Cycling Trip along the Irish Coast
Group of 3 friends visited Ireland in June 2018
“Keen to see the cliffs of Moher, by bike, and some other day trips around the ring of Kerry. Keen to hire road bikes, & helmets, and do day trips if possible, and book accommodation around this.
We are regular cyclists from Australia, who ride around 30 to 50km per ride, and try to cycle a couple of times per week.”
Maurice Whelan, a local specialist from Ireland, helped this traveler put together a customized itinerary.
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Get StartedTrip planning highlights
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Travelers completed their trip!
Jim Jennings Irish cycle tour
Day 1: Dublin to Doolin
Day 2: Inish Mor or Burren Cycle
Day 3: Loop Head Cycle
Day 4: Slea Head Cycle
Day 5: Skellig Loop
Day 6: Kenmare
Day 7: Killarney National Park cycle
Day 8: Boats and Bikes
Day 9: Departure Day
Summary of the trip planning conversation
Below are some useful excerpts from the trip planning conversation
Maurice Whelan
Hi, Thank you for your message.
My name is Maurice and I am the owner of Ireland Walk Hike Bike. We are a specialist Cycling and Hiking holiday provider here in Ireland and for the past 25 years we have had the pleasure of welcoming guests to Ireland to discover this magical country on foot or by bike.
I would be delighted to help you get the most from your time in Ireland.
My first reaction to your request would be to say that the cliffs of Moher is best experienced on foot as there is a very nice walking trail which runs from the village of Doolin to the southern tip of the cliffs. (approx 14km) The other great option is to take a boat trip along the base of the cliffs and look up at these majestic natural wonders. I can arrange bikes to explore the surrounding region Jim but if I'm honest it is not ideal territory for cycling as the roads are very narrow with lots of traffic on them. I can take you off these busier roads but the roads you would then be on would not have the best surface so I would recommend a hybrid bike rather than a racing style bike.
The cycling on the ring of Kerry is much better and I have a number of different routes available to explore this region.
Are you happy to cycle these routes on a self guided basis with a GPS unit and maps to navigate or would you like a guide?
Would you like to cycle from town to town and we would move your luggage so you would stay in a number of different towns along the way ?
The other option would be to have one base and we could shuttle you out each day for a different cycle route. This option is going to be more expensive.
I am happy to make accommodation bookings along the way for you Jim if you can let me know what type of property you would prefer. We have some lovely B&Bs and small guesthouses in Ireland right up to 5 star hotels so whatever you prefer let me know and we will make it work.
Do you have any other specific locations you want to visit or do you have any special interests you would like to include in your holiday ie. music, sports event, cooking classes?
Is you total time in Ireland 5 days, or do you want 5 days cycling ?
Are you going to rent a car when you are in Ireland ?
I look forward to hearing from you and as soon as I have a little more information from you I will design a sample itinerary.
Regards
Maurice
Traveler
Thanks Maurice,
Appreciate your response, advice, and update.
You have seem to have a very nice business, and some very good reviews so congratulations on this!
We will arrive in Dublin on 11th June and depart from Dublin on 22nd June. I have already booked a car for this total time, and am booking accomodation in the centre of Dublin for 3 nights from 11th June.
Depending on cost and sample itinerary you prepare for me, I would like to consider engaging you to book accomodation, and self guided tour for the rest of our time. Nice guest houses / B & B’s would be fine for 3 of us. We would prefer if we had 2 private rooms, with seperate bathrooms if possible. We would need to be back at Dublin Airport by midday on 22nd June.
The 14km walk and boat trip around the cliffs of Moher sounds fantastic, and cycling around the Ring of Kerry would be great. Based on us having a car, it would be great if we could pick up cycles from each of the places we stay, and do day trips by bike for each of the days. Happy for your suggestions on how we best make this work
Other interests:
We love Irish Music, and I have a great interest in the uilleann pipes (I played the scottish bagpipes in my younger days) (Our daughter also did Irish Dancing for many years)
Apart from this we have an interest in Irish history, as we have celtic ancestry in both Ireland and Scotland.
