What will be the hardest day on our tour?

Ciaran OHara

Below are the routes for our 10 day tour of Ireland in September. What will be our toughest day and are there any adjustments you might recommend?

Day1: Greysteel>Derry>Letterkenny>Gweedore>Dungloe>Donegal Town

Day 2: Donegal Town>Sligo>Ballina>Westport

Day 3: Westport>Connemara>Clifden>Galway

Day 4: Galway>Lisdoonvarna>Kilrush>Tarbert>Tralee>Kilgorlin

Day 5: Kilgorlin>Waterville>Kenmare>Bantry>Skibereen

Day 6: Skibereen>Clonakilty>Kinsale>Cork>Dungarvan

Day 7: Dungarvan>Waterford>New Ross>Wexford>Arklow

Day 8: Arklow>Wicklow Mountains>Maynooth>Navan>Slane

Day 9: Slane>Dundalk>Newry>Kilkeel>Downpatrick>Belfast

Day 10: Belfast>Larne>Ballycastle>Colraine>Magilligan>HOME!!

Inquitus

Day 5 looks the hardest on paper, but the Irish weather and wind is quite capable of making any day the hardest and likely to be the biggest factor.

Wishbone Ash

DAY 1 - the part where you leave the N56 for the R255 before rejoining the N56 is a bit of a drag for the 30kms or so. It's a very exposed road on mainly bogland with no hedges for shelter if the weather/wind is bad. There are no shops, filling stations, and very few houses on that stretch. Very scenic in good weather all the same especially with Muckish mountain on your right and Mount Errigal up ahead.

Ole Rodrigo

Day 2 or Day 4 - on those days you'll likely get the full brunt of the prevailing southwesterly winds. I've done both, but it was Sligo to Westport through Ballina that it was toughest. Throw in some rain and you'll be chewing the bars most of the day. Actually Day 4 shouldn't be too bad, I see you're not going on the coast road.

There aren't many places to stop and eat, have you factored that into your plans ? Nothing like a strong headwind to make you hungry. My advice there is to find a supermarket each night and make a load of sambos to take with you the next day. You can't to a tour on bars of chocolate from petrol stations.

Ciaran OHara

thanks for the food advice rors. we plan to have lunch boxs full of sandwichs and the like. i've heard people say it might be easier coming from south to north, any thoughts?

Ole Rodrigo

Ciaran OHara wrote: »

thanks for the food advice rors. we plan to have lunch boxs full of sandwichs and the like. i've heard people say it might be easier coming from south to north, any thoughts?

Probably easier, yeah. Best get it out of the way at the start and have some tailwind as you head back up the east side. You wont feel much wind from Larne to Ballycastle and on to Greysteel.

You picked the best time of year to go anyway.

IS_a_Class

crazy schedule, that will be a mean tour. South to north is wiser alright. Are you from
Greysteel or what? Why not start from day 10 and work around in the opposite direction to minimize wind risk..

Ciaran OHara

yeah i'm from greysteel. i am considering reversing the route if the wind is going to affect me. need to do more research and get advice.

Ole Rodrigo

I don't think it will make much difference. You should be prepared for some long days. With luggage and a headwind you could be looking at tipping along around 20 kmph. Thats nine hours plus say 1/ 1.5 hours for food. It almost always takes longer than you plan for.

Realistically its hard to get out of a B&B before 9. They may have loads of guests and cant make allowances for you for whatever reason. That leaves you getting into the next town at 7. Then shower, supermarket, faffin about with gear, getting a dinner. With all of those variables, something wont go smoothly and it will be tight enough as is.

I think you're doing it the best way, the first few days will have the worst of the wind. Going east from Kerry, you'll have it as a tailwind, unless its a southerly, and that will help over the lumpy terrain. Once you get across to Waterford and go up it is easier.

Won't be easy whatever way you do it, but the way you have planned is probably the best. Who knows you could could get North Westerlies or Easterlies but they aren't as common.