This tour both starts and finishes in Killarney. This village is a popular stop on the Ring of Kerry route and sits, shadowed by the MacGillikuddy Reeks and adjacent to the famous Muckross National Park. The route will take you deep into the Iveragh Peninsula, along quiet backroads toward the villages of Sneem and Glenbeigh.
Later, you will head towards the Dingle Peninsula, the most westerly point in Europe. Here you will see the dramatic Slea Head coast, and can ride among Neolithic ruins with wonderful views out to the Skelling and Blasket Islands. We will take a rest in the town of Dingle, where you will find a great array of local shops and restaurants to explore. The weary may pause for a well earned pint in the famous Dick Macs pub, which doubles up as a cobbler!
You can give your legs a good stretch on Connor Pass and enjoy the stunning vistas of the peninsula from its lofty perch, before enjoying the well earnt, downhill glide to lunch. On the final day, you will ride through the Gap of Dunloe and Black Valley, a dramatic, and fitting finish to thisbreath-taking tour.All too soon, you will find yourself back in Killarney, and at the end of the trip.
On arrival in Killarney you should make your way to your accommodation. If you have time you could visit nearby Ross Castle a wonderfully restored 16th Century Norman Tower House overlooking Lough Leane. You can even hire a boat from here and row out to a 6th Century monastic site located on one of the nearby islands.
The tour starts off by following a cycle track into the beautiful grounds of Muckross House which you can visit, as well as a Franciscan Abbey founded in the 15th Century, now in ruins but beautifully situated with a large yew tree rising up through the cloisters. There follows a wonderful cycle between the Killarney lakes before a steady climb follows to your lunch stop at Molls Gap. You are rewarded with delicious food and beautiful views of the surrounding mountains. Our journey continues to the colourful village of Sneem.
Avoiding the main Ring of Kerry road you cycle across the peninsula. Cycling along quiet roads with stunning views, you climb up to the beautiful Gap of Ballaghbearna and descend into a valley with views of Carrauntoohil, Ireland’s highest mountain. After lunch, there is a wonderful cycle to Caragh Lake which you follow to the seaside village of Glenbeigh where you spend the night in a comfortable hotel.
You start the day with a short coach trip to Dingle where you are based for two nights. You follow the Slea Head Route around the tip of the Dingle peninsula. This is one of the highlights of the tour with a wide variety of archaeological sites to visit along the route and some of the most breathtaking coastal scenery in the country.
A variety of activities can be organised from the town. You can join an archaeological bus tour of the peninsula or you can swap your bike saddle for a horse saddle and go horse riding. There are boat trips to the largest of the Blasket Islands with its wonderful walking trails. You can also simply potter around the town with its many shops and aquarium.
The morning starts with a long steady climb up to the Conor Pass with views of Mount Brandon and the coastline in the distance. There follows a wonderful descent and then along the coast to the village of Camp for lunch. In the afternoon back into the mountains to traverse the peninsula heading up over one side of the mountains to views of the other side of the peninsula with Dingle Bay and Ireland’s highest mountain range stretching out in front of you, to the final stretch to our night stop in Killorglin.
In the morning you cycle to Kate Kearney’s Cottage where you can stop for a cup of tea. You then enter the final highlight of the tour, the Gap of Dunloe, a place you will never forget. Coming out of the Gap you have an incredible view looking down the Black Valley, heading into a peaceful valley surrounded by green fields full of grazing sheep, to return to Molls Gap and on towards a wonderful freewheel back down to Killarney for a final night on the tour.
Route Overview
You will ride on mainly quiet roads. Although there are some steep climbs, mostly the landscape is rolling. Generally, there will be some climbing each day. But your efforts are well worth if for the views!
Map - (For Guidance Only)
Start/ End Point: Killarney
Daily Distance: 47-69km
Weekly Total: 280km
Difficulty: Challenging
TRAVEL INFO
It is possible to fly to either, Kerry, Cork, Dublin, or Shannon Airport.
From Kerry Airport
Outside the main terminal is a Bus Terminus with services available directly from Kerry Airport to Tralee, Killarney and Limerick linking into the Bus Eireann network. Tickets for all bus services may be purchased on-board the bus.
You can visit the main BusEireann website for full timetables
From Cork Airport
From Cork Airport, you can take the 226 to Parnell Place Bus Station, the main bus station for Cork city.
From here you can take a bus to Killarney, you can visit the Bus Eireann website for more details
You can also take a train from Cork city to Killarney, timetable and details are on the Irish Rail website
From Shannon Airport:
First you need to take a bus to Limerick city, and there you will transfer to another bus to Killarney town
Check BusEireannor GetThere.ie for bus timetables
You can also take a train from Limerick city to Killarney, but the train time on this route is not always quicker!