Hope this provides you some answers to your questions. And I look forward to hearing back from you soon
Best Regards
Maurice Whelan
Hi, I have thought long and hard about your request and I feel I have a great itinerary for you below. It allows you drive to each location and have the option to rent a bike and cycle in each destination. See my suggestions below.
June 11th - 13th: You are looking after all booking for this section of your holiday in Dublin
June 14th - Drive to Doolin village which is 3.5-4hrs drive time from Dublin. My suggestion is that you check into your accommodation and take a late afternoon walk along the cliffs of Moher. The major advantage to being at the Cliffs later in the day is that the crowds will have dispersed. You could take the boat journey first and enjoy a Sunset walk along the top of the cliffs. Overnight in Doolin which is the home of traditional Irish Music in this part of Ireland and you can be assured a great evening in one of the bars listening to the best musician on the west coast.
June 15th - Today you have two choices, 1 - Take a ferry from Doolin to Inish Mor ( http://www.aranislands.ie/inis-mor-inishmore/ ) which is the largest of the Aran Islands and a beautiful place to take a bike ride. 2 - Take a bike ride from Doolin into the region known as the Burren. ( http://www.burrennationalpark.ie/ ) This fascinating landscape is quite unique and makes for a great days cycling.
June 16th - Today you will leave Doolin and drive south to the wonderful Loop Head where you can take a beautiful cycle. Loop head is truly one of Irelands hidden gems with very few visitors taking in this great place. Following your cycle you can stay in this region overnight or drive south (2hrs) to the town of Tralee for your overnight.
June 17th - The fishing town of Dingle is your destination today and from here you will enjoy what must be one of the most scenic cycles anywhere in the world. Cycling around Slea Head is a must do for any visitor to Ireland. Overnight in Dingle and enjoy world class seafood restaurants and the great bars that will have you tapping your feet to live Traditional Irish Music.
June 18th - Today you take on the Ring of Kerry and drive the Northern coastline to the town of Caherciveen. From here you jump back in the saddle and enjoy another world class coastal cycle where you can enjoy views accross the Atlantic to the iconic Skellig Islands which sit 12km offshore. A nice stop off today on your cycle can be Skellig Chocolates. Enjoy a coffee and what in my opinion is the best chocolate you will ever taste. Your cycle will bring you back to Caherciveen for your overnight.
June 19th - Today you drive the rest of the Ring of Kerry with some suggestions for the best stops along the way. Your destination today is the vibrant town of Kenmare. Drive time from Caherciveen to Kenmare is approx 1.5 hrs. From here you can enjoy another wonderful cycle if you wish.
June 20th - Today you drive to the Iconic town of Killarney which sits on the edge of Killarney National Park which will be your destination for today's cycle. You can cycle directly from the town centre and into the park where you enjoy lake and mountain views throughout the day. Overnight in Killarney
June 21 Today you enjoy a wonderful day which begins with a boat journey through the 3 lakes of Killarney. Following this you will cycle through some of the most beautiful landscapes Ireland can offer. The world famous Gap of Dunloe is undoubtedly the highlight. Your cycle will take you back to Killarney for your final Overnight.
June 22 Today you drive from Killarney to Dublin airport for your return flights.
I hope you like what I have outlined here Jim.
I look forward to hearing your feedback. I f you would like to discuss this on the phone I am happy to call you at a time which is convenient for you
Regards
Maurice
Traveler
Hi Maurice,
Thank you That indeed looks like a great itinerary!
Would you be booking accommodation & bike hire for each of these destinations? Do B&B’s & guest houses include breakfast, lunch or dinner? Do you have some good options for accommodation?
Are you able to provide me a costed itinerary please, and let me know what is included in this price?
Happy to talk with you on the phone too. Are you on viber or WhatsApp?
Thanks for the work you have done so far.
Maurice Whelan
Hi, See my answers below
Would you be booking accommodation & bike hire for each of these destinations? - We would look after accommodation and bike hire in each location. Please note that the makes and model of bikes will differ from location to location.
