Active Journeys Self Guided Bike Tour

West and Kerry!

Any trip to Ireland has a mix of idyllic landscapes, rich culture and many miles of paved, quiet roads. This is certainly true of this bicycling trip to the Kerry and Dingle peninsulas. In this magical, sometimes challenging countryside, you are dazzled by the rocky peaks and neatly cultivated fields dotted with grazing sheep.

Kerry is considered to be Ireland’s most beautiful peninsula. It embodies the tough romantic spirit of Ireland. We ride through Muckross National Park to the picturesque village of Sneem on the Inveraugh Peninsula. Soon afterward we cycle into Glenbeigh past Celtic fortresses waiting to be explored.

We stop at the fishing town of Dingle where you have time to explore the area on your own. Meet the Dingle dolphin or scour the deserted parts of the penin- sula for incredible vistas and “ogham” stones. Return to Killarney via the Black Tour Details Valley .

Daily departures from April 20 to October 5

Cost: $1795 per person

Single Supplement: on request only Fast Facts Bike Rental: $175  Seven nights charming accommo-  Experience the local culture, and enjoy dation with full Irish breakfast Length: 8 days/ 7 nights a craic (a traditional get-together, where  Route maps and details, luggage Grade: Moderate the locals sing and dance) transfer each day  GPS track available on request Starts/Ends: Killarney  Taste the many local brews

Active Journeys Contact: 11----800800800----597597597----55945594 or 416416----236236236----50115011 Email: [email protected]

ITINERARY

Day 1 Arrive Killarney Individual arrival in Killarney. If you get there early the rooms in the B&Bs will not usually be ready till midday so you can leave your luggage at the guesthouse and explore this bus- tling town.

Day 2 Killarney to Kenmare 37 km You cycle out of Killarney through the Muckross National Park. In the afternoon there will be a choice of itineraries and routes to the seaside town of Kenmare.

Day 3 Kenmare to Castletownbere 50 km Follow a spectacular coast road along Kenmare Bay, with wonderful views of the MacGillikuddy Reeks Mountains. In the afternoon you can visit the nearby Dereen Gardens with its amazing variety of flora. Leaving the Gardens you cycle west where you can visit an ancient stone circle or explore the beautiful scenery and quiet back roads of the Beara Way.

Day 4 Castletownbere to /Allihies 40 km In the morning cycle towards the highlight of the tour, the , with breathtaking coastal scenery all the way to your lunch stop. Here you can experience an undis- covered part of Ireland far away from the main tourist routes. After this interesting ride, cycle all the way to the lively town of Castletownbere, where we will spend the next two nights .

Day 5 Castletownbere to Glengarriff 35 km Today’s cycle is along the shores of Bantry Bay, one of the deepest natural harbours in Europe. Glengariff, occupies a beautifully sheltered position surrounded by mountains. Lo- cated just outside Glengarriff is Garnish Island, which was transformed between 1910 and 1913 from a bare limestone rock into a luxuriant garden island, known worldwide for its exotic plants. A local regular ferry service provides a non- stop ferry service to the island.

Day 6: Glengarriff to Gougane Barra 34 kms Today you head inland and cycle along quiet country roads with rolling fields dotted with grazing cattle and sheep, be- fore arriving at the lakeside retreat of Gougane Barra, Ireland’s first National Park and the source of the River Lee. This is a beautiful, peaceful place, and an ideal setting for your last night before you head to Killarney.

Day 7 Gougane Barra to Killarney 57 kms For the last day you cycle up into the Coolea region via re- mote mountain roads, where you can really get away from it all. Stop for a cup of tea at Ireland’s Highest Pub before de- scending back down into Killarney for a farewell night out on the town.

Day 8: End of tour Tour ends after breakfast.

Itinerary subject to change in reverse based on accommoda- tion options

What to Expect What will the weather be like? The daytime temperature will be around 15 to mid-20 degrees C ( 60’s to 70’s F), Getting There with moderate rainfall. It often rains in Ireland, making the countryside lush and  green. It is usually misty and not torrential downpours, but rain gear is still nec- Fly to Dublin or Shannon essary, both a jacket and a pair of pants.  From there, transfer to

train or bus station to get How many hours of cycling a day? Be prepared to ride between 4 to 6 hours daily. to Killarney. Travel time is about 3 hours. How fit do I need to be? The fitter the better, so you will be able to ride more. There are some hills and some level terrain so you will be able to ride to your next village and hotel.

What is the food like? We have included a full Irish breakfast each day. For lunch, you can stop in a pub and local restaurant for a full meal or mid-day snack. For dinner, your guidebook will suggest a location.

What are the hotels like? They are chosen for their charm and location. Properties are charming B&Bs and guesthouses, well- located in the towns. All the rooms have private facilities.

Extra Services How to book your holiday  Contact our office to make sure there is space available. We have a selection of hotels available for you, both before and after the tour. One of our travel planners will walk you through the entire process. Hotels in Killarney, Dublin and Shannon can be arranged for you, ranging from B&B’s to deluxe  Download the reservation form from our site and send in accommodation. Contact us for details. the completed form by fax or email. Once this is done, your space is confirmed and pre-departure packet will be sent.

 A deposit is required immediately, and final payment is re- quired 60 days prior to the trip departure. Terms & condi- tions are outlined in our Reservation Form.

 Plan your air travel as soon as possible.

 We encourage you to purchase travel insurance, either through us or a travel insurance provider directly.

 Ensure you are in proper health for the trip chosen. Contact us for more information on vaccinations, inoculations, and fitness requirements.