Area of Solitude for Cycling anywhere in Ireland

kerry4sam

Every person has their own reasons for taking to the bike in all weather conditions but could anyone reading here, regardless of where you are living, tell me:

Where have you cycled anywhere in Ireland where you have felt utmost solitude in your surroundings?

I've two days off this coming week and I need to break away somewhere with my bike to some peaceful, solitary surroundings.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I'll look into accommodation etc afterwards once I can decide on an area to head to. I've cycled around 5-lakes (Lough Derg, Lough Ree, Lough Corrib, Lough Mask & Carra), but looking for somewhere else instead of returning to those areas for solitude, if possible.

Many Thanks in advance,
kerry4sam

Masala

Done a Charity Cycle in Kilnamartyr on Cork/Kerry border (spelling???) - I think it was the Valley Wheelers gig and they went over the Boram Pass / Climb.

Lost most of the other cyclists and found myself up there on my own and the decent felt that I was the only person left on earth. Majestic.....

Raam

It's pretty lonely on a turbo trainer in the box room upstairs.

vistafinder

Before I saw Masalas post I was thinking the same place. Its called Borlin between Ballylicky and kilgarvan the quietest road around a bit lumpy and a nice climb to the top but worth every pedal stroke.

If you are looking for a loop you could fit in top of Coom to the top of the mouth of the Glen and into Balingeary. How about Gougane Bara some quiet boreens around there aswell.

velopeloton

North Leitrim and West Cavan. Lots of hills and lakes and very quiet roads.

ROK ON

vistafinder wrote: »

Before I saw Masalas post I was thinking the same place. Its called Borlin between Ballylicky and kilgarvan the quietest road around a bit lumpy and a nice climb to the top but worth every pedal stroke.

If you are looking for a loop you could fit in top of Coom to the top of the mouth of the Glen and into Balingeary. How about Gougane Bara some quiet boreens around there aswell.

Masala wrote: »

Done a Charity Cycle in Kilnamartyr on Cork/Kerry border (spelling???) - I think it was the Valley Wheelers gig and they went over the Boram Pass / Climb.

Lost most of the other cyclists and found myself up there on my own and the decent felt that I was the only person left on earth. Majestic.....

http://goo.gl/maps/s1fTf

Thinking the same thing myself.

Although, you cant beat the turbo for getting away from it all.

http://goo.gl/maps/Jt0SB
As lonely as it gets.

Finally - if you really really want solitude. Go out for a cycle with 100 people way faster than you. Bust a gut to keep up. Then blow a gasket.
Spend 90km riding in the wind and rain on your own.
All Im saying is that you'd better like your own company.

cdaly_

ROK ON wrote: »

Finally - if you really really want solitude. Go out for a cycle with 100 people way faster than you. Bust a gut to keep up. Then blow a gasket.
Spend 90km riding in the wind and rain on your own.
All Im saying is that you'd better like your own company.

I did something like that on the Dying Sow 300 last year. Had one or two for company in the first half but did the second 150k solo. Climbing (once I got over the gasping for breath) Mt Leinster was an exercise in glorious self reliance and solitude...

kerry4sam

Thanks so much for the replies above!


I'll look into them this evening. This morning I was thinking of a loop Glengarriff; Adrigole; take in a ferry with my bike out to Bere Island and back; then onto Ardgroom and back to Glengarriff again.

Will definitely look in to the above though.

Thanks again,
kerry4sam

feck sake lads

kerry4sam wrote: »

Thanks so much for the replies above!


I'll look into them this evening. This morning I was thinking of a loop Glengarriff; Adrigole; take in a ferry with my bike out to Bere Island and back; then onto Ardgroom and back to Glengarriff again.

Will definitely look in to the above though.

Thanks again,
kerry4sam

ah you don't need to wonder far its all a state of mind. if your going well the sun is on your back maybe listen to your favourate music anything is possible .
great thread btw :cool:

MPFG

West Clare - the shannon coast road to Loop head , back the Atlantic Coast road to the Burren
- can even get a ferry to the Arran Islands

Morrisseeee

You could always attempt the humpback elephant, quiet roads, but beware there's a bit of climbing to be done

Ole Rodrigo

+ 1 on Priests leap and the Borlin Valley, and much of the Beara too

twaimkit

+1 for the borlan valle.Blissfully quiet and uninterupted spin there last year.

couerdelion

i did Mizen Head to Malin Head last year. the morning after I had finished I had to cycle to Cardonagh to get the coach and set off with plenty of time. Between Drung and Malin I stopped for an hour and sat next to the beach just listening to the waves and watching the sea otters in the sun. Really peaceful stuff.

