HOLIDAY DETAILS
The Area:
Ireland is a predominantly rural country with a varied landscape of mountains and moorland, dotted with quiet peaceful
villages and isolated farmhouses. It has a long and ragged coastline and much of this is spectacular, with long sandy beaches,
some of the highest cliffs in Europe, and small rocky bays. The country has long been a popular cycling destination. An
excellent network of minor roads link the many small towns and villages, and these offer some lovely cycling. Most villages
still have at least one pub, and in many areas you can still find traditional evening music sessions taking place. The people
are friendly and hospitable and Irish charm is well known around the world. Gaelic is still the first language in some parts
of the country.
The Tour:
This trip is designed to offer you the challenge of riding the length of Ireland. The trip actually starts at Cork and finishes
at Londonderry as these towns have the closest airports to Mizen Head and Malin Head respectively. Note: This trip is only
recommended for very fit experienced cyclists. There are some quite long, tough days, that will probably be too hard for most
people. The hardest part of the trip is on the second day as you pass through the mountains of Kerry. The remainder of the trip
mostly takes you through undulating terrain, with a few steep hills along the way. You should ensure that the holiday is within
your capabilities based on the information provided. You are responsible for ensuring that you reach the accommodation at the
end of the day, and no refunds will be given should you fail to complete a day's ride. The the first day is a fairly easy ride
from Cork along the coast onto the Mizen Peninsula. From the lighthouse at Mizen Head you head north, still mostly following
the coast, around Dunmanus Bay and Bantry Bay, to the attractive little town of Glengarriff. From here you cross into County
Kerry, crossing the Inveragh Peninsula and passing through the beautiful mountains of the Killarney National Park. The cycling
becomes easier as the route takes you across the Shannon River, rejoining the coast to visit the spectacular Cliffs of Moher.
You then turn inland to cross the famous 'Burren', pass around famous Galway Bay, and continue through a typical 'Irish' landscape
of moorland and small pretty villages. You cross the River Shannon again at the busy little town of Carrick-on-Shannon and then
continue through the lakes that dot the northern part of Ireland. The final part of the route takes you across Lough Swilly and
onto the Inishwen Peninsula for the final few miles to lonely Malin Head.
Accommodation & Food:
Accommodation is in small hotels, guest houses and B&B's. All the accommodation is privately owned and run, and as such does
vary. Some are in the centre of towns or villages, others are in small hamlets with few local amenities. We have tried
where possible to mix types of accommodation so that you will get to try various different styles on each trip. Note: If
you are booking a trip by yourself, or are part of a group but have requested a single room each night, there is an additional
supplement of £17.50 per night. In most establishments en-suite facilities are standard and we include these where possible,
but this cannot be guaranteed. Breakfast is included at all the accommodation. Most establishments offer a full 'Irish' breakfast,
but will be happy to adapt this to suit you. No other meals or drinks are included in the cost of the trip. The
accommodation has been chosen so that there will be somewhere nearby for a meal in the evening. While riding there are frequent
small villages in most areas and so finding somewhere to stop for a drink or some food is not usually a problem, although in some
parts of the country settlements can be quite a long way apart.
The Start:
The trip starts at Cork airport. Flights are available to Cork from a number of regional UK airports (although some do not operate
a flight every day). (NOTE: In previous years another option was to take the overnight ferry from Swansea to Cork. However this
service is not operating in 2007 due to a problem with a new vessel, but should be running again in 2008). The itinerary below shows
a fairly long first day. It assumes that you will be arriving on an early flight into Cork. If you are not arriving until later in
the day we can change the itinerary if required.
The Finish:
After reaching Malin Head the route continues to take you around the peninsula to Londonderry. The holiday finishes here.
Flights are available from Londonderry to East Midlands, Liverpool and Stansted airports on the UK mainland. It is also possible
to take a train or taxi from Londonderry to Belfast, from where there are flights to most UK airports. Note: The cost of the
flight/ferry to Cork and the flight from Londonderry is not included in the cost of the holiday.
Documents:
Although British Nationals do not require a passport to visit either the Republic of Ireland or Northern Ireland, you do need
to ensure that you carry official photo ID, and for most people a passport is the easiest form of ID. Nationals of most
other countries only need a passport. You are also required to have travel insurance for the duration of the holiday,
although British passport holders do not require insurance to visit the North. If you do not purchase insurance from us you
will be required to provide evidence of a suitable alternative policy.
Bikes:
The type of bicycle that you bring for this tour is entirely up to you. Some people take mountain bikes, others touring
machines. Both types of cycle are suitable for the trip. The most important thing is that the bike functions properly and that
you are comfortable riding it. However you should make sure that your bike has suitable gears as there are some steep hills
on parts of the route. Most people will require a cycle with a triple chainset. If you are riding a mountain bike then you
should fit it with narrow 'slick' tyres. You should also make sure that you are able to carry some spare food and clothing
with you on the bike. The route does cross some wild exposed areas with little in the way of shelter and no services, and you
can get very cold and wet if the weather is bad.
Weather:
The weather in Ireland is notoriously varied. Average summer temperatures are usually around 20°C when the sun is shining,
although you should always be prepared for the odd shower. However it is often the case that a wet morning has cleared up by
lunchtime, and the afternoon is delightfully warm. The weather in May and June is (statistically at least!) the most
reliable, and this is also usually the driest time of the year. Unfortunately this cannot be guaranteed and you should be
prepared for wet weather whenever you go.
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