Longford to Sligo Cycling Route Recommendation Sought

fillup · 20-04-2015 10:21AM #1

Howdee

I’m being dragged off to Sligo town this weekend for a social thingymabob which mean’s I’ll be missing my weekend spin (I’m training for the WW200 at the mo and I’ve missed a sh1t load already due to a niggly knee).

I won’t get much of a chance for a decent spin when I get down to Sligo due to time constraints so I was thinking of getting the missus to drop me off at Longford and cycle the rest of the way in.

I’ve checked it out on google maps and it looks like a handy enough run in but I’d like to get the opinions of some of the local boardsies as to which route to take.

The N4 is obviously the most direct but I hate cycling in the laybys along major roads with artics and whatnot whizzing by you

So any suggestions as to which is the best route to take?

Thanks
Fillup

QueensGael · 20-04-2015 11:03AM

If you're headed towards the Enniscrone side, I'd recommend Carrick-on-Shannon - Boyle - Tubbercurry - Bunnyconnellan - towards Ballina on the R294 (via the Windy Gap). Beautiful route.

silver campaign · 20-04-2015 11:14AM

If you want to go from Longford to Carrick without using the N4, you could try Longford , Drumlish, Lough Rinn, Mohill, Carrick.

I've cycled Longford Sligo on the Main road before. Its actually a good road to cycle, only dodgy bit is the narrow stretch from Castlebaldwin to Sligo.

fillup · 20-04-2015 11:22AM

QueensGael wrote: »

If you're headed towards the Enniscrone side, I'd recommend Carrick-on-Shannon - Boyle - Tubbercurry - Bunnyconnellan - towards Ballina on the R294 (via the Windy Gap). Beautiful route.

Looks like a lovely route QueensGael but I should've said that it's Sligo Town that i'm heading for

Carawaystick · 20-04-2015 11:25AM

Its very narrow along the stretch to Colooney from Castlebaldwin
https://www.google.ie/maps/@54.1137805,-8.4271716,13z?hl=en
https://www.google.ie/maps/@54.115221,-8.424716,3a,75y,300.54h,94.73t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sJkkKPl3ERoXa9UiHuUy27g!2e0?hl=en
There's country boreens running the same way with a bit of navigation or detour Castlebaldwin - Balymote- N17-Colooney if you don't fancy the main road.

fillup · 20-04-2015 11:38AM

is anyone familiar with the route along the R284?

https://www.google.ie/maps/dir/Longford/Sligo/@53.9884901,-8.4563095,10z/data=!4m14!4m13!1m5!1m1!1s0x485dd39bb9c2c387:0xa00c7a997317370!2m2!1d-7.7932573!2d53.7276296!1m5!1m1!1s0x485ee9b5677caee9:0xa00c7a997317380!2m2!1d-8.4760888!2d54.2766103!3e1

It looks straight forward enough -

Lusk_Doyle · 20-04-2015 12:02PM

silver campaign wrote: »

If you want to go from Longford to Carrick without using the N4, you could try Longford , Drumlish, Lough Rinn, Mohill, Carrick.

I've cycled around there in the past. It's nice.

Donie75 · 20-04-2015 12:48PM

I stayed in Kilronan Castle near Keadue last year on the way to Sligo for Easter. I brought the bike and cycled Kilronan Castle - Keadue - along the west shore of Lough Allen - Dromahair and around the north side of Lough Gill - Sligo. Lovely 60km spin with great scenery.
If you are travelling from Dublin you could extend it by starting in Dromod and cycling to Mohill - Keshkerrigan and Drumshambo. 87km.

I was back in Sligo last August and was training for a Mizen to Malin so revisited my easter spin by doing Sligo - Ballygawley - Ballyfarnon and around the previously mentioned route. That was a nice 90km.

fillup · 20-04-2015 01:43PM

Some great ideas there folks - i'll check out the routes in more detail this evening when i get home from work

thanks

velopeloton · 20-04-2015 01:50PM

I've done a lot of cycling in that part of the world.
This is the way I would go.

or for something a bit longer and hillier.

marvin80 · 20-04-2015 01:54PM

Carawaystick wrote: »

Its very narrow along the stretch to Colooney from Castlebaldwin
https://www.google.ie/maps/@54.1137805,-8.4271716,13z?hl=en
https://www.google.ie/maps/@54.115221,-8.424716,3a,75y,300.54h,94.73t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sJkkKPl3ERoXa9UiHuUy27g!2e0?hl=en
There's country boreens running the same way with a bit of navigation or detour Castlebaldwin - Balymote- N17-Colooney if you don't fancy the main road.

