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Cycling Connemara, the Burren & the Aranislands —Westernireland

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Cycling Connemara, the Burren & the AranIslands —WesternIreland Connemara is the name that is given to the area in e 300 square kilometres that make up the Burren county Galway which lies in southwestern Ireland region are located to the south of Galway in the between the Atlantic Ocean and Lough Corrib in northwest corner of County Clare. It is a region Aran Islands the east. It is a beautiful and at times desolate area renowned for its wild flowers, endless amounts of filled with coves, cliffs, loughs (lakes), peat bogs and limestone rock and beautiful vistas, which on a clear speakers, call the largest island, Inishmore, home. quiet moorland. It is home to Connemara National day include the Aran Islands. In fact, at times you’ll e islands have a dual personality as they are at Park and e Twelve Bens, a small mountain range see nothing but rock and the sea. ‘Not to be missed’ once bleak, moody and desolate as well as being ro - that can be climbed in a day by the supremely fit. in the Burren area are the Cliffs of Moher with its mantic and utterly gorgeous. Limestone rock is ere are numerous pretty, small villages and the high bird concentration and spectacular vistas. everywhere, feedstock for the endless walls criss - gorgeous Kylemore Abbey to visit. Cycling the quiet crossing every which way and the ruins of old forts, e Aran Islands are located in the mouth of Gal - especially the famous, Dun Aengus. e islands are back roads, especially along the coast, is lovely but way Bay a short ferry ride away from Rossaveal to avoid any of the larger roads with the ridiculous and almost devoid of vegetation but some of the best the north and a slightly longer and more exposed bird life outside of the tropics appears here. Horse very high speed limits. ese are great roads for ferry ride away from Doolin in the south. ey con - would be racing car drivers! Pubs are to be found in and buggy carts out number cars and the islands sist of three islands - Inisheer, Inishmaan and Inish - make a fine cycling destination. every small town and the Irish brand of hospitality more. About 800 people, many of whom are Irish is ever present. 1 2 HIIGHLIIGHTS Suggested Itinerary- Overview Treat yourself to an expensive lunch in wonderful sur - • Beautiful shoreline and rocky hills as you (with details to follow) roundings at the Cashel House Hotel. cycle into the Burren region Day 1 • Views from the Cliffs of Moher Day 6 Arrive in Galway, and take advantage of Galway’s Cycle 80 kms from Clifden to Westport including reputation for being Ireland’s most musical town. • Pub in Doolin a 14 km side trip on the beautiful and aptly named Sky Road. Take time to visit Connemara Park and • Quiet, back roads of the Aran islands Day 2 Kylemore Abbey. e road north of Leenaun takes Pick up bikes and panniers in Galway. Cycle 51 • Gorgeous bike ride on the R341 espe - you through gorgeous country with lovely moun - kms to Ballyvaughan with lunch in the seaside cially near Roundstone tain views. town of Kinvarra along the way. Wonderful rocky • Biking Sky Road near Clifden hills announce your arrival in the Burren region. Day 7 • Kylemore Castle and it’s grounds Rest day in Westport or consider a 20 kilometre Day 3 out and back cycle to the area around Croagh • The wind at your back instead of in your Cycle 30 kilometres from Ballyvaughan to Doolin. Patrick. Optional climb of the mountain with an face Add another 14 kilometres to visit the Cliffs of elevation of 704m. Moher. Add 8 kilometres if you are interested in • Gorgeous scenery as you ride from visiting the Aillwee Caves and Raptor Centre. Leenaun to Westport Day 8 Cycle 58 kms from Westport to Cong along the qui - • Croagh Patrick Day 4 eter west side of Lake Cong. Make sure to ride Take the 90 minute ferry from Doolin to Kilronan • Village of Cong through the beautiful grounds of Ashford Castle on on Inishmore. Cycle between 15 and 25 kms to the Lough Corrib but also consider spending a night • Grounds of Ashford Castle ruins of Dun Aengus, a 4000 year old cliff fort. there. Either arrange for a pickup in Cong later in Enjoy exploring the back roads to see the extensive • Charming B&B’s and their Irish hospitality the day to return to Galway or spend the night. stone walls all over the island. Check out the Aran • Surprisingly good pub food and delicious sweater