Budget Irish Bicycle Tours

If you like traditional Irish music, then Clare is the place to go. In May and June there is the additional delight of the flowering of so many exotic wild flowers in the Burren.

Day 1 Saturday ENNIS TOWN
The meeting point for the tour is in Ennis Town, where we stay in guesthouses.

Day 2 Sunday ENNIS to SPANISH POINT 35 miles (48kms)
You start by heading west on small backroads to the Atlantic Coast where we stay in a hotel overlooking Spanish Point beach.

Day 3 Monday SPANISH POINT to DOOLIN 29 miles (46kms)
We cycle north to the town of Lahinch for lunch. In the afternoon we continue to the Cliffs of Moher and on to the village of Doolin for the night.

Day 4 Tuesday DOOLIN to BALLYVAUGHAN 31 miles (50kms)
Heading into the Burren, we stop for lunch at Lisdoonvarna, before taking the coast road in the afternoon to Ballyvaughan.

Day 5 Wednesday Rest day in BALLYVAUGHAN
One option on the rest day is to take a walk through the surrounding Burren limestone countryside.

Day 6 Thursday BALLYVAUGHAN to GORT 25 miles (40kms)
We follow a maze of undiscovered backroads to the village of Carran, before continuing to the town of Gort in the afternoon.

Day 7 Friday GORT to ENNIS 35 miles (48kms)
Again we follow backroads through the Burren and circle around the Turlough at Mulloughmore before returning to Ennis for a final night of jigs and reels.

Connemara is ideal cycling country where roads go around the hills rather than over them. The scenery changes from dramatic mountain ranges and fiords to sweeping open bogland and a rocky fractal coastline.

Day 1 Saturday GALWAY CITY
Meeting in centre of Galway city where we stay in guesthouses.

Day 2 Sunday GALWAY/CONG to WESTPORT 39 miles (62kms)
We take a coach transfer to Cong to collect your bikes and head out on quiet roads along Lough Mask to the busy market town of Westport.

Day 3 Monday WESTPORT to LEENANE 30 miles (48kms)
We cycle west between the pilgrimage mountain of Croagh Patrick and Clew Bay before heading south via the dramatic Delphi Valley to the village of Leenane.

Day 4 Tuesday LEENANE to ROUNDSTONE 31 miles (49kms)
There is a choice of several routes across the open bogland of South Connemara to our two day stop in the seaside village of Roundstone.

Day 5 Wednesday Rest day in ROUNDSTONE
A rest day, when you can visit many local beaches or take a cycling tour via Ballyconnelly and Clifden back to the village.

Day 6 Thursday ROUNDSTONE to CARRAROE 34 miles (54kms)
We head east along a spectacular coastline to the Irish speaking village of Carraroe.

Day 7 Friday CARRAROE to GALWAY
On the last day, one option is to take the morning boat to the Aran Islands, and the return ferry into Galway city that evening.

Donegal is a place apart from the rest of the Republic. In some ways closer to Scotland than to Dublin, it is home to some of our most dramatic scenery, a particular musical tradition and a distinctive accent and friendly welcome.

Day 1 Saturday SLIGO
We start in Sligo town with an evening meal while your bags are transferred to our guesthouses.

Day 2 Sunday KILLYBEGS to GLENCOLUMKILLE 18 miles (29kms)
There is a coach transfer to Killybegs which is a busy fishing port and the starting point for the tour. The route goes close to the towering cliffs at Slieve League before continuing to the village of Glencolumbkille.

Day 3 Monday GLENCOLMKILLE to DUNGLOE 40 miles (64kms)
Heading north, there is a choice of spectacular and little used roads to the village of Ardara where we have lunch. In the afternoon we follow the Atlantic coast road to Dungloe.

Day 4 Tuesday DUNGLOE to DUNFANAGHY 40 miles (64kms)
The recommended route bisects Mount Errigal and Glenveigh National Park, leading to the village of Dunfanaghy for a two-day stop over.

Day 5 Wednesday Rest day in DUNFANAGHY
This area is famous for its spectacular beaches. Fishing, bird watching, golf and other activities can be organised from our hotel.

Day 6 Thursday DUNFANAGHY to RATHMELTON 30 miles (48kms)
We head east on the Glen road to the attractive town of Rathmelton.

Day 7 Friday RATHMELTON to SLIGO 28 miles (45kms)
You take a coach in the morning to the village of Garrison, before cycling back on the quiet roads of "Yeats Country", via Lough Gill and Lough Melvin to Sligo.

