Black Valley (Killarney)

Roger Hassenforder

On my 'to do' list.

http://www.kerrycycling.com/2010/03/gap-of-dunloe-and-the-black-valley/

Clockwise/anti-clockwise?
Anyone do it lately?
How're the surfaces?

Don't Chute!

I did it back in August. Started in Kenmare up Molls Gap down to Killarney Gap of Dunloe Black Valley. Road surface was pretty good all the way don't remember any bad bits. It's a beautiful cycle!

Plastik

I prefer it anti-clockwise. Up Dunloe and down into the Black Valley.

iwillhtfu

I've done it up through Killarney - Dunloe - Molls - Muckross - Killarney

If I were to do it again I'd probably do it the opposite way not because the route is better but because you can stop in Kate Kearneys and grab a bit of grub and a pint on the way back.

DirkVoodoo

I love it. I've only done it from Gap to Valley, in summer.

Maybe outside of tourist season is different (?) but a lot of foot traffic and "jarveys", mean you really shouldn't try and break any speed records on the descent.

The Noble Nudge

Check the wind on the day I was there last September and was was nearly blown off the bike from the Kate Kearneys side heading into the black valley...

TGD

Enjoy a great route, but be careful and take it handy - quite a bit of anti-social cycling on that route.

ballyharpat

I ride there about 20/30 times a year, my advice is to go up the gap, black valley, molls etc. if you are coming down the gap, there can be lots of loose surface which are fine on a climb, but not a descent also there are some real bad blind bends coming into the gap.

Roger Hassenforder

TGD wrote: »

Enjoy a great route, but be careful and take it handy - quite a bit of anti-social cycling on that route.

The wife says all my cycling is anti social

lenihankevin

Did it from killarney up the gap to molls gap into kenmare and back to killarney a few weeks ago...Sunday morning early...met one car along the black valley....a lovely cycle...go for it!!

youtheman

This is a route I created and have cycled it several times.  It's absolutely beautiful.  The roads are very quite, and the road surface is surprisingly good.  Only dodgy bit is the descent from Molls into the Blackvalley.
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/20831404

youtheman

This is a route I created and have cycled it several times.  It's absolutely beautiful.  The roads are very quite, and the road surface is surprisingly good.  Only dodgy bit is the descent from Molls into the Blackvalley.
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/20831404

outfox

I did the valley from W to E a few months ago i.e. started at the Sneem end, came up past the lake, and over the top down into the Black Valley. The surface is very degraded over 2-300 m at the W end of the valley (between the top and the turn off to Molls). It was fine on MTB, but I wouldn't take a road bike through that section. Gravel or CX bike would be OK. If you're planning to use a road bike, you'll probably have to confine your route to the E end i.e. Dunloe, that cafe (is it Lord Brandon's?), and the road up to Molls.

ballyharpat

https://ridewithgps.com/trips/10278736