West Ireland Cycling

Clew Bay boasts some of Ireland's most spectacular views, with more than a hundred islands overlooked by the Nephin Beg mountains and Croagh Patrick, Ireland's holy mountain. It is also the heart of the O'Malley clan's territory, once ruled by Granuaile, the Pirate Queen. This self-guided tour combines the scenery of the Wild Atlantic Way with the region's history and heritage.

From Westport, riders follow the traffic-free Great Western Greenway to Newport, Burrishoole Abbey and Lough Furnace, then continue via Mulranny and the Curraun Peninsula to Achill Island. Two days on Achill take in the White Cliffs of Ashleam, the Slievemore Deserted Village and Keem Bay.

A ferry to Clare Island visits Grace O'Malley's castle and ancient tombs. A final ride passes the Bunlahinch clapper bridge, Old Head and the National Famine Memorial on the way back to Westport.

Highlights:

• The Great Western Greenway, Burrishoole Abbey and Lough Furnace
• Mulranny Causeway and the Curraun Peninsula
• Achill Island's White Cliffs of Ashleam, Slievemore Deserted Village and Keem Bay
• Clare Island and Granuaile's Castle
• Megalithic monuments and the Bunlahinch clapper bridge
• Westport's pubs and traditional music

Surface and terrain:
The traffic-free Great Western Greenway on a former railway line (gentle gradients), plus quiet sealed coastal and rural roads on the mainland and islands. Gradient is rated easy to moderate.

Weather:
The tour runs April to October, so riders should expect changeable Atlantic conditions and pack wet-weather gear.

Suitable for:
Recreational riders comfortable with 30–58 km days who enjoy history, heritage and island scenery. E-bikes make it accessible to less confident riders.

Designed for riders short on time who want to see as many highlights as possible, this 3-night self-guided tour captures the essence of cycling the Irish countryside: spectacular scenery, small rural villages, welcoming pubs, and good food and music each night. After a briefing and bike fitting in Galway, riders head south into County Clare and the Burren. They stop at Kinvara's Dunguaire Castle before following the coast road via Ballyvaughan and Fanore to Doolin.

A morning ferry carries riders to the Aran Islands to explore quiet island roads and the 3,000-year-old clifftop fort of Dún Aonghasa, with an overnight stay on the island. The next day a ferry to Rossaveal leads to a ride across the peat bogs and Gaeltacht villages of South Connemara to Clifden. A final morning ride explores the Sky Road before the tour ends in Clifden.

Highlights:

• The Burren landscape and Dunguaire Castle in Kinvara
• The Fanore coast road, Doolin and the Cliffs of Moher
• An overnight stay on the Aran Islands and Dún Aonghasa
• The bogs and Gaeltacht villages of South Connemara
• Clifden and the Sky Road
• Welcoming pubs and traditional music

Surface and terrain:
Quiet sealed rural and coastal roads, plus narrow island lanes on the Aran Islands. Gradient is rated easy to moderate.

Weather:
The tour runs April to October, so riders should expect changeable Atlantic conditions and pack wet-weather gear.

Suitable for:
Reasonably fit riders short on time who are comfortable with a long first day of up to 80 km (which can be shortened by car transfer) and shorter days after that.

Connemara Express is a self-guided cycling tour that starts and finishes in Galway, taking in some of the most spectacular coastal and scenic riding on Ireland's west coast. After a tour briefing and bike fitting in Galway's lively medieval streets, riders are transferred to Cong, home of Ashford Castle and Cong Abbey, and pedal through Joyce Country to Leenane.

From Leenane, the route heads into the Doo Lough valley via the Sheffrey Pass to Louisburgh, then follows the Wild Atlantic Way past Kylemore Abbey to Clifden, a hub of cafés, pubs and traditional music. A day of loops takes in the Sky Road, Derrigimlagh and Dog's Bay before the famous bog road leads to Carna in the Irish-speaking Gaeltacht.

The tour finishes with a ferry to the Aran Islands to ride quiet lanes to the clifftop fort of Dún Aonghasa, followed by a transfer back to Galway for the final night.

