Cycling Holiday

twaimkit

Hi i am planning to book a self catering holiday in Kerry for a week in september. I would appreciate any advice about the location which would give me the best scope for as many different routes as possible during the week. I had been thinking dingle or Kilorglin might suit but before i book i would appreciate any advice on this. THe longest cycle to date is 140km and i plan to do a mix of between 60-140 or even further on the day if i plan my routes properly so the location will be important.
Thanks in advance

petethedrummer

Dingle is fantastic. Dunno if you'd get a week out of it, it being a peninsula. But it's worth spending a couple of days there.

ozzy jr

We have a place in Castlemaine which is a good spot for taking in Dingle peninsula or heading around the corner to take in Valentia or the Ring of Kerry.

twaimkit

Thanks for the quick replys. Having looked at map i agree about dingle being a bit restrictive as a base cycling wise and i am looking up Camp and castlemaine as well. Dingle looks like a lovely one day cycle from castlemaine and then ring of kerry another day and north kerry and south kerry towards beara would all make up to four days cycles one day rest maybe and it should be no problem finding a couple more maybe just take off and see where the road takes me:). Any suggesstions for cycles also appreciated.

twaimkit

HI ozzy junior as an afterthought do you rent out your cottage in castlemaine? If you did depending on the location i might be interested?
Thanks

Vélo

I'm back a couple of weeks now from a similar holiday.

I did the following route after getting the train to Cork:

Day 1. Cork to Skibbereen
Day 2. Skibbereen to Kenmare
Day 3 Kenmare to Tralee
Day 4. Tralee to Kilkee
Day 5. Kilkee to Ballyvaughan

I keep meaning to do a proper write up about it. Looking back now I'd say day 3 was the best closely followed by day 2 & 5.

On Day 3 from Kenmare to Tralee was beautiful, we cycled up Molls Gap and through the Gap of Dunloe, you'd be hard pressed to find a more beautiful cycle. The weather helped as it was a scorcher for most of the day.

When I do a proper write up I'll send a link to it.

I should really have read your post properly before I commented so ignore anything I said

twaimkit

il take any information at all so it wasnt a waste. It might even help me plan a days cycling so thanks for your input and i would like the link when you get it done. I had considered doing something similar but a couple friends coming down to join me during week so i need a base. But next year its the plan just to head off and do something like you did for 1-2 weeks around ireland. Im planning for that already:D

ford2600

Kenmare is a great base, within striking distance of Beara, Sheeps head, Iveragh and Dingle penisula. A lovely 80k loop is Caha and Healy pass loop taking in Kenmare and Glengarriff.

A loop with Bantry and Sheeps head would also be smashing. Could do Mizen penisula instead if you wanted a longer loop.

Head north for Connor pass dingle and ventry...

September is great month traffic wise, quite and unless your in bad luck weather should be reasonable..

Will be doing a little west cork, kerry tour on hybrid or a very light touring on road bike myself

Enjoy

twaimkit wrote: »

il take any information at all so it wasnt a waste. It might even help me plan a days cycling so thanks for your input and i would like the link when you get it done. I had considered doing something similar but a couple friends coming down to join me during week so i need a base. But next year its the plan just to head off and do something like you did for 1-2 weeks around ireland. Im planning for that already:D

ford2600

Also as other poster said Black Valley from top of Molls Gap to Gap of Dunloe is as good as it gets

twaimkit wrote: »

il take any information at all so it wasnt a waste. It might even help me plan a days cycling so thanks for your input and i would like the link when you get it done. I had considered doing something similar but a couple friends coming down to join me during week so i need a base. But next year its the plan just to head off and do something like you did for 1-2 weeks around ireland. Im planning for that already:D

twaimkit

Thanks Ford2600 all ideas very much taken onboard. Im thinking of adding to my bike collection with a touring bike next year if possible for longer holidays if i get on okay this year. I have a feeling map my ride will be on overtime for next few weeks There is nowhere as beautiful as cork and kerry for a good days cycling. I hope you have the weather for your trip.

numorouno

I live in Kerry and I agree with Kenmare.there are loads of routes on your doorstep.

