N4/N15 around Sligo

grouchyman

I'm planning to do a bit of a cycle over this weekend - either Friday or Saturday. My planned route will take me on the N4 from Boyle to Sligo and then up the N15 past Grange. I won't be cycling back.

Just wondering about any hazards that I might meet along the way especially from the roadworks that are being carried out around Castlebaldwin/Collooney and southbound into Sligo on the Bundoran Road and how I could deal with them.

I'm trying to decide if its doable and I'd appreciate the advice of any Boardsies out there who have cycled this route recently

Thanks in advance

ednwireland

arent they still digging up the middle of sligo the bridge on the garavogue past the rosses point turnoff. few weeks since I was through there but a mess.

but you can dodge round them theres a road past st John's that takes you put and brings you onto n15 on your way to grange

WOT

Drove the N4 Boyle to Sligo yesterday. Road is too fast and too narrow for an enjoyable cycle in my opinion. Plus roadworks and detour ongoing.

Cycled on the N15 Sligo to Grange and back. Again it’s narrow, no hard shoulder, drivers expecting you to be inside the yellow lines with about 6” of tarmac. No issues really but would navigate around it if doing again.

Looking at the garmin app, by looping north both the N4 and the N15 can be avoided.

If you have the energy, take in the horseshoe road.

Johnners1878

N4 is a mess at the moment - might be better going Boyle-Gurteen-Ballymote onto the N17 and join the N4 beyond the roadworks at Colooney. They're smaller roads but generally quiet. I cycle them regularly with no problems apart from the occasional tractor.

ednwireland

that takes you from the centre of town and pops you out about halfway to rathcormac

WindWarrior

From Boyle to Sligo I would go Boyle-Corrigeenroe-Ballyfarnon-Geevagh-Ballygawley-Carraroe-Sligo.

mistermatthew

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058201020/n4-n15-around-sligo

I'm a member of a cycling club in town. I advise you don't take this route. As it is not enjoyable due to traffic (including hig speed lorries on the N4). However there are loads of quiet roads to ahieve the same route. I would reccomend the linked route here:

https://www.google.ie/maps/dir/Boyle,+Knocknashee,+Co.+Roscommon/Island+View+Riding+Stables,+Mount+Temple,+Grange,+Co.+Sligo,+F91+N4T1/@54.2492685,-8.4838592,13.25z/data=!4m44!4m43!1m35!1m1!1s0x485e99fde5ce00c9:0xa00c7a9973212b0!2m2!1d-8.2972757!2d53.9722082!3m4!1m2!1d-8.2946998!2d54.1249093!3s0x485e93165d7f9dd1:0x9ffb9977a8c3a798!3m4!1m2!1d-8.4677924!2d54.2602728!3s0x485ee9c85322e8fb:0x97e0bb37d9d8e216!3m4!1m2!1d-8.4925352!2d54.3028485!3s0x485ee80f8395f16f:0xd4d8308b0611d317!3m4!1m2!1d-8.5277978!2d54.340753!3s0x485edd64a0fb138d:0x7313642b87ae1ee8!3m4!1m2!1d-8.5086165!2d54.3708611!3s0x485ee7695764e3a1:0xd71bf1083883dc82!3m4!1m2!1d-8.4850529!2d54.3826659!3s0x485ee73cead96ebd:0x9be6dddbc2901f82!1m5!1m1!1s0x485ee0d93f689943:0x6030ae8c782bad2!2m2!1d-8.4839871!2d54.4169779!3e0?hl=en-GB&authuser=0

This route is 8km longer than the national road but avoids all the majorly busy sections other than going through Sligo town.

Regards,

Matthew

grouchyman

Hi Folks.

After reading yout posts I'm glad I asked the question.

Based on what you say I'm going to change my planned route. I'm going to follow the one Matthew suggested instead. Matthew's one looks like it will give me a lot more interesting & enjoyable spin than the one I had planned.

Still not sure I'll get the spin in this weekend but I'm living in hope.

Hope now things pan out & the weather is ok on the day. Showery is forecast for the next few days.

Thanks Again.

G.

grouchyman

I should have done this sooner but didn't get a chance. Thanks again for the advice it was much appreciated. Here's my link to the spin https://www.strava.com/activities/5712056227

The scenery when you turn off after Boyle for Ballyfarnon was a real surprise. You miss that taking the main road. Cruised on into Sligo on quite roads with no issues

Met my better half, who was driving the car, in Sligo for lunch.

Coming out of Sligo I made a bit of a hash of following mistermatthews suggested route as I went out nearly as far as Rosses Point, whereas I should have turned a lot sooner if I was followed the route correctly. Anyway when I was almost in Rosses Point I followed the signpost for the wild atlantic way which took me into Rathcormac. Again the scenery was smashing.

When I reached Rathcormac I missed the right turn off the main road to take me around Grange so I just went straight through on the main road instead. The Traffic wasn't too bad actually and I had hard shoulder for most of the way from Rathcormac to Donegal.

I had 195 kms done when I reached Donegal so I decided to do a bit of a lap of the town to bring it over the 200kms, on 197 kms when changing gear the chain jumped off the cassette and got stuck between the smallest ring of the cassette and the frame, so I couldn't pedal. Luckily I was going downhill at the time so no damage done. I just coasted to a stop and freed the chain. I just didnt use the gears as much as I could have after that. Anyway finished on 205kms for the day. Put the bike in the boot of the Car cleaned myself up changed clothes and my wife and myself had an ice-cream and coffee in Supermacs and headed off.

It was a really enjoyable day out. I think I could take a liking for the longer spins. You see much more of the country on a bike

mistermatthew

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117770234#Comment_117770234

Fair Play. A great Spin. It is a great feeling to go on a spin in one direction. It always looks so impressive on a map compared to a loop.

Mistermatthew