market and museum. You could easily spend rhubarb desserts Day 9 another day or two in the Aran Islands. If you are brave and foolhardy and are prepared to • Guinness - for the beer drinkers die then cycle 50 kms to Galway. Any of the roads Day 5 leading into town are dangerous. Smarter people Take the 40 minute morning ferry to Rossaveal. will shuttle back to Galway. Return the bikes on Cycle 75 kms to Clifden by taking the ocean any day but a Sunday. side R341 through the town of Roundstone. TOTAL BIKING DISTANCE 350 kilometres with a shuttle for the final 50 kilo - metres. LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY Varies from very easy to moderate depending on which way the wind is blowing. 3 Citylink and GoBus. GoBus has the advantage of GALWAY offering 14 nonstop departures daily between the Galway is a small university city of about 80,000 airport and Galway for 15 Euros per person. ere people. It has a mild, wet temperate climate but it are washrooms on board. Before you get on you can experience severe windstorms. e week of may have time to run to the terminal to get food solid wind we had while on the west coast was not and drinks OR pick something up on the way out considered to be an anomaly! Galway is nicknamed to the bus. e convenience of the airport is amaz - Ireland’s cultural heart and is known for its many ing though someone told me you needed a PhD to festivals and celebrations. use the car park! Also of note is that there is free e centre of Galway is Eyre Square and streets WiFi on all buses operated by GoBus. Tickets can head off in all directions from there. ere are be purchased with cash on the bus and you do not many hotels and B&B’s in the area and the square need exact change. For more information visit is only a short walk to the bus station. ere are www.gobus.ie or www.citylink.ie/index.php . plenty of pubs and restaurants in the vicinity so Bus Eireann also has bus service from the airport finding a place to eat won’t be a problem. to Galway though you will need to make a con - Teahouse nection at the main bus station in central Dublin. BIKE RENTALS Adult fares are 13.50 Euros and it will take ap - Bike Hire ireland DETAILED ITINERARY proximately four hours for the journey. Visit www.bikehireireland.com www.buseireann.ie/ for more information. Day 1 — Getting to Galway St. augustine Street Getting to Galway from Dublin airport is ex - You could choose the train option though you will Ph: +353 (0) 91 569 888 tremely easy! Aer getting your luggage in Dublin have to get from the airport to the Dublin Heuston Alan, the owner is very helpful and can provide you head straight for the information desk which will train station to catch it. at can be done by tak - with a basic map and extra route ideas. e shop is be in front of you as you exit. ey are very friendly ing a taxi or bus from the airport. e taxi is about open from 9am until 6pm from Monday to Satur - and helpful and will have you on the next bus or 20 Euros. Train fares are more expensive (about 25 day and is conveniently located close to Eyre Square the train depending on which is easiest on the day Euros each) but they take less time. Visit in the centre of Galway. He was able to provide of your arrival. www.irishrail.ie/home/ for timetables and de - handlebar bags and panniers. Better yet he gra - ciously stored our bags for the time we were out. We chose the bus as it was only a 20 minute wait tailed information. Contact him for rates. for the next one. e main bus operators are 4 SleePzone Galway City get from the center of Galway to the right turn off www.sleepzone.ie of the N6 onto the coast road though there are Bothar na mBan some backroads to take to avoid some of the traffic. Ph: +353 (0) 91566996 e initial 6 kilometres of riding is flat and easy but e hostel is a very short walk from Eyre Square. It you do need to pay attention to the traffic. ere can sleep over 200 people and offers self catering are wide shoulders in places, lanes that you can kitchens, free internet, 24 hour reception, luggage share with buses and when all else fails I recom - lockers and safety deposit boxes. Rates are 24-50 mend hopping onto the sidewalk rather than be - Euros depending on the room type. come a speck on someone’s windshield. e coast road that leads you into Oranmore and Day 2 — Cycling Galway to Clarinbridge is prettier than the N6 but traffic is still Ballyvaughan heavy and there are fewer shoulders.
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