Blessington Lakes

stipes212

Question from a newcomer,
Clockwise or anti-clockwise, which is the EASIEST direction, thanks.

secman

Much of a muchnesss , i regularly do the lakes, mainly from valleymount to Lacken direction, but most people tend to go Lacken to Valleymount direction, I've done both, people have varying opinions, it just seems a different spin if you go opposite to your normal direction.

Wishbone Ash

secman wrote: »

Much of a muchnesss ...

Yes, horrible in either direction.

secman

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

Yes, horrible in either direction.

OP According to WA no easy way, but he just doesn't embrace the lakes like I do not enough traffic lights for WA

Unknown Soldier

stipes212 wrote: »

Question from a newcomer,
Clockwise or anti-clockwise, which is the EASIEST direction, thanks.

Anti-clockwise is probably easier. Go through Blessington and take the left turn a few KM out for Valleymount.

That said, I have only every gone clock wise to Valleymount, not passed it, I think.

It's a lovey scenic route either way.

Whatwicklow

I can do it 1.5 minutes quicker going clockwise .. does that make it easier, probably not, just the climbs are punchier / over shorter that direction.

Macy0161

Wishbone Ash wrote:

Yes, horrible in either direction.

Worst route in Wicklow.

crosstownk

I completely agree with those that think it’s a horrible route. I used to do it a few years back but now I avoid it like the plague.

But to answer the OP, I’d prefer it clockwise. Although a decent argument could be made for getting the Valleymount section out of the way early - a horrible road.

Notwithstanding the above, the scenery is spectacular on a good day.

fat bloke

Best route in Ireland, especially as an entree to Wicklow gap. I do it every Saturday. I never get tired of that first glimpse of the lakes as you crest the brow of the hill heading for Lacken.
Anticlockwise I find harder - all long shallow drags against the shorter sharper clockwise. Plus you want the prevailing tailwind for going home (to Dublin) on the N81, not the headwind out.

Taxuser1

Love the road. Best training road in Ireland anti clockwise bar none.

listermint

I do it anticlockwise I think it's handier.

Not sure why people are saying it's as terrible route ? Why...

secman

Embrace the lakes either direction:)

Whatwicklow

Taxuser1 wrote: »

Love the road. Best training road in Ireland anti clockwise bar none.

No route like it for a power hour!

lissard

Clockwise for me. Might have something to do with only ever trying anti-clockwise with empty legs at the tail end of the Orwell Randonee. With empty legs that road is one tough b*stard.

secman

For me heading out from Tallaght its a good honest workout spin that gets me 70km with a tough midsection and scenery to die for, i find main roads boring .

terrydel

I live there, for the timebeing anyway.
I find going from Valleymount to Lacken tougher. Depends on the wind tho.
The views are great so its always worth it.

terrydel

listermint wrote: »

I do it anticlockwise I think it's handier.

Not sure why people are saying it's as terrible route ? Why...

Cos they are whinging gits.
Its not supposed to be easy.

youtheman

Are we talking about the 'Lap de Gaps' route including Sally Gap and Wicklow Gap (which I've done twice)? Our club are thinking of going up there some weekend for a nice hilly route, just wondering which one you'd recommend.

terrydel

youtheman wrote: »

Are we talking about the 'Lap de Gaps' route including Sally Gap and Wicklow Gap (which I've done twice)? Our club are thinking of going up there some weekend for a nice hilly route, just wondering which one you'd recommend.

Start in blessington village, go thru Manor Kilbride and up to Sally Gap that way, go straight on at the Gap over to Roundwood, go thru Roundwood to Laragh then over Wicklow Gap, take the turn for Valleymount (11km after the summit of Wicklow Gap) and follow thats road to N81 and turn right to head back to Blessington.
Thats probably about 75km and loads of hills and great views.

