Biking the Kerry way(MTB)

kayaksurfbum

Howdy.

Has anyone cycled the kerry way? all of it? Iv done a few sections from kellarney to Kenmare and over towards the black valley but id like to do the whole thing over a few days. is it possible by bike does anyone know. Cant find anything on the google web for it.

Thanks.

ROK ON

kayaksurfbum wrote: »

Howdy.

Has anyone cycled the kerry way? all of it? Iv done a few sections from kellarney to Kenmare and over towards the black valley but id like to do the whole thing over a few days. is it possible by bike does anyone know. Cant find anything on the google web for it.

Thanks.

Officially - It is difficult to find anything on it as it is not permissible to cycle it.

Unofficially - people do cycle it, but they are unlikely to advertise the fact as it attracts attention from the park rangers.

kayaksurfbum

Yeah i heard that alright. I was told that if you meet a ranger on it you have to promise that you will carry the bike over the single track sections and they will be cool!

FirstinLastout

What exactly is the reasoning behind not being allowed to cycle it?
Destruction or damage to the ground/trails etc??

Hmmzis

FirstinLastout wrote: »

What exactly is the reasoning behind not being allowed to cycle it?
Destruction or damage to the ground/trails etc??

That's the reasoning I've heard so far. Though when looking at the damage the hordes of dirt bikers have done in 3rock on their club spins I can sort of get why someone might go :eek when any sort of two wheeled device on knobly tires comes close to a park.

langdang

Have walked some of it near Sneem - Waterville.
Have cycled some of the old kenmare road.
Personally, even though I prefer offroad cycling to onroad, cycling most of the kerry way would do nothing for me.
It just falls between all the stools for me - most of it is not an enjoyable pootle or a fun mountain bike track, too much carrying bikes, too many gates. hey, that's just me though...

deandean

I have done the bit from Killarney to Kenmare a few times, it is a seriously good craic on the way back. I have also done it at night! Haven't done other bits of the Kerry way though.

I have met a good few walkers, no problems, I have never met another MTBer up there.

Yea that bit is a really nice MTB trail IMO and it is riddickless & unjustifiable that there are 'No MTB' signs. Anyone up to canvassing the local politician with the cap?

There are a few nice if unchallenging trails along the Dingle way (a lot of road though), MTBs are AOK on that.

Padaer09

Anyone know if any of the Mcgillycuddy Reeks ridge walk is do-able on a mtb?

Conba

Can anyone tell me if the Killarney to Kenmare section is doable (in that direction) with a hybrid bike? And if so how much hike-a-bike are we talking about?

okane1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120013449#Comment_120013449

Not ideal on a hybrid bike. A lot of sections are rough and a MTB would be required. Also keep in mind cycling is not allowed on the route. People do cycle it (early mornings, late evenings)

hans aus dtschl

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120013449#Comment_120013449

Middle of summer you can make progress on the dry earth. You'll be carrying a nice bit though. I made it up some sections on 23's! But it wouldn't be something I'd recommend

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/78738840#Comment_78738840

I really don't think the Binn Chaorach ridge is. Just my opinion. And the hydro road to Caher is just a bog, I don't see anybody cycling up that.

whisky_galore

What is it with people being chronically unwilling to follow rules in this country?

There's probably sound reasons why it's not allowed. If you want a trail set up for it, lobby for one.

hans aus dtschl

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120014730#Comment_120014730

Not sure if you're replying to me or the OP, but there's no rules that I know of on the Kenmare - Killarney section. Agri vehicles use it and it's accessed directly from the road. I've hiked the reeks a lot of times and never spotted signs saying that MTB's are not allowed, but personally I don't think they're possible anyway. Maybe the hydro road is but it wouldn't be worthwhile IMO.

hans aus dtschl

Here's google streetview from the Google car driving a section from Killarney to Kenmare, of two cars driving a section from Killarney to Kenmare:

https://www.google.ie/maps/@51.9599512,-9.5775213,3a,75y,173.67h,78.44t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1stwQHaQqJafdNkX5mVjvL9A!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

Edit: here's a different car on the Kerry way from Kenmare to Killarney:

https://www.google.ie/maps/@51.9559814,-9.5783608,3a,75y,178.94h,81.83t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sQWeMucuw-KiG2Y-7HC_dzw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

Mefistofelino

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120014795#Comment_120014795

The fun stuff / trouble starts after the Streetview section.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5GwOit7UPVw

whisky_galore

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120014771#Comment_120014771

There a big sign you can't miss on the main road, advance warning, no bicycles allowed on old Kenmare road.

