HOLIDAY DETAILS

The Country: 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. By way of contrast, the tour also visits the Irish capital Dublin - a vibrant cosmopolitan city.

The Tour: This is a fully supported holiday with a tour leader and a vehicle to carry all the luggage and provide additional assistance if necessary. The trip is designed to enable you to complete a circuit of Ireland, following a route that allows you to see many of the delights of Ireland while keeping to minor roads as much as possible. The total distance is just over 1000 miles, and the daily mileage is 60 – 80 miles. The route does not follow the coast all the way - Ireland has so many peninsulas, headlands and estuaries that to do so would nearly double the mileage - and a large part of the route is inland, giving you a wide variety of landsapes and cycling terrain. It should be noted that parts of the route are hilly, coastal rides always involve frequent ups and downs as you go round bays and peninsulas, and in addition the route does pass through some mountainous areas where there are some moderately long climbs. There are no rest days and you do need to ensure that you are prepared for the trip. Traffic levels vary. There are some very quiet lanes in places, but there are also some unavoidable busier roads, particularly along the coast, and the route does take you into the centre of Dublin and skirts some of Ireland's other cities where traffic is obviously heavier.

Accommodation & Food: Accommodation is in small hotels or B&Bs. These are generally graded 2* or higher. We usually book en-suite rooms if possible but this cannot be guaranteed at all establishments. Single people travelling alone will be booked into a twin bedded room with another single person of the same sex – unless the additional single supplement has been paid. Full Irish breakfast are usually provided at the accommodation (with a lighter option if you would prefer it) each morning. Evening meals are available at nearby pubs or restaurants.

Start/Finish: The holiday starts and finishes at Antrim (just outside Belfast). Flights are available to nearby Belfast International airport from most regional airports on the UK mainland. Belfast is also served by ferries from Birkenhead (Liverpool) and Stranraer in Scotland. On arrival we will meet you at either the airport or the ferry terminal and transport you to the first nights hotel. The cycling begins the following day. At the end of the holiday the cycling finishes on the Saturday and the following day we will take you to the airport or ferry terminal for the journey home. Note: The cost of the flights or ferry to Belfast are not included in the cost of the holiday. You may book any flights or ferry crossing you require yourself or we will do so for you. A separate form will be sent to you if required (an additional fee is payable).

Cycle Transport: If required we offer a cycle transport service to take your bicycle from the UK to Antrim at the start of the holiday, and return it to your home at the end of the trip (an additional fee is payable).

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: All types of cycle are suitable for the trip, although a touring or 'audax' type of cycle is probably the most suitable. 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 and 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, if you are considering bringing a road or racing cycle you should note that parts of the route are on narrow lanes and it is suggested that you fit slightly wider tyre than you would normally use. 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. June is usually dry and sunny, but in Ireland you should always be prepared for the odd shower, or worse! However it is often the case that a wet morning has cleared up by lunchtime, and the afternoon is delightfully warm. Temperatures are usually in the low 20’s at this time of year.

BIKE ADVENTURES Cycling Holidays, PO Box 667, Ascot SL5 8XT, UK
Tel: (+44) 01344 886989 Fax: (+44) 01344 886532 E-Mail: info@bikeadventures.co.uk