Do B&B’s & guest houses include breakfast, lunch or dinner? - The accommodations include breakfast. Your lunches and evening meals will be enjoyed in pubs,cafes or restaurants. A picnic lunch is nice when out on the bike as you can find some supper lunch spots along each route.
Do you have some good options for accommodation? - I will include this in my proposal.
I am about to attach a proposal and then if you want to discuss it on the phone we will arrange a time.
Regards
Maurice
Traveler
Hi Maurice, Thanks for the trip proposal, it does look great.
Hi, Thank you for your message.
My name is Maurice and I am the owner of Ireland Walk Hike Bike. We are a specialist Cycling and Hiking holiday provider here in Ireland and for the past 25 years we have had the pleasure of welcoming guests to Ireland to discover this magical country on foot or by bike.
I would be delighted to help you get the most from your time in Ireland.
My first reaction to your request would be to say that the cliffs of Moher is best experienced on foot as there is a very nice walking trail which runs from the village of Doolin to the southern tip of the cliffs. (approx 14km) The other great option is to take a boat trip along the base of the cliffs and look up at these majestic natural wonders. I can arrange bikes to explore the surrounding region Jim but if I'm honest it is not ideal territory for cycling as the roads are very narrow with lots of traffic on them. I can take you off these busier roads but the roads you would then be on would not have the best surface so I would recommend a hybrid bike rather than a racing style bike.
The cycling on the ring of Kerry is much better and I have a number of different routes available to explore this region.
Are you happy to cycle these routes on a self guided basis with a GPS unit and maps to navigate or would you like a guide?
Would you like to cycle from town to town and we would move your luggage so you would stay in a number of different towns along the way ?
The other option would be to have one base and we could shuttle you out each day for a different cycle route. This option is going to be more expensive.
I am happy to make accommodation bookings along the way for you Jim if you can let me know what type of property you would prefer. We have some lovely B&Bs and small guesthouses in Ireland right up to 5 star hotels so whatever you prefer let me know and we will make it work.
Do you have any other specific locations you want to visit or do you have any special interests you would like to include in your holiday ie. music, sports event, cooking classes?
Is you total time in Ireland 5 days, or do you want 5 days cycling ?
Are you going to rent a car when you are in Ireland ?
I look forward to hearing from you and as soon as I have a little more information from you I will design a sample itinerary.
Regards
Maurice
Traveler
Thanks Maurice,
Appreciate your response, advice, and update.
You have seem to have a very nice business, and some very good reviews so congratulations on this!
We will arrive in Dublin on 11th June and depart from Dublin on 22nd June. I have already booked a car for this total time, and am booking accomodation in the centre of Dublin for 3 nights from 11th June.
Depending on cost and sample itinerary you prepare for me, I would like to consider engaging you to book accomodation, and self guided tour for the rest of our time. Nice guest houses / B & B’s would be fine for 3 of us. We would prefer if we had 2 private rooms, with seperate bathrooms if possible. We would need to be back at Dublin Airport by midday on 22nd June.
The 14km walk and boat trip around the cliffs of Moher sounds fantastic, and cycling around the Ring of Kerry would be great. Based on us having a car, it would be great if we could pick up cycles from each of the places we stay, and do day trips by bike for each of the days. Happy for your suggestions on how we best make this work
Other interests:
We love Irish Music, and I have a great interest in the uilleann pipes (I played the scottish bagpipes in my younger days) (Our daughter also did Irish Dancing for many years)
Apart from this we have an interest in Irish history, as we have celtic ancestry in both Ireland and Scotland.
Hope this provides you some answers to your questions. And I look forward to hearing back from you soon
Best Regards
Maurice Whelan
Hi, I have thought long and hard about your request and I feel I have a great itinerary for you below. It allows you drive to each location and have the option to rent a bike and cycle in each destination. See my suggestions below.