I'd agree - the stretch to Colooney from Castlebaldwin is narrow and also quite dangerous. There's been numerous car crashes and fatalities along this stretch so I'd definitely stay well clear of it on a bicycle.
To be honest, I'm quite weary even when I drive it.

mgadget · 20-04-2015 02:03PM

Went Sligo to Longford last summer on this route Garmin Connect

It's got some hills, scenery's good, roads are quiet. You can cut it short by a few km's by not going around Lough Allen.
Downside of starting in Longford is if there is any wind, it won't be on your back.

CatFromHue · 20-04-2015 02:17PM

marvin80 wrote: »

I'd agree - the stretch to Colooney from Castlebaldwin is narrow and also quite dangerous. There's been numerous car crashes and fatalities along this stretch so I'd definitely stay well clear of it on a bicycle.
To be honest, I'm quite weary even when I drive it.

I'd be the same.

After Longford there's sections on the N4 and N5 which are dodgy as.....

fillup · 20-04-2015 03:03PM

velopeloton wrote: »

I've done a lot of cycling in that part of the world.
This is the way I would go.

or for something a bit longer and hillier.

i think we may have a winner! i like the look of the first route there velpelo -

yours looks good too mgadget but a tad too long for what i'm after

Cheers

fillup · 20-04-2015 08:58PM

velopeloton wrote: »

I've done a lot of cycling in that part of the world.
This is the way I would go.

or for something a bit longer and hillier.

Hi Velopelo.

When I open up ur first route in Goggle Maps I get a warning that the route contains private or restricted roads.
Can u remember encountering any issues when u rode that route?

Thanks

velopeloton · 20-04-2015 09:06PM

fillup wrote: »

Hi Velopelo.

When I open up ur first route in Goggle Maps I get a warning that the route contains private or restricted roads.
Can u remember encountering any issues when u rode that route?

Thanks

No, it's all public roads. I think when I placed the waypoints on Google maps I was not 100%. One between Drumlish and Mohil is off road a bit. Probably that. But no problem with the roads and very little traffic.

Dizraeligears · 20-04-2015 09:58PM

The route you put up yourself is on grand quiet roads fillup.I live on that the route beween Dromod an Lough Rynn.Its my commute into LD.Very true there are dodgy bits on the main road.Avoid.Also the road between Drumlish and Mohill is NOT restricted.The turnoff the main road after Newtown is well dodgy and Id avoid it as well.You have other options for LD-Newtown.

fillup · 20-04-2015 10:17PM

Dizraeligears wrote: »

The turnoff the main road after Newtown is well dodgy and Id avoid it as well.You have other options for LD-Newtown.

Thanks DizraeliGears (touch of the Cream?). Was thinking of following Velopo's route (
https://www.google.ie/maps/dir/Longford/Sligo/@53.9392081,-8.0814011,10z/data=!4m39!4m38!1m30!1m1!1s0x485dd39bb9c2c387:0xa00c7a997317370!2m2!1d-7.7932573!2d53.7276296!3m4!1m2!1d-7.7938991!2d53.8439098!3s0x485e7f44de655797:0xcb2af1e4f4b71f64!3m4!1m2!1d-7.8566573!2d53.8916588!3s0x485e7e5dd2a11e63:0xf9a0ceb243119656!3m4!1m2!1d-8.0734131!2d54.0596391!3s0x485e894caf7f8853:0x37be4921b5ffbc57!3m4!1m2!1d-8.1650573!2d54.1870995!3s0x485ef31c891762df:0x81c99a4ec3ac84!3m4!1m2!1d-8.3730609!2d54.2714336!3s0x485eeed4075bbd47:0xade25955ada6f99e!1m5!1m1!1s0x485ee9b5677caee9:0xa00c7a997317380!2m2!1d-8.4760888!2d54.2766103!3e1) which avoids Newtown and goes to Drumlish instead. Do u know that route and is it easy to navigate

Thanks

Dizraeligears · 20-04-2015 10:34PM

Yeah the road out to Drumbo is ok but narrow in places.After taking the left for Mohill it'll be grand and quiet...I love the route Velopeloton put up that goes up over Glangevlin-a mountain goats route!But would be good for Wicklow200 training.

fillup · 20-04-2015 11:03PM

So that's where Glangevlin is. I did a term in Dundalk RTC many many moons ago with a lad from Glangevlin (Jimmy the Glan as we imaginatively called him)

I'm originally a Cavan man myself but I'm ashamed to say I wouldn't be familiar with that part of the County at all.

