Westport, Connemara & Inishbofin Tour
Westport, Connemara & Inishbofin Tour
Highlights
Views of Clew Bay
The Great Western Greenway
National Famine Memorial
Doolough valley and famine memorial
Killary Fjord
Kylemore Abbey
Inishbofin island
Sky Road and Clifden town
Granuaile’s Castle
The welcoming pubs and traditional music
…and much more
This 7-day cycling tour starts in the vibrant town of Westport and ends in Clifden, the capital of Connemara. We will meet you in Westport to brief you on the tour and get you fitted with bikes.
You will spend the first two nights in Westport, the third night in Leenane, the next 2 nights on Inishbofin, and your final two nights in Clifden. On departure, you will leave your bikes in the B&B/guesthouse in Clifden and catch a bus to Galway City or onwards to Dublin/airport.
Cycling distances:
between 30km and 60km each day
Gradient:
The gradient is easy to moderate
Departure dates:
You can start this tour on any date that suits you between April and October
Getting there:
From Dublin airport, get the Dublin Express bus to Heuston Station, and travel by train to Westport. The train will take you between 3 and 3.5 hours.
From Ireland West Airport, and take a bus or taxi to Westport town (45 min to 1 hour).
From Shannon airport, catch a bus to Galway city (90 min) and an onward bus to Westport town (90 min).
| Day 1. Westport – Meet & Greet
Accommodation: Westport B&Be
Westport is one of the most popular towns in Ireland, is a frequent winner of Ireland’s Tidy Towns competitions and has been voted the best place to live in Ireland. It is known for its friendly people, great food, and lively pubs, which are filled with traditional Irish music during the summer. The town is perfectly located on the coast of Clew Bay and is overlooked by Croagh Patrick, Ireland’s holy mountain. The town is also home to the iconic Westport House which can trace its roots to the legendary Pirate Queen, Grace O’Malley.
You will be greeted by one of our experienced guides on day 1 who will brief you on the tour, get you fitted with bikes and equipment and answer any questions you have. If you arrive late in the day, our guide will meet you. on the morning of day 2.
| Day 2. Explore The Great Western Greenway
Newport – 12km each way;
Mulranny – 30km each way;
Achill Sound – 44km each wayAccommodation: B&B Westport
The Great Western Greenway is a 44km traffic-free cycling and walking trail that follows the route of the old Westport to Achill railway line, which closed in 1937. The greenway was opened in 2011 and quickly became a popular destination fo cyclists and outdoor activity enthusiasts. The greenway takes you through bogs, woodlands, and active farmland, to the quaint seaside towns of Newport and Mulranny. The cycle offers spectacular views of the Irish countryside and the Atlantic coast.
The full length of the greenway brings you through 44km of some of the most idyllic scenery in the west of Ireland on gentle gradients owed to its origin as a railway. You will return to Westport for a 2nd night.
| Day 3 – Westport to Leenane
Cycling distance: 53km
Accommodation: B&B Leenane
Today you will cycle south and west along the shoreline of Clew Bay. On the way, you can stop in Murrisk to visit the National Famine Memorial at the foot of Croagh Patrick, before continuing to the town of Louisburgh. From here you will turn inland and cycle through the picturesque valley of Doolough. You will pass another famine monument, this time memorializing the Doolough Tragedy, a dark episode in the region’s history that stands in stark contrast to the rugged beauty of its landscape.
Beyond the lough, you will pass through Delphi Valley, around the banks of Ireland’s only natural fjord Killary Harbour, and past Aasleagh Falls, until you reach the scenic little village of Leenane where you will stay for the night.
| Day 4 – Leenane to the island of Inishbofin
Cycling distance:
Option 1 – 44km;
Option 2 – 58.5km
Accommodation: B&B Inishbofin
Today you will cycle past the stunning mountains and lakes of north Connemara along the Atlantic coast and stop for lunch at the historic Kylemore Abbey. While here we suggest taking a tour of the restored castle, Neo-Gothic church and mausoleum, and Victorian-walled garden.
Continue to Cleggan pier to catch the late ferry to Inishbofin where you will spend the next 2 nights. Inishbofin is located 8km from the mainland and is well known for its long maritime history and is steeped in Irish culture and tradition. When you arrive on the island, a luggage porter will collect your bags from the pier and you will cycle a short distance to your hotel to have dinner and relax in the bar for the evening.
| Day 5 – Explore Inishbofin
Cycling/Hiking distance:
Westquarter loop – 8km;
Middlequarter loop – 5km;
Cloonamore loop – 5km
Accommodation: B&B Inishbofin
Inishbofin, the Island of the White Cow in Irish, is a traditional fishing community with a rich history, from the folklore that gives rise to its name, to tragic seafaring tales. Exploring the small narrow rural roads will provide an insight into old-world Ireland. As you cycle around, taking in the spectacular coastal views of sandy beaches, rocky islands, and Cromwell’s Barracks in the sea, it is easy to see why well known writers and poets such as Richard Murphy and Sylvia Plath have come here for inspiration.
