Wild Atlantic Way Southwest

Day 1 - Mizen Head

After meeting your soigneur (support guide) in Cork Train Station, travel together to the far-flung signal station that marks Ireland’s southernmost tip at Mizen Head, and the starting point of your biking journey. As your bags are whisked away to your first hotel, you’ll set off on a scenic ride past rocky coves and through adorable wee fishing villages that dot West Cork’s coastline. This isolated region of Cork offers the perfect opportunity to breathe in your first blast of fresh Atlantic air as you get to know your bike and explore a region of Ireland that most bypass. You’ll spend tonight in the village of Bantry where the fantastic local seafood is the order of the day.

Bike Distance: 45km/ 28 miles | Ascent: 410 m/ 1,345 ft

Day 2 - The Cork & Kerry Peninsulas

Today’s route sweeps you across three of southwest Ireland’s amazing peninsulas and through a fabulous mountain pass that is a perennial favourite among local cyclists. Starting at the coast, the road winds its way through lush valleys and into the foothills of the Caha Mountains for the first real climb of the trip. Epic views await atop Moll’s Gap, the summit of your second climb and a perfect coffee stop, before finishing the day with a fantastic long and speedy descent into the busy town of Killarney where we can recommend our favourite pub for the best pint of Guinness in town. (B)

Bike Distance: 77km/ 47 miles | Ascent: 710 m/ 2,329 ft 

Day 3 - Killarney and Dingle

The famous Dingle town is beloved throughout Ireland for its lively pubs and incredible restaurant scene. The Dingle Peninsula is a place that has attracted artists, craftspeople and artisans from all over the world. This region is a Gaeltacht, meaning Irish is the daily spoken language for most people. Today’s route skirts below the gentle Slieve Mish mountains before opening out onto ocean vistas as you track along the southern edge of the Dingle Peninsula. If you are up for a little extra distance today, we recommend tacking on one of our favourite short biking loops in Ireland – the stunning route around Slea Head. Ireland’s westernmost promontory, this wild headland cycle includes opportunities to stop at early medieval beehive huts and prehistoric tombs. And did we mention the amazing views? Gaze out at the eerily beautiful Blasket Islands, evacuated in the 1950s, and the sweeping ocean vistas as far as the eye can see. (B)

Bike Distance: 64 km/ 40 miles | Ascent: 360 m/ 1,180 ft

Day 4 - Dingle to Ballybunion

The Conor Pass, formerly a cattle-driving route through the mountains, is the last of Kerry’s collection of stunningly beautiful mountain passes on this Wild Atlantic Way trip. Climbing hills and mountain passes, at the summit you’re met with views of the miles-long sandy beaches that characterise the northern part of Kerry. Winding down towards the ocean, this brilliant descent is one of our favourites. For the rest of the day, you’ll pedal through quintessential Irish countryside views far from other visitors. Expect wildflower-laced hedgerows, vividly green fields and quiet roads lined with small-holdings. This is real, off-the-beaten-path Ireland where the only other people you’ll see are the locals. (B)

Bike Distance: 78km/ 48 miles | Ascent: 590 m/ 1,935 ft

Day 5 - Ballybunion to Doolin

Today’s route follows the Wild Atlantic Way as it winds northwards along the coast. The day starts flat, giving your legs a bit of a rest before ferrying across the Shannon Estuary, the mouth of Ireland’s longest river, and into County Clare. The southern part of Clare is often by-passed by the less adventurous so you’ll enjoy incredibly quiet roads for a lot of today. You’ll pass by the Cliffs of Moher, Ireland’s most famous landmark, and into the village of Doolin – a bastion of Irish music where traditional Irish music is deeply ingrained in local culture. (B)

Bike Distance: 85 km/ 54 miles | Ascent: 500 m/ 1,640 ft

Day 6 - The Burren to Galway City

The other-worldly landscape of the Burren National Park awaits today, an area renowned the world over for the sheer diversity of wildflowers that grow in its seemingly inhospitable rocky crevices. Ireland is an island of contrasting landscapes, and the green of yesterday seems like a distant memory when confronted with the mesmerising limestone hills of the Burren. The terrain today is rolling, with short, sharp climbs and descents. On the outskirts of Galway city, your soigneur will meet you for the short transfer through the city traffic and into the heart of the ‘Spanish Quarter’ where you’ll enjoy a final night in this lively and cosmopolitan city. (B)

Bike Distance: 54 km/ 33 miles | Ascent: 250 m/ 820 ft

Day 7 - Galway & Departure

Galway Train Station is a short walk away from your hotel where there are regular connections to Dublin. Depending on your outward plans, you might enjoy a stroll around this colourful city. (B)