My first cycle tour of Ireland

Peter.watson72

Hi folks.

I'm planning a solo tour of Ireland early July and would like a little help as where to go..

I'm getting the ferry into Belfast then getting the train or bus to somewhere in the South, possibly Cork.

I then plan to cycle for 7 days before getting public transport back to Belfast for the ferry.

I will have my tent with me but will probably stay in a BB at some point. I can cover 50- 80 miles a day no problem.

Is wild Camping allowed in Ireland and will I have to pre book BB?

I would be very grateful if someone could help me start my planning and give me advice on what places and roads I should use /avoid..

I much prefer cycling on quiet roads but good trails I can manage. I will be on a touring bike with 28 tyres.

And of course good pubs and cafes are essential ;-)

Many thanks for any advice

ford2600

Peter.watson72 wrote: »

Hi folks.

I'm planning a solo tour of Ireland early July and would like a little help as where to go..

I'm getting the ferry into Belfast then getting the train or bus to somewhere in the South, possibly Cork.

I then plan to cycle for 7 days before getting public transport back to Belfast for the ferry.

I will have my tent with me but will probably stay in a BB at some point. I can cover 50- 80 miles a day no problem.

Is wild Camping allowed in Ireland and will I have to pre book BB?

I would be very grateful if someone could help me start my planning and give me advice on what places and roads I should use /avoid..

I much prefer cycling on quiet roads but good trails I can manage. I will be on a touring bike with 28 tyres.

And of course good pubs and cafes are essential ;-)

Many thanks for any advice

Train to westport?

Head south for a few days, take N59 to Clifden, or go long way around via Louisbourg and Delphi(you'll get to see Ireland only fjord).

Then spend a day south of N59 taking in Roundstone, Carna etc before looping back up towards Clonbur/Cong. Follow west side of Lough Maske up to Party before landing back in Westport.

Do a second loop north of Westport taking in North Mayo, Mulranny, Belmullet, Ballycroy National Park etc.

Wild beautiful country.

Co Clare via Ennis, with Burren, south to Kilkee and ferry to Tarbert before discovering Dingle peninsula would also be a good option.

Train to Killarney and discover Iveragh or south to Beara peninsula(much nicer cycling) would also be good option.

Using a GPS or going old school?

Maidhci

Peter.watson72 wrote: »

Hi folks.

I'm planning a solo tour of Ireland early July and would like a little help as where to go..

I'm getting the ferry into Belfast then getting the train or bus to somewhere in the South, possibly Cork.

I then plan to cycle for 7 days before getting public transport back to Belfast for the ferry.

I will have my tent with me but will probably stay in a BB at some point. I can cover 50- 80 miles a day no problem.

Is wild Camping allowed in Ireland and will I have to pre book BB?

I would be very grateful if someone could help me start my planning and give me advice on what places and roads I should use /avoid..

I much prefer cycling on quiet roads but good trails I can manage. I will be on a touring bike with 28 tyres.

And of course good pubs and cafes are essential ;-)

Many thanks for any advice

Routes suggested by Ford2600 are excellent choices. I am more familiar with Route 1 - Westport, Delphi, Leenane, Kylemore, Letterfrack, Clifden, Ballyconneely, Roundstone, Carna etc. etc. Quiet roads except for the N59 from Clifden to Maam Cross, which you should avoid, but is not covered in above. Great cycling area, great scenery, good coffee shops, good B&Bs which you should book in advance at this time of year. Wild camping is permitted in most of these areas. Enjoy your cycle - keep us posted.

Peter.watson72

Many thanks for your reply..

First of all, I'll be using my Garmin but I always think it's a good idea to take a local map just incase..

Would train to Killarney work, do a bit around there before heading to the Dingle peninsular, Co Claire and a few days around Westport. I'm at work at the moment so I'm not sure of the miles involved but if I could make it to Donegal that would tick another place of the 'must visit list' ? Another bonus would be, I would finish closer to Belfast for travel on public transport on my last day back to the ferry ? Also going in this direction would give me a better chance of having the wind helping me ( cough cough)

Thanks again and I'll study your recommendations when I get home..

awec

Weepsie wrote: »

I could be wrong, but you may be needing minimum two trains to get anywhere from Belfast. Belfast to Dublin, then transfer to another station to get to cork, kerry, galway or westport. You could get to sligo from Connolly and head down towards Westport/Mayo from there.

Is there a train from Belfast to Derry, if so you could possibly attempt Malin to Mizen (Most northerly to most southerly), or parts of that route, taking in Donegal, SLigo, Mayo, Galway, Clare, Limerick, Kerry and Cork.

Might be a lot for 7 days though.

Yep. Belfast to Derry takes a bit over 2 hours on the train.

outfox

Realistically, with only 7 days you are limited, especially given the need to use trains. I'd suggest focussing on one of the areas recommended above, rather than trying to get too much in. This probably means doing a Galway-Mayo trip, or a Cork-Kerry trip. If you had time, you could add the Burren onto either of those (using ferry to get from Kerry to Clare). I'm not familiar with the Donegal area.

Esroh

Donegal or Kerry is the question you need to Answer 1st. Have a look at an Irish Rail network map

Belfast train to the South (you will lose most of a day)Using Cork as an example. Use the "Wild Athlantic Way" as you route and head north. Tralee /Killarney have rail links back to Belfast ifyou find yourself over enjoying Kerry.
If you get into Clare you can hit the Rail line that will take you to Galway or Limerick to get back.

Belfast train to Derry. Head into Donegal and use the "WAW" and go south. Sligo,Ballina,Westport are your rail-links.