Highlights:

• Unspoilt mountains, lakes, bogs and coastline of Connemara
• Cong Abbey, Ashford Castle, Killary Fjord and Kylemore Abbey
• The serene Doo Lough valley
• The Sky Road loop and Wild Atlantic Way coastline
• Irish-speaking Gaeltacht villages, welcoming pubs and traditional music
• Ferry to the Aran Islands and the 3,000-year-old Dún Aonghasa fort

Surface and terrain:
Quiet sealed country roads, many nearly car-free, plus the famous bog road and narrow island lanes. Gradient is rated easy to moderate, with one pass (Sheffrey Pass) on Day 3.

Weather:
The tour runs April to October, so riders should expect changeable Atlantic conditions and pack wet-weather gear.

Suitable for:
Recreational riders comfortable with 35–40 km days at their own pace, with longer optional loops of up to 60 km or more for fitter cyclists. E-bikes make it accessible to less confident riders.

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The Burren is a national park and one of the world's most unusual landscapes. Its karst limestone bedrock is home to rare flora and fauna and is crossed by a network of ancient roads and laneways ideal for cycling. Inhabited for millennia, it is dotted with hundreds of archaeological sites, including Poulnabrone Dolmen (2,500 BC).

Starting in Galway, this self-guided tour follows Galway Bay's back roads to Kinvara, then crosses the Burren past the Burren Perfumery and Carron to Doolin, a stronghold of traditional Irish music. From Doolin, riders visit the Cliffs of Moher and the surf town of Lahinch, with an optional day trip to the Aran Islands.

The coast road via Fanore and Black Head lighthouse leads to Ballyvaughan. A final ride passes Corcomroe Abbey, the Burren Chocolate factory and the Flaggy Shore to Kinvara, followed by a transfer back to Galway.

Highlights:

• The Burren's unique karst limestone landscape and rare flora
• Prehistoric sites, stone forts, castle ruins and Corcomroe Abbey
• The Cliffs of Moher and the surf town of Lahinch
• Optional day trip to the Aran Islands and Dún Aonghasa
• The Black Head coast road to Ballyvaughan
• Traditional music in the pubs of Doolin and Lisdoonvarna

Surface and terrain:
Quiet sealed back roads and small laneways across the Burren's limestone country, plus coastal roads around Galway Bay. Gradient is rated easy to moderate.

Weather:
The tour runs April to October, so riders should expect changeable Atlantic conditions and pack wet-weather gear.

Suitable for: Recreational riders comfortable with around 35–40 km a day at their own pace, with an interest in history, archaeology and traditional music. Distances can be increased on request.

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Westport Way starts in Galway and includes two nights in Westport, known as Ireland's adventure capital and one of the first Irish towns to build a purpose-made cycling greenway. Following an old railway line for 42 km to Achill Island, the greenway makes the area ideal for exploring by bike.

After a transfer to Cong, home of Ashford Castle, riders cycle through Joyce Country and over the Partry Mountains to Westport, then spend a full day riding the greenway along Clew Bay. The route then heads south past Croagh Patrick to Louisburgh and through the Doo Lough valley to Leenane on Killary Fjord.

The final stages follow the Wild Atlantic Way past Kylemore Abbey to Clifden. A last day explores the Sky Road and Derrigimlagh, site of the first transatlantic flight landing.

Highlights:

• Westport town and the Great Western Greenway along Clew Bay
• Cong Abbey, Ashford Castle and the Partry Mountains
• Croagh Patrick and the Doo Lough valley
• Killary Fjord and Kylemore Abbey
• The Sky Road loop and Wild Atlantic Way coastline
• Galway city, welcoming pubs and traditional music

Surface and terrain:
Quiet sealed country and coastal roads, plus the traffic-free Great Western Greenway on a former railway line. Gradient is rated easy to moderate, with a climb over the Partry Mountains on Day 2.

Weather:
The tour runs April to October, so riders should expect changeable Atlantic conditions and pack wet-weather gear.

Suitable for:
Reasonably fit recreational riders comfortable with around 50 km a day, and options of up to 80–85 km on some days.