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Blessington,+Co.+Wicklow/Kilbride,+Co.+Wicklow/Sally+Gap,+County+Wicklow/Roundwood,+Togher+Beg,+Co.+Wicklow/Laragh,+County+Wicklow/Wicklow+Gap,+Brockagh,+County+Wicklow/Valleymount,+Co.+Wicklow/Blessington,+County+Wicklow/@53.1149852,-6.5403838,10.5z/data=!4m50!4m49!1m5!1m1!1s0x48679d206e90e7c9:0xa00c7a99731d540!2m2!1d-6.5340687!2d53.1696579!1m5!1m1!1s0x48679e0a8adcc69f:0x139d75c0e86fb2f2!2m2!1d-6.4669351!2d53.1986734!1m5!1m1!1s0x4867a21de44c48a7:0xde2afce3d7e88c8b!2m2!1d-6.31!2d53.1369!1m5!1m1!1s0x4867a348a0b77727:0xa00c7a997317e60!2m2!1d-6.2241877!2d53.0657875!1m5!1m1!1s0x4867bd81d5050ead:0xa00c7a99731cdf0!2m2!1d-6.3004389!2d53.0089293!1m5!1m1!1s0x4867975e6ef4468d:0x9e7cdd2b377acd5e!2m2!1d-6.3964723!2d53.041774!1m5!1m1!1s0x48679a5bd718f713:0x1800c7a937dfaab0!2m2!1d-6.5250478!2d53.1060864!1m5!1m1!1s0x48679d206e90e7c9:0xa00c7a99731d540!2m2!1d-6.5340687!2d53.1696579!3e1

secman

youtheman wrote: »

Are we talking about the 'Lap de Gaps' route including Sally Gap and Wicklow Gap (which I've done twice)? Our club are thinking of going up there some weekend for a nice hilly route, just wondering which one you'd recommend.

The route being discussed here is the from the bridge at back of blessington heading to Lacken, and following lake drive road around by Ballyknockan and up to the T junction, right turn brings to back to Valleymount, follow road which eventually brings you out on to n81 about 3km past blessington , right for Blessington.
Or the opposite way

Commonly known as the lakes spin.

Le Fin

terrydel

secman wrote: »

The route being discussed here is the from the bridge at back of blessington heading to Lacken, and following lake drive road around by Ballyknockan and up to the T junction, right turn brings to back to Valleymount, follow road which eventually brings you out on to n81 about 3km past blessington , right for Blessington.
Or the opposite way

Commonly known as the lakes spin.

Le Fin

You could stop at the pub in Valleymount, if he ever fecking opened! :P

fat bloke

secman wrote: »

The route being discussed here is the from the bridge at back of blessington heading to Lacken, and following lake drive road around by Ballyknockan and up to the T junction, right turn brings to back to Valleymount, follow road which eventually brings you out on to n81 about 3km past blessington , right for Blessington.
Or the opposite way

Commonly known as the lakes spin.

Le Fin

Always knew it as "the big lakes". The small one being the other side of the bridge!

secman

fat bloke wrote: »

Always knew it as "the big lakes". The small one being the other side of the bridge!

The Lakes or the small lakes in our vocabulary

fat bloke

terrydel wrote: »

You could stop at the pub in Valleymount, if he ever fecking opened! :P

Between that, Lacken and Ballyknockan, you could pass a fine long weekend round the Lakes on a high stool!

terrydel

fat bloke wrote: »

Between that, Lacken and Ballyknockan, you could pass a fine long weekend round the Lakes on a high stool!

None of the pubs around here are ever open mate!
Seriously, the one in valleymount might open sat and sun after 4pm, cullens in ballyknockan is worse. Zellers in lacken might be a bit better but not much.

Whatwicklow

There is a very special hill on the lake drive that's a full 250m gain over 2.5km.. Last 40% is on a mountain bike thou!

secman

Where is that hill ?

Whatwicklow

secman wrote: »

Where is that hill ?

Starting From the laneway under the ballyknockan Inn, head up the lake drive past Cullens pub, continue straight at that crest then follow the road around to the right. Enter the forest and slog away for another 1k to the top..

Here

https://maps.app.goo.gl/yG88p

To

https://maps.app.goo.gl/TCCTg

secman

Totally confused as to where you are saying it is,

Wishbone Ash

listermint wrote: »

....Not sure why people are saying it's as terrible route ? Why...

For some reason it just sucks the life out of me. I have never enjoyed cycling there and would find it much easier to go over three Alpine passes than do a lap of it.

rcklap

Clockwise for me, I'm fresher for the tougher parts!