The road around the Ring of Kerry is a major attraction for tourists which makes it less attractive for cyclists. However, it is easy to avoid the main road and by taking some hillier options, get away from it all in the spectacular scenery of these two peninsulas.

Day 1 Saturday KILLARNEY
The starting point is in a hotel close to the railway station in Killarney.

Day 2 Sunday KILLARNEY to SNEEM 36 miles (57kms)
We cycle out of Killarney through Muckross National Park, and on to Molls Gap for lunch, before heading west on the Iveragh Peninsula to the town of Sneem.

Day 3 Monday SNEEM to GLENBEIGH 32 miles (51kms)
Avoiding the main Ring of Kerry road, we cycle by the Gap of Ballaghbearna and along Lough Caragh to the seaside village of Glenbeigh.

Day 4 Tuesday GLENBEIGH to DINGLE 20 miles (32kms - short option)
The day starts with a coach trip to the village of Camp on the Dingle Peninsula. We cycle from there via the dramatic Conor's Pass onto the town of Dingle.

Day 5 Wednesday Rest day in DINGLE
Dingle is a bustling town with plenty of restaurants, musical pubs, a busy fishing fleet and dramatic surrounding countryside.

Day 6 Thursday DINGLE to KILLORGLIN 35 miles (56kms)
We again follow a quiet coastal road to Inch beach for a swim before lunch. We continue in the afternoon to the market town of Killorglin.

Day 7 Friday KILLORGLIN to KILLARNEY 35m (56kms)
Keeping to the backroads, we head to the famous Gap of Dunloe for a spectacular cycle through the Black Valley, and then return via the National Park into Killarney.

Starting from Cork (Ireland's real capital, according to its inhabitants!), the tour brings you through a world of small farms, wild flowers, old world gentleness, warm hospitality, busy harbour villages, and market towns.

Day 1 Saturday CORK CITY
As with each of our tours, the week starts with a meeting of the group at around 6.30pm, followed by an evening meal for any hungry travellers.

Day 2 Sunday CORK to INCHIGEELAGH 34 miles (54kms)
We follow backroads along the course of the River Lee to Macroom for lunch and on to the village of Inchigella in the afternoon.

Day 3 Monday INCHIGEELAGH to AHAKISTA 36 miles (57kms)
Heading south, we stop for lunch in Bantry house and then in the afternoon continue to our farmhouses in the village of Ahakista, on the remote and beautiful Sheep's Head peninsula.

Day 4 Tuesday AHAKISTA to BALTIMORE 36 miles (57kms)
It is possible to cycle around the coast to the village of Baltimore or else to cycle to Schull and take the ferry, which stops off at Sherkin Island en route to Baltimore.

Day 5 Wednesday Rest day in BALTIMORE
A well earned rest day, when you can put your feet up or else explore the local islands.

Day 6 Thursday BALTIMORE to CLONAKILTY 33 miles (53kms)
We cycle on, hugging the West Cork coast as far as Clonakilty, birthplace of Michael Collins.

Day 7 Friday CLONAKILTY to CORK CITY 35 miles (56kms)
Keeping to the quiet coast road we pass the "Moving Statue" at Ballinspittle, and continue to the town of Kinsale for lunch. There is an afternoon cycle on rolling backroads, before a coach takes us on the last leg, back into Cork City.

This is one of our first and still most popular tours. We start and finish in the hustle and bustle of Killarney before heading out on the Beara and Mizen peninsulas where we stay in attractive seaside villages.

Day 1 Saturday KILLARNEY
Meeting in the centre of Killarney with the tour guide and the rest of the group.

Day 2 Sunday KILLARNEY to KENMARE 23 miles (37kms)
You select your bike and set out via Muckross National Park. In the afternoon there is a choice of routes to the seaside town of Kenmare.

Day 3 Monday KENMARE to CASTLETOWNBEAR 32 miles (51kms)
We leave Kerry by cycling onto the beautiful and remote Beara Peninsula where we stay in the fishing port of Castletownbear.

Day 4 Tuesday CASTLETOWNBEAR to SCHULL 38 miles (61kms)
After a morning cycle to Glengariff you can take a boat across Bantry Bay, which shortens the afternoon cycle to the village of Schull.

Day 5 Wednesday Rest day in SCHULL
Various activities can be arranged, or you can simply potter around local shops and pubs.

Day 6 Thursday SCHULL to GOUGANE BARRA 35 miles (51kms)
After a lunch stop in Bantry House we move inland, to our evening destination by St. Finbar's hermitage retreat at Gougane Barra.

Day 7 Friday GOUGANE BARRA to KILLARNEY 35 miles (56kms)
Heading homeward on little known roads with swimming stops in river pools along the way, we return to Killarney for a final evening meal and night on the town.

