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Biking
Tours in North/Eastern Ireland
The Antrim Glens & Costal Cycling Tour
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A JOURNEY OF DISCOVERY
Nature has spent thousands of
years perfecting it. Stories of giants and ghosts, witches
and warlords have enriched it. Man over the centuries has
enhanced it. Artists, writers, poets and musicians have
been inspired by it.
The Causeway Coast and Glens is an area of unsurpassed
beauty, a unique fusion tangible heritage and magnificent
scenery. An area whose breathtaking and rugged coastline
merges into the romantic landscape of its deep silent glens
and lush forest parks. Where beautiful beaches beckon,
rivers wander through unspoilt lowlands and picturesque
villages sit comfortably next to busy shopping towns. |
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To
travel along the coast is to experience one of the most
dramatic routes in the world. Miles of salty coastline will
transport you past rugged and windswept cliffs, spectacular
scenery and fabulous unspoilt beaches. It’s a coastline
sprinkled with historic castles, churches and forts. Many
are now just ruins but each holds the memories of a
mysterious and heroic past. A past populated by seafaring
Vikings and swashbuckling tales of the ancient Irish clans.
It’s a journey not to be hurried. Every twist and turn in
the road will reveal new sights, well placed stopping
points, offering uninterrupted views to Scotland on one side
and tall limestone cliffs dissected by beautiful glens on
the other.
Formed in legend and song each glen has its own distinct
character and charm but all remain unspoilt and
unexploited. Wild in their beauty each deserves a visit,
but above all else don’t miss Glenariff, the queen of the
glens with its gushing waterfalls and scenic path skirting
the sheer sides of the plunging gorge.
Dedicated naturalists shouldn’t miss a trip to Rathlin
Island whose rugged cliffs are home to the biggest seabird
colony in Europe.
Learn the secrets of the special water from St Columb’s
Rill, as you tour Old Bushmills, the world’s oldest licensed
whiskey distillery. King James I granted the original
license to distil “Uisce Beatha” in April 1608 and the
crafts and skills employed there have changed little in 400
years. |
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 ZZ-IR-Cycle09 
 2005 Rates
include: All Accommodation: 7 nights bed and breakfast.
Luggage : transported to each night's accommodation. Bicycles : the
rental of a high quality 21 speed touring bicycle. Route
Notes: detailed route notes & ordnance survey map. Support Service :
the driver/guide will be on hand every day to ensure the smooth
running of your holiday and to offer advice on local attractions.
8 days/ 7 nights
$ 950 Single: + $145
-- based on
£ 435 /
£
75
2006 Dates: no dates in 2006
... 4 day/ 4 night
trips are also available $595
Transfer
from Belfast best by taxi ~$50 ... return by train .... |
 Cycling
Route
The Causeway Coast and
Glens provide a journey of exploration, where imagination meets
reality and where every village and town, castle and rocky shore are
just waiting to be discovered.
All along the way you’ll find the friendliest of people ready to
stop, have a chat and help you towards your destination.
Day 1 The
holiday begins with a “meet and greet” in the picturesque country
village of Broughshane, famous for its floral displays, winner of
the European Entente Florale and is also your gateway to the glens.
Day 2 Distance:
16 miles / 25km
Your first day’s cycle is a gentle run on quiet country roads
heading towards Glenarm the oldest village in the glen.
On your way you may wish to take a slight detour and venture up
Slemish Mountain, where Saint Patrick, the Patron Saint of Ireland,
is said to have tended livestock as a slave boy in the 5th Century.
Your destination today is Carnlough; a coastal village with a neat
little harbour situated at the foot of Glencoy a few miles round the
coast from Glenarm. The day finishes in the Londonderry Arms Hotel,
which offers a warm welcome, an excellent meal and on most Sunday
evenings good craic in the bar with live traditional Irish music.
Day 3 Distance: 32
miles / 51km
Today’s cycle heads for Glenariff glen known as
the queen of the glens with its gushing waterfalls and scenic path
skirting the sheer side of the plunging gorge. Cycling on from
Glenariff you come to Cushendall the “Capital of the Glens”.
The last leg of your journey then continues cross-country and after
a short climb you cycle on a quiet road with magnificent views, free
wheeling past the edge of Ballypatrick forest and on into
Ballycastle.
On your way be careful not to fall prey to Loughareema, the
mysterious “vanishing lake”, watery grave to coach and horses
throughout the ages, legend has it. You stay in Ballycastle for two
nights.
Day 4 Rest day
Ballycastle is a busy small town with numerous restaurants, musical
pubs and a blue flag beach. From here you can get a ferry to
Rathlin Island whose rugged cliffs are home to the biggest seabird
colony in Europe.
Day 5 Distance: 18
miles / 29km
This morning you set off for a jam-packed day, only a short route of
18 miles but a lot to see. The famous Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge,
the windswept ruins of Kenbane, Dunseverick and Dunluce castles,
golden sands of White Park Bay, the Giant’s Causeway and finishing
up in Bushmills, home of the famous distillery. Tonight you stay in
the little port and beach resort of Portballintrae.