You could also decide to cycle the north Coast starting from Belfast

These are just a basic example of a route and you could travel the same counties on different roads but thats the beauty of Ireland.

Bloggsie

my only advice, pack for four seasons in on day as the weather is so unpredictable at the moment, but as they say in the west, if you dont like it, wait 30 mins and it will be.......

happy trails what ever you choose.

fed up sick and tired

You should take a look at Irish Rail's information re bicycles.

For example...

Dublin to Cork and Dublin to Belfast trains are located in a storage area separate from the passenger compartment of the train. All other InterCity routes the bicycle spaces are within the passenger compartment. These routes are restricted to two bicycles per service. Bicycles that are folded and covered can be carried on all services free of charge. Bikes can also be carried for free on Dublin - Belfast Enterprise services, however, charges apply on all other intercity routes

http://www.irishrail.ie/travel-information/bicycle-information

Might be worth contacting them well in advance.

As for a route preference - if I were to do Dingle peninsula, I would go from Camp, anti-clockwise on the R560, over the Conor Pass and sweep into Dingle. Then around the headland on the R559. Depending on your archaeological interest-level, you might like to check out the ancient 'beehive huts', and the Gallarus Oratory.

Back into Dingle then, and out the N86 towards Annascaul and the South Pole Inn, home of Tom Crean the Antarctic explorer.

Peter.watson72

Some cracking suggestions and I want to go to all the places mentioned. Unfortunately this is not possible in my short time available, think I'm pushing it already with the wife..

I'm busy plotting a route and was wondering if it makes sense to go from South to North due to the prevailing wind? I cycled The Outer Hebrides in Scotland a few years back in the direction of the prevailing wind and it ended up being a strong North wind for a week, I really want to avoid cycling into the wind for a whole week again..

Anyone know how easy it is to take bikes onto the bus? Seems like a fair bit of travelling on the trains to get back to Belfast.. I don't mind the long train journey at the start of the trip but twice is a bit of a pain..

Really getting excited about visiting your amazing country again and doing it the best way possible this time... on a bike.. 😉

Roquentin

lough derg is nice if your in clare/tipperary

fed up sick and tired

Peter.watson72 wrote: »

Some cracking suggestions and I want to go to all the places mentioned. Unfortunately this is not possible in my short time available, think I'm pushing it already with the wife..

I'm busy plotting a route and was wondering if it makes sense to go from South to North due to the prevailing wind? I cycled The Outer Hebrides in Scotland a few years back in the direction of the prevailing wind and it ended up being a strong North wind for a week, I really want to avoid cycling into the wind for a whole week again..

Anyone know how easy it is to take bikes onto the bus? Seems like a fair bit of travelling on the trains to get back to Belfast.. I don't mind the long train journey at the start of the trip but twice is a bit of a pain..

Really getting excited about visiting your amazing country again and doing it the best way possible this time... on a bike.. 😉

I've sent you a PM.

eeeee

I cannot give route advice as i am crap at that but I have had extensive public transport experience!

You can take the bike on the bus, it goes in the luggage department down below and they should charge you €10 but I have yet to pay that.

Trains are the same, I have only needed to pay once. On the newer trains you cans it across from the bike, on the older ones they go into a separate compartment.

outfox

Peter.watson72 wrote: »

I'm busy plotting a route and was wondering if it makes sense to go from South to North due to the prevailing wind?

It's been unusually windy here for what seems like months. Prevailing is normally SW, but for the past few weeks I think its been W and NW. You will encounter headwinds regardless of direction.

Rex_hk815

Having the same plan, and will start from three weeks later

Peter.watson72

I've been going round in circles trying to plot a route.How does this look and am I going to see Ireland at its best in these areas ? Where would be a good overnight stop on the Co.Mayo coast ?




1.Arrive in Ennis and stay in B&b

2. Cycle around the coast to Doolin

3. Doolin to Galway

4. Galway to Clifden

5. Clifden to Westport


6. Westport around the Co.Mayo coast to somewhere??

7.Somewhere ?? To Sligo

8.Sligo to Enniskillen then Bus to Belfast

Many thanks

Neleven

Peter.watson72 wrote: »

I've been going round in circles trying to plot a route.How does this look and am I going to see Ireland at its best in these areas ? Where would be a good overnight stop on the Co.Mayo coast ?




1.Arrive in Ennis and stay in B&b

2. Cycle around the coast to Doolin

3. Doolin to Galway

4. Galway to Clifden

5. Clifden to Westport


6. Westport around the Co.Mayo coast to somewhere??

7.Somewhere ?? To Sligo

8.Sligo to Enniskillen then Bus to Belfast

Many thanks

Achill is well worth a visit. There's a cycle greenway for much - if not all - of the route from Westport. Sounds like a great trip! Enjoy.

Peter.watson72

Would it be possible to get a bus from Belfast to Ennis that your allowed to take your bike on ? Failing that looks like a train with changes in Dublin and Athenry

awec

There'd be no bus from Belfast to Ennis, you'd have to stop and change in Dublin.

As for bike, I think at best you would be putting it into the cargo bit under the bus (they are usually coaches doing those routes) which might not suit if the bike is valuable. Also not sure whether they'd actually allow it unless you had a way to pack it up.

It'd also be a long enough journey, you'd lose at least half a day I reckon.

Esroh

Re Some where in Mayo.
If you are looking to go up onto the North Coastal rd by the Ceide Fields and the Sea Cliffs you are talking up on 200km in Mayo From Westport to Ballina. Thats without visiting Achill or Erris. And your still 60ish km from Sligo
Bangor Erris is where you have to decide Coast or Inlands . You know how far you want to travel in a day . You will find B+B in any of the villages after that.