Images of cycling The Wild Atlantic Way

Over the past two years or so, I have experienced a good deal of what The Wild Atlantic Way has to offer a cyclist. The longest coastal route in the World has spectacular scenery and incredible experiences to offer anyone who prefers to explore on two wheels rather than four.

 

Fanad Lighthouse with Malin Head off in the distance

A stay in the Silver Tassie in Letterkenny brought me up Fanad head where I spotted dolphins leaping from the water beneath the lighthouse as I looked across towards Malin Head in the distance

Approaching Fanad Lighthouse going past a thatched cottage

Approaching Fanad Lighthouse going past a thatched cottage

A now derelict lookout station beside Fanad lighthouse

A now derelict lookout station beside Fanad lighthouse

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The golden beach in Portsalon is amazingly quiet

The Pier in Portsalon

The Pier in Portsalon

The great Western Greenway in Mayo is a cyclists paradise as over 200,000 cyclists per year have recognised

The great Western Greenway between Westport and Achill in Mayo is a cyclists paradise as over 200,000 cyclists per year have recognised

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A visit to the Clifden Station House brought me to the Sky road just outside the town where a constant view distracts from the effort of the gradual climb

A visit to the Clifden Station House brought me to the Sky road just outside the town where a constant view distracts from the effort of the gradual climb

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The view from the summit makes it all worthwhile

At dusk it's even better

At dusk it’s even better

 

Clifden and its surrounds offer constant vistas of mountains and lakes

Clifden and its surrounds offer constant vistas of mountains and lakes

Each area has it's own character too

Each area has it’s own character too

A trip to Gregans Castle brought me into the heart of The Burren

A trip to Gregans Castle brought me into the heart of The Burren

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Silent roads offered plenty of time to reflect on the unique landscape

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The odd lighthouse along the coast contrasted well with the Rocky landscape

The odd lighthouse along the coast from Ballyvaughan contrasted well with the Rocky landscape

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Looking out towards the Aran Islands as evening set in

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The golden sands of Fanore Beach

A stay in the Falls Hotel brought me to the Cliffs of Moher just out the road

A stay in the Falls Hotel brought me to the Cliffs of Moher just out the road

The bandstand in Kilkee was a handy place to stop for lunch

The bandstand in Kilkee was a handy place to stop for lunch

Father Teds lovely horse on Craggy Island tried to eat my saddle

Father Teds lovely horse on Craggy Island tried to eat my saddle

The waters near Doonbeg are enough to attract the likes of Donald Trump and Greg LeMond

The waters near Doonbeg are enough to attract the likes of Donald Trump and Greg LeMond

A stay in the Dingle Skellig rewarded a 6am start to a bike ride with a view like this on the harbour

A stay in the Dingle Skellig rewarded a 6am start to a bike ride with a view like this on the harbour

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The views are breathtaking as you pedal along Slea head

The views are breathtaking as you pedal along Slea head

Mount Brandon rising up ahead

Mount Brandon rising up ahead

Inch Strand where cars drive on to the beach

Inch Strand where cars drive on to the beach

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The Blennerville Windmill outside Tralee

The Blennerville Windmill outside Tralee

The white sands of Castlegregory

The white sands of Castlegregory

Irelands highest mountain pass- The Conor Pass

Irelands highest mountain pass- The Conor Pass

The summit of the Connor pass looking back down to the sea

The summit of the Connor pass looking back down to the sea

A stay in the Kenmare Bay brought me up the Caha Pass and down the tunnel road

A stay in the Kenmare Bay brought me up the Caha Pass and down the tunnel road

The Healy Pass is just as stunning

The Healy Pass is just as stunning

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The Black Valley was deserted

The Black Valley was deserted

The Gap of Dunloe was pretty quiet too

The Gap of Dunloe was pretty quiet too

Kenmare bay is always a sight to behold

Kenmare bay is always a sight to behold

A stay at The Celtic Ross offered up the best of what West Cork has to offer

A stay at The Celtic Ross offered up the best of what West Cork has to offer

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The Drombeg stone circle

 

A Ford Transit passes the birthplace of Henry Fords father

A Ford Transit passes the birthplace of Henry Fords father

Peace and tranquility

Peace and tranquility abound in the quiet corners of The Wild Atlantic Way

To read more about these areas and where I stayed along the way take a look at Irish Cycling Hotels :

Screenshot 2015-04-15 12.46.23

 

Barry

www.thecyclingblog.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11 COMMENTS

  • Angela Sheahan

    What a beautiful country we live in, and no better way to see it, than on the bike

    • Barry

      Very true Angela. We sometimes take it for granted how beautiful our country really is.

  • Ed English

    Some of those roads are very well known to me, I’ve had many fabulous days out in West Clare and in Kerry on the bike. Must get up North more.

    • Barry

      Clare and Kerry are spectacular Ed, but Donegal really is well worth a visit too.

  • skippyaustralia

    And there is no sign of the rain here ? If Only !

    So tempting to forego the TDF and spend the time in my birth country instead !

    How expensive is the accomodation in this area and what of the night life ?

    • Barry

      It really is amazing how many days of sunshine we actually get Skippy. The accommodation in the hotels that I stayed in was very reasonable, especially mid week. The food was excellent too. As a cyclist who has to be up early every morning I saw very little of the nightlife 😉 Although many of the hotels had traditional live music during the summer months.

  • gearoidodonoghue

    I spent a week cycling from Limerick to Dingle and on around the Ring of Kerry last Summer. The weather was great for the week. https://vimeo.com/102553197

  • Morgan ONeill

    Great images …thanks for sharing !!!

  • Derek

    Nice one. I rode in the Tour de Connemara this year, already booked accommodation to do it again in ’17 and staying 7 nights to do a bit more cycling in the area.

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