Red Kev · 21-04-2015 12:29PM

You could try this route, I live in the area and these roads are quiet.

https://www.google.ie/maps/dir/Longford/Tarmonbarry/Toberpatrick,+Roscommon/Elphin/Ballyfarnon/Sligo/@54.0282871,-8.2089349,13z/data=!4m38!4m37!1m5!1m1!1s0x485dd39bb9c2c387:0xa00c7a997317370!2m2!1d-7.7932573!2d53.7276296!1m5!1m1!1s0x485c2b829c11bf87:0xa00c7a997322520!2m2!1d-7.9206435!2d53.7422919!1m5!1m1!1s0x485c282e27d9cb75:0x2600c7a7bb5050b2!2m2!1d-8.0740857!2d53.8071807!1m5!1m1!1s0x485e9e13e8bf9f17:0x1800c7a937df2990!2m2!1d-8.1978488!2d53.8522697!1m5!1m1!1s0x485e92014684540f:0xa00c7a997318360!2m2!1d-8.2047173!2d54.0723661!1m5!1m1!1s0x485ee9b5677caee9:0xa00c7a997317380!2m2!1d-8.4760888!2d54.2766103!3e1

fillup · 21-04-2015 01:08PM

Red Kev wrote: »

You could try this route, I live in the area and these roads are quiet.

https://www.google.ie/maps/dir/Longford/Tarmonbarry/Toberpatrick,+Roscommon/Elphin/Ballyfarnon/Sligo/@54.0282871,-8.2089349,13z/data=!4m38!4m37!1m5!1m1!1s0x485dd39bb9c2c387:0xa00c7a997317370!2m2!1d-7.7932573!2d53.7276296!1m5!1m1!1s0x485c2b829c11bf87:0xa00c7a997322520!2m2!1d-7.9206435!2d53.7422919!1m5!1m1!1s0x485c282e27d9cb75:0x2600c7a7bb5050b2!2m2!1d-8.0740857!2d53.8071807!1m5!1m1!1s0x485e9e13e8bf9f17:0x1800c7a937df2990!2m2!1d-8.1978488!2d53.8522697!1m5!1m1!1s0x485e92014684540f:0xa00c7a997318360!2m2!1d-8.2047173!2d54.0723661!1m5!1m1!1s0x485ee9b5677caee9:0xa00c7a997317380!2m2!1d-8.4760888!2d54.2766103!3e1

Cheers Red Kev - i'll check it out

BTW the weather for the weekend is due to get sh1tty so i may have to re-think the whole operation!

fillup · 27-04-2015 10:00AM

velopeloton wrote: »

I've done a lot of cycling in that part of the world.
This is the way I would go.

Happy to report back that I did the route you recommended velopeloton (except i went east on Lough Rynn and not on the west shore).

Lovely spin and managed to avoid all the nasty rain that hit Ireland on Saturday.

Some great scenery, very very quiet roads (hardly met another soul for miles on some of those boreens) and pretty decent road surfaces too.

The stretch of road coming in around Lough Gill is just stunning - i'd done it by car a few years back but that fails in comparison to the hard earned vista after an 85km slog.

All in all i hit the 100.05km mark by the time I hit the digs in Sligo town and headed off for some well-earned sustenance of both the liquid and solid variety in Hargadons.

velopeloton · 28-04-2015 01:55PM

fillup wrote: »

Happy to report back that I did the route you recommended velopeloton (except i went east on Lough Rynn and not on the west shore).

Lovely spin and managed to avoid all the nasty rain that hit Ireland on Saturday.

Some great scenery, very very quiet roads (hardly met another soul for miles on some of those boreens) and pretty decent road surfaces too.

The stretch of road coming in around Lough Gill is just stunning - i'd done it by car a few years back but that fails in comparison to the hard earned vista after an 85km slog.

All in all i hit the 100.05km mark by the time I hit the digs in Sligo town and headed off for some well-earned sustenance of both the liquid and solid variety in Hargadons.

Next go by Glangevlin, you won't regret it.

Longford to Sligo Cycling Route Recommendation Sought

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