid=0x484fe367b6b72a6d:0xa00c7a997318cc0&q=Ballyferriter,+kerry&hl=en&ved=0CAwQ-gswAA&sa=X&ei=rvYKT6H7J8_PONLKsOgH

gráfinn

I am also looking at doing a weekend cycling trip in the Kerry area.

I was wondering if there were any places that had looped cycles that you could leave the car and arrive back at the same place?

I really want to see the Gap of Dunloe and some of the Ring of Kerry. Where would be best to base myself?

Is Killarney very touristy? Is it better to stay somewhere else and pass through there?

I was looking to do maybe a loop of about 60-80km for a day.

Any suggestions?

Plastik

Kenmare - Glengarrif - Healy Pass - kenmare
Kenmare - Molls Gap - Killarney - Gap of Dungloe - Molls Gap - Kenmare
Kenmare - Derrynane - Kenmare

The Dingle peninsula is also a stunning spot and Dingle is a fantastic town.

ROK ON

@grafinn

My favourite routes in Kerry are
Kenmare Glengariff Ballylickey Borlin Valley Kenmare 90km

Kenmare Top of Coom Ballingeary Pass of Keiminagh Kealkill Borlin Valley Kenmare 100km

Kenmare Molls Gap Blackwater Church Ballaghisheen Glencar Caragh Lake Killorglin Killarney Kenmare. 110km

Chris O Donoghue

ROK ON wrote: »

@grafinn
Kenmare Molls Gap Blackwater Church Ballaghisheen Glencar Caragh Lake Killorglin Killarney Kenmare. 110km

That one is a great route, particularly around Caragh Lake. Another nice one in that area would be to to go to Molls Gap, then head to Sneem and Waterville, then turn onto the middle of the peninsula and cycle back via Ballaghisheen to Lough Acoose and Glencar; if you're looking for solitude and great scenery, that's the place for it.

smacl

ROK ON wrote: »

Kenmare Molls Gap Blackwater Church Ballaghisheen Glencar Caragh Lake Killorglin Killarney Kenmare. 110km

+1, nicest loop I did last year was Waterville Ballaghisheen Glencar Caragh Lake Glebeigh Cahirciveen Waterville.

Peterx

Clifden is another choice, it has 3 or 4 signposted routes of varying distances and is not as hilly as Kenmare. Kenmare is a prettier town though.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/64043326

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/64043365

Colonialboy

Postit wrote: »

I was thinking about putting my bike in the car and heading off to rent a small secluded cottage somewhere in a scenic part of the West, South-West or South for about three days sometime between 29/01/12 and 04/02/12.

Does anyone have any recommendations for somewhere like this, that would be good for a couple of approx 60km - 70km spins? Would need decent(ish) roads for my skinny tyres!

Also, if you know of accomodation in same area, let me know. House only, no B&B's etc.

your holiday sounds like the story of my life, secluded cottages in the west and south west, Im very familiar with all the places mentioned so far .. heres my 2 cents ...

for secluded cottage, Id consider outside Clifden, maybe around Omey Island , Cleggan , Letterfrack or outside Roundstone even.
Seclusion and bad road surfaces go hand in hand.
From Clifden I find you have lots of loops, over 3 days you have a great selection heading
Northish - Letterfrack,Tully, Lettergesh, Doolough, Ashleigh falls, heding into Mayo. Check out the route for the Connemara Marathon theres a good climb on that into Maam Cross
South - great spins to Ballyconnelly south connemara roundstone, maam cross,
East - Recess - Inagh Valley
West out of Clifden - smaller wilder loops Cleggan, Omey Island

Dingle and Ballyferriter is beautiful also but I find it alot busier round there, the roads are primary roads your on and theres less of a selection of quieter routes and you would find yourself on the same section of busy road alot over 3 days.

Kenmare is very nice, and you have access to good hills but I find that part of the country too manicured its too 5 star for my liking, Dingle and Clifden are more rough around the edges.

Before I had kids I did this sort of trip regularly a few times a year , heading west, getting away for a few days off-season early in Jan set my head right for the year.
I used book into a hostel in Letterfrack (pm me for name), take a private room or else the dorms were real quiet this time of year and do big loops on the bike, not trainging spins just enjoyable cycles, come bck for a big feed and enjoy the ambience of the west. Its a great place if you want seclusion you can have it or if you want company in the common room its avail also .

Bring a good ordance survey map, you cant get too lost, and only panic when the waves are over the bottle cage .. enjoy ...