Places to visit near Galway city

Murilotdb

Hi! I have recently purchased a bike and I've been trying to find places I could visit near Galway city. I could not find any info about interesting places that can be visited by bike.
Does anyone have suggestions? I don't have a car...

Thank you!

at1withmyself

Where are you based and how far are you willing to go? Also is it mountain biking or road biking?

Murilotdb

I am by Headford road near NUIG. I think I could go up to 80km away. I have a hybrid bike.

Thanks!

Esroh

Murilotdb wrote: »

I am by Headford road near NUIG. I think I could go up to 80km away. I have a hybrid bike.

Thanks!

I take it ur using the bike as transport and want to go places. Then it depends on your interests.

LennoxR

Ok, first of all avoid the Headford Road itself unless absolutely necessary. I'm sure you know this yourself but it's an absolute nightmare for cycling, being so busy and so narrow.

Some nice routes I used to do when I lived in Galway;

One would be cycle up to Moycullen on the Oughterard Road and turn off right at Moycullen. You can do a very scenic quiet loop around the lake shore by Knockferry and Carrowmoreknock and at the end when you rejoin teh Oguhterard Road you can visit Ougherard Castle if you still have energy!

Other possibilities in the same direction would be turning left at Moycullen and going across the hills to Spiddal and then back to Galway along the sea front. And another possibility that I used to do sometimes was going as far as Oughterard, turning left and doing a big loop across the hilly country to Costelloe.

If, like me you're interested in history I'd also recommend cycling out to Athenrye and seeing the medieval walls and towers.

Murilotdb

LennoxR wrote: »

Ok, first of all avoid the Headford Road itself unless absolutely necessary. I'm sure you know this yourself but it's an absolute nightmare for cycling, being so busy and so narrow.

Some nice routes I used to do when I lived in Galway;

One would be cycle up to Moycullen on the Oughterard Road and turn off right at Moycullen. You can do a very scenic quiet loop around the lake shore by Knockferry and Carrowmoreknock and at the end when you rejoin teh Oguhterard Road you can visit Ougherard Castle if you still have energy!

Other possibilities in the same direction would be turning left at Moycullen and going across the hills to Spiddal and then back to Galway along the sea front. And another possibility that I used to do sometimes was going as far as Oughterard, turning left and doing a big loop across the hilly country to Costelloe.

If, like me you're interested in history I'd also recommend cycling out to Athenrye and seeing the medieval walls and towers.

The routes you suggested sound really good! Is Oughterard Road the N59? N59 is what I found on google maps. Do you think that taking Oughterard Road could be dangerous? Is it a narrow road?

Thank you

Murilotdb

Esroh wrote: »

I take it ur using the bike as transport and want to go places. Then it depends on your interests.

I would like to see natural attractions such as lakes, parks, hills, caves...?

LennoxR

Murilotdb wrote: »

The routes you suggested sound really good! Is Oughterard Road the N59? N59 is what I found on google maps. Do you think that taking Oughterard Road could be dangerous? Is it a narrow road?

Thank you

Yes it's the N59. To be honest it can be a little narrow in places. But it's nowhere near as busy as the Headford Road (N84).

I used to use it as a way of getting to quieter roads. Is it dangerous? Not really, I'd say it can be unpleasant fora cyclist in places, but not too dangerous.