Top 3 best cycling routes in Ireland as voted by our 2023 customer community
The results are in. With hundreds of cyclists having cycled thousands of kilometres up and down the west coast of Ireland these are the top 3 cycling routes that consistently rank as the best places to visit by bike.
1. The Leenane Loop
Cycling around the sheep!
Way off the beaten tourist path, it is no wonder this 70km is top of the list. The scenery is spectacular with dramatic coastal vistas, rugged mountain passes, pristine lakes and a cycle beside the only fjord on the island of Ireland. What makes this 70km so good is how quiet the cycling route is. Even in the busy summer months there is not much traffic on the route, except for the sheep!
2. The Bog Road
Known locally as the Bog Road, this stretch will bring you through an eerily quiet stretch of countryside dotted with hundreds of tiny lakes. In summertime, when heather and other wild flowers are in bloom, the dark brown landscape comes to life with beautiful colour. The peaks of the Twelve Pins mountain range dominate the horizon to the north. This road is eerily beautiful and many locals claim it is haunted! In any case, it is a memorable journey.3. Fanore coast in the Burren
With its National Park status, our cycling route along the Burren coast consistently pops up as one the top picks. The word “Burren” means “rocky place” and here you will see acres of beautiful, though sometimes haunting, limestone pavements.
The scenic coast road to Ballyvaughan via Black Head and Fanore Beach is an idyllic cycle through a landscape sometimes compared to the lunar surface. The road follows the coast along limestone pavements that descend steeply to the restless sea below. On a clear day, the journey offers wonderful views across Galway Bay to the Connemara Mountains and the Aran Islands. Black Head is a wild, exhilarating place to stop-off on your journey north. So is Fanore, with its broad stretch of white sandy beach.
It is easy to combine all the these fantastic cycles into a customised tour. If you want to ask a question of enquire about your own custom tour please feel free to email john@westirelandcycling.com