Crossing Ireland Cycling Tour
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This trip is designed to offer you the challenge of riding the length of Ireland, starting in Co
Cork at Mizen Head the most southerly point and finishing in Co. Donegal at Malin Head
sticking out as the most northerly tip of the island of Ireland.
This “End to End” tour takes you over 400 miles across the entire length of Ireland. It takes
you along the coast of Bantry Bay and through the hills of Kerry. Crossing the river Shannon
by ferry you head into Co. Clare and past the Cliffs of Moher through the limestone region
of the Burren to Galway. From here the route heads inland across bogs to cross the
Shannon again at Carrick on Shannon. Then continue through the lakes that dot the
northern part of Ireland. The final part of the route takes you across Lough Swilly and onto
the Inishowen Peninsula for the final few miles to lonely Malin Head. Having reached the
head you continue to the town of Derry (Londonderry) in Northern Ireland. From here you
can take the train to Belfast (adding a day or two) or back to Dublin.
This is not a trip for inexperienced cylist. There are some hilly sections especially through
the Kerry mountains and the daily distances approximate 60-70 miles. Bike rental is not
shown as available, but can be arranged for significant supplement and some required assembly on your part. (bikes have to be shipped) We recommend you bring a touring bike or hybrid bike from home. Luggage transfer is included but contributes considerable to the tour price. If you wish to carry your own luggage on panniers, a good discount is available.
Tour Details
General Tour Information
Duration : 11 days (10 nights)
Self Guided for 2 or more persons
Dates 2012 : ANY DATE (April – Oct); you can choose any date to start; best months for warmer and drier are peak suummer months.
Level 3 - challenging
long distances and frequent climbs
Self Guided Travel - Learn More
Local Coordinator
Wilma is our local coordinator for this trip, and she is who will support you with assistance throughout the trip. Wilma has lived and cycled throughout Connemara and Western Ireland for many years and is our local expert.
Customer Comments - Ireland Tours
"The holiday was fantastic - and far exceeded our expectations. The routes were wonderful, the directions fantastically clear - we didn't get lost once and your team in France was outstanding. !"
- Jackie W.
Itinerary
Click on a day to see that days itinerary.
DAY 1 DAY 2 DAY 3 DAY 4 DAY 5 DAY 6 DAY 7 DAY 8 DAY 9 DAY 10 DAY 11
Day 1 | Arrive in Cork (train or plane from Dublin) transfer to the town of Skibbereen. Stay the night in guesthouse where your route and information pack will be awaiting you. A personal orientation is not available on this trip, but we are available by phone in our Irish offices.
Day 2 | Today's cycle will bring you along the south coast via Schull to Mizen Head (the most southerly point of Ireland). You finish the day in the town of Bantry. (65miles).
Day 3 | A lovely days ride that takes you around Bantry Bay to Glengarriff and onto the Beara Peninsula where you will cross the Caha Mountains via the Healy Pass. Finish the day in the heritage town of Kenmare.
Day 4 | Another superb days ride through the mountains of Kerry, pass through the spectacular Gap of Dunloe and finish your day in the town of Tralee, famed for its Rose of Tralee festival (68miles).
Day 5 | Continue through rolling farming countryside, taking the ferry across the river Shannon at Tarbert. Finish the day in the Victorian seaside town of Kilkee (64miles).
Day 6 | Heading north along the Co. Clare coast you will pass the Cliffs of Moher and finish the day in the small village of Kinvarra (70miles).
Day 7 | The route turns inland and continues through moorland and forests to Boyle or Carrick on Shannon in Co. Roscommon (73miles)
Day 8 | A lovely days ride that takes you through the lakes of County Leitrim and briefly into Northern Ireland ending the day in the main town carrying the same name as the county, ie Donegal. (61miles)
Day 9 | The route takes you across the Blue Stack Mountains and continues through attractive but rather hilly countryside around Lough Swilly. You take the ferry across the lough onto the Peninsula. You reach the town of Cardonagh across moorland (59miles)
Day 10 | The final day is an attractive (if a little demanding) one as you head north to the lonely cliffs at Malin Head and then continue around the east side of the peninsula and along the shore of Lough Foyle to the walled city of Derry (in Northern Ireland also called Londonderry) - 56miles.
Day 11 | Breakfast, followed by departure for your onward journey.
What's Included
All lodging in guest houses and B&B's, all Irish breakfasts (substantial hot and cold offers), all luggage transfers from hotel to hotel, transfer Cork to Skibbereen, local emergency support throughout your tour during daylight riding hours, arrival orientation and bike set up, route maps, route cue sheets with suggestions for visitation and site information, all pre and post travel planning services and a package of pre-travel documents sent electronically to help you prepare for your trip.
Luggage Transfers: if you carry your own luggage in panniers, you can reduce the tour price to 910 euros/person.
Accommodations
Guesthouses and B&Bs
all Irish breakfasts included in each lodging
top quality guesthouses and B&B's, please inquire for more info about the lodging included on this tour.
Other Notes: lodging is double occupancy only. Single supplements are possible when 2 or more are traveling, but we cannot take solo travelers.
Tour Rates
Price Per person based on double occupancy: 1485 Euros per personSingle supplement (for a single occupancy room) when 2 or more persons traveling: 295 Euros
Solo supplement (traveling alone): not available.
It is highly recommended to bring your own touring bike for this tour. We can supply rental bikes but they must be shipped both ways and will require you to assemble and disassemble for shipping. Costs of shipping also added.
If you wish to carry your own bags on your bike and remove the luggage transfers the tour price drops to 910 euros/person; double occupancy.
Bike Info
Bicycle not included and not recommended for cost reasons. We recommend you bring your own bike.
Bike rentals : Normally not available. With shipping, and subject to availability, rates from 300 euros includes round trip shipping: [Click for info] Our new 2012 hybrid bikes that carry panniers are Trek 7.3FX models. See the link for more information.
