WORLD-CLASS BICYCLE TOURS

Tour Profile: 15-25mi/24-40km per day on quiet, deserted roads over a rolling country side with some challenging hills on Day 6 rewarded by spectacular views.

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Highlights:

• Galway with its musicians, artists, actors, pubs, cafes, shops and nightlife.

• The Aran Islands and the ferry trip with wondrous coastal views.

• Dun Aengus with its ancient fort and spectacular seaside cliffs rising 300 ft from the sea.

• St. MacDara's Church and Island

• The many secluded white sandy beaches coaxing for a swim.

• Kylemore Abbey - a Benedictine monastery.

• The Cong Abbey

• A spectacularly haunting landscape.

• Ashford Castle.

• The friendly, colorful, Irish Personalities you will meet all along the way.

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The Itineraries:                            Return to Top

7 DAY TOUR

9 DAY TOUR

This is a Self-Guided Inn Tour - With a Choice of 7 or 9 day tour itineraries as described below  - Days 1 through 3 share the same itinerary:

Day 1 - Arrive Sunday – You will be picked up from Bus/Train station in Galway City

The tour begins in the historic city of Galway, the "City of the Tribes". On your first day you get to sample some of the atmosphere that has made Galway a Mecca for musicians, artists, actors, young people and tourists alike. The cobbled pedestrian streets that run right through the heart of Galway City are lined with bohemian cafes, traditional pubs and craft shops. You can also explore the banks of River Corrib and the many picturesque canals that pass through the city. Of course Galway City's real appeal is its vibrant music scene and at night is the best time to enjoy its many bars and traditional pubs as the streets come to life with activity.

Day 2 - Monday – (Approx: 15-25 miles)

After breakfast you will be fitted out with your bicycle and a member of our cycling team will transport you to Rossaveal where you will take the ferry to the Aran Islands. The Islands are

 an extension of the limestone landscape seen in the Burren and the quiet roads of the islands are ideal for cycling. The small fields with their wild flowers and the maze of oddly-shaped stone walls are a joy to explore. On Inis Mor you can also visit Dun Aengus, one of Ireland's most spectacular pre-historic sites. The stone fort, which attracts visitors from around the world, is situated on the edge of a 300ft cliff that falls sheer to the Atlantic Ocean below. There are also a number of secluded beaches that are ideal for swimming. You will then take the ferry back to Rossaveal where you will stay the night in a B&B.

Day 3 -  Tuesday – (Approx: 20 miles)

This is one of the shorter cycles of your trip, in the morning leaving Rossaveal you will cycle via Camus visiting Pearse’s Cottage, Padraig Pearse, one of the leaders of the 1916 rising which inspired the republican movement for Ireland to gain their independence. You will then Cycle through Kilkieran, a village near Carna. Carna is a small quiet village by the coast; which is unique because of it’s natural beauty and is renowned for it’s lobster-fishing centre but it’s most noteworthy feature is the presence of the (6th century) St. MacDara's Church and Island, one of the notable holy places of the West of Ireland. Local boats (Galway Hooker) maintained a tradition of dipping their sails three times as they sailed past.

Day 4 - Wednesday

9 DAY TOUR - (Approx: 25-35 miles)

After Breakfast, you have a choice of two routes.

Option 1: Cycle the coast road to Glinsk and from here to Roundstone exploring a vast area of rocky hills, lakes, endless shorelines with fine sandy beaches and islands. Roundstone is a working fishing village situated on the side of a hill, regarded by many as the most idyllic village in Connemara.

Option 2: Again, cycling to Glinsk you would take the B940 for Recess/Ballynahinch with the spectacular views of Derry Lough and the twelve pins. From here, you would take the Bog Road, through bog land dotted with hundreds of tiny lakes. In summertime, when heather and other wild flowers are in bloom, the dark brown landscape comes to life with beautiful colour.

7 DAY TOUR -  (Approx: 20 miles)

Today’s cycle takes you to Cashel where you will branch off and cycle inland towards Ballynahinch, this 16^th century castle and estate over-looks the Ballynahinch river and has got to be one of the most scenic landscapes in Connemara dotted with many tiny lakes and rivers, best known for its fly fishing. From here you will cycle through the wooded region for Recess and through Inaghvalley. Inaghvalley is in the heart of Connemara and is a place of untouched scenery and extreme beauty. From here you will cycle to Kylemore Abbey, with its surrounding mountains and lakes which are steeped in history including engineering initiatives, model farms, tragedy, royal visits, gambling debts, a hideaway during Ireland’s troubled history as well as excellence in education. Your final destination today will be Leenane.

