Southwest Ireland Guided Group Bicycle Tours
| Tour Name |
Nights |
Start / Finish |
Cost |
2010 Start Dates |
| Kingdom of Kerry |
7 |
Killarney / Killarney |
€1,375 |
Sat 22nd May
Sat 21st August |
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The Kingdom of Kerry (7 nights) Guided Group Tour
Our Kerry Tour encompasses some of the most beautiful countryside to be found in all of Ireland. Kerry is renowned for its archaeological treasures, breathtaking scenery and charming hospitality. These wonderful routes take us along quiet country roads, passing through colourful towns and villages along the way. The tour takes you on a journey of discovery around two of Kerry’s dramatic peninsulas. To the interior there are natural
wonderlands of mountains (including Ireland’s highest peak Corrán Tuathail), forests, blanket bogs, river and lakes. Framing this is some of the most spectacular coastline you will ever behold!For lovers of Irish traditional music, the town of Kenmare is great for lively nightly sessions in the local pubs. As a special excursion along the way there is the opportunity to visit the island of Skellig Michael (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), site of a
wonderfully-preserved monastic outpost of the Early Christian period. Small Skellig, its diminutive neighbour, is the home of some 27,000 pairs of gannets – the second largest colony of such seabirds in the world.
Overall the terrain on the cycling routes can be described as moderate - meaning generally undulating with some short steeper climbs. The great majority of the cycling takes you along country roads and lanes that carry minimal volumes of traffic. One or two (unavoidable) stretches on the Ring of Kerry road are more heavily trafficked – but if you are uncomfortable riding these stretches, you can always hop into the van! The average daily mileage on the core routes is 35 miles. Optional extensions of around 20 miles are available on most days. The sag wagon is present at all times allowing you to customise your own cycling distances.
The tour can be most conveniently combined with a stay in Dublin. There are internal flights from Dublin to Kerry airport (at Fanore). Alternatively there are trains to Killarney, start point for the tour. Killorglin is a short journey from either Killarney (for the train back to Dublin) or Kerry airport.
Kingdom of Kerry Dates and Rates
| 2010 Departures |
Sat 22nd May
Sat 21st August |
| Start |
Killarney, Co Kerry |
| Finish |
Killarney, Co Kerry |
| Duration |
7 nights (Saturday – Saturday) |
| Cost |
€1,375 per person sharing
€195 single accommodation supplement (if applicable) |
| Included |
7 nights hotel accommodation
6 evening dinners (3 or 4 course a la carte)
Bike rental
Guide
Sag wagon
Trip preparation package
Ferry crossings
Taxes |
- Day 1 (Saturday)
We meet at the Victoria House Hotel in Killarney in the afternoon (timing flexible). After checking in, bikes and equipment can be fitted and then tested during a short trip to visit Muckross Gardens by the shore of Lough Leane. Over dinner, you can get to know your fellow travellers and your guide will run through the itinerary for the week ahead. Then you might just want to sample a Guinness before retiring to prepare yourself for the first day of riding!
- Day 2 (Sunday)
The biking proper starts with a beautiful 30-mile ride by the shores of a lake, then through forests and over moorland to Gougane Barra, situated on the lake of same name deep in the Derrynasaggart Mountains. St. Finbarr’s 7th century hermitage overlooks the picturesque lake in this glaciated valley. We check into Gougana Barra Hotel.
- Day 3 (Monday)
We the leave the mountains behind and meet the Atlantic Ocean north of Bantry heading to the colourful village of Glengarriff with its subtropical flora. This makes for a perfect lunch stop. We then follow the north shore of Bantry Bay along the Ring of Beara route to Adrigole, and continue west to Castletownbere, the Beara peninsula’s main town. Sheltered to the north by the Slieve Miskish Mountains and protected to the south by Bear Island, the town is an important fishing port – there is a lively fish auction several evenings a week. We check into Cottage Heights Guesthouse and Restaurant.
- Day 4 (Tuesday)
The route from Castletownbere to Kenmare starts by retracing our steps to Adrigole before turning north to climb to Healy Pass (287m), one of the most beautiful passes in Ireland. From the pass there are wonderful views over lakes and rugged hills, to Kenmare Bay and the mountains of the Iveragh Peninsula in the distance. Descending from the pass, we follow scenic coast-hugging roads to Kenmare. A colourful heritage town, Kenmare is famed for the traditional Irish music played in its pubs. We stay the night in the centre of the town in the Lansdowne Arms Hotel.
- Day 5 (Wednesday)
The southern shore of the Ring of Kerry has some of the best coastal scenery along the famous loop. Leaving Kenmare we follow the north shore of the Kenmare River to Lackeen Point where we turn inland to avoid a narrow, trafficked section of the Ring of Kerry. The route picks up the Ring again at the village of Sneem, a welcome refreshment halt. The scenery gets ever more dramatic as we round successive headlands on the way to Waterville and on to Caherciveen, birthplace of the Liberator Daniel O’Connell (1775-1847). The area around Caherciveen is packed with interest for the archaeologist, antiquarian, artist and botanist. The Ring of Kerry Hotel provides accommodation for the next two nights.
- Day 6 (Thursday)
Today’s loop takes us south around the Skellig Ring. We pass Ballinskelligs, with its Gaelic speaking population and continue to Valencia Island (via Valentia Bridge). Features of the island include tropical vegetation, a huge natural Grotto, the Knight’s Memorial – and unbridled tranquillity. An alternative for those who may prefer a day out of the saddle is the highly recommended boat trip to the Skellig Rocks, 7 miles off the Kerry coast. On Skellig Michael there are beehive dwellings of an early Christian monastery, while Little Skellig is an important sanctuary for sea birds, particularly for gannets and the rather comical puffins.
- Day 7 (Friday)
Leaving Caherciveen, we ride inland away from the Ring of Kerry. The interior of the Iveragh Peninsula is peacefully quiet, with scenery dominated by mountains, rivers, farmland, and bogs. A climb to Ballaghisheen Pass offers wonderful views into the valleys beyond. Descending from here, the road skirts the shores of Lough Acoose and the foothills of the McGillycuddy's back to Killarney. For the enthusiastic an excursion into the Gap of Dunloe is possible. For our last we will stay in the historic Arbutus Hotel situated right in the centre of bustling Killarney.
- Day 8 (Saturday)
Depart by train or bus to Dublin, or by bus to Shannon – or to anywhere else in the country!
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