Western Ireland - West Cork Coastline Cycling Safari with Hidden Trails.

Guided Biking Tours in Ireland

West Cork Coastline Cycling Safari
( start trip in cork - finish in kinsale )

Quiet roads lined with wild, deeply scented flowers, this tour covers all types of landscape, from rolling green fields to spectacular coastal rides. West Cork is also best known for its colourful villages all of which are brightly painted in a wonderful array of vibrant colours, with wonderful hanging baskets brimming with flowers out the front of every pub and shop . This is the more cosmopolitan part of rural Ireland with many choosing to settle in this idyllic setting. This tour finishes in the colourful town of Kinsale, easily accessible to Cork Airport and city

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Rates include 7 nights Bed & Breakfast accommodation ( a mixture of Hotels and guesthouse), 1 evening dinner, bicycle hire, tour guide who drives the luggage van and looks after the tour, maps and all necessary equipment. The tour includes coach transfers when required during the week, but does not include the optional ferry journeys.
8 days / 7 nights $985
-- based on € 695
Single supplements are very limited but in the case where we can provide one there is an additional cost of $335 (€ 235)
2008 Dates:
06/14-06/21 07/05-07/12 07/19-07/26
08/16-08/23 09/06-09/13

Self Guided Option: Available starting any day during the summer (except Saturdays). The bike and route details will be waiting for you in the first nights accommodation. Same rates apply.

Schedule

Sat	As with each of our tours, the week starts with a meeting of the group at 6:30pm, in a hotel close to the centre of Cork City.
Sun	We head out the banks of the Lee and travel along quiet backroads to a lunch stop in the market town of Macroom. In the afternoon we continue up the Lee Valley through rolling countryside to the wonderfully peaceful Lakeside retreat of Gougane Barram the source of the River Lee and Ireland's first National Park.
Mon	We cycle down to the coast past fields of grazing cattle and sheep to the coastal town of Bantry for lunch. In the afternoon we head out to the beautiful Sheep's Head Peninsula and cycle along quiet coastal roads with stunning views of the surrounding landscape. That night you have a home-cooked dinner in your guesthome.
Tues	We cycle onto the Mizen Peninsula in the morning and the village of Schull. After lunch you can either cycle the coast road or else take a ferry across Roaring Water Bay (it is usually quite calm!) to visit Sherkin Island and then take a later ferry into the village of Baltimore.
Wed	Baltimore is a lovely village to potter around for the day or else you can take off to explore the nearby islands and countryside.
Thurs	In the morning we cycle along quiet backroads to the peaceful Lough Ine and then follow the West Cork coast to the village of Glandore where we have lunch overlooking the beautiful Glandore Harbour and its two islands, Adam and Eve. In the afternoon we visit a 3,000-year-old stone circle, one of the best examples of its kind in the country, before following another scenic coastal cycle to the bustling town of Clonakilty.
Fri	In the morning we follow the coast road before heading inland to the village Timoleague, where you can visit a 15th-century Franciscan Friary. After lunch we continue to hug the coastline all the way to the historic town of Kinsale, sit of the 1601 Battle of Kinsale. Kinsale is a colourful cosmopolitan town with a wide range of excellent craft shops. Later than evening we have a final farewell night on the town together.
Sat	In the morning you are free to make your own way back to Cork City which is 18 miles away.

Distances: The average cycling distance is an easy 30m (45km ) with longer routes being available each day.
Meals: The guide will recommend a lunch stop each day where a snack lunch will cost between $7 and $10   A group evening meal is also organised by the guide each night which costs between $15 and $20.
Insurance: There is an additional charge of $25 for insurance cover for this trip, or you can opt for the regular insurance package that we offer.
The bicycle: We supply 21 speed Trek hybrid touring models for the tours.   Repair equipment, helmets and pannier bags are available on request.
Starting times: Tours starts with a meeting of the group at 6.30pm on the Saturday evening in a central hotel close to the local train and Bus station. This is only a meeting point - you will then overnight in nearby guesthouses. The guide is able to return to the meeting place at 9.30pm again that evening and the following morning for those arriving late. After an introductory talk the guide will organise an evening meal and direct clients to their first nights accommodation in bed & breakfasts.

General Trip Philosophy