Plastik

By who? Under what by-law? There's plenty of signs all around the country that have absolutely zero legal standing. The "rules" of local cranks.

Mefistofelino

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120015059#Comment_120015059

I think the section of the Old Kenmare Road within the Killarney National Park does have a prohibition. Not sure that it applies outside the park, which would be the section from Galweys Bridge down to Kenmare.

Conba

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120014730#Comment_120014730

I'm a fairly 'stick to the rules' guy normally but in this case I'm trying to navigate my way around the Ring of Kerry without getting killed by tourist traffic. Seems very difficult to get away from main roads in parts. I know, I know.... mountains.

Large bottle small glass

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120015739#Comment_120015739

https://threerockbooks.com/product/cycling-in-ireland/

One way of doing it. A few here have bought the book

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/11612185

And another, maybe 20km of the actual Ring. I rode a version of that in 2015

Just to add Killarney Kenmare old road is a lovely walk, not sure I'd bother with the bike.

Taking Kerry way by foot to Lord Brandon's cottage and a boat back to Mucross is a pretty class day out.

whisky_galore

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120015412#Comment_120015412

Oh, it's only a National Park and it's their rules. Maybe if you don't like it you can go somewhere else?

Or maybe we just let people do whatever the fcuk they like, ride bikes, ride quads, ride horses, light fires, dump rubbish, let pets loose and see what sort of a park we have then? It's no wonder there's no right to roam here when people can't behave themselves and respect rules.

hans aus dtschl

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120015059#Comment_120015059

Can you link that to me? I've never seen such a sign, despite having been there very many times? Maybe there's signs down further towards Killarney, but certainly between Galway's bridge and Kenmare I never saw any sign, in either direction?

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120015460#Comment_120015460

That could be partially correct yep: but the park actually extends well south of Galways bridge from the maps I've seen. The "fenced off" section is from between around Galways Bridge and Killarney I think. I haven't ever done that section, even on foot. But there's even a big massive road right through the national park, as others have said. It gets heavy tourist traffic. The fenced off section of the National Park is only a small subset. You can cycle between Kenmare and Galways bridge without breaking any rules that I know of. https://www.killarneynationalpark.ie/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/parkmap.jpg

Basically the "rules of the park" as per these supposed signs, don't actually apply to the...eh...park. They apply to something else. Some fenced-off part of the park. People drive through Muckross, there's horse and carts going through there too. And from the KillarneyNationalPark.ie website, which is presumably the official website of the National Park, I found this beauty: "For the active, walking and cycling are the best ways to see the National Park. There is a network of surfaced tracks in the Muckross, Knockreer and Ross Island areas of the park which are ideal for both cyclists and walkers. Bicycles can be rented in and around Killarney Town".

Cycling is not prohibited in the National Park. There are likely no signs to the effect that cycling is prohibited in the National Park. Likely cycling is prohibited in some sub-section of the National Park, but I haven't seen those signs myself.

hans aus dtschl

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120014901#Comment_120014901

Yep exactly, it's very rough towards the Kenmare side.

And for clarity, I'm absolutely certain there's no signs prohibiting traffic whatsoever. There's people living where the streetview ends, likely why they can't ban the traffic. And I'm certain there's no signs at all on the Kenmare side. I suspect there's something between around Torque and Galways bridge maybe. Again, I haven't done that myself so I can't say.

Rows Grower

Some people are obviously not aware that the Kerry Way is not public land. Lots of it is owned by different people who allow it to be managed as a walking trail. Nobody has a right to even walk it unless the landowners continue to allow it.

