Cork city cycling loops

Nisio

Hey,

If you're based in Cork city what are the best loops to do for a 2/3 hour cycle?

("best" being low traffic high in cycling enjoyment/suffering)

Oisin

krissovo

A nice one I like is to head up the back roads to Glanmire, Watergrass Hill, Rathcormac, Conna, Tallow, Youhall, Cork, that is mostly quiet outside rush hour and has a bit of everything and some hills. The route backwards gives you a chance to warm up the legs before the hills. A variation is to go to Rathcormac, Glenville back to Cork on the back roads, its very quiet and you can go via Rathcormac mountain which is a nice steady 6k climb. There are lots of options once you get around Fermoy on nice quiet roads plus some monster hills if thats your thing.

mh_cork

Lots of choice.....

From the west, theres a nice loop out to Macroom and back in via Coachford. If thats too long, you can cut it short by going over the Windy Gap, which is a nice 3-4 km climb with a great road surface.
Theres also a loop to Kinsale, take the road to west Cork and follow the signs for Kinsale. Then come back up via the airport road.

From the east, go out Rochestown, down to Passage West, cross the ferry and come back up through Fota.

A bit further might be to go east as far as Castlemartyr, turn right and go along the coast via Garryvoe, Shanagarry and come back via Midleton.

Another spin is up to the top of Nad and back. Go out the Carrigrohane straight, turn right at traffic lights and then follow the sign for Tower / Blarney. A gentle 10-15 km climb. Stop when you get to the top and come back the same way.

eoin88

One of my favourites is a nice 70ish km loop to Kinsale. From Douglas, head up Donnybrook Hill and out to Carrigaline. From Carrigaline, take the road for Belgooly. From there it's onto the main road to Kinsale. I take much the same route on the way back, but I turn left off the main road in Carrigaline a little earlier, bringing me up to Ballygarvan where I turn right up a lovely 2.5km hill behind the airport! In total you've got about 1000 m of climbing. If I have the time, I'll often continue on and do a loop of the Old Head when I get as far as Kinsale, adds about 30km and maybe 400m of climbing.

outfox

The butter road is cool. Go up Blarney St, and go straight out all the way, straight through every junction. Takes you all the way to Milstreet, with a short steep hill on the way, and little or no traffic after the first 10 km. At Milstreet, you can turn around and head back, or return via Macroom. From Macroom, the N22 to Cork is wicked fast with a tailwind. Total distance is around 80 km I think.