Ring of Kerry (with molls gap out of the way early......or at the end if you want to be sadistic)

Healy pass Glengariff Caha pass

Kilgarvan Bowrin valley ballingeary top of coom

ballaghbeama ballaghasheen and then on to Cahersiveen and some of the ring of Kerry of any routes down south

Gap of dunloe

There are simply loads and loads

twaimkit

Thanks for that. Part of me is thinking it would be better to just cycle and staying over as i go but as i have to have a base this time it is veering towards kenmare/castlemaine/camp. Thanks for advice

twaimkit

Thanks Doozer28 advice much appreciated. Kenmare is certainly looking the more suitable option:)

ROK ON

I live in Kenmare.
As a touring base the town is streets ahead of anywhere else in Ireland in my biased opinion.
1. Accommodation to suit all tastes & budgets,
2. Fantastic restaurants and bars.
3. Kenmare nests between 2 peninsulas (Iveragh and Beara).

Routes I would do.
Ring of Beara via Healy Pass Castletownbere Allihies and Ardgroom
Shehy Mountain loop - Glengariff Ballylickey Gougane Barra Ballingeary Top of Coom Kenmare
Black Valley - Molls Gap Gap of Dunloe Beaufort Killarney Muckross Ladies View Molls Gap Kenmare
1/2 Ring - Sneem Caherdaniel Coomkiste Waterville Ballaghasheen Glencar Ballaghbeama Molls Gap Kenmare

Also if you wanted to head to Dingle then from Kenmare to the very top of the Conor Pass is only 110km.

There is a downside to Kerry and particularly South West Kerry.
Roads are absolutely brutal.
It rains a lot - 3x the national average.

twaimkit

Hi ROK great advice coming in and i have decided on Kenmare now so looking forward to doing as many of these routes as possible. Nothing wrong with being bias eiter. As for the rain i welcome abit of rainto cool the joints il think il be needing it:D and i can pack a few extra tube for the roads and whats a cycling trip witout a couple of flats:cool:.

pot p

Let us know how u get on, will be down that direction next month, cheers

twaimkit

Hi Pot P i will but im not going until september so it will not be of any use to you next week im afraid. Some great info been given though so hope it will be of use to you as well

langdang

I'll add my support for kenmare (with killarney as a plan b). Both have plenty stuff to cover you when you're not in the saddle.

numorouno

ROK ON wrote: »

I live in Kenmare.

1/2 Ring - Sneem Caherdaniel Coomkiste Waterville Ballaghimish Glencar Ballaghbeama Molls Gap Kenmare

Also if you wanted to head to Dingle then from Kenmare to the very top of the Conor Pass is only 110km.

There is a downside to Kerry and particularly South West Kerry.
Roads are absolutely brutal.
It rains a lot - 3x the national average.

just be aware that ballaghbeama road was cat last year not sure if its improved but if it hasnt i wouldnt advise going up there on a bike at all. you could go cahersiveen ballaghasheen and then through glencar and on to gap of dunloe or molls gap for a different (quieter!) ring of kerry

twaimkit

Cheers for that.

ROK ON

Road is fine. Resurfaced in the Glencar side.

numorouno

ROK ON wrote: »

Road is fine. Resurfaced in the Glencar side.

Just goes to show I haven't been up there for a while

ozzy jr

twaimkit wrote: »

HI ozzy junior as an afterthought do you rent out your cottage in castlemaine? If you did depending on the location i might be interested?
Thanks

Sorry but it's not available for this Summer

twaimkit

No problem thanks for replying. it was worth a shot. Its looking like il head to Kenmare now anyway and work from there. Cant wait and the only annoying thing os that i didnt book my holidays earlier:(