Adventourus Active Vacations

8 day Independent OR Escorted tour

This tour offers arguably the most spectacular landscape in the country and is home to Ireland’s highest mountain range. Each day presents you with even more stunning scenery as you cycle through majestic mountain ranges and beautiful lakes coloured by the yellow gorse and purple heather that grows everywhere.  We avoid the main roads around the Ring of Kerry by taking you on some beautiful quiet backroads that intersect the Iveragh and DinglePeninsulas.

On arrival in our starting point, the town of Killarney, you can check into our guesthouse and relax for the rest of the day exploring the town.

The tour starts off by following a cycle track into the beautiful grounds of Muckross House. Located on the grounds is a Franciscan Abbey founded in the 15th Century, it is now in ruins but is beautifully situated with a large yew tree rising up through the cloisters. After a stroll around the celebrated Muckross gardens there follows a wonderful cycle along a quiet cyclepath between two of the Killarney lakes before you return to the main road. A steady climb follows to your lunch stop at Molls Gap where you are rewarded with a delicious food in the restaurant with its beautiful views of the surrounding mountains. In the afternoon you cycle to Sneem looking out over panoramic views of the surrounding landscape.

Day 3: Sneem - Glenbeigh (51 km)

Avoiding the main Ring of Kerry road we cycle across the peninsula. Passing along quiet country roads with stunning views of the surrounding mountains we climb to the beautiful Gap of Ballaghbearna and descend the other side into another valley with views of Carrauntoohil, Irelands highest mountain. After lunch there is a wonderful cycle through quiet fields and over old stone bridges before coming to Caragh Lake. Following the lakeside you then head west to the seaside village of Glenbeigh where you spend the night in a comfortable Hotel.

You start the day with a short taxi trip to the Dingle where you will be basing ourselves for two nights. After getting back on the bikes you then follow the Slea Head Route around the tip of the Dingle peninsula. This is one of the highlights of the tour with a wide variety of archaeological sites to visit along the route and some of the most breathtaking coastal scenery in the country.

A wide variety of activities can be organised from the town. You can join an archaeological bus tour of the peninsula or you can swop your bike saddle for a horse saddle and go horse riding. There are boat trips to the largest of the Blasket islands with its wonderful walking trails offering the most magnificent views of Dingle Bay . You can also take a boat trip to see "Fungi", the Dingle Dolphin or simply potter around the town with its many shops and aquarium. Finally for those with stiff limbs there is also a massage centre in which to pamper yourself.

The morning starts with a long steady climb up to the Conor Pass with its stunning views of Mount Brandon and the coastline in the distance. There follows a wonderful descent and then a nice flat cycle along the coast to the village of Camp where you can stop for lunch. In the afternoon you head straight into the mountains and traverse the peninsula heading up over one side of the mountains to magnificent views of the other side of the peninsula with Dingle Bay and Irelands highest mountain range stretching out in front of you. you then descend down the other side and cycle the final stretch to your night stop in the village of Milltown.

You continue along backroads to Killorglin and then onto Kate Kearneys Cottage where you can stop for a cup of tea. You then enter the final highlight of the tour, the Gap of Dungloe a place you will never forget. Coming out of the gap you have an incredible view looking down the Black Valley before following a small quiet route through a peaceful valley surrounded by green fields full of grazing sheep. You climb out of the valley to return to Molls Gap where you had lunch on the first day. After lunch there is a wonderful freewheel back down to Killarney where you spend your last night on the tour.

After breakfast your cycling tour comes to an end and you may begin your journey home. We would also be more than happy to extend your stay in Europe.

PRICE & DETAILS

Price & Schedule

INDEPENDENT TOUR

DEPARTURE DATES:

This tour starts daily from April through October, except on escorted tour start dates.

- 7 nights in excellent quality, small family run guesthouses and B & B's; all rooms with private facilities.

- Breakfast each day

- One dinner

- Luggage transport from hotel to hotel.

- Maps with indicated routes, detailed route description, tourist information about places of interest.

- 21 speed Giant Escape 3 hybrid bike with pannier.

Price & Schedule

ESCORTED TOUR

DEPARTURE DATES:

May 26            June 23         July 7          August 18

- 7 nights in excellent quality, small family run guesthouses and B & B's, all rooms with WC and shower.

- Substantial breakfast each day

- One dinner

- Professional tour guide at your disposal each evening, in an accompanying van during the day.

- Daily tour discussion in the morning

- Luggage transport from hotel to hotel

- Bus transfer from Sligo to Killybegs, and Ramelton to Garrison

- Maps with indicated routes, detailed route description, tourist information about places of interest.

- 21 speed Trek hybrid bike with pannier, mudguards & water bottle.

MODERATE TO HILLY: The roads are all sealed and the route is designed to ensure that you spend most of the week on quiet back roads, away from the main tourist routes. This is one of the hillier tours so a good level of fitness is required.

The nearest international airport is Shannon, with Dublin a little further afeild. Buses depart each city to Galway on a regular basis. There is also a regular train service from Dublin to Galway. Schedule are provided in your tour package.