Cycle Route from Tralee to Galway

rob.mccullagh

I m planning to cycle from Tralee to Galway, via Ballybunion, Tarbert ferry Burren. I want to p-lan to keep off busy or dangerious roads.

If anyone has done this route and has any thoughts on the route plan, I would be very grateful.

victorcarrera

Do you intend doing it in one day? And do you mind the lumpy bits?
Through Clare a longer more scenic and lumpy route would be N67, R478, R777.
The winds are normally SW along there so haul up the main sail.
Seafood chowder in Monk's pub in Ballyvaughan is worth at try.
Kilcolgan to Galway main road is busy but there may be alternatives.

ROK ON

Hello

Last April, I cycled from SW Kerry, thru Tralee to Tarbert for a holdiay In North Clare.

For the Reverse leg I cycled from Ballyvaughan to Killiimer.

Tralee to Tarbert:
I wanted to take the coast road up by Ballybunion and across to tarbert, but I was meeting with the family at the ferry and was pressed for time so I went staright up the N69.

Bit of a drag out of Tralee but the road is reasonably wide and was not busy with traffic. I would use it again If I was cycling that way. Ferry is great by the way and brought back some great memories as a kid going on school tours.

On the way back I cycles from between Ballyvaughan and Fanore down to Doolin across to Lahinch then hugged the coast as far as Spanish Point/Quilty. Here I turned inland to Cree.
Cree (R483).
Cree to Cooraclare to Killrush to Killimer (so you would take the reverse of that route most likely).

Nice road with good surface and very quiet in terms of traffic. Typical irish road in that it is up down up down. But enjoyable nonetheless.

When you are doing the cycle I would recommend that you go up the coast (Spanish Point- Lahinch - Cliffs of Moher - Doolin - Fanore Ballvaughan - Kinvarra - Galway)

The atlantic coast while very windy is spectacular. Road usually quiet enough and very safe for cycling. In the main the road surface is good.

As regards food. Please dont give your custom to Monks. It is sh1te and always has been but has this amazing reputation.
If you stop in Lahinch try Kennys Bar (great food and great staff).

Vaughans in Liscannor is good.

I would highly recommend two places in Fanore
O'Donoghues pub has been around for decades. It has recently ben taken over by the son. He has some lovely food and a warm easygoing friendly manner. I was there one night last May and he brought out a big bucket of freshly caught Oysters and asked just offered them to the customers free gratis. The crab claws he serves are fresh and succulaent unlike the overpriced muck served down the road in Monks. His staeks are great and he makes his own proper chips (not frozen ones). Nice saldas and fish also.
Across the road from O'Donoghues is a mediterranean/Lebanese place that does great coffee, ice cream and gorgeuos food. (http://www.vasco.ie/dine.php)

The coast road to Ballyvaughan is beautiful. It does get a little but busier from Ballyvaughan to Kinvarra. The run in to Galway can get busy, but it is a fine road to cycle on.

Best of luck with the trip.

manwithaplan

I cycle Tralee-Tarbert regularly enough. If you want to avoid the N69 and not do the extra mileage involved in hugging the coast, go Tralee-Abbeydorney-Ballyduff-Lisselton (don't go into Ballybunion) - Ballylongford - Tarbert. It's not that exciting to be honest but it's probably your best route. Again, there's a reasonable hill coming out of Tralee. Overall, it's not that much longer that the N69. ROK ON is right though about the N69 being OK for cycling. Can't help you with the Clare bit.

rob.mccullagh

Spot on information, Thanks for this. I m planning to do the cycle over three days with people coming by Train from Dublin and plane from UK, all starting out at Tralee at about 2pm, I m interested in your opinion of the roads up and around Ballybunion. The last ferry is at 7.30 so I don't want to miss that. First night in Kilrush, then head to Ballyfaughan for chowder and a feed of pints the next night. Depending on the feedback, I d like to go via Loophead and go over the Burren.
Also interested that you think there s a less busy route into Galway as I really want to stay away from the Traffic.

Many thanks for your input

victorcarrera

I did Kilkee to Loop Head (R487 ) into a strong headwind. Is is very exposed along there and nowhere to hide from it. Along the way Carrigaholt and Kilbaha are nice little seaside villages and Loop Head light house is now open to the public.
Not worth the effort I put in to get out there IMO but literally freewheeled all the way back to Lahinch .

manwithaplan

You should be fine for time. Even well loaded, Tralee-Tarbert is 3 hours max. You'll even have time for a pint in my father-in-law's pub! The surfaces are variable but nothing seriously bad. Traffic is light enough throughout. There are signs for Tarbert/the ferry from Ballyduff onwards (maybe even before). I can post you a link to the route later if you want - I can't do it from here.

WakeyTyke

Kilrush to Ballyvaughan is around 80km, if you go via Loop Head you would be doubling the distance to about 165km.

It would be worth it but it would be a fairly tough cycle as the hardest climbs would be coming at the end around the Burren.

If you do intend heading out to Loop Head PM me (or I can meet you in Kilrush) and I can give you directions of the best scenic, quiet routes from Kilrush - dependent on your time schedule and interests.

Esroh

Ballyvaughan, kinvara, kilcolgan is a narrow road but cyclists are the norm so you will be ok.
Kilcolgan, Clarinbridge,Oranmore there is a hard shoulder(there is an alternative from Clarin B to Oranmore but its not worth it as th surface is bad) From Oranmore you can go in the coast rd rather than the dual carrige way. Once you join the Dublin Rd you hae the Bus/Cycle lane