The public are very lucky that the landowners are kind enough to allow people enjoy the beauty of their private property especially in light of the amount of people that try and claim compensation for accidents whilst walking on private land. It's a walking trail, not a cycling trail. There are no signs up saying skateboarding or roller skating are prohibited either, this doesn't mean they are allowed.

Mefistofelino

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120017531#Comment_120017531

The prohibition is specific to the Old Kenmare Road. This is a sh!tty snip from Streetview but this sign is at the access road from Muckross up to the Torc Upper Car Park (for those on small screens, the last two lines read "No bicycles allowed on Old Kenmare Road"). No idea of the reason - maybe they don't want the folk who rent a bike, not having ridden one for years, trying to get up a hill that averages over 6% for 1600m with sections of 10%. That road to the car park is quite narrow too. Or maybe they are trying to protect the bog sections later in the route.

There's another sign with a raft of prohibitions and a traffic barrier at the upper car park as you start on the graveled path.

The section from Torc to the small public road from Galweys Bridge is just a 7 km hiking path - no houses on this section and while you might get a quad along it, you won't take an ordinary car.

After this section the trail joins the public road you mentioned for about 600m until it runs out. There is another general prohibition sign (No fires, no horses, no bikes etc) buried in the ferns at the point where the trail and the public road meet. And after this public road section is the rough section shown in the video posted earlier.

There's no prohibition sign at the Kenmare end of the track.

hans aus dtschl

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120017770#Comment_120017770

That all makes sense to me: I come at it from the Kenmare side, past the house, to Galways bridge, turn around and head back. I have never seen a sign where the Google Streetview car drives though you might be right, there might be one hidden in the undergrowth somewhere that I haven't seen. But I haven't been trying to go that way, so why would I see it!

hesker

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120017948#Comment_120017948

How long does that spin take you, round trip?

Mefistofelino

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120017948#Comment_120017948

Sign

hans aus dtschl

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120018256#Comment_120018256

It was slow because of my low ability and stopping for breaks. I think over 90 minutes anyway. It's only around 1-2km uphill from the road to the top at the Kenmare side, but it's rough and steep and that takes the majority of the time. I could barely get up that and it's slow going.

whisky_galore

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120017661#Comment_120017661

Exactly.

The 'dogs on leads' sign at the old Kenmare road car park was repeatedly vandalised by people who did not agree with that particular rule. Again, there are reasons why dogs need to be on leads and because owners can't be bothered to train their dogs properly.

hans aus dtschl

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120018289#Comment_120018289

That's near where the house is, right? I must have passed that 10 times and I've never noticed it! As I say, I've never turned off the road and gone straight on past that sign, only gone "left" or "right" of it as it's shown in that image, staying on the main track, down to the bridge or back to Kenmare. Even looking at it now - and I'm obviously biased - I don't think it applies to the section the cars are seen driving on, in Google maps?

hans aus dtschl

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120017661#Comment_120017661

Except, obviously, the sections of the Kerry Way that are on public roads.

Icyseanfitz

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120016887#Comment_120016887

With that attitude you wouldn't be able to mtb in Ireland at all outside of the very few, very limited coilte trail centers that cater to absolute beginners.

In Killarney alone there's a massive amount of very good unsanctioned trails of varying difficulty within the nation park.

And comparing the potential environmental and trail damage of a mtb to a quad/horse/4x4/fire/rubbish is utterly ridiculous

whisky_galore

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120018532#Comment_120018532

Enough mtb traffic and you will cause erosion.

'Unsanctioned' meaning what? Meaning you shouldn't be there?

Icyseanfitz

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120018743#Comment_120018743

We better tell the deer to leave the forest as well with all the erosion and trouble they cause 🤷‍♂️ you know it would be even better for the environment as whole if no one was allowed near our natural resources at all 👍

Rows Grower

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120018499#Comment_120018499

I have no idea why would you feel the need to point that out in the context of my post hans.

