Connemara Express

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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