Cycling vacations and bicycle tours in Ireland with Easy Rider Tours


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Western Shores

Jun 20-27, 2008
Jul 12-19, 2008
Jul 26-Aug 2, 2008
Sep 6-13, 2008

Price: US$3495 for 8 days/7 nights.
Includes 5 dinners, 2 picnics, and all breakfasts.
Terrain: Moderate.
Arrive: Shannon Airport
Depart: Shannon Airport

All roads lead back in time in County Clare and Connemara, where rush hour traffic might consist of a local farmer and his herd of cows! In County Clare, a single day's ride leads past 3,000 years of history as we spin past a prehistoric dolmen, an Iron Age ring fort, and once-powerful castles and abbeys, their stonework beautifully preserved over the centuries. In the fishing village of Doolin, pubs legendary for their traditional music weave a spell with the hypnotic sounds of the bodhrán, pennywhistle, and country fiddle. Nearby, the powerful Atlantic surf kicks up a salt spray felt atop the 700'-high Cliffs of Moher. An evening with a traditional storyteller and a guided hike through the otherworldly landscape of the Burren top off our journey through Clare.

Time stands still on Inishmore, the largest of the Aran Islands, where thatched roofs and donkey carts are still the norm, and Gaelic the everyday language. We'll stay at the island's best-loved guesthouse, situated at the foot of Dun Aengus, a massive Celtic ring fort perched high above the Atlantic. Back on the mainland, some of the most spectacular cycling roads in Ireland await us in Connemara, with its majestic vistas of mountains and haystack-dotted fields. Here land and sea come together in vast moorlands and estuaries, island-studded lakes, and a long fjord notched into the mountains. Few have been known to return from this region without at least one handknit Irish sweater! We'll celebrate our journey's end with a farewell feast and overnight at Ashford Castle, internationally acclaimed as one of the finest hotels in Europe.

Ireland Bicycle Tours
Western Shores Itinerary
Day 1: Morning transfer from Shannon Airport to the lively market town of Ennis. Free afternoon to explore town and visit the Cathedral and Franciscan Friary. Our warm-up ride loops to the 15th-century ruins of Quin Abbey. Welcome dinner at a stylish bistro. (0, 6, or 15 mi.)

Day 2: History abounds on our route bordering the Burren National Park, with stops at Dysert O’Dea Castle, Poulnabrone Dolmen, and the Kilfenora Cathedral. After lunch in the seaside resort of Lahinch, we’ll follow the coast to the Cliffs of Moher and on to Doolin, for a two-night stay with ocean views. This evening, folklorist Eddie Lenihan will regale us with tales of old Ireland. (32, 39, or 48 mi.)

Day 3: A scenic coastal route leads to the fishing village of Ballyvaughan for lunch overlooking the harbor. Learn about the unique flora and geology of the Burren on an afternoon hike with a local naturalist. Return to Doolin by van or via a challenging route over Corkscrew Hill. After dinner, we’ll enjoy a pint and tunes at McGann’s or O’Connor’s, famed for their traditional music seisiuns. (22, 42, or 48 mi.)

Day 4: Morning ferry to Inishmore, largest of the Aran Islands, for a free day to explore by bike or foot. Visit Dun Aengus ring fort (one of Europe's finest prehistoric monuments), monastic "beehive" huts, and the ruins of The Seven Churches. Warm welcome and a home-cooked feast at Kilmurvey House, a gracious Georgian manor and Easy Rider favorite. (7-18 mi.)

Day 5: Morning ferry to Rosaveel, County Galway. Views of the Twelve Pins mountains and the Connemara coast as we cross the Cashel bog to Clifden. Two-night stay on the harbor at stylish Quay House, originally built as the Harbour Master's residence. (31 or 41 mi.)

Day 6: Free day for shopping, sightseeing, or biking the aptly-named "Sky Road," with a bird's-eye view of Killary Harbor. Long option leads to Cleggan Strand and an optional ferry trip to tiny Inisboffin (population: 212). (0, 12, 21, or 35 mi.)

Day 7: Our last day of pedaling includes stops at Avoca Handweavers (last-minute shopping!) and Kylemore Abbey, with spectacular vistas of Killary Fjord and the Maumturk Mountains. After lunch, shuttle ahead to enjoy the magnificent grounds of Ashford Castle, or take a final lakeside spin to the village of Cong in County Mayo. Five-star finale at Ashford Castle. (24 mi. with shuttle, or 45 mi.)

Day 8: Private van transfer to Shannon Airport for early afternoon flights.

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