Ireland orbital tour
Discussion
Hi all
Planning a bike holiday for me and a few friends, we want to go to Dublin from holyhead, and then lap Ireland.
If anyone had done this, route suggestions would be appreciated and roads to make sure we ride over, or to avoid welcome. I have done the nc500 last year and that was awesome, 1500 miles I think it was in the end over 6 days in April, weather was perfect.
We have about 6 or 7 days to do it in, if possible we would do northern Ireland to, but time may not permit. August / September / October is our likely window for this one
Thanks
Matt
Planning a bike holiday for me and a few friends, we want to go to Dublin from holyhead, and then lap Ireland.
If anyone had done this, route suggestions would be appreciated and roads to make sure we ride over, or to avoid welcome. I have done the nc500 last year and that was awesome, 1500 miles I think it was in the end over 6 days in April, weather was perfect.
We have about 6 or 7 days to do it in, if possible we would do northern Ireland to, but time may not permit. August / September / October is our likely window for this one
Thanks
Matt
It was a few years back but two stand out bits for me were Winklow gap (although a look on Google maps suggests this isn't the real name) which is the R115 South West ish of Dublin.
The other was parts of the Wild Atlantic Way which is heavily sign posted so you won't miss it and as the name suggest is the coast road facing the Atlantic. Dingle peninsula was a favourite but I believe the whole WAW is quite a journey
Post up some pics when you go!
The other was parts of the Wild Atlantic Way which is heavily sign posted so you won't miss it and as the name suggest is the coast road facing the Atlantic. Dingle peninsula was a favourite but I believe the whole WAW is quite a journey
Post up some pics when you go!
You can do a full lap of Ireland(North and South) in under a day but you wouldn't see much tbh.
The west coast is were its at. From Dublin head down towards cork taking in the Wicklow mountains ( Old military road?)
Take the rest of the day to get to a base around cork. Ideally not in Cork city...Its a bit of a dump.
Next day head down to mazen head via kinsale and start to work upwards.... take a day to explore around .expecting to base yourself around Killarney
You will go through the Moles gap between kenmare and Killarney and its 1 road you will look to ride again the next day tbh.
From Killarney your day can do the ring of Kerry ( make sure you go across the mountain road as well as the full ring) and onto dingle and I would look to get the ferry from Tarbert to Killimar before bunking down close by.
Day 3 you could do around Ennis heading up towards Galway and check out some of the roads around Clifden….
Day 4 I would look to get lost around connamara The N59 is a good road to find.
day 5 Donegal which is prob the most senic of all with amazing places to get lost. Take in the Downings have a pint in the singing pub
Day 6 take in the north...L,Derry right round the north coast to portrush( the NW 200 base) the Gaintscauseway etc then do the Antrim coast road down to Belfast which is a top 100 road to do in the world tbh.
day 7 head back to your ferry via Newcastle and the mourn mountains....
The west coast is were its at. From Dublin head down towards cork taking in the Wicklow mountains ( Old military road?)
Take the rest of the day to get to a base around cork. Ideally not in Cork city...Its a bit of a dump.
Next day head down to mazen head via kinsale and start to work upwards.... take a day to explore around .expecting to base yourself around Killarney
You will go through the Moles gap between kenmare and Killarney and its 1 road you will look to ride again the next day tbh.
From Killarney your day can do the ring of Kerry ( make sure you go across the mountain road as well as the full ring) and onto dingle and I would look to get the ferry from Tarbert to Killimar before bunking down close by.
Day 3 you could do around Ennis heading up towards Galway and check out some of the roads around Clifden….
Day 4 I would look to get lost around connamara The N59 is a good road to find.
day 5 Donegal which is prob the most senic of all with amazing places to get lost. Take in the Downings have a pint in the singing pub
Day 6 take in the north...L,Derry right round the north coast to portrush( the NW 200 base) the Gaintscauseway etc then do the Antrim coast road down to Belfast which is a top 100 road to do in the world tbh.
day 7 head back to your ferry via Newcastle and the mourn mountains....
I've done most of it at various times and not all on motorbikes!
As mentioned, the south around Cork is lovely, then around Kerry is stunning but also busy (comparatively). The north west coast (Co Mayo) is where I've spent most of my time in Ireland and is my favourite. It's more old fashioned, and less touristy. The Wild Atlantic Way (including Achill Island) is spectacular but also quite quiet, so I'd factor in a bit of time around that area.
I still plan to do a whole lap eventually and join all the bits I've been to up, so it'll be a great tour!
Are you going clockwise or anti-clockwise?
And can you time it to coincide with any racing in the North?
As mentioned, the south around Cork is lovely, then around Kerry is stunning but also busy (comparatively). The north west coast (Co Mayo) is where I've spent most of my time in Ireland and is my favourite. It's more old fashioned, and less touristy. The Wild Atlantic Way (including Achill Island) is spectacular but also quite quiet, so I'd factor in a bit of time around that area.
I still plan to do a whole lap eventually and join all the bits I've been to up, so it'll be a great tour!
Are you going clockwise or anti-clockwise?
And can you time it to coincide with any racing in the North?
Gassing Station | Biker Banter | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff