{"id":1362,"date":"2023-04-17T12:57:27","date_gmt":"2023-04-17T11:57:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.citrus-lime.com\/tesc\/?p=1362"},"modified":"2023-04-17T12:57:27","modified_gmt":"2023-04-17T11:57:27","slug":"great-cycling-routes-in-ireland","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.citrus-lime.com\/tesc\/great-cycling-routes-in-ireland\/","title":{"rendered":"Great cycling routes in Ireland"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

If you\u2019re a keen cyclist, you\u2019ll know there\u2019s nothing better than the freedom of a long cycle ride through spectacular scenery. Ireland is a gift to cycling. With beautiful countryside, plenty of roads without too many cars, as well as off-road route options, when planning a cycling trip you are spoilt for choice. What\u2019s more, Ireland\u2019s stunning landscape features an almost endless supply of off-the-beaten-track nooks and crannies, meaning there\u2019s always more to explore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So if you\u2019re planning a cycling holiday in Ireland, you might be wondering where to start. From short day trips to longer multi-stop multi-day breaks, and from coastal scenery to countryside charm, there is something for everyone. At The Edge Sports, we love to get outdoors and get active. Our team have put their heads together, compared notes, and come up with their list of the ten greatest cycling routes in Ireland.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. The Wild Atlantic Way cycle route \u2013 2500 km<\/strong><\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    \"Cycling<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    Not for the faint-hearted, this epic adventure takes in some of the most incredible views Ireland has to offer. Often undertaken as a driving route, this journey spans the length of the island of Ireland \u2013 so you might want to plan your holiday to take in just a small part of it unless you have a lot of free time! With wild seascapes around every corner, you\u2019ll explore the Atlantic coastline and feel immersed in the beauty of nature. The full route runs through Cork, Kerry, Clare, Galway, Mayo, Sligo, Leitrim and Donegal \u2013 so perhaps choosing just one county to explore is a great way to approach it on your first visit.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    1. The Ring of Kerry \u2013 180 km<\/strong><\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
      \"Cyclists<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

      At a more modest 180km, the Ring of Kerry nonetheless punches well above its weight, packing in opportunities for outdoor activities, culture, and incredible scenery. In part, it follows the Wild Atlantic Way coastal route, before turning inland \u2013 so it might be a good way to start seeing some of the longer trails whilst also having the convenience and satisfaction of completing a circular path.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      The Ring of Kerry starts in Killarney, and we\u2019d highly recommend tagging the optional extra Skellig Ring onto your planned route. This involves taking a ferry just outside Cahersiveen to the wonderful Valentia Island, and a bridge near the\u00a0picturesque village of\u00a0Portmagee.\u00a0From there visit the\u00a0Glen\u00a0and\u00a0Ballinskelligs, taking in beautiful Blue Flag beaches along the way. Don\u2019t forget your wetsuit<\/a> and Dry Robe<\/a> to ensure you can enjoy a dip whatever the weather.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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      1. The Kingfisher Trail \u2013 480 km<\/strong><\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

        The Kingfisher Trail was the first long-distance cycling route in Ireland. Taking it at a pleasant pace, you could complete it in around 4 days, enjoying the scenery of the counties of Leitrim, Fermanagh, Cavan, Donegal, and Monaghan. It officially starts in Enniskillen in Northern Ireland, but it\u2019s possible to pick up the route at any point along the trail, with options to rent bikes and equipment at various stops along the way.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        The Kingfisher Cycle Trail allows you several different route options, so it\u2019s worth doing your research to choose the paths that will suit you best \u2013 there are variations grouped around length, difficulty, and areas of interest. The route is a favourite of ours because of the variation in the scenery \u2013 from lakes and mountains to hills, caves, and canals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

        If you\u2019re interested in the Kingfisher Trail but have a limited amount of time, it\u2019s possible to pick up a shorter side route too.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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        1. Inishowen 100 Scenic Cycling Route, Donegal \u2013 160 km<\/strong><\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

          Known as the Inishowen 100 because it covers 100 miles, this route takes in the glories of the north coast. Encircling the entire breathtaking Inishowen Peninsula, cyclists will love the starkly beautiful coastal scenery. It\u2019s a nature hot-spot, with activities such as whale and dolphin watching available along the way \u2013 so we\u2019d recommend taking your time and building in space to stop and enjoy all that\u2019s on offer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

          Those who wish to set themselves a challenge can aim to complete the full distance in a day, but you\u2019d be missing out on the incredible range of activities on offer \u2013 not least simply taking the time to sit and enjoy the view! The route takes in Malin Head, the most northerly point in Ireland, via remote bays, white sand beaches and views of the distant mountains. Beautiful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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          1. Blessington Lakes, Wicklow Mountains and Glendalough Loop, Cycling Route, Wicklow, Ireland \u2013 75 km<\/strong><\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
            \"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

