Help me plan a route from Kildare village to Shankill

on_the_nickel · 11-02-2013 9:20am #1

Planning to do this Thursday. I'm not at all familiar with the western side of the mountains and wondering should I head to Poulaphouca and go to Laragh, or north along the lake and up Sally Gap from Kippure?

Thinking of a route around 100km, with the option to extend 20k or so if time allows.

Any thoughts appreciated.

nilhg · 11-02-2013 9:59am

I'd suggest this, nice quiet roads, an alternative is the old main road from Kildare to the Ballymany interchange and across to Kilcullen then on the route below.

http://ridewithgps.com/routes/2136399

From Ballymore you have the option to go Hollywood, Wicklow gap either.

monkeyslayer · 11-02-2013 10:02am

both are nice routes... kippure route will be a shorter climb, steep toward the top but otherwise fine... by going the other way the wicklow gap way is a long drag but not too bad, also you could go up the glenmacnass direction afterwards for more climbing or continue up the relative flat toward roundwood after laragh... if you have the legs for it and a decent day I'd go the second way with more hills

something like this: http://ridewithgps.com/routes/2136418

on_the_nickel · 11-02-2013 1:03pm

Thanks both, driving up from Cork with the family on Thursday morning and hopping out at Kildare Village (yes, a deal has been done), so that gives me something to work with.

Once I get to the crossroads, I know where I am!

on_the_nickel · 15-02-2013 8:41pm

Thanks lads, did this yesterday. http://app.strava.com/activities/40872926#

Had a few issues with GPS not matching segments, and the wind/rain on the Sally Gap was not nice, but apart from that, a glorious route in glorious weather. That descent off the Wicklow Gap is absolutely fantastic!

monkeyslayer · 15-02-2013 8:45pm

fair play, glad you enjoyed it! thats a nasty little hill after hollywood eh? almost gets the better of me everytime...

on_the_nickel · 15-02-2013 8:56pm

monkeyslayer wrote: »

fair play, glad you enjoyed it! thats a nasty little hill after hollywood eh? almost gets the better of me everytime...

Ha, just a bit! I'd stopped for lunch in the Hollywood Inn, not good just before that climb. Just as well I chose the soup and sandwiches instead of the cod and chips.

It was very enjoyable, road surface, for the most part was great, and fairly quiet. The sun was out for most of it, got very lucky.

Help me plan a route from Kildare village to Shankill

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