This tour takes you through some of Ireland's most beautiful and undiscovered scenery. Starting in the busy town of Westport we soon get away from it all, cycling through quiet villages along the Atlantic coast. We then head across the wide open plains of west Mayo to Achill Island which has been attracting painters and writers for over a hundred years to revel in its dramatic situation !

Day 1 Saturday WESTPORT
As with all our tours we meet up in a hotel close to the bus and railway station in the town of Westport.

Day 2 Sunday WESTPORT to PONTOON
We head off on backroads which make up part of the Western Way walking route, before heading inland to our hotel in the village of Pontoon, overlooking Lough Conn.

Day 3 Monday PONTOON to BALLYCASTLE
We cycle north along the shores of Lough Conn to the village of Ballycastle. For the next two days our route coincides with the Tír Sáile sculpture trail which runs along the North Mayo coast.

Day 4 Tuesday BALLYCASTLE to BELMULLET
Heading west to the town of Belmullet, we stop off en-route in the Céide Fields visitor centre which is based on the local archaeological survey of a prehistoric field system.

Day 5 Wednesday BELMULLET to ACHILL
One option is to cycle to Blacksod Bay and take a boat across to Achill Island. An equally attractive choice would be to cycle the 40 miles along the dramatic Atlantic coast road to Achill.

Day 6 Thursday Rest day in ACHILL
We have a rest day in the village of Keel on Achill Island, from where numerous outings can be planned.

Day 7 Friday ACHILL to WESTPORT
The final day's cycle brings you along Clew Bay to Newport for lunch before returning on the Western Way back to the town of Westport that afternoon.

On our latest tour we explore the southeast corner of Ireland. An area of the country rich in medieval heritage, stunning scenery and beautiful coastline.

Day 1 Saturday - The tour starts in Wexford town where you meet the guide and the rest of the group at the usual time of 6.30pm

Day 2 Sunday - Wexford to Avoca - We start the cycle by heading on the coast to the Hook Head peninsula and the seaside village of Artherstown

Day 3 Monday Avoca to Baltinglass - The day begins with a ferry across Passage East and on along the beautiful southern coastline to the Irish speading village of Ring.

Day 4 Tuesday Baltinglass to Glendalough - We continue along the coast to the seaside village of Youghal for lunch and in the afternoon follow the River Blackwater to the historic town of Lismore

Day 5 Wednesday Rest day in Glendalough - We will be staying in a comfortable hotel in the centre of Lismore where you can relax for the day or else spend the time visiting some of the many historic sites in the area

Day 6 Thursday Glendalough to Blessington Lakes - We head north over the stunning Knockmealdown mountains into the county of Tipperary and to the Glen of Aherlow.

Day 7 Friday Blessington Lakes to Kilkenny - On our last day we cycle past the famous Rock of Cashel en-route to the historic city of Kilkenny where we spend the last night together

We circle around the spectacular roads and villages of the Glens of Antrim combining the drama of the coastal road with the beauty of the Glens. We have the chance to visit the Giant's Causeway as well as the village of Bushmills to sample its liquid delights! The route incorporates several sections of cycle path developed by Sustrans as part of the Millenium National cycle route project.

Day 1 Saturday
We meet up in the centre of Belfast, after an introductory meeting we have dinner together.

Day 2 Sunday
Setting out on a Sustrans Cycle path we head out of Belfast up onto the the beginning of the Northern Coastline to the seaside village of Carnlough for the night.

Day 3 Monday
The days cycle takes in the beauty of Antrim not only in its coastline but also in its famous and stunning Glens. Slowly but surely we make our way along the coast to the village of Cushendall where we base ourselves for two nights.

Day 4 Tuesday
Heading inland again, we cycle through two of the most spectacular Glens of Antrim before returning back to Cushendall for another night in this lovely village.

Day 5 Wednesday
One option for the day is to hug the coastline to take in a stunning cycle along by Torr Head to the village of Ballycastle where we stay for two days.

Day 6 Thursday
One attractive option on the rest day is to take the ferry to explore Rathlin Island, which is some five miles out in the Atlantic.

Day 7 Friday

We cycle along the coast where we can visit the famous Carrickrede rope bridge and then along to view the hexagonal rock formations at the Giants Causeway. From there we head to the village of Bushmills where we can visit the famous Whiskey distillery. The tour finishes off with a transfer back from Coleraine to Belfast city for a final night together.

Day 8 Saturday
After a hearty breakfast, like all good things the tour ends!

