Freewheel - Clare & the Burren

Clare & the Burren

Ireland

From £760 P/P

If you want to experience some of Irelands rich musical heritage, then look no further. This is the perfect tour for you! Clare is the music centre of Ireland, and on this tour you are sure to have your feet tapping to traditional tunes all week long. The Burren region is also a natural wonder. An amazing limestone moonscape, famous around the world for its wonderful variety of botany. The area is rich in ancient and early Christian historical sites, and offers some beautiful coastal cycling, with views overlooking Galway Bay. Finally you will come to Clare, home to the breathtaking Cliffs of Moher; one of the best-known images of Ireland.

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Itinerary
Itinerary

DAY 1 - ENNIS, CO. CLARE

On arrival in Ennis, head over to your B&B, and make yourself at home. Check in is after 2.00pm on your day of arrival.

We will send you on full accommodation details closer to your departure date. A folder containing your route details and information for rental bike collection will be at the guesthouse.

Ennis is a fantastic town, known for traditional music and lively entertainment, so you can relax for the rest of the day and take in the atmosphere.

DAY 2 - ENNIS TO SPANISH POINT - 30 miles / 48kms

Having being fitted out with your bicycle you can head out on your first ride. Today's route will lead you towards West Clare. You will cycle on quiet country roads, through rolling, green fields, until eventually you come to the coast. Tonight you will be spending the night at Spanish Point, an area named after the famous Spanish Ships of the Armada which sank here in 1588.

You spend the night in a Hotel with views overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.

DAY 3 - SPANISH POINT TO DOOLIN - 29 miles / 46 kms

Today, you will head out on quiet roads and eventually come to the popular holiday town of Lahinch, where you can stop for lunch. In the afternoon we visit the Cliffs of Moher. Rising a spectacular 660ft up from the Atlantic waves below, this iconic landmark is perhaps one of the most famous of the Irish west coast. You can stroll along the cliff tops and watch the birds as they glide in the updraft.

After a stop at the cliffs, you will head to the village of Doolin. That night you can have a pub meal and enjoy the wealth of traditional music for which the village is famous.

DAY 4 - DOOLIN TO BALLYVAUGHAN - 31 miles / 50 kms

In the morning you begin to see the first hints of the limestone landscape of the Burren and visit the monastic site at Kilfenora and its stone high crosses. Kilfenora is also home to the Burren Heritage Centre that gives you an excellent insight into the formation and history of the Burren. Later you can stop off for lunch at the matchmaking town of Lisdoonvarna.

The afternoon's cycle is a beautiful run where the road hugs the coastline with Galway Bay and the Aran Islands on your left and the limestone cliffs of the Burren on your right. You stop for two nights in a comfortable hotel in the seaside village of Ballyvaughan.

DAY 5 - REST DAY IN BALLYVAUGHAN

The day can be spent doing a wide variety of activities. You can join a wonderful four-hour walking tour of the Burren with a local man who is a very entertaining character and an encyclopaedia of knowledge on the area.

There is also an optional short cycle to the impressive ruins of a Cistercian Abbey or you can visit the nearby Ailwee Caves. Alternatively the day could be spent relaxing in this attractive village.

DAY 6 - BALLYVAUGHAN TO KINVARRA - 24 miles / 38 kms

The cycle heads straight into the heart of the Burren where you visit the localities most famous historical sight, the Poulnabrone Dolmen a small ancient burial site dating back to 2500BC.

Veering off the beaten track you stop at the village of Carran for lunch in an old police barracks. In the afternoon you cycle through quiet backroads to visit the Burren Perfumery that makes a wide variety of perfumes using the local flora and has a wonderful slide show illustrating the beautiful and unique botany of this region. You descend through a limestone lunar landscape to the pretty seaside village of Kinvarra where we spend the night.

DAY 7 - KINVARRA TO ENNIS - 31 miles / 49 kms

For the last day you head back into the Burren through limestone moonscape, passing Lough Buny and the impressive Mullaghmore before stopping for lunch in Corafin.

