Any tips on riding in Ireland? We have routes and accommodation pretty well sorted. Gloucestershire to Hollyhead via Snowdonia, ferry to first night in Dublin. Dublin to Kells for the road races and overnight nearby. Kells to Westport, staying there for two nights with Connemara loop. Westport to Listowel for two nights, Ring of Kerry loop Listowel to Wexford for last night. Rosslare to Fishguard and then mid Wales (Elan Valley) to home in Gloucestershire. Anything in particular we should be aware of, apart from it's likely to be raining a fair bit... Bike security, policing etc?
Pack fog lights for Connor Pass, full blue skies either side but the pass itself fogbound. Hardly rained in May last year it was great weather, hopefully you'll have the same. I started in Schull and worked my way up from there. Great rides and people. Didn't see a Garda in the Month I was there working or weekend rides. I rode like a twat mostly, other than when my guide was with me for the one day. The Wild Atlantic Way is a great route along with some of the cycling routes but they are a bit sketchy if you're riding a more touring biased bike gravel grass and moss. I just locked my bike with a D1000 when I stayed in B&B on the West coast. In the back of my van during the week as I was closer to Dublin/Limerick/Cork for work based activities.
Dublin is not the safest city to leave your bike unattended, don’t park it in plain sight, garage it if you can. Andy
From Westport and if you have the time and inclination Croagh Patrick is a relatively easy climb with fantastic views over Clew Bay. South of Galway towards the coast you’ll find the Cliffs of Moher and dramatic views, access through the Burren national park The Wild Atlantic Way is fabulous and sticks to the coast as a result progress can be slow. Have a good un
Sounds great. Limited space, walking boots won't be included, let alone the time. Would love to do this area, at a slower pace, another time with my partner though.
Sounds good though will save that one for another time. Our itinerary for day #1 is the road races at Kells. It's a biking trip first and foremost and I doubt my travelling companions would be willing to forego that. Tried to include the Connor Pass as suggested by @DucatiScud but getting kick-back from the newbie to our group. He favours lower milage days and is resistant to my suggested alteration from 160 to 175 miles... Cramping my mojo a little. He's joined us in 2023 and 2025 and it's been the same story, uni mate of my best mate who is part of the trio. Think I might be touring alone next year or taking my partner if I can persuade her to tour again after our Corsica trip in 2022.
It's always a compromise when taking a group, some like to stop often for coffee or photos others like to crack on. If I'm leading I do what I can to accommodate their wishes. I tell them to come on past and let me know if they want to stop (good luck with that ).
You don’t have to be joined at the hip. I regularly tour in Spain and France with a group of friends and everyone gets the sat nav routes for each day, several weeks in advance. If one or two of the group want to gripe about a particular day, they are encouraged to make their own way to that night’s stop. It actually makes for a better holiday for those that prefer not to be progressive or get too technical when fully loaded so a day off as it were, gives the others in the group a chance to relive their hooligan years On past trips, it’s actually preempted and prevented friction (which you can expect from a group of old men ) Andy