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This nine-day self-guided holiday brings together the Burren, the Aran Islands and Connemara in one journey across the west of Ireland. From Galway, riders pass through Kinvara and the limestone landscape of the Burren to Ballyvaughan, with a longer option via Poulnabrone Dolmen. They then follow the Black Head coast road to Doolin and the Cliffs of Moher.

A ferry to Inis Mór allows an overnight stay on the island and a visit to Dún Aonghasa. Riders then take a ferry to Rossaveel and cross South Connemara's bogland to Clifden for two nights, with loops to the Sky Road, Errislannon or Roundstone.

The final stages pass Kylemore Abbey to Leenane on Killary Fjord, then cross Joyce Country, with an optional Doo Lough loop, to finish in historic Cong.

Highlights:

• The Burren and Connemara National Parks, including Poulnabrone Dolmen
• The Black Head coast road and the Cliffs of Moher
• An overnight stay on Inis Mór and Dún Aonghasa
• The Sky Road and Derrigimlagh (Marconi station and Alcock and Brown landing site)
• Kylemore Abbey, Killary Fjord and the Doo Lough valley
• Cong Abbey, Ashford Castle and traditional music pubs

Surface and terrain:
Quiet sealed rural roads and lanes, coastal roads and island laneways. Terrain is mainly rolling, with some longer gradual climbs through the Burren and Connemara but no long, steep mountain climbs.

Weather:
The tour runs April to October, so riders should expect changeable Atlantic conditions and pack wet-weather gear.

Suitable for:
Leisure cyclists comfortable with 40–60 km days who want a wide variety of landscapes. Longer route options suit fitter riders, and the two nights in Clifden allow a shorter ride or a full rest day.

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Starting in the vibrant town of Westport, this self-guided tour showcases the Wild Atlantic Way, from Clew Bay to the rugged beauty of Connemara National Park. Each day stops in rural towns and villages known for friendly people, traditional food and music. After a briefing and bike fitting, riders spend a day on the traffic-free Great Western Greenway, with turnaround options at Newport, Mulranny or Achill Sound.

The route then follows Clew Bay past the National Famine Memorial at Croagh Patrick and through the Doolough valley to Leenane on Killary Fjord. After lunch at Kylemore Abbey, riders catch a ferry from Cleggan to Inishbofin for two nights of island loops, birdlife and old-world charm.

Back on the mainland, the Cleggan peninsula and Sky Road lead to Clifden. A final day takes in the Errislannon Peninsula, Derrigimlagh, Roundstone and Dog's Bay.

Highlights:

• Westport, Clew Bay and the Great Western Greenway
• The National Famine Memorial and the Doolough valley
• Killary Fjord and Kylemore Abbey
• Two nights on Inishbofin, with Cromwell's Barracks and island birdlife
• The Sky Road, Derrigimlagh and Dog's Bay
• Welcoming pubs and traditional music

Surface and terrain:
Quiet sealed rural and coastal roads, the traffic-free Great Western Greenway on a former railway line (gentle gradients), and narrow island lanes. Gradient is rated easy to moderate.

Weather:
The tour runs April to October, so riders should expect changeable Atlantic conditions and pack wet-weather gear.

Suitable for:
Recreational riders comfortable with 30–60 km days who want a relaxed, culturally rich tour with island time. E-bikes make it accessible to less confident riders.

This self-guided luxury tour links Connemara, the Aran Islands and the Burren, reaching some of the most remote and beautiful parts of Ireland's west coast. Each night is spent in a castle, country house or luxury hotel. After arriving in Galway, riders are transferred to Connemara and cycle to Cong, spending the night at the Lodge at Ashford Castle.

The route continues through the quiet glacial valleys of Joyce Country to Leenane on Killary Fjord, then follows the Atlantic coast past Kylemore Abbey and through Connemara National Park to Clifden. The bog road leads to Rossaveal and a ferry to the Aran Islands to explore the prehistoric fort of Dún Aonghasa.

A ferry to Doolin brings riders to the Cliffs of Moher and along the Burren coast to Ballyvaughan. The final day visits ancient sites such as Poulnabrone Dolmen before a transfer back to Galway.

