Short Cycle Tour on the Wild Atlantic Way

Ryath

I have a weeks holidays coming up and after 6 months of barely being on the bike between being sick and working crazy hours, I'm thinking of taking a short cycle tour just to get some miles in and a break away from it all for myself. Three days/ two nights is the most I can really take away from the family. Thinking of getting the train to the coast and spending three days cycling and train back on last evening so two nights in B&Bs along the way. Approx 100-120k per day maybe a bit more on the middle day.


http://www.wildatlanticway.com/explore-the-route/

The site doesn't really have a option for mapping so have a approx route in google maps though it doesn't follow all the coast roads.
Approx google maps route

So what section to do? Athlone/Clara are my nearest stations so Galway/ Westport and Ballina would be handiest getting to/from with direct trains. Portlaoise is not to far though so I could cycle/get a lift on the first day and get an early train to Cork/Tralee or Limerick.

Thinking Tralee to Galway taking the ferry at Tarbert would be handiest hopefully with slight tail wind. Thinking a Cork Kerry section is out for such short tour as I wouldn't have the time for two long train journeys. Galway to Ballina would be handy from a train transfer point of view but I would have to cut out some the coast roads to shorten the distance. Don't really know the Mayo coast line bar from Westport to Achill either and I don't know if I fancy the Galway Clifden road solo.

Any advice guys for best route and where would be good spots for the overnights to a get a B&B and hopefully a nice pub with some craftbeers.
Would like to try the Roadside Tavern in Listoonvarna

ford2600

Tralee-Tarbert is an ok road, but if your basing your cycle on WAW I'd be leaving it out.

Given Oranmore-Kilcolgan is pretty horrible cycling I'd be leaving that out to.

Train to Galway and follow the route you have to Ballina. While the road from Clifden to Bangor Erris id national primary road it's the most deserted section of national primary road in Ireland and stunning. Ballycroy area is a bit special.

Europe's longest street(Galway to Spiddal) won't be much fun but to qoute this recently deceased man
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6q_FgBJt4U

Edit: Welcome back to the bike

Ryath

ford2600 wrote: »

Tralee-Tarbert is an ok road, but if your basing your cycle on WAW I'd be leaving it out.

Given Oranmore-Kilcolgan is pretty horrible cycling I'd be leaving that out to.

Was planning on sticking to coast Road if I came from Tralee that section from Kilcogan into Galway City was putting me of doing this section.

ford2600 wrote: »

Train to Galway and follow the route you have to Ballina. While the road from Clifden to Bangor Erris id national primary road it's the most deserted section of national primary road in Ireland and stunning. Ballycroy area is a bit special.

Europe's longest street(Galway to Spiddal) won't be much fun but to qoute this recently deceased man
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6q_FgBJt4U

Edit: Welcome back to the bike

Yea Galway to Ballina looks like the best option from a train point of view as well, station is near me and shorter journeys. Thinking of going on a Sunday morning so train would have me in Galway at 10.20 so traffic won't be to bad getting out of the city.

Route


About 370k then approx which is probably my limit in my current state. I can shorten this a lot by not sticking to the coast in parts if I want though. So where to stop at night?
Thinking
1st day Galway to Clifden ~127k
2nd Clifden Achill Island ~145k
3rd Achill to Ballina via Banger Eris ~95k

Any better spots to stop at night?

Thanks never completely went of the bike still the odd sporadic long spin. Endurance is still there once I take it handy but bloody hell I've got slow power is completely gone, a fast club spin would kill me at the minute. Done two league races held on in one just about till near the end, the second I was blown out after a few k ah it will come back.

Ryath

Bump!

Think I've my B&Bs picked one in Clifden and Achill and other recommendations for places I should see on the way?