West Cork Coastline Self Guided Cycling Tour
8 days - 7 nights Cycling Vacation in Ireland
Day 1 Saturday: Arrival in Cork City
Our guesthouse is located near the Western Road some 15 minutes walk from the centre of the city. We reccommend that you take a taxi from the station or airport and check into the guesthouse as soon as you arrive so that you are then free to explore the city. Cork is a very lively town with plenty of music and entertainment and all the major points of interest are within walking distance. If you are arriving early the rooms may not be ready till midday but you can leave your bags here and head into town for a stroll. We will send you on a copy of your accommodation and contact details closer to the tour start. Don’t forget to bring all this with you as there will not be a copy in the guesthouse. Your bikes, route details and maps will be waiting for you in your guesthouse and our bike mechanic will meet you at 7.00 p.m. to fit you out with your bikes.
Day 2 Sunday: Cork to Gougane Barra 42 ml/67 km
After being fitted out with your bicycles, you head out by the banks of the Lee and travel along quiet back roads to a lunch stop in the market town of Macroom where you can stop for lunch. In the afternoon you continue up the Lee Valley through rolling countryside to the wonderfully peaceful Lakeside retreat of Gougane Barra , the source of the River Lee and Irelands first National Park.
Day 3 Monday: Gougane Barra to Ahakista 27 ml/43 km
You cycle down to the coast past fields of grazing cattle and sheep to the coastal town of Bantry for lunch . After lunch you can then visit Bantry House, home of the earl of Bantry, where you can stroll around the gardens. In the afternoon you head out to the beautiful Sheeps Head Peninsula and cycle along quiet coastal roads with stunning views of the surrounding landscape. That night you have a home cooked dinner in your guesthouse.
Day 4 Tuesday: Ahakista to Baltimore 16 ml/26 km
In the morning you cycle to the fishing village of Schull where you can stop for lunch . In the afternoon you cycle to the busy market town of Skibereen before heading South to the small fishing village of Baltimore.
Day 5 Wednesday: Rest Day in Baltimore Village
The day can be spent in rest and relaxation or you can take part in a variety of activities including a visit to Cape Clear Island with its stunning views looking back at West Cork. You can hike through the beautiful forest which overlooks the unique Lough Ine, the only salt water lake in North Western Europe. For those who want to experience a unique part of Irish rural life you can take a bus to the local town of Skibereen for the weekly cattle market.
Day 6 Thursday: Baltimore to Clonakilty 36 ml/57.5 km
In the morninge you cycle along quiet backroads to the peaceful Lough Ine and then follow the West Cork coast to the village of Glandore where you have lunch overlooking the beautiful Glandore Harbour with its two islands, Adam and Eve. In the afternoon you can visit a 3,000 year old stone circle , one of the best examples of its kind in the country, before following another scenic coastal cycle to the bustling town of Clonakilty .You stay overnight in a family run Hotel.
Day 7 Friday: Clonakilty to Kinsale 36 ml/57.5 km
In the morning you cycle to the village of Timoleague, where you can visit a 15th Century Franciscan Friary. You continue to hug the coastline all the way to the historic town of Kinsale, site of the Battle of Kinsale in 1601, where you can stop for lunch. In the afternoon you cycle back into Cork for your final night on the tour
Day 8 Saturday: Departure Day
You are free then to make your own way back to Cork city anytime on Saturday. We do not arrange this transfer but there are regular buses from Kinsale to Cork and it may be worth bearing in mind that the airport is on the way. The airport is about half an hour at the most from Kinsale.