Option 1: Taking the coastal road via Claddaghduff and Omey Island, Omey Island is a tidal-island situated near Claddaghduff on the western edge of Connemara in County Galway, Ireland. This quiet route is noted for its natural wild floral beauty that takes you through moyard to the foot of Connemara national park, Letterfrack. Taking the coastal road once again with spectacular cliff-edge views of the Atlantic Ocean and its remote white sand beaches and along the banks of the only fjord in Ireland to Leenane.

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Option 2: This option is the shorter of the two, taking the road to Letterfrack along the foot of the Twelve Pin Mountains and Connemara National Park to Kylemore Abbey Castle. Kylemore Abbey is a Benedictine monastery founded in 1920 on the grounds of Kylemore Castle, in Connemara. The abbey was founded for Benedictine Monks who fled Belgium in World War I. From here you will cycle to Leenane. Leenane is a place of contrasts. Situated at the head of Killary harbour, a 16km Fjord, it nestles under the Maamtrasna and Maamturk mountains on the Galway-Mayo border. The area has been inhabited since pre-history, evinced by ancient tombs and the potato ridges climbing the mountains.

7 DAY TOUR -  (Approx: 20 miles)

Leenane is a place of contrasts. Situated at the head of Killary harbour, a 16km Fjord, it is located under the Maamtrasna and Maamturk mountains on the Galway-Mayo border. The area has been inhabited since pre-history, evinced by ancient tombs and the potato ridges climbing the mountains. You will then cycle from here to Aghagower.  The next two days are the most challenging yet scenic routes in the West of Ireland of your trip so far. Today your cycle takes you by Aasleagh Falls to Doon Pass nesting between the Mweelrea and Glascame Mountains. Cycling through the forests, lakes and through the Sheffrey hills into Liscarney and from here onto Westport.

Day 6 - Friday

9 DAY TOUR - (Approx: 20 miles)

In my experience the next two days are the most challenging yet scenic routes in the West of Ireland of your trip so far. Today your cycle takes you by Aasleagh Falls to Doon Pass nesting between the Mweelrea and Glascame Mountains. Cycling through the forests, lakes and into the Sheffrey hills into Liscarney and from here onto Westport.

7 DAY TOUR -  (Approx: 25 miles)

Today your cycle takes you through the Partry Mountains, challenging but rewarding with spectacular 360 degree views of Croagh Patrick and over looking Lough Mask. You will then cycle to Tormakeedy and along the banks of Lough Mask heading for Finny with splendid views of Lough Nafooey heading through Clonbur to Cong which is home to the beautiful Ashford Castle. Cong is an ideal base from which to explore the breathtaking scenery of Connemara and has many attractions of its own, not least of which is the impressive Cong Abbey. Although most people visit Cong because of its association with the famous 1951 John Ford film, "The Quiet Man".

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Day 7 - Saturday (Approx: 25 miles)

9 DAY TOUR - Today your cycle takes you through the Partry Mountains, challenging but rewarding with spectacular 360 degree views of Croagh Patrick and over looking Lough Mask. You will then cycle to Tomakeedy and along the banks of Lough Mask heading for Finny with splendid views of Lough Nafooey heading through Clonbur to Cong.

7 DAY TOUR - End of the Tour. After breakfast you will be transferred to Galway Bus/Rail/Airport.

Day 8 - Sunday (Approx: 0-20 miles)

9 DAY TOUR CONTINUES-  In the morning you will explore the village of Cong, which is home to the beautiful Ashford Castle. Cong is an ideal base from which to explore the breathtaking scenery of Connemara and has many attractions of its own, not least of which is the impressive Cong Abbey. Although most people visit Cong because of its association with the famous 1951 John Ford film, "The Quiet Man". After lunch at approx 2pm you will be transferred to Galway City to avoid the hassle of all the hustle and bustle of city traffic.

Overnight Itinerary:  

7 Day Tour: Galway - Rossaveal - Carna - Leenane - Westport - Cong

9 Day Tour: Galway - Rossaveal - Carna - Clifton - Leenane Westport - Cong - Galway

Includes all breakfasts

Includes all breakfasts

DOSSIER - On the first day of the tour you will be given maps, road book, fact sheets and tourist information.

EXCLUSIONS : The insurances, the transfers from and to the airport, the beverages, the lunches and dinners, items of a personal nature such as, telephone and laundry.