            If you\u2019re looking for a fantastic full-day adventure, the route around Blessington Lakes and the Wicklow Mountains is hard to beat. It\u2019s a particularly accessible route for busy city dwellers, as you could actually begin the trail in Dublin itself. However, you\u2019ll soon be exploring the glens and peaks of Ireland\u2019s Ancient East. You\u2019ll take in sites such as Baltyboy House, Valleymount Village, Ballynockan Village and Quarry, the spectacular Glendalough, Wicklow Mountains National Park, Lough Tay (where they film the Vikings TV series), and Sally Gap. Remember your camera \u2013 and wear your best cycling shorts<\/a>, as that\u2019s a lot to see in one day and come to the end you\u2019ll appreciate the extra padding!\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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            1. Inishm\u00f3r Entire Island Loop Cycle, Aran Islands, Galway, Ireland \u2013 60 km<\/strong><\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
              \"Cycling
              Wild Atlantic Way<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

              This moderate full-day cycle is a great way to take in the largest of the Aran Islands, Inishm\u00f3r, in one go. From the ancient\u00a0stone fort of Dun Aonghasa, to the strange natural rock formations along the coast, and of course stunning seascapes, this loop route makes for a magical and memorable cycling day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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              1. The Burren Cycling route, Co. Clare \u2013 150 km<\/strong><\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

                Challenge yourself to do this in one, or take it easy and make time for sightseeing, by splitting it up over 3 days. Whichever way you choose to cycle it, the Burren route in Co. Clare loops through unforgettably dramatic scenery that is a listed UNESCO World Heritage Site. It\u2019s pretty special. The Burren \u2013 or Boireann in Irish, meaning \u2018great rock\u2019 \u2013 is a huge escarpment of karst limestone that has been shaped over millennia by the waters around it. The National Park landscape, while dominated by the Burren, features calcareous grasslands, woodlands, and of course, limestone pavements. It\u2019s a site of special environmental interest too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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                1. Connemara Loop, Galway \u2013 150 km<\/strong><\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

                  Another route that touches on the Wild Atlantic Way, and could be tackled in a day if it weren\u2019t for the temptation to slow down and take in the many attractions along the way. We\u2019d advise taking a good 3 days over this one, to allow you to stop at each picturesque village you encounter. This is also a good route to split into smaller loops, if you are based in the area and just want some great cycling interludes as part of your holiday.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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                  1. The Great Western Greenway, Co. Mayo \u2013 45 km<\/strong><\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

                    \"Great<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                    This route is particularly popular, as it\u2019s a completely off-road and traffic-free option. It\u2019s a particularly family-friendly route for this reason \u2013 but don\u2019t be fooled by the shorter distance. The scenery here is second to none and offers you world-class views across Clew Bay with the famous Croagh Patrick mountain (764m) in the background.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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                    1. Loop Head Heritage Trail, Co. Clare \u2013 50-90 km<\/strong><\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

                      Once again, this loop trail features a jaunt along the Wild Atlantic Way, but creates a convenient loop, meaning it\u2019s a little easier to organize logistics, and you have the satisfaction of never having to go over ground you\u2019ve already covered. The Loop Head Penninsula is nestled between the Shannon River on one side, and the Atlantic Ocean on the other. It\u2019s a landscape where water is never far away, perfect for those who want to feel immersed in the natural environment.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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                      Are you ready for a cycling adventure in Ireland?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

                      With so many fantastic routes to choose from, Ireland is the ultimate cycling holiday destination. Make the most of your trip by exploring cycling supplies<\/a> at The Edge Sports. From last-minute cycling essentials such as cycling shorts to fun accessories such as tinted shades to all the extras such as sun cream and wet weather gear, make sure you are fully equipped to enjoy your cycling holiday with The Edge Sports.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

                      If you\u2019re a keen cyclist, you\u2019ll know there\u2019s nothing better than the freedom of a long cycle ride through spectacular scenery. Ireland is a gift to cycling. With beautiful countryside, plenty of roads without too many cars, as well as off-road route options, when planning a cycling trip you are spoilt for choice. What\u2019s more,<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":119,"featured_media":1367,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_price":"","_stock":"","_tribe_ticket_header":"","_tribe_default_ticket_provider":"","_tribe_ticket_capacity":"0","_ticket_start_date":"","_ticket_end_date":"","_tribe_ticket_show_description":"","_tribe_ticket_show_not_going":false,"_tribe_ticket_use_global_stock":"","_tribe_ticket_global_stock_level":"","_global_stock_mode":"","_global_stock_cap":"","_tribe_rsvp_for_event":"","_tribe_ticket_going_count":"","_tribe_ticket_not_going_count":"","_tribe_tickets_list":"[]","_tribe_ticket_has_attendee_info_fields":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[14],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-1362","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-cycling"},"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/blog.citrus-lime.com\/tesc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/64\/2023\/04\/Connemara-Greenway-Co-Galway_Web-Size.jpg","author_info":{"display_name":"kalbarakat","author_link":"https:\/\/blog.citrus-lime.com\/tesc\/author\/kalbarakat\/"},"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.citrus-lime.com\/tesc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1362","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.citrus-lime.com\/tesc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.citrus-lime.com\/tesc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.citrus-lime.com\/tesc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/119"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.citrus-lime.com\/tesc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1362"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/blog.citrus-lime.com\/tesc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1362\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1374,"href":"https:\/\/blog.citrus-lime.com\/tesc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1362\/revisions\/1374"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.citrus-lime.com\/tesc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1367"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.citrus-lime.com\/tesc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1362"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.citrus-lime.com\/tesc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1362"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.citrus-lime.com\/tesc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1362"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}