ABR Ireland Weekend 2023 - Sign Up Thread

[Flintlock]

Ok folks, as promised, below is a ride I that I have done before & really enjoyed it.

Part 1 Westport House to Leenaun

From the campsite at Westport, make your way over the bridge, onto Cloonmonad and right onto The Quay

Follow The Quay round to the left where it continues onto the Quay Coast Road (L1801)

Follow onto the end and turn right onto the R335 & follow to Louisburgh

At the crossroads its a left turn (signpost for Leenaun) - you will still be on the R335

As you head south on the R335 you will be rewarded with great views - this will be the case for the rest of this run

You will pass a Famine Memorial on your left, just before Doo Lough which will come up on your right. Plenty of places along this section to stop

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Continue past the junction of the L1824 on your left (the route takes this road in on the return to Westport)

The R335 continues south and turns east hugging the shoreline of Killary Fjord, over a bridge past Aasleagh Falls and ends at the junction with the N59.

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Here its a right turn onto the N59 and follow to the small village of Leenaun. A good place to stop, cafe, pub & shop etc

[Flintlock]

Part 2 Leenaun to Maam Cross via The Connemara Loop

From leenaun you follow the N59 west with Killary Fjord on your right. You will be looking to take the third road on your right (signposted with the WAW logo & Tullycross L5102).

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This is the Connemara Loop that loops round a couple of Loughs and along the Atlantic coast. There is also a nice wee detour off that takes you to Rosroe Pier where the road ends, it can be found on the right at the start of the second Lough (Lough Muck)

The Loop continues to Tully Cross where you will need to turn left and follow to the end at the junction with the N59

Turn left onto the N59, you will pass Kylemore Abbey on your left & Kylemore Lough on your right - coffee shop etc here

There should be a petrol station further up on the right - beyond it, on your right is the junction with the R344

Turn right onto the R334 - a great bit of road running alongside lough Inagh

Follow to the end and turn right (west) onto the N59

Thake the first left onto the R340 follow south then take the first right onto the R342

Follow to the end and take a right onto the R341

Continue North on the R341 and take the first left (un-named single track) - its opposite the Connemara Greenway car park

Follow this road past the entrance to Ballynahinch Castle to the end & take a right back onto the N59

Continue along the N59 until you reach the large crossroads at Maam Cross

[Flintlock]

Part 3 Maam Cross to Westport

From the cross roads at Maam Cross take a left and head north on the R336

Follow to the end and turn right onto the R345.

Continue east on the R345 until you approach a sharp right just beyond a bridge at Cornamona.

Take the un-named road on the left just after the bridge.

Follow for about 5 miles where you will need to takea left turn onto the R300

Follow until the end and take a left onto the L1601 overlooking Lough Na Fooey

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Follow the L1601 until its junction with the R336 where you turn right

The R336 will take you back to Leenaun. Here it's a right onto the N59 & first left back onto the R335 along the familiar North shore of Killary Fjord

Continue back up to Doo Lough and take the right turn onto the L1824. Great views along this single track road

Follow to its end at a junction with the N59. It's a left here and Follow the N59 back to Westport

Around 150 miles

Edit 24/04/2023

I have done a a Myrouteapp of this run https://www.myrouteapp.com/en/social/ro ... mode=share

Not sure if it can be used to transfer to a satnav - if someone attempts it and let me know how you got on it would be good to know

[Flintlock]

Two additional points of interest that can be reached from this route

Omey Island - can be reached at low tide via a beach road - a couple of tracks on the island also to explore. Closest point to here form the run would be at the end of the Connemara Loop where it rejoins the N59. It located north west of Clifden

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The village of Cong - a lovely village and a must visit if you are a fan of John Wayne. The impressive Ashford Castle is here - you cannot get into the castle (its now a 5 star hotel) unless you are a paying resident, however there is a coffee shop within the ground which you can visit. Closest point of the run would be Cornamona -follow the R345 which will take you to the village.

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[Barcelona Pat]

Cheers Flinty - looks like I´ll be doing some of that route on my way there (riding up through France as I haven´t done that for a while - then ferry into Cork - but the timings give me a few days to play with). Its been a while since I racked up over 1,000 miles heading somewhere.

Plenty to do and see around Mayo - looks like you and Heff have picked another great spot. Am thinking of possibly heading up and over Keel way on the Sat - just an idea for now, will see.

So, in short, I´ve been able to jiggle things around and I´ll be there again in 2023. Staying off site, but would love to join you for food please.

Looking forward to it already - now where is that 10mm socket!

Pat

[Flintlock]

Great stuff Pat - I'm sure Heff will be along soon to add you to the list.

See you in May!

[Heff]

Cheers Flinty - looks like I´ll be doing some of that route on my way there (riding up through France as I haven´t done that for a while - then ferry into Cork - but the timings give me a few days to play with). Its been a while since I racked up over 1,000 miles heading somewhere.

Plenty to do and see around Mayo - looks like you and Heff have picked another great spot. Am thinking of possibly heading up and over Keel way on the Sat - just an idea for now, will see.

So, in short, I´ve been able to jiggle things around and I´ll be there again in 2023. Staying off site, but would love to join you for food please.

Looking forward to it already - now where is that 10mm socket!

Pat

Hi Pat

Name added to the list in Post#1

See you again in May

[92kk k100lt 193214]

Cheers Flinty - looks like I´ll be doing some of that route on my way there (riding up through France as I haven´t done that for a while - then ferry into Cork - but the timings give me a few days to play with). Its been a while since I racked up over 1,000 miles heading somewhere.

Plenty to do and see around Mayo - looks like you and Heff have picked another great spot. Am thinking of possibly heading up and over Keel way on the Sat - just an idea for now, will see.

So, in short, I´ve been able to jiggle things around and I´ll be there again in 2023. Staying off site, but would love to join you for food please.

Looking forward to it already - now where is that 10mm socket!

Pat

Sounds like you are on Armourique into Cork on the Wednesday morning. I am not sure of my holiday movements yet but I usually go to France in May but not booked this year yet as I had to wait for the date for my sons conferring. If I go I am likely to be on that ferry, if not might grab you for a coffee on arrival. If I don't go to France I am likely to head for Westport too.

That route is awesome, I have travelled all those roads and in the right weather its just amazing. Keel is nice...we used to go sand yachting there.

[Flintlock]

Hello Olaf

Hopefully we will get a couple of links/gpx files (or whatever they are called) posted up soon that will also include a northern route up round Achill.

Maybe get chatting in May!

[Barcelona Pat]

Sounds like you are on Armourique into Cork on the Wednesday morning. I am not sure of my holiday movements yet but I usually go to France in May but not booked this year yet as I had to wait for the date for my sons conferring. If I go I am likely to be on that ferry, if not might grab you for a coffee on arrival. If I don't go to France I am likely to head for Westport too.

That route is awesome, I have travelled all those roads and in the right weather its just amazing. Keel is nice...we used to go sand yachting there.

Cool - and yes, Roscoff to Cork landing the Wednesday morning is the plan. And thanks for the info about Keel/Achill Island - as you say, right weather is key, but the sun always shines on my bike
Pat