The Western Way

seanin4711

Hi,

anyone cycle the western way complete?

Oughterard to Sligo?

Thinking of doing it on a Gravel bike - over two days.

thanks

j

woody1

not complete

have ran and cycled a lot of the bits from newport to bonniconlon

some of the final bits in bonni would be rough enough,

sections of boardwalk in sheskin forest are a pain in the balls , 2 sleepers wide you think youd be fine but its actually narrow enough, but if all else fails you can walk it

they are working on windfarms and forestry up around sheskin at the moment so there'l be more activity up there probably than youd like

i met 2 dutch guys on it last summer that walked the whole thing, they said they got ate by midgies, so bring plenty of bug spray .. check for ticks too

but absolutely my favourite place to run, ride , walk , definitely worth the trip , itl be class

i have a gpx of the full thing if you want it

G1032

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122144602#Comment_122144602

can you send me on that gpx please

Hontou

I walked the part from Oughterard to Maam. Don't think a bike would get through some of the area's with broken boardwalk towards Maam. It's really beautiful.

seanin4711

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122144602#Comment_122144602

please do,much appreciated

cletus

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122144602#Comment_122144602

If you didn't mind posting it publicly here, I'd be interested in a copy too.

Otherwise, a pm would be great 👍

woody1

apologies

away from pc for weekend

link https://connect.garmin.com/modern/course/271565800

cletus

@woody1 thanks for that

seanin4711

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122159921#Comment_122159921

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122159921#Comment_122159921

Thanks @woody1 those sections at @33,70,84,170km approx, unrideable? best to go around? mountainside?

at1withmyself

This link might be useful:

http://thewesternway.ie/

woody1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122161681#Comment_122161681

so i dont know the first 3, i know from wild nephin / letterkeen approx 125km to ballycastle really well and sections in bonniconlon pretty well too and most is rideable. with the exception of a maybe 3km of boardwalk around 160 ish..and bits of bonni are rough too, depends on your bike skills too, i know people that have ridden it.. except where theres a few steps in it ..

particularly between 154 ballymunnelly and 185 ballycastle, theres nowhere really to go around without missing out huge sections, you can get out on the road in only one place between ballymunnelly and ballycastle and to be honest id rather walk up the hill if i had to .. than go 10 or 15k out of my way

and if you go out of the way you wont see this