In the afternoon you visit a 16^th Century Tower House and an even older monastic sight. This is also the site of the famous battle of Dysert O’Dea where the Irish Chieftains defeated the Normans and kept them out of Clare for another 200 years.

You then cycle back into Ennis for a final night on the town before heading home the following morning.
Route Overview

Route Overview

Total Distance: 443km Approx.

Over All Difficulty: Challenging

Start Point: Ennis

This is a not a difficult route however there are some hill climbs (particularly on the first day) so we would recommend that you do try to do some cycling before the tour in order to make your week more enjoyable. Try to get out for a few hours cycling during the weekends coming up to your trip and, if possible, do it on varied terrain and include some hill climbing. But don’t forget…our guide is always close by if you have any problems.

With the exception of the roads in and out of Ennis, the traffic on the route should be quite light. You should however cycle carefully at all times, especially when going downhill or during any rain showers.

Route Map (For guidance only):

Routes maybe subject to change or alteration. All route notes, maps and day-by-day information will be given to you upon arrival at the first hotel or at the welcome meeting. GPS/GPX Files are available for most our the cycling holidays we offer. Please ask us for details.

This tour is not suitable for persons with reduced mobility.
Getting There

Getting There

Visa requirements

If you hold an EU passport you only need to make sure your passport is valid for the period of your stay.

All other nationalities require a passport that is valid for 3 months beyond the intended length of stay. Most nationalities including the USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand do not require visas for Ireland and receive an automatic 90 day visitor’s visa on arrival. If your nationality is not mentioned here you should check with your travel agent or consular office.
What’s Included?
What’s Included?

Included in the Tour
- Seven nights twin sharing accommodation with full Irish breakfast
- One evening meal in Ballyvaughan
- Route maps and details
- Luggage transfer each day / guide in support van on set departure dates with minimum of 8 people
- GPS tracks available (on request)
Not Included
- Bike Hire Available
- You must privide you own cycle wear
- All other evening meals
- All expenses not mentioned in inclusions
Bike Hire

Bike Hire

Bike rental is not included in the basic tour price

In 2021 we will be renting GIANT CITY bicycles for our tours in Clare

To see the specification for this you can visit the website:
www.giant-bicycles.com/gb/escape-city ( Gents model )

www.giant-bicycles.com/en-ie/bikes/model/alight.2.city/28581/99470/ ( Ladies model )

Bikes come in different sizes and in gents and ladies style frames.

It is very important you give us your height on booking so that we can allocate the correct bike to you.

This is a not a difficult route however there are some hill climbs (particularly on the first day) so we would recommend that you do try to do some cycling before the tour in order to make your week more enjoyable. Try to get out for a few hours cycling during the weekends coming up to your trip and, if possible, do it on varied terrain and include some hill climbing. But don’t forget…our guide is always close by if you have any problems.

With the exception of the roads in and out of Ennis, the traffic on the route should be quite light. You should however cycle carefully at all times, especially when going downhill or during any rain showers.

Hotels

Days	Hotel
Day 1 & 7: Ennis	Stoney Haven B&B
Day 2: Spanish Point	Bellbridge Hotel
Day 3: Doolin	Suantrai B&B
Day 3: Doolin	Seascape
Day 4 & 5: Ballyvaughan	Hylands Hotel
DAY 4 & 5: BALLYVAUGHAN	Wild Atlantic Lodge

Date & Prices

You can find out more about this cycling holiday by calling 0161 703 8161 to speak to one of the team.

Dates available:

Seasons
Season 1	April to June \| September to October
Season 2	July to August

Prices:

Season
Season 1	£760.00
Season 2	£795.00
Single room supplement (if traveling with others)	£215.00
Single tour supplement (for solo travelers)	£375.00

Extras:

Extra
Touring Bike	£75.00
E Bike	£170.00

Date From	Date To
18 April 2021	03 October 2021

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