This page contains highlights from my trip to the west coast of Ireland in July 2005. The cycling tour started and finished at Killarney and was run by Irish Cycling Safaris.
Day 1 – Killarney
We all met for the first time. I had time for two quick walks through town before and after dinner.
Day 2 – Killarney to Sneem
In the morning we got our bicycles and spent some time getting those figured out. From Killarney, we biked south to Killarney National Park. Our first point of interest was Muckross Abbey and soon after, Muckross House. From Muckross House, we cycled along a path between the Killarney Lakes before rejoining the main highway for its climb to the pass at Molls Gap. We had lunch at the restaurant at Molls Gap.
After lunch, we headed towards Sneem. There were several gentle hills as the road snaked through a broad valley. We also had our first views of the Atlantic Ocean. In Sneem, we were thankful for showers, drinks and dinner.
Day 3 – Sneem to Glenbeigh
With some bruised bottoms and sore legs in the morning, we had a gentle hill out of town. After backtracking for 6km, we turned on to a narrow backroad that climbed gently, steeply and finally very steeply to the Gap of Ballagheama. For much of this ride, it was raining – our first wet weather.
From the top, we descended down to Glencar and lunch. After lunch we cycled along a gentle valley with lakes before a final pass and descent to Glenbeigh for the night. After arriving at Glenbeigh, some people cycled the 4km down to the ocean.
Day 4 – Glenbeigh to Dingle
In the morning we took a bus along the coast to Dingle. From Dingle, we cycled a loop to Slea Head on Dingle Peninsula and back to Dingle for the night. The first part of the bike ride was along spectacular cliffs but unfortunately it was raining hard – our wettest day on the trip.
After drying out over lunch, we continued around the Dingle Peninsula. The coast became less steep and there were several old buildings to break up the ride. There was a final pass through wet weather before we returned to Dingle.
Day 5 – Rest Day
We were scheduled to stay the day in Dingle and we could do what they wanted with our day. In the morning, Herve and I cycled out toward Slea Head along the route we had done the previous day. The weather was much better which meant there were more views.
In the afternoon, I wandered around Dingle, including its harbour.
Day 6 – Dingle to Killorglin
Starting in Dingle, the first task was to climb over the highest highway pass in Ireland, Conair Pass. The long steady climb through open fields and heather had views back toward Dingle and once over the pass down into Brandon Bay to the north. After descending the pass, it was mostly flat to Camp, and the Railway Tavern. There was live music, drinks and sandwiches for lunch.
After the lunch, we started the climb into the mountains and into the fog. This pass rated a ‘very steep climb’ for the last section. From the pass, it was a quick descent out of the fog and into the sunshine on the way into Killorglin. Our B&B was about 1km outside of town. Unfortunately I do not have any photos of the evening festivities. Thanks to Joe for the wine and paté.
Day 7 – Killorglin to Killarney
On our final morning on the bicycles, I took a few photos in the morning before breakfast of flowers and fields as well as some of the morning routine.
Our morning ride paralleled the main road toward Killarney and Beaufort. There we turned into the mountains and started climbing to Kate Kearney’s Cottage for a rest. From Kate’s it was a climb alongside the horse drawn traps to the top of the Gap of Dunloe.
From the pass, it was a quick downhill into Black Valley and then flat along the valley floor. Just before lunch there was a steep climb up to Molls Gap, the location of our lunch on the first day.
After lunch at Molls Gap, we descended on familiar territory to Killarney National Park.
We arrived back in Killarney and the Lake Lodge B&B. We had our last dinner together before goodbyes. In the morning we all started heading off in our separate ways.