June 11th - 13th: You are looking after all booking for this section of your holiday in Dublin
June 14th - Drive to Doolin village which is 3.5-4hrs drive time from Dublin. My suggestion is that you check into your accommodation and take a late afternoon walk along the cliffs of Moher. The major advantage to being at the Cliffs later in the day is that the crowds will have dispersed. You could take the boat journey first and enjoy a Sunset walk along the top of the cliffs. Overnight in Doolin which is the home of traditional Irish Music in this part of Ireland and you can be assured a great evening in one of the bars listening to the best musician on the west coast.
June 15th - Today you have two choices, 1 - Take a ferry from Doolin to Inish Mor ( http://www.aranislands.ie/inis-mor-inishmore/ ) which is the largest of the Aran Islands and a beautiful place to take a bike ride. 2 - Take a bike ride from Doolin into the region known as the Burren. ( http://www.burrennationalpark.ie/ ) This fascinating landscape is quite unique and makes for a great days cycling.
June 16th - Today you will leave Doolin and drive south to the wonderful Loop Head where you can take a beautiful cycle. Loop head is truly one of Irelands hidden gems with very few visitors taking in this great place. Following your cycle you can stay in this region overnight or drive south (2hrs) to the town of Tralee for your overnight.
June 17th - The fishing town of Dingle is your destination today and from here you will enjoy what must be one of the most scenic cycles anywhere in the world. Cycling around Slea Head is a must do for any visitor to Ireland. Overnight in Dingle and enjoy world class seafood restaurants and the great bars that will have you tapping your feet to live Traditional Irish Music.
June 18th - Today you take on the Ring of Kerry and drive the Northern coastline to the town of Caherciveen. From here you jump back in the saddle and enjoy another world class coastal cycle where you can enjoy views accross the Atlantic to the iconic Skellig Islands which sit 12km offshore. A nice stop off today on your cycle can be Skellig Chocolates. Enjoy a coffee and what in my opinion is the best chocolate you will ever taste. Your cycle will bring you back to Caherciveen for your overnight.
June 19th - Today you drive the rest of the Ring of Kerry with some suggestions for the best stops along the way. Your destination today is the vibrant town of Kenmare. Drive time from Caherciveen to Kenmare is approx 1.5 hrs. From here you can enjoy another wonderful cycle if you wish.
June 20th - Today you drive to the Iconic town of Killarney which sits on the edge of Killarney National Park which will be your destination for today's cycle. You can cycle directly from the town centre and into the park where you enjoy lake and mountain views throughout the day. Overnight in Killarney
June 21 Today you enjoy a wonderful day which begins with a boat journey through the 3 lakes of Killarney. Following this you will cycle through some of the most beautiful landscapes Ireland can offer. The world famous Gap of Dunloe is undoubtedly the highlight. Your cycle will take you back to Killarney for your final Overnight.
June 22 Today you drive from Killarney to Dublin airport for your return flights.
I hope you like what I have outlined here Jim.
I look forward to hearing your feedback. I f you would like to discuss this on the phone I am happy to call you at a time which is convenient for you
Regards
Maurice
Traveler
Hi Maurice,
Thank you That indeed looks like a great itinerary!
Would you be booking accommodation & bike hire for each of these destinations? Do B&B’s & guest houses include breakfast, lunch or dinner? Do you have some good options for accommodation?
Are you able to provide me a costed itinerary please, and let me know what is included in this price?
Happy to talk with you on the phone too. Are you on viber or WhatsApp?
Thanks for the work you have done so far.
Maurice Whelan
Hi, See my answers below
Would you be booking accommodation & bike hire for each of these destinations? - We would look after accommodation and bike hire in each location. Please note that the makes and model of bikes will differ from location to location.
Do B&B’s & guest houses include breakfast, lunch or dinner? - The accommodations include breakfast. Your lunches and evening meals will be enjoyed in pubs,cafes or restaurants. A picnic lunch is nice when out on the bike as you can find some supper lunch spots along each route.
Do you have some good options for accommodation? - I will include this in my proposal.
I am about to attach a proposal and then if you want to discuss it on the phone we will arrange a time.
Regards
Maurice
Traveler
Hi Maurice, Thanks for the trip proposal, it does look great.