Highlights:

• Galway City and a night at the Lodge at Ashford Castle
• Mountains, lakes and bogs of Connemara, Killary Fjord and Kylemore Abbey
• The Aran Islands and Dún Aonghasa
• The Cliffs of Moher and the Wild Atlantic Way
• The Burren's limestone landscape and Poulnabrone Dolmen (3,000 BC)
• Five dinners in award-winning restaurants, plus pubs and traditional music

**Surface and terrain:**vv Quiet sealed country roads, forest tracks around Cong, the Connemara bog road and narrow island lanes. Gradient is rated easy to moderate.

Weather:
The tour runs April to October, so riders should expect changeable Atlantic conditions and pack wet-weather gear.

Suitable for:
Riders wanting a premium, self-paced tour with 35–45 km standard days. Fitter riders can take longer options of up to 80 km, and alternate transport can be arranged on any day.

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The Burren is a UNESCO-recognised landscape rich in historically and culturally important sites. This self-guided tour is designed for riders with a keen interest in Irish history, visiting sites that span ancient prehistory, early Christian and medieval times, the Anglo-Norman era and the modern day.

After meeting a local guide in Galway, riders transfer to Oranmore Castle and cycle via Clarinbridge, Dunguaire Castle, the Flaggy Shore's Martello Tower and Corcomroe Abbey to Ballyvaughan. The next day crosses the heart of the Burren past Aillwee Caves, Poulnabrone Dolmen and Caherconnell stone fort to Doolin, home of traditional music.

Day three visits the Cliffs of Moher. Day four is a ferry trip to Inis Mór to explore the Seven Churches and Dún Aonghasa on a hired bike. A shorter 3 Day version omits the Aran Islands day.

Highlights:

• Oranmore Castle, Dunguaire Castle and the Flaggy Shore Martello Tower
• Corcomroe Abbey and the heart of the Burren
• Poulnabrone Dolmen, Caherconnell stone fort and Aillwee Caves
• The Cliffs of Moher
• A day trip to Inis Mór, the Seven Churches and Dún Aonghasa (4 Day only)
• Traditional music in the pubs of Doolin

Surface and terrain:
Quiet sealed country roads and small laneways through the Burren's limestone landscape, plus coastal roads and island lanes. Gradient is rated easy to moderate.

Weather:
The tour runs April to October, so riders should expect changeable Atlantic conditions and pack wet-weather gear.

Suitable for: Riders with a keen interest in Irish history and culture who are comfortable with 30–60 km days, and options of up to 70 km. E-bikes make it accessible to less confident riders.

Designed for those short on time, this 4-night luxury tour packs Ireland's best sights into a few days of spectacular cycling. Riders are met at Dublin or Shannon Airport and transferred to a luxury estate hotel on Lough Corrib outside Galway, with time to explore the city's medieval streets and traditional pubs.

After a bike fitting, riders transfer into Connemara and cycle to Cong for a night at the Lodge at Ashford Castle. The next day a ferry from Rossaveal leads to the Aran Islands and Dún Aonghasa, then on to Doolin for the Cliffs of Moher and a castle stay in the Burren. After an optional morning ride, a private transfer takes riders to Dublin for the final night.

A shorter 3-night option focuses on Connemara, with castle stays at Ashford and Ballynahinch and coastal loops to Roundstone, Clifden and the Sky Road.

Highlights:

• Galway City and a night at the Lodge at Ashford Castle
• Mountains, lakes and bogs of Connemara and the Wild Atlantic Way
• The Aran Islands and Dún Aonghasa
• The Cliffs of Moher and a castle stay in the Burren
• A final night in Dublin, with Trinity College and the Guinness Brewery
• 3 Day option: Ashford and Ballynahinch Castles, Dog's Bay and the Sky Road

Surface and terrain:
Quiet sealed country roads, forest trails around Cong, narrow island laneways and the Connemara bog road. Gradient is rated easy to moderate on both versions.

Weather: Both versions run April to October, so riders should expect changeable Atlantic conditions and pack wet-weather gear.

Suitable for:
Time-poor riders wanting a premium, self-paced short break with 35–40 km minimum days and optional extensions. The 3 Day option includes e-bikes, making it suitable for less confident riders.

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