Meeting Point
Every tour starts on a Saturday evening at 6.30pm in a central hotel, where the guide gives a talk on every aspect of the tour . The tour descriptions above give only the briefest outline of our routes. A more detailed itinerary is provided on booking and at the start of each tour. Every tour finishes the following Saturday morning. Although transfers to and from the starting points are not included in our package, we would be happy to give out relevant information and advice on travelling in Ireland. Return rail vouchers are available on request.

Fitness
People of all ages and fitness levels come on our tours, so don't worry if you are not super-fit. You have all day to cover the recommended route and while Irish roads rarely follow a straight line, there are few large mountain ranges to cross. All our tours are of similar length with the Kerry and Donegal safaris being slightly hillier than the others. Each tour also has a rest day mid week. Complete beginners would be advised to take a few practice rides, before coming on the tour.

Food & Entertainment
Each evening the guide will choose a location for the evening meal which you may decide to join. Selected restaurants should have a good choice and also suit different budgets. In certain isolated villages the best option may be to eat a meal prepared by the landlady in your own guesthouse. After dinner the guide should also be able to provide professional advice as to where the best music , refreshments and "craic" are to be found.

Accommodation
Is on a twin sharing, bed and breakfast basis, in a mixture of family run Hotels and guesthouses. We often stay in quieter places off the main tourist routes, where the range of accommodation available is limited. As such, we cannot guarantee the availability of single room accommodation. In exceptional cases we may be able to provide one single room at a £ supplement for the week. Many people come on their own on a safari. The guide is responsible for the allocation of rooms taking into account everyone's wishes. Should you require accommodation before or after the tour, we will be able to recommend places to stay and assist in booking if required.

Bicycles
We will be using Dawes (an English brand) hybrids on our tours this summer, switching from the Treks that were used last year. They come equipped with 21 speed grip-shift gears, carriers, mudguards, water bottles and a front pannier bag. People looking to use toe clips can bring their own, which we can then attach to the pedals. We give out maps along with route directions and historical details at the start of the week.

What to bring
The advantage of the safaris is that you don't have to worry about how much luggage you can bring. Do however make sure that you have a comfortable pair of shorts or track suit bottoms (we recommend that you bring padded cycling shorts) as well as a pair of runners. Bicycle helmets and rain gear are available from the guide, but it is advisable to bring your own should you need them.

Laura Mann, Massachusetts, US
Marc and I were extremely impressed with the company and the tour - it was absolutely great. One person on our trip had originally signed up for a trip with a different group and that tour was cancelled with no notice to her - she hooked up with ours and had a great time. Her other trip had been more than double the price! We had rain most days and still had a fantastic time. The people on the trip were very nice and diverse, the trip leader, Gina, was excellent, and the trip will be remembered for a long time. We hope to do other trips with them. We would HIGHLY reccomend this company and the bicyling in Ireland (and your services) to others. Please feel free to have anyone interested contact us or send any questions to us. Thanks again!!!

Allan Woods, Cheshire, England
"Fourteen people, six nationalities, seven days together in beautiful Donegal. Wonderful! Marvellous! Nobody really wanted to go home!"

Jerry Griswold, San Marcos, CA, US
"The Pope should canonize Patrick Maher, our guide. In all my years of cycling I have never encountered a person in his position who was so unfailingly patient and helpful and downright funny and kind."

Kents Jacks, Miami, USA
"While on the bike I could stop at any time and explore the magnificence of the land, I could talk to the locals without worrying about time and I could get lost without getting lost. The trip was so astonishing it will always be on my mind."

Jan Green, Croydon, England
"I have been on six of your safaris now and I really don't know which I have enjoyed the most - all have been so good, but I think this last was possibly the best.. Higher ground with rocky outcrops of stone and rugged marvellous views, more gentle lowland lakes and pastures and stunning coastal rides - all this often in a single day."

Albert Lindemann, California, USA
"We had a simply wonderful time - and I am telling various people that the legendary Irish warmth and hospitality is amply deserved."

Kristen Travel, Atlanta, USA
"The way in which you have thought through every detail of the tour, made the trip completely flawless."

Heather Brown, Mansfield, England
"The scenery was just magnificent, the best we've ever seen I think. Beautiful deserted beaches, wild mountainous areas, it was too much to take in at times. I can genuinely say this was the best holiday we've ever had"

. Kathleen Hutchinson, Bristol, England
"We decided to try a different kind of holiday and were more than pleasantly surprised. The cycling routes, scenic views and Irish hospitality outshone anything we had ever anticipated".

Grant Fenner, Missouri, USA
"I was very impressed with the quality of your bikes. The organisation was excellent but still provided ample free time for people to do as they pleased."

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