Description itinerary of the self-guided bike tour

Day 1: Leenane – Individual arrival

The starting point for the bike Challenge Connemara Tour is located in the picturesque village of Leenane, nestled between the Maamturk mountains, at the head of the Killary Fjord. You can study the route notes and maps that you will find in your accommodation. Depending on your arrival time the agency representatives will meet with you to assign bicycles and equipment, otherwise this will be done the next morning. Discover the nightlife of the village pubs and a selection of restaurants serving delicious local food.

Day 2: Leenane – Westport  60 km / 37 miles 

On the first day of your bicycle holiday in Ireland, you will arrive to the heritage city of Westport, Co Mayo. This spectacular route will allow you to explore the shores of the Killary fjord to the Aasleagh waterfalls, through the rugged valleys of Delphi and Doolough to the city and coastal market of Louisburgh. The final part of your trip will lead you to the coast of Clew Bay in the shadow of the sacred mountain of Croagh Patrick to take you to the city of Westport. You will spend the next two at Westport which Will be your starting point. There you can enjoy the restaurants, pubs and other activities.

Day 3: Around Westport – Croagh Patrick 70 km / 37 miles

Explore Westport. There, you can climb the sacred mountain of Croagh Patrick which has been a pilgrim route since pre-Christian times, and visit the House of Westport, the ancestral home and property of the Marquis of Sligo. If you want to explore the farmland and the surrounding coastal regions, you can take the great Western Gran Greenway 42 km long. This follows the Westport route to the Achilles railway line which closed in 1937. Alternatively, you can travel along the coast of Clew Bay to Louisburgh, visiting the 14th-century Murrisk Abbey.

Day 4: Westport – Cong  60 km / 36 miles

Today the client will leave Westport to go to the village of Cong in Co Mayo, famous for John Ford`s film in 1952, the Quiet Man, and the Hotel Ashford Castle, a picturesque and interesting place to visit. After having breakfast you can explore Aghagower, Tourmakeady, Lough Finny, Clonbur, and Cong (70km), it`s a fantastic bike tour discovering a variety of landscapes, hills, trout lakes, winding rural roads and villages Agricultural. You will spend the night at Cong where you can taste the best of traditional and contemporary cuisine, as well as live music in many pubs.

Day 5: Cong – Leenane – Between 65 – 90 km / 40 – 56 miles

Continue your bike route south from Cong along the shores of Lough Corrib, Ireland’s largest lake, famous for fishing and sailing. At the end of the lake lies the village of Maam, from which you will cross a small mountain pass to Maam Cross. The area around Maan and Maam Cross is surrounded by hills and valleys, ideal for a break and to contemplate its surroundings. The journey continues to the Connemara Valley, an unpopulated tour along the winding road next to Lake Inagh, ending in the village of Leenane where you will be staying for the next two nights. It is a tour of 90km that can be made shorter if you prefer.

Day 6: Around Leenane – From 50 – 80 km / 31 – 50 miles

Today your bike tour will take you to Kylemore Abbey, Connemara National Park, and Renvyle Castle, and finish again at Leenane (50km). The longest option of the tour includes going further south to the fishing village of Cleggn and the Bay of Streamstown (80km), where you can visit the Abbey of Kylemore, a Gothic castle by the lake, where you can see one of the best gardens in Ireland, a six-acre walled Victorian garden. The entrance to Connemara National Park is in the village of Letterfrack, where you can climb the Diamond Hill or simply visit the Visitor Center and tea rooms. You Will return to Leenane that night.

Day 7: Leenane – End of tour  or extension

Breakfast and departure from Leenane on your onward journey.

Description itinerary of the self-guided bike tour

Day 1: Clifden – Individual arrival

Arrive in Clifden town, the “Capital of Connemara” to start your tour. Clifden is bursting with culture, traditional music, quaint streets, cosy pubs and restaurants. All bikes and equipment will be waiting for you at your accommodation, giving you the chance to try everything and to make sure everything fits you perfectly before your cycling adventure begins the next day. Enjoy an evening in this friendly town where everyone knows each other but where there is a natural curiosity and warmth towards visitors.

Day 2: Clifden – Renvyle – 45 km / 28 miles 

This second day will bring you via the Sky Road from Clifden to the Renvyle peninsula where you will spend your second night. The Sky Road brings you to the very edge of Connemara with soaring views over the rocky Atlantic coastline. Further along the way you will be passing by the Connemara National Park in the village of Letterfrack, where you can take a break from the bike and enjoy a walk on their looped trail walks or find out more about this ancient Irish landscape at the visitor centre. Reaching the Renvyle peninsula you will be enchanted by this rugged promontory which juts into the Atlantic Ocean and is home to a vibrant and welcoming farming and fishing community.