Other than that Ballinskelligs. Nice summers day laid in the sun listening to the waves. Bliss.

feck sake lads

Pity we don't get the weather in Ireland west cork kerry clare is gods own country for cycling especally when the sun is out.:cool:

fixie fox

ror_74 wrote: »

+ 1 on Priests leap and the Borlin Valley, and much of the Beara too

Kilgarvan - Borlin Valley - Turners Rock - - Glengariff - Healy Pass (south side) - Kenmare - Kilgarvin.
But the hard climbs aren't very contemplative and have tourists at the best of times. Remoter 'uplands' are better for that rather than the better-known 'scenic' routes. E.g. North Cork/west Limerick; Cavan/border country etc

LennoxR

Heart of the Wicklow mountains for me. Ride from Stocking Lane to Laragh via the Sally Gap and on a quiet day you'll hardly see a soul until you get to Laragh.

For more solitude, proceed up Drumgoff into Glenmalure then up another mountain into Aughavanagh. Complete wilderness more or less. Tough climbing though.

Plutonium Kun

There are some very empty roads in the north of Connaught around Mayo to Sligo. I did a bit of riding there last year, I hardly saw a car apart from the odd time when I'd have to use an R road.

http://thelongacre.wordpress.com/2011/09/15/collooney-to-aughris-a-ride-across-the-ox-mountains-of-sligo/

ednwireland

around glencolumbcille especially in the winter

ustazjoseph

For me it always killorglin , Glencar , over the gap to Sneem back by the lake through the black valley to the gap and back to killorglin via the board of works road. the Glencar , gap and black valley sections are wild , lonely and beautiful. Sneem is a bit busy but you don't have to stop. Ive only driven there but the area west of the Shanon from the kilimer ferry north through leabasheeda and on up to portumna seems like hidden Ireland country - if you have to leave kerry!

vistafinder

kerry4sam wrote: »

Thanks so much for the replies above!


I'll look into them this evening. This morning I was thinking of a loop Glengarriff; Adrigole; take in a ferry with my bike out to Bere Island and back; then onto Ardgroom and back to Glengarriff again.

Will definitely look in to the above though.

Thanks again,
kerry4sam

If you do pick Glengarriff there is some very quiet roads in around the park.Very nice in there its a bit of a sun trap aswell just a couple of extra k to the loop above. If your brave enough you could try Barley Lake too but be ware its a bit steep.

Roadtoad

Make sure to let us know when you are off, we can join in a Forrest Gump style rally. Total silence, mind you!

Mycroft H

Marl Bank - Blacklion/Belcoo area in Fermanagh.

boege

Route of stage 3 of Ras Mumhan.

Drove team car during race and was in awe at rugged and isolated surroundings. Have vowed to go back and cycle it at my leisure.

Sagi

kerry4sam wrote: »

Thanks so much for the replies above!


I'll look into them this evening. This morning I was thinking of a loop Glengarriff; Adrigole; take in a ferry with my bike out to Bere Island and back; then onto Ardgroom and back to Glengarriff again.

Will definitely look in to the above though.

Thanks again,
kerry4sam

Hi i just came back from a 5 day tour in that area, there's not many people around at the moment, definitely of season. There it the beara way hiking trail, did not meet a single person on the trail and it goes through absolutely stunning landscape.

Harrybelafonte

Gaoth Dobhair - Errigal - Glenveagh - Creeslough - Dunfanaghy - Falcarragh - Gorthahork - Cnoc Fola - Gaoth Dobhair

kerry4sam

Just a word of Thanks to everyone who posted in here. Thanks to posts in this here thread I managed to find my own Area of Solitude / My own Safe Haven for Peddling! Hope others reading in here found the replies as up-lifting as I have done and I will endeavour to explore as many as I can before year out

I won't be posting where I ended up; just hope everyone finds their own Area of Solitude for Peddling!

Below is one area where I just had to stop; ponder and take an image of sheer beauty amid solitary surrounds.
Thanks again ^^^ Everyone who posted and assisted! Truly Appreciate It.