My son loves the rides up that way and goes there often enough. Ambush date was 22nd August and he always remembers at its his birthday.PaulinBont wrote:Doing this in May/June 2017; great route planning ideas here. Are there any highlights down West Cork way? Planning on going to where Michael Collins was ambushed .
There is the ABR rally up in Draperstown in May and planning to hit that.
My preference always is for camping but B&B is option too. However I prefer to not have stuff booked and be able to stop or camp somewhere that looks nice. It's a personal preference. Camp sites are generally good now and wild camping options do exist.
I am in Cork and near the start of the WAW from the southern end. Trouble is that some parts are best seen from north to south, others south to north and you need a few figure of eight routes to get the very best. If you have the time it is so worth it.
Some places in Cork end......
1: Kinsale to Timoleague on R600.
2: Mizen Head.
3: Healy Pass but the best way to see this is from north to south. Nice camp site at http://www.eaglepointcamping.com/ between Bantry and Glengarriffe and take an extra day or two here if time is your own. For a day trip go east into Ballylickey/Inchigeela and Gougane Barra and also Michael Collins Beal na Blath.
4: On to Kenmare and Ring of Kerry. Good campsite at Glenbeigh. Again time here and some lovely places in the centre and visit Valentia Island [its not an island anymore]. Also option for Daniel O'Connell's birthplace at Derrynane, the place is amazing and a great beach.
5: Dingle peninsula, Inch Beach has a place to eat. Don't miss the Slea Head drive and then on to Conor Pass.
6: Ferry across the Shannon from Tarbert to Killimer but....if you carry on a little further than Tarbert towards Limerick you will find http://www.flyingboatmuseum.com/aviation-museum/ and you can also find Adare which your other half will enjoy....
7: From Killimer along the Clare coastline a great camp site at Doolin. http://www.camping-ireland.ie/parks/cla ... ravan-park worth staying a few days and take in Cliffs of Moher [you will feel a bit ripped off here but the car park is bike friendly cheap and a place to leave the bike gear]. An inland trip will take you to Craggy Island http://www.fathertedshouse.com/ and well worth a visit. Lots of nice roads around the Burren, http://www.aillweecave.ie/ is worth a visit and good for lunch. If you want something special how about this.....https://www.shannonheritage.com/Evening ... leBanquet/ not cheap but a very memorable occasion in a fabulous setting. From Doolin a ferry day trip to Aran Islands is really worth it, or even stay overnight.
8 Galway is a pain in the neck to get around and its often quicker to avoid the by pass and actually ride through the city.
9: Galway to Clifden takes you to Leenane and Maam Cross. Consider Maam Cross to Leenane instead, then to Louisburgh then Westport and stay at http://www.westporthouse.ie/ for a few days. A trip from Westport to Leenane to Clifden will bring you near the Sky Road http://www.galway.net/galwayguide/visit ... ra/drives/ which is best approached from the north side.
9. From Westport you can head to Newport to Achill and some great places there. at this point you are only half way.....
My friend last year brought his fishing tackle on the bike. We laughed but not for long, bring some with you. At Doolin he got some great fish that we cooked up at Nagles camp site, we sorted the dinner and he arrived back in with the fish filleted....five star food it was. We had managed to corral some new potatoes and some other things to go with them.
A little aside is if you arrive into Dublin consider going to www.norevalleypark.com Its at Bennettsbridge and about hour and a half from the ferry into Dublin and take a day or two there. A day trip is to take in over to Lismore/Cashel/Cahir/Glen of Aherlow. Another is to take in Wicklow from the western side and its rather nice. From Bennettsbridge go down to Hook Head and if you have good weather wild camp there is an experience. From Hook Head you can start heading west to Cork.
Don't try to do too much miles in one day, roads are variable and speeds tend to be lower with lots of [strike]pubs in nice places[/strike] distractions that invite you to stop for longer than you might plan.
Bike guys are friendly and will chat to you....if you are around May June maybe get a chance to meet up somewhere.
