This is roughly a route five of us doing 2-6th June.
It's fallen upon me to sort the route out.
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We're taking the Cairnryan- Larne ferry outward, returning Dublin - Holyhead.
I've only visited the North Coast once, 20-odd years ago so I'm particularly interested in any input regarding things to see and stay (not packing tents)
I know my way a bit once we're in Mayo down to Galway, but any tips about places to stay or visit would be greatfully received.
Then going along the Galway coast.....you really need some advice assuming you want the most scenic and quietest roads in Ireland.
Galway coast is nice, but you going to miss the Ballycastle Sea Stack, the road between it and Belmullet, you are missing Achill island????
In Donegal no horn pennisula, the rosses or slieve league. What is the big rush to get to Galway if its drink I think you will find it pretty much in all areas......
Lots of places to stop as you go up the North Antrim coast. You need to include the Torr Road between Cushendun & Ballycastle. Worth stopping at Ballycastle for a bite to eat down by the harbour. Continuing along the coast you have Ballintoy harbour, again a nice place to stop. Then you have the Giants Causeway & Bushmills Distillery. You could also take a short detour to Ballymoney and call in at Joey's Bar. Then back to the coast to Portrush where the NW 200 is held.
Other side of Coleraine you have Downhill strand - 7 mile long beach, another nice stop
Where you join the coast start following the Wild Atlantic Way. When it ends follow it straight onto the Cuaseway Coastal Route it will take you straight into Larne also.
Then going along the Galway coast.....you really need some advice assuming you want the most scenic and quietest roads in Ireland.
Galway coast is nice, but you going to miss the Ballycastle Sea Stack, the road between it and Belmullet, you are missing Achill island????
In Donegal no horn pennisula, the rosses or slieve league. What is the big rush to get to Galway if its drink I think you will find it pretty much in all areas......
Then motorway all the way to Dublin.....
I did say it was a rough route!
My parents lived in Charlestown Co.Mayo many years ago, so I'm familiar with Clew Bay, Westport etc.....where we used to visit.
North of Newport is unknown territory to me, I did a trip to The Giants Causeway in 1992, so because of this and my Irish connections I'm deemed trip leader!
Thanks TomBoy and Flintlock.....good pointers!
V-rider.....I'm an electronic navigation dunce! It'll be paper maps for the over-view, a list of places on paper, visible through the clear plastic window of my tankbag, then inputting individually each new destination into the sat nav.
But I never slavishly follow a sat nav anyway.
I would give a thought to going over Holyhead to Dublin and then go north. You are missing he Mournes, go North on M1 as far as Newry and leave motorway for the A2, takes you around the coast up to Belfast and around to Larne where you can pick up your route. As said, Torr Head is unmissable, Ballycastle for ice cream on the harbour sea front and not too far is Dark Hedges and Bushmills distillery.
For Mayo go west from Westport to Louisburgh then to Leenane and Clifden but coming to Clifden take the Sky Road.
Don't forget Achill before you get to Westport........
As for Joey's Bar...stand at the door and you will see a Ducati dealership across the road....
But weather is weather and rain is rain and I am a well seasoned biker and camper and have travelled these roads over many years. For well seasoned read occasionally soaked and cold. So why not a thought to a plan B.....check weather before you leave and if the weather is bad in your chosen area no point in spending it in bad if its good down south west. So have a plan B for going south west. Equally if the west coast is all bad then there's plan C.....stay up North East, there is an undiscovered world in the Mournes, Strangford, Antrim and you will not be disappointed. Newcastle on a Sunday morning is a good place for breakfast.....
Wherever you go you will find the guys are friendly and welcoming. Can't say more than that really.
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You'd have to do a lap of the NW200 triangle seeing as youre up that way,when we were there we visited Joey Dunlops Memorial Garden in Ballymoney,worth a visit to get your picture taken next to Joey on his Honda SP2,fantastic statue.