Day 6 Distance: 29 miles / 46km
Today you head back towards the glens along quiet country lanes.
You will be cycling through Glendun, capturing some of the most
breathtaking scenery of the week. The last stretch of which is
mostly down hill into the National Trust village of Cushendun where
pretty Cornish style cottages line the streets and is your stopover
for the evening.
Day 7 Distance: 22
miles / 35km
The route
today takes you through the magnificent glen, Glenaan; translated to
mean “Glen of the little fords” followed by a relaxed cycle
alongside Slieveanorra Forest as you head back to Broughshane.
On your way you can visit a Neolithic court grave of Ossian, who was
reputed to be Finn McCool’s son, the giant from the Causeway.
Day 8 After a final breakfast and farewell at Portstewart you commence your
homeward journey.
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Terrain Guide |
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 THE BICYCLE
We use the latest Dawes Kalahari 21 Speed
Trekking Bicycle.
Each bike comes complete with :
 | Mud Guards |
| Chain Guard |
| Bell |
| Bottle Cage and Bottle
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| Rear Panniers |
|
| Cable Lock |
| Tool Kit |
| Pump |
| Spare Tube |
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Accommodation are two and three star
hotels, guesthouses and selected B&B's. All accommodation is of a
very high standard and it would only be on a rare occasion that the rooms
would not have an ensuite.
Rooms can be allocated on the basis of
twin sharing, a double or single occupancy. Please note there is an
additional charge for a single. See prices for details.
Full Irish breakfast is included each
morning and in the majority of cases will keep you going all day.
While evening meals are not included in the price of the holiday the guide
will be happy to offer details of eating houses in each of the locations.
On average, the price per person for a 3 / 4 course meal is around £10.
Where it is possible the guide will be
happy to offer details of eating houses in each of the locations.
CAN I DO IT ?
Of course you can! Whether you cycle
every day, only at weekends or even just occasionally the routes can be
accomplished by all. There are a few hills but there again you have
got all day and in most cases an alternative route.
So don't worry if you are not super fit,
have a few practice runs before you come on the Tour and don't forget that
pair of padded shorts.
It is not an easy task to describe
the degree of ease or difficulty of a route, for what may be fine for one
person may be hard for another. To try and give a better understanding of
each of the routes they have been divided into four categories:
|
Easy |
The terrain is reasonably flat with only the occasional slightly
sloping gradient. |
|
Easy/Moderate |
Minor ups
and downs, gradients are noticeable but not difficult. |
| Moderate |
Rolling
countryside, which can involve a longish climb or a short steep
hill. |
|
Challenging |
A
long climb with possible steep sections |
|
. |
|
Carrick-on-
Shannon |
Easy |
Easy/Moderate |
Moderate |
Challenge |
|
65% |
20% |
10% |
5% or less |
|
. |
|
|
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|
Antrim Glens |
Easy |
Easy/Moderate |
Moderate |
Challenge |
|
50% |
20% |
20% |
10% |
SHORT TOURS
- 4 Days + 4 Nights
Saturday
The holiday begins on Saturday evening with
a "meet and greet" in the picturesque country village of
Broughshane, famous for its floral displays, winner of the European
Entente Florale and is also our gate way to the glens.
Sunday – today’s distance –
16mls/25km
Our first day’s cycle is a gentle run on
quiet country roads heading towards Glenarm the oldest village in the
glen.
On your way you may wish to take a slight detour and venture up Slemish
Mountain, where Saint Patrick, the Patron Saint of Ireland, is said to
have tended livestock as a slave boy in the 5th century. Our
destination today is Carnlough; a coastal village with a neat little
harbour situated at the foot of Glencloy a few miles round the coast
from Glenarm. The day finishes in the Londonderry Arms Hotel, which
offers a warm welcome, an excellent meal and on most Sunday evening
good craic in the bar with live traditional Irish music.
Monday– today’s distance –
32mls/50km
Today’s cycle heads for Glenariff glen
known as the queen of the glens with its gushing waterfall and scenic
path skirting the sheer side of the plunging gorge. Cycling on from
Glenariff you come to Cushendall the " Capital of the Glens".
The last leg of your journey then continues cross country and after a
short climb you cycle on a quiet road with magnificent views, free
wheeling past the edge of Ballypatrick forest and on into Ballycastle.
On your way be careful not to fall prey to Loughareema, the mysterious
"vanishing lake", watery grave to coach and horses throughout the ages,
legend has it.
Tuesday – today’s distance
– 18mls/29km
This morning you set off for a jam-packed
day, only a short route of 18 miles but a lot to see. The famous
Carrick- a- Rede rope bridge, the windswept ruins of Kenbane,
Dunseverick and Dunluce castles, the golden sands of White Park Bay, the
Giant’s Causeway and finishing up in Bushmills, home of the famous
Distillery.
Tonight you stay in the little port and beach resort of Portballintrae.
Wednesday - today’s distance –
33mls/53km
The final day and you are cycling on quiet
country roads through miles of scenic countryside passing the Bush River
and Slieveanorra Forest as you head back to Broughshane.
EVENING - The start of your journey back home (depending on your
travel arrangements an extra night is optional)
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