Cycling killarney to Cork city

Amprodude

Just wondering guys I am going visiting a friend in Cork city that isn't too far from Wilton roundabout and was hoping to cycle it instead of taking car. I would be coming from killarney and wondering what is the best and safest route to get to Wilton on a bike? Normally by car I would pass CUH and get turnoff from the roundabout but I'm just wondering would it be dangerous coming this way on a bike?

Thanks in advance.

ford2600

Best route for directish route is, Killarney Ballyvourney, turn left for Clondroihid(to avoid most dangerous section of main road between Ballyvourney and Macroom) Macroom. In Macroom you have choice of north or south of Lee to Cork.

Main road on south is fast and smooth and busy and I'm not a fan of first few km's outside Macroom. Road through Coachford, Dripsey on north of river is nice cycling road if lumpier.

On main road, especially dual carriagway section, just be very alert at exits/merge areas; if in doubt go up ramp and back down far side!

Take Bishopstown exit if you use main road or Angler's rest, Model farm road if you came on Coachford road.

outfox

Agreed. First few km after Macroom are not nice - you'll often get a queue of traffic behind you. But it's usually worth it, as the section after Lissarda is the business with a tailwind. If you're cycling to and from Cork, I suggest north side of Lee for the TO route, and south side for RETURN.
North side: turn left after Macroom and go Clondrohid, Coachford, Anglers Rest as Ford2600 suggests. Altho I'll suggest the Carrigrohane straight after the Anglers, rather than Model Farm Road. That'll take you into Victoria Cross. Wilton roundabout is only 1 km from there.
For the return, get onto the N22 directly from Wilton, and just go for it. Like F2600 says, those ramps for the first 5 km can be messy, so you'll need your wits about you. I think there are 4 exits = 8 ramps.

maesrichard1

Amprodude wrote: »

Just wondering guys I am going visiting a friend in Cork city that isn't too far from Wilton roundabout and was hoping to cycle it instead of taking car. I would be coming from killarney and wondering what is the best and safest route to get to Wilton on a bike? Normally by car I would pass CUH and get turnoff from the roundabout but I'm just wondering would it be dangerous coming this way on a bike?

Thanks in advance.

I have done this a few times, just stick to the main roads and you shall be ok, any detours but a greater distance on.

SomeFool

maesrichard1 wrote: »

I have done this a few times, just stick to the main roads and you shall be ok, any detours but a greater distance on.

Depends on what kind of spin you want too, Rathmore, Millstreet, Banteer, Nadd is a lovely route to cycle and probably less than 20km longer! Kemnare, Glengarriff is hero stuff alright though!

Amprodude

How far is Killarney to Wilton? Never actually clocked it.

Normally when I enter I follow signs for Wilton and CUH and I pass the B-town bar too before my approach to Wilton roundabout. Is that a good option with bike? Sorry guys I don't know Cork city very well.

I know I took exit before that led me onto the Carrigtohane straight and I know that part of city once I get to Victoria cross.

SomeFool

Pretty sure the direct route is about 90km, I'd probably go Carrigrohane - Victoria cross way too if it was me.
quick google says 80, Tis 90 to Blackrock

maesrichard1

Amprodude wrote: »

How far is Killarney to Wilton? Never actually clocked it.

Normally when I enter I follow signs for Wilton and CUH and I pass the B-town bar too before my approach to Wilton roundabout. Is that a good option with bike? Sorry guys I don't know Cork city very well.

I know I took exit before that led me onto the Carrigtohane straight and I know that part of city once I get to Victoria cross.

Ive looked back at my spin and going off my garmin, from lissivigeen roundabout to wilton roundabout is 82km via macroom, ballyvourney.

outfox

maesrichard1 wrote: »

Ive looked back at my spin and going off my garmin, from lissivigeen roundabout to wilton roundabout is 82km via macroom, ballyvourney.

So 2 hours should do it, Ampro. :pac:

on_the_nickel

outfox wrote: »

So 2 hours should do it, Ampro. :pac:

There was one glorious day in the summer of 2013 I got on the bike in the National Park in Killarney around 3:45pm and was home in Cork before 6:30pm, thanks to a strong south westerly the whole way.

90k in just over 2hr 30, sun shining all the way, it was magic. I think of that day every time I'm riding into a headwind in the pissing rain.

thebouldwhacker

Killarney, millstreet, cork via butter road.... That'll cure yer cough....

outfox

Good call on the butter road, actually. I hadn't thought of it. It's a super route. Straight thru every junction between Cork and Milstreet.

maesrichard1

outfox wrote: »

Good call on the butter road, actually. I hadn't thought of it. It's a super route. Straight thru every junction between Cork and Milstreet.

where is butter road?

on_the_nickel

maesrichard1 wrote: »

where is butter road?

It runs from Castleisland to Cork, through Rathmore and Millstreet. Lumpy as hell!

outfox

maesrichard1 wrote: »

where is butter road?

Start at Blarney Street in Cork (off Shandon Street). Head straight out, straight thru every junction you come to. It takes you to Millstreet. There's a nice climb on it. It's mostly wide boreens, but surface is OK.
There's another bit between Rathmore and Castleisland. If you look at a road map, these roads are among the straightest in the country.

maesrichard1

outfox wrote: »

Start at Blarney Street in Cork (off Shandon Street). Head straight out, straight thru every junction you come to. It takes you to Millstreet. There's a nice climb on it. It's mostly wide boreens, but surface is OK.
There's another bit between Rathmore and Castleisland. If you look at a road map, these roads are among the straightest in the country.

Ive ridden that, nice rolling roads out that way