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The Wild Atlantic Way and Western Ireland

6 cycle tours along Ireland's west coast

ISBN

9781852849092

Availability

Published

19 Jun 2018

Reprinted

29 Feb 2024

Edition

Second

Pages

256

Size

17.20 x 11.60 x 1.45cm

Weight

300g

Delivery & Returns

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Guidebook describing 6 cycling tours in western Ireland, based on the Wild Atlantic Way, the longest signed coastal route in the world. Each takes around 7 to 10 days, or, for the full Wild Atlantic Way experience, the routes can be combined to create a 44-stage, 2450km trip from Derry/Londonderry to Cork.

Seasons

These routes are best ridden between May and September.

Centres

Derry/Londonderry, Donegal, Sligo, Achill Island, Galway, Westport, the Aran Islands, Limerick, Tralee, Bantry, Kinsale, Cork

Difficulty

The six routes are broken into stages averaging 60km. A full Wild Atlantic Way tour will take you 6-7 weeks at that pace, covering a total of almost 2400km.

Must See

Malin Head, Slieve League Cliffs, Achill Island, Connemara, the Aran Islands, the Burren, the Cliffs of Mohr, Loop Head, Dingle, the Ring of Kerry, Mizen Head, Kinsale

ISBN

9781852849092

Availability

Published

19 Jun 2018

Reprinted

29 Feb 2024

Edition

Second

Pages

256

Size

17.20 x 11.60 x 1.45cm

Weight

300g

Delivery & Returns

Overview

A guidebook to 6 cycle-touring routes along Ireland’s west coast. Based on the Wild Atlantic Way, the world’s longest signed coastal route, each tour can be completed in 7-10 days by any reasonably fit cyclist.

Presented in 6 tours between 291 and 504km (181-313 miles) in length, with optional variants given
Average daily stages of 55km (34 miles) that take 4-5 hours of riding
Tours can be linked together to form a 44 stage, 2450km (1522 mile) trip between Derry/Londonderry and Cork
Key centres include Donegal, Sligo, Achill Island, Galway, Westport, the Aran Islands, Limerick, Tralee, Bantry, Kinsale
Maps and route cards provided for each stage
GPX files available to download
Detailed information on accommodation, facilities and transport along the route

Table of Contents

CONTENTS

Map key

The Wild Atlantic Way cycle route

Overview map

Route summary table

Six cycle tours in Western Ireland

Overview map

Route summary table

Introduction

Geology

Wildlife and flowers

History

What’s in a name?

Built heritage and architecture

Culture

Getting there

Getting around

When to go

Accommodation

Health and safety

Food and drink

Language

Money

Post, phones and internet

Cycling in Ireland

What to take

Maps

Using this guide

The tours

Route 1 Tour of Donegal

Stage 1 Derry/Londonderry to Culdaff

Stage 2 Culdaff to Clonmany

Stage 3 Clonmany to Letterkenny

Stage 4 Letterkenny to Portsalon

Stage 5 Portsalon to Downies

Stage 6 Downies to Bunbeg

Stage 7 Bunbeg to Portnoo

Stage 8 Portnoo to Carrick

Stage 9 Carrick to Donegal Town

Route 1 Route cards

Route 2 Into the Atlantic

Stage 1 Donegal Town to Ballyshannon

Stage 2 Ballyshannon to Sligo

Stage 3 Sligo to Ballina

Stage 4 Ballina to Belmullet

Stage 5 Belmullet to Achill

Stage 6 Tour of Achill Island

Stage 7 Achill to Foxford

Stage 7A WAW link from Newport (Stage 7) to Westport

Stage 8 Foxford to Sligo

Route 2 Route cards

Route 3 Tour of Connacht

Stage 1 Westport to Roonah Quay

Stage 2 Tour of Clare Island

Stage 3 Roonah Quay to Tully

Stage 4 Tully to Clifden

Stage 5 Tour of Inishbofin

Stage 6 Clifden to Kilkieran

Stage 7 Kilkieran to Galway

Stage 8 Galway to Cong

Stage 9 Cong to Westport

Route 3 Route cards

Route 4 The Aran Islands and the Burren

Stage 1 Galway to Inishmore

Stage 2 Tour of Inishmore

Stage 3 Tour of Inisheer

Stage 4 Round the Burren

Stage 5 Doolin to Kilrush

Stage 6 Kilrush to Ennis

Stage 7 Ennis to Limerick

Stage 7A WAW link from Limerick to Tarbert

Route 4 Route cards

Route 5 The Dingle and Kerry Peninsulas

Stage 1 Tarbert to Tralee

Stage 2 Tralee to Dingle

Stage 3 Tour of the Dingle Peninsula

Stage 4 Dingle to Killorglin

Stage 5 Killorglin to Portmagee

Stage 6 Portmagee to Caherdaniel

Stage 7 Caherdaniel to Kenmare

Stage 8 Kenmare to Killarney

Stage 9 Killarney to Tralee

Route 5 Route cards

Route 6 The Fuchsia Coast

Stage 1 Kenmare to Allihies

Stage 2 Allihies to Glengarriff

Stage 3 Glengarriff to Schull

Stage 4 Schull to Clonakilty

Stage 5 Clonakilty to Kinsale

Stage 6 Kinsale to Cork

Route 6 Route cards

Appendix A Useful contacts

Appendix B Glossary

Appendix C Deviations from the Wild Atlantic Way driving route

Appendix D Further reading

Appendix E Calibrating your cycle computer

Updates

We do not yet have any updates available for this book

We are always grateful to readers for information about any discrepancies between a guidebook and the facts on the ground. If you would like to send some information to us then please use our contact form. They will be published here following review by the author(s).

Downloads

The Wild Atlantic Way and Western Ireland - GPX File

By Tom Cooper

Tom Cooper is a writer and editor who fell in love with Ireland's Atlantic coast many years ago on a six-week ride from Belfast to County Cork. He enjoyed himself so much that he just keeps going back for more.

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