The landscape is also an ecological haven for native birds. This is because of a lack of mammal predators or artificial fertilizers, and the efforts of the islanders who actively grow habitat on their lands. You may even be lucky enough to see the elusive Corncrake wading through the pristine waters of Church Lake. To get the full experience we recommend taking part in a walking tour.
| Day 6 – Inishbofin to Clifden
Cycling distance: 32km
Accommodation: B&B Clifden
After breakfast, you will cycle a short distance to the pier and collect your bags from the luggage porter before catching the morning ferry back to the mainland. On arrival you will continue your journey along the breathtaking Connemara coastline. The route will take you around the Cleggan peninsula and the famous Sky Road to Clifden, known as the Capital of Connemara. The Sky road in particular offers spectacular views of the Atlantic coast and is often one the highlights of the tour. Clifden is full of small cafes, shops, bars, and restaurants and in the evenings, pubs are alive with the sound of traditional Irish music.
| Day 7 – Clifden Loops
Cycling distance:
Errislannon Peninsula loop – 21.5km;
Roundstone loop – 42.5km
Accommodation: B&B Clifden
On your final day, you will first cycle the highly scenic Errislannon Peninsula which offers panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean and the 12 Bens mountains. You will then visit Derrigimlagh, the site of two historical transatlantic achievements: Marconi Wireless Station and the landing site of the first non-stop transatlantic flight by Alcock and Brown from the USA to Ireland in 1919.
After that, you will take the serene old bog road to the seaside village of Roundstone. After lunch, you will continue along the coast, stopping at Dog’s Bay, one of Ireland’s most picturesque beaches, before looping back to Clifden for the final night of the tour.
Option 1:
Trek FX2 Hybrid Touring Bike – Included in tour price
The FX2 is strong, stable, fun and perfectly suited for Irish roads. Customised for West Ireland Cycling with puncture resistant tyres, mudguards and rear rack. Also available with ladies specific frame. Bike lock, rear pannier bags, helmet, repair kit, pump and spare tube is also included.
Upgrade Option 1:
Upgrade Option: Trek 520 price is €150
The 520 is the classic steel touring bike. One of the longest-running touring bikes in the world. If you are a committed touring cyclist looking for the best in comfort and durability, this is the bike for you.
* Upgrade fee is payable directly to our office on the day of collection
Upgrade Option 2:
Upgrade option: Electric Bike price is €200
We use the best quality E-bikes on the market. These bikes are pedal assist meaning they travel a lot further when you push the pedal compared to a regular bike. Comfortable, strong and stable bikes combined with a quiet, powerful Bosch motor and a fully integrated high-capacity battery ensure many miles of care-free cycling. On a full charge they are good for 60km+.
* Upgrade fee is payable directly to our office on the day of collection
Stay comfortably in our carefully hand-picked accommodations
The accommodation included on the tour are B&Bs or small guesthouses. They are clean, comfortable, family run businesses and come very highly rated on Trip Advisor and Booking.com and are well set-up to cater for cycling holiday guests.
The hosts are very knowledgeable about the local area and will be happy to assist you in any way needed.
We have been using the same venues for many years and our previous guests are very happy with them. Each room with have its own private bathroom and shower too. Breakfast is included in the package. All of the venues are located in the centre, or very close to the centre of a small village or town with local bars, cafes and restaurants all within easy walking distance.
Add extra days or shorten your cycling holiday in Ireland to suit your needs or schedule
We are lucky in the west of ireland to have thousands of km of unspoilt coastal and scenic cycling to enjoy.
We understand that 7 days may not be the ideal amount of time for everyone.
If you would like a longer or shorter version of the tour, please just email tours@westirelandcycling.com and we will design a custom tour to suit your schedule.
Fantastic Cycling Holiday
West Ireland Cycling provided the bikes (excellent), panniers, custom guidebook, transfers at the start and end of the trip, and comfortable accommodations each night. Our guide book included cycling routes and maps along with optional extensions, points of interest, and dining recommendations. We especially loved the alternative, car-free routes in and out of Cong, as well as the incredible bog road.
We highly recommend experiencing Ireland by bike and letting West Ireland Cycling plan your trip. Gorgeous country, excellent roads (many nearly car-free), patient drivers and lovely people made our trip better than we’d imagined. Thanks, John and everyone at West Ireland Cycling!
Anne, USA, July 2022.
Can’t wait to go back
We were looking for a self-guided trip in Ireland and came across West Ireland Cycling. From beginning to end, John did an amazing job at putting together a 6 night trip. I couldn’t decide between the Conamarra or Burren trip, so he put a trip together that included both! The Trek touring bikes were in great shape. The roads we cycled on were spectacular- along the water, bogs and mountains- full of green, sheep, cows and limestone. The seafood was superb- fresh as can be. I will dream of the oysters when I get home. It was great not to carry luggage and to stay in a warm B and B each night. I would highly recommend this company.
Steven, Switzerland, Sept 2022.
Experience of a life-time
My mom and I spent 7 days cycling with West Ireland Cycling in May. It was absolutely amazing. It was obvious that John and his team had put a ton of effort into the tour to make everything run extremely smoothly.
John provided us with high quality bicycles and maps with very detailed instructions. It’d be impossible to get lost or turned around. The instructions included great cafes, restaurants, lunch spots, and notable sites. There was flexibility within the routes and being able to go at our own pace was great. Every evening we’d arrive at another adorable, clean b&b with our luggage and a comfy bed waiting.
I can’t recommend this particular tour highly enough. John and team went above and beyond several times throughout the trip to make this one of our most memorable vacations. The price is well worth it considering the quality of care, bicycles, and accomodations you get in return. Do it!
Kathy, Canada, June 2020.
Prices
€1,350 per person based on 2 people sharing. April, May, June, September, October
€1,450 per person in July and August
€370 single supplement. €700 solo supplement.
Included In Tour
Personal meet and greet with a local guide
7 Nights Accommodation
(Includes private en-suite & full Irish breakfast)A guidebook explaining the history of the sights you will visit
Trek Touring Bicycle
(Including panniers, helmet, bottle holder, pump, lock, tubes and repair kit)Luggage Transfers
Easy-to-Read turn by turn directions + Road Maps
GPX files for navigation with smartphone
Local phone support if needed
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