Day 3: Renvyle – Leenane 25 km / 16 miles

Making your way from the Renvyle peninsula you will pass through the pretty village of Tullycross with its traditional thatched cottages, a reminder of times past in this area. You will soon come to Kylemore Abbey, a recommended stop on your way. This gothic-style castle was built in 1867 and boasts one of Ireland’s finest gardens. The six-acre Victorian walled garden at Kylemore was created by Mitchell Henry in tandem with the building of Kylemore Castle. Leaving Kylemore you will experience the full majesty of the Twelve Bens mountain range as you pass beneath their brooding peaks. Killary Harbour, reputed to be Ireland’s only fjord, will appear beside you as you round a corner. You will spend the night in the tiny village of Leenane tucked beneath the Maamturk mountains at the head of the fjord.

Day 4: Leenane – Westport 55 km / 34 miles

Following the shores of Killary Fjord, you will cross from Co Galway to Co Mayo and emerge into the Delphi Valley. Once heavily populated it is now a place of few houses. This emptiness allows its untamed beauty and spectacular views greater impact. The road then winds alongside Doolough (the dark, deep lake) to bring you to the coastal town of Louisburgh. In Louisburgh you can pause to witness the gentle pace of life in a small agricultural west of Ireland town. Following the coast road once more, along the shores of Clew Bay, you will reach the heritage town of Westport. With the holy mountain of Croagh Patrick providing a striking backdrop, Westport is beautifully planned and maintained. Enjoy an evening exploring this vibrant market town on the final day of your adventure trip in Ireland.

Day 5: Westport – Individual departure 

Breakfast and individual departure for your onward journey.

Description itinerary of the self-guided bike tour

Day 1 Monday: Clifden – Individual arrival

Arrival in Clifden (there is a direct daily bus service from Galway to Clifden). Today we will give you a warm welcome and a chance to settle in. You will be given your route notes and general information and your bikes and equipment will be delivered to your accommodation. One of our representatives will meet you on either the afternoon of your arrival or the following morning at your first night’s accommodation to answer all your questions and go through your routes together. Clifden is a small, picturesque and colorful town, also often labeled the ‘Capital of Connemara’. So many restaurants that will offer you typical Connemara food and Irish music.

Day 2: Clifden to Renvyle – 45 km / 28 miles 

After a jovial breakfast, you will set off along the Sky Road, if you choose the longer option (45 km), it offers fabulous views over the Atlantic Ocean and its islands. Traveling quiet back roads, you will pass through the charming fishing village of Cleggan and on to Letterfrack, home of the Connemara National Park. Then your journey will take you to the Renvyle Peninsula which is full of history and archaeological sites and is renowned for its pristine sandy beaches and spectacular vistas of the Twelve Ben mountain range.

Day 3: Renvyle to Leenane – 26 km / 16 miles

Leave Renvyle after the breakfast. You will set off, passing through Tullycross with its many thatched cottages, and meander along the coast passing perfect beaches to the small village of Leenane, situated at the head of Ireland’s only fjord. You could take the boat along Killary Fjord for a sightseeing expedition at either 10.30 am, 12.30 pm, 2.30 pm or 4.30 pm. This is a 1.5-hour boat ride on the Connemara Lady catamaran. The trip is often honored by the company of leaping dolphins and always includes commentary on all major points of interest along the way. Tonight you will stay the night in Leenane.

Day 4: Leenane to Lough Inagh – 23 km / 15 miles

Today you will continue your journey leaving Leenane. You cycle away from the coast back towards the mountains on a road through lake-strewn moorlands to the stunning Inagh Valley. You will have the option to visit one of Ireland’s top visitor attractions, Kylemore Abbey & Gardens. This gothic fairytale lakeside castle lodged in a wooded hillside is the site of one of Ireland’s finest gardens. The six-acre Victorian walled garden at Kylemore was created by Mitchell Henry in tandem with the building of Kylemore Castle in 1867. It has won the prestigious Europa Nostra Award for Gardens. Tonight you will be staying in welcoming accommodation overlooking spectacular Lough Inagh.

Day 5: Lough Inagh to Roundstone – 28 km / 18 miles

Today, you’re route is leaving the mountains behind as you head towards Roundstone. You will be traveling along a route dotted with pretty fishing villages. You will cycle through peat bogs and lovely moorlands still divided by the Neolithic field systems. Your journey will bring you into the Gaeltacht (Gaelic-speaking) region, which is considered the last bastion of Celtic Ireland. You will rest and relax tonight in the small picturesque fishing village of Roundstone.

Day 6: Roundstone to Clifden – 24 km / 16 miles

Well-fed and well-rested, you will begin your day with a gentle cycle along Mannin Bay. With its coralline beach & glorious turquoise bay, it is a paradise for the beachcomber. This route brings you past Ballyconneely, or can be made shorter by taking the Bogroad. A roundstone bog is unique in that it is an unspoiled area of bogscape with rare acid-loving plants. You will arrive back at your starting destination of Clifden, where you will spend your last night getting a second chance to enjoy the ‘craic’ in this vibrant town, one of the last true treasures in Western Europe.

Day 7: Clifden – End of tour & departure or extension