All details are on the IrishRail website
From Dublin Airport:
There are Bus services direct from Dublin Airport to Killarney town. Check BusEireann for more information
Alternatively take the Airlink shuttle service into Dublin city and transfer to get train to Killarney.
(Take note that the airlink bus requires exact change and the cost for a single ticket into the city centre is currently €6)
The train to Killarney from Dublin takes approx 4 hours. Details on IrishRail.
TOUR INCLUDES:
* 7 nights accommodation with breakfast
( mix of small hotels and guesthouses )
* 1 evening meal
* Guide in a support van (on group tour only)
* Transfer from Glenbeigh to Dingle
* Luggage transfer
* Route details and maps
* 24 hour service hotline
* GPS tracks available (on request)
Bike Rental is available, but is not included in the basic tour price.
All rentals come with a pannier, lock, helmet and repair equipment.
About the Rental Bikes
This cycling holiday uses quality crossbar and unisex hybrid bikes. Quality Shimano components and puncture-proof tyres are among the components that will ensure you have an enjoyable cycle tour.
You will also receive a handlebar bag and map holder for easy navigation while. Prices advertised on the website include standard bike hire (unless stated). Colour and specification may vary from the image shown.
Unisex Bike (Colour may vary)
Rental Bike PLUS
E - Bike (Colour may vary)
Accessories
If you would like GPX files for a suitable device, please request them at the time of booking. Devices are not provided. Please ensure you bring any fittings required to attach the Garmin (or similar) to the handlebars. You might want to download maps onto your phone to avoid data charges when roaming.
All bikes are provided with standard flat pedals. You can bring your own cycling pedals but ensure that you have the correct tools to remove the pedals if the tour does not have a welcome meeting. You may also not be able to travel through airports with the tools if you are carrying hand luggage only.
You can rent a men's bike with a crossbar, unisex/female bike with a sloping tube or an electric bike for a supplement.
Gearing information available on request.
Frame Sizing
When you make a booking with us, we take your height(s) and the appropriate bike size is matched up accordingly. Unisex frame 21-gears with freewheel. Sizes: 56 / 51 / 46 / 43 cm. Unisex 7-gears-bikes with back pedalling brake. Sizes: 56 / 51 / 46 cm. Men’s speed bikes 21-gears with free wheel and crossbar. Sizes: 64 / 60 / 56 "sloping" cm. Helmets are not provided, and you will need to bring your own to use.
We always recommend wearing a helmet when on your cycling holiday!
Bike Hire Insurance
This cycle tour benefits from bike insurance against rental bike theft and damage in the holiday price. Please make sure you lock up the bike, leave it where told by the hotel, and treat your hire bicycle as if the bike was your own. Any negligent treatment of the bike will exempt you from cover. We advise you to ensure that you have adequate travel insurance for your cycling holiday prior to arrival.
Electric Bike Hire
Why not upgrade your cycling experience to an E-Bike (Electric Bike)? Using a power assisted bike is a great way to go on a cycling holiday and will help you smooth out inclines or longer days in the saddle. Each E-Bike features an LCD display, removable batteries for easy charging, and assistance up to 25 km/h. They have a range of around 120 km for each full charge.
E-Bike upgrade prices vary per tour, but if you require any more information about bike hire and electric bikes, please get in-touch with us on 0161 703 8161.
We use a variety of B&Bs just outside the centre of the town away from the hustle and bustle. They are family run and give insight to Irish hospitality with a warm welcoming feel you can be assured of a good nights sleep.
The Coomasig View B&B we use is set just outside the village and it is one of the finest in all of Kerry. Family run and with a nice view of the mountains it’s a very pleasant place to spend a night.
Lantern Townhouse right in the heart of the town this warm and welcoming townhouse with a relaxed atmosphere is a ideal place to start to discover Dingle
Devanes B&B just out side the town this family run B&B is an insight to the Irish homestead and famous Irish hospitality
Towers Hotel. The towers hotel in Glenbeigh is one of a kind built in 1895 in the late Victorian style. Set in the heart of the village the hotel offers an insight to the Victorian style travel with all the benefits of modern living.
Staying at the Rivers Edge B&B in the heart of the town on the banks of the river Laune. With fantastic views and close to all the restaurants and pubs makes this a perfect place to start your visit to Killorglin.
You can find out more about this cycling holiday by calling 0161 703 8161 to speak to one of the team.
Season | Date | Prices per person | Arrival Day |
Season 1 | 01.04 – 30.06 | 01.09 – 30.09 | £825 | Daily |
Season 2 | 01.07 – 31.08 | £860 | Daily |
Single Room Supplement | All | On Request |
Bike Type | Price |
Rental Bike: | ÂŁ80 |
Electric Bike Upgrade: | ÂŁ185 |
Location | Price DBL/BB | Single Supplement Price SGL/BB |
Killarney / Killorglin | On Request |
Date From | Date To | Price |
01 April 2022 | 30 September 2022 | ÂŁ0 |