Here in Ireland there is no question about the legality of cycling on public roads.

whisky_galore

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120018961#Comment_120018961

Whataboutery.

iwillhtfu

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120018743#Comment_120018743

Sorry but that's bullshit there's more harm caused by hikers on all of our mountains than anyone on a MTB. It might be a different story with moto x bikes but overall it's primarily bodies in boots causing any erosion. A good example on any rail is hikers tend to avoid puddles so radiate out and around them.

I've ridden the trail in question and I wouldn't recommend it. Much the same for the guys that take their bikes up Carrauntoohil, I wouldn't see the effort required as worth it and more so mountain rescue have enough to be doing.

Rows Grower

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120021564#Comment_120021564

No it's not bullshit, it's a fact.

It might be a fact you don't like but it's still a fact.

iwillhtfu

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120021602#Comment_120021602

Don't be silly or perhaps you'd like to provide a link to some legitimate study on how MTB has increased the levels of soil erosion. A fact that most don't like is that too much of our land is in private hands and that needs to be addressed before I'll start worrying about soil erosion from my tyres.

hans aus dtschl

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120019076#Comment_120019076

Only because the piece of the Kerry Way that I was discussing at length with others (Kenmare to Galways Bridge) is a public road! I'm just reiterating that there are reasonably large chunks of the Kerry Way that are not directly on private farm land, whereas someone could have possibly misunderstood your post to mean that the Kerry Way is not on public land, that's all.

hesker

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120022260#Comment_120022260

And that’s exactly what I took from the post so thanks hans for clarifying.

Icyseanfitz

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120021602#Comment_120021602

link some offical studies that say mountain bikes are worse for natural landscapes than walkers/hikers

gn3dr

I'm from Killarney so reading this with some bemusement. You can MTB practically all around Torc and Mangerton mountains with lots of trails. Same around Muckross. You can cycle all the way past the car park on top of Queen's drive but once you reach the bridge at the start of the old Kenmare Road there are very clear signs saying no vehicles or bikes. I obey that rule, even though it would be a nice spin, so not too happy to read about out of towners coming in ignoring it.

I just read by the way that the NPWS have bought the 175 acres around Galwey's bridge so the National Park will I assume extend a bit.

(Incidentally you could actually drive a car up the old Kenmare Road if it got past the barriers because years ago I know a stolen Renault 5 had to be recovered from right at the top after being left there by some scrotes. I had to tow it down for the Gardai)

Rows Grower

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120022822#Comment_120022822

Why are you asking me to provide you with links to studies that have nothing what so ever to do with the post I wrote?

It's no wonder cyclists are often viewed by non cyclists as people that have an overblown sense of entitlement and self importance when this is the calibre of response that is posted on a public forum.

Find your own links to whatever it is you imagined the topic of conversation was about, and stay off private land where you have no permission to cycle and are a danger to those that have permission to walk.

Rows Grower

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120022260#Comment_120022260

The Kerry Way is not public land hans, the thread is about biking the Kerry Way, it is illegal and a danger to you and others to bike the Kerry Way.

Icyseanfitz

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120023117#Comment_120023117

you've stated that "its a fact" that mountain bikes are bad for the environment in that they cause more soil/environmental erosion than hikers/walkers, the onus is one you to back that statement up 👍️

Rows Grower

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120023205#Comment_120023205

You are lying.

The onus is on you to prove you are not a liar.

Prove you are not a liar.

Show me where I stated it's a fact that mountain bikes are bad for the environment in that they cause more soil/environmental erosion than hikers/walkers and I will retract my statement that you are a liar.

The onus is on you to prove your false claim or admit you are lying.

Idleater

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120021602#Comment_120021602

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120023638#Comment_120023638

Here?

Rows Grower

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120023732#Comment_120023732

Here what?

What is your point Idleater?

hesker

I see that there appears to be an existing public right of way on The Old Kenmare Road. So presumably accessing that is not solely down to owner agreement

https://consult.kerrycoco.ie/en/consultation/draft-kerry-county-development-plan-2022-2028/chapter/1-public-rights-way

Row 37