Challenging Connemara
In this extreme adventure on wheels, you will travel more than 180 km all over the west side of Ireland. You will leave the village of Leenane and for 7 days you will be able to admire the most beautiful landscapes full of hills, rural roads, and lakes. Making brief stops along the way you will know the deep history of this beautiful country. You will end the tour at the Maam Cross.
- Bike tour along the west side of Ireland.
- Admire wonderful landscapes.
- Get to know the local history in depth.
AVAILABILITY
Thursday
DURATION
7 days
START LOCATION
Leenane
END LOCATION
Maam Cross Station
TOUR LANGUAGE
English
DIFICULTY
High
Related places and things to do
Detailed Description
Day 1: Arrival in Leenane
You can start the tour from Maam Cross where you will get a taxi to Leenane, this will be the place where you will spend the first night. You will find your local guide who will explain to you all the details during this self-guided tour.
According to your arrival time, you will be given the bike and the equipment that you will use throughout the tour, Connemara Adventure Tours will also give you a map and a route guide. Then, you can tour the city at your own pace and enjoy a delicious dinner in a restaurant or pub in the village.
Day 2: Leenane to Westport (60 km)
You will start this bicycle trip to the second place to know in the picturesque town of Westport. On the way, you can admire Aasleagh Falls, the valleys of Delphi and Doolough. You will stay at this place for 2 nights so you will have much to explore and learn. You will meet Louisburgh and along the coast of Clew Bay. During the night, you can choose between multiple restaurants and pubs, as well as familiarize yourself with the nightlife of the place.
Day 3: Around Westport - Croagh Patrick
This day will be dedicated to knowing Westport in depth. You will have the option to climb Croagh Patrick or visit Westport House, an elegant Georgian mansion and the ancestral home of the Marquis of Sligo. For your cycling tour, you can explore the longest cycling and hiking route in all of Ireland. You will get to know Great Western Greenway and you will travel approximately 42 km.
Day 4: From Westport to Cong (60 km)
After breakfast, you will leave Westport for the village of Cong. On the way, you will visit places like Aghagower, Tourmakeady, Lough Mask, Finny, and Clonbur. It will be approximately 70 km from the best landscapes of Ireland, full of many hills, lakes and beautiful rural roads. You will stop in a pub to enjoy a delicious lunch and a well-deserved rest. You will continue until you reach your new place of accommodation in Cong.
Day 5: From Cong to Leenane (Between 65 km and 90 km)
Today you continue your cycle south from Cong along the coasts of Lough Corrib to Maam and crossing a small mountain pass to Maam Cross, before heading to the valley of Inagh to return to Leenane. It is a cycle of 90 km, but you will have options to shorten it if you wish. You will stay in the charming village of Leenane for the next two nights.
Day 6: Around Leenane (from 50 km to 80 km)
Today you'll have plenty to see as you pedal west from Kylemore Abbey, Connemara National Park, Renvyle Castle and finally back to Leenane. It will be approximately 50 km of route. The longest option includes a cycle further south to Cleggan and Streamstown Bay, totaling 80 km.
You will visit the world famous Kylemore Abbey, a Gothic fairytale castle located on a wooded hillside. It is the site of one of the best gardens in Ireland, the six-acre Victorian garden in Kylemore. It was created by Mitchell Henry along with the construction of Kylemore Castle in 1867. Then, you will return to Leenane to enjoy a well-deserved rest and a last night in the village.
Day 7: Breakfast and departure
After breakfast. You will be transferred to a Connemara Adventure Tours taxi to the Maam Cross station.
Tour Tickets (may vary by date)
| Ticket | Price (EUR) |
|---|---|
| General (P/P) | 695.00 (EUR) |
Tour Documents
Included
- Bicycle.
- Complete team.
- All breakfasts.
- Accommodation.
- All taxi transfers to Maam Cross station.
Cancellation Policy
All cancellations must be made in writing to Connemara Adventure Tours.
Deposit payments of 30% per person are required to confirm a booking, this payment is non-refundable. If you cancel your booking after this payment has been made you will lose this deposit.
No refunds are given for cancellations after the balance has been settled, within 30 days of the tour start date.
No refunds are given for services not used by a trip participant. We strongly recommend that you purchase airfare and tour package insurance with your flight supplier at the time you make the deposit payment.
Frequently Asked Questions
-
How do I get to the starting point of the tour?
Some tour starting points will have a direct bus or train service (Clifden and Westport). Prior to booking your tour, you can check out details on our Getting to/from tours page and you can also check the timetables for the national bus service at Bus Eireann or the private company Citylink and the national rail service at Irishrail.
Connemara Adventure Tours can also provide details of taxi services for starting points that need an additional transfer other than bus or rail. The other travel option is to check out car hire. Check out more information on our Getting to/from tours page. -
How healthy and fit do I need to be for this tour?
Most tours are active holidays and require at least moderate fitness levels as per their description. Tours may involve 4 - 6 hours walking, or 3 - 5 hours cycling per day. Checking the suitability of each tour can help you to avoid disappointment. Those unaccustomed to activity are advised to take gentle exercise before the tour to fully enjoy the experience. You need to advise us of any special medical, physical, or health requirements you may have, particularly conditions such as diabetes, epilepsy, asthma, disabilities, severe allergies etc. and any medication you may be on prior to arrival.
-
What kind of bikes are used for your tours and what equipment do you provide with them?
We have two types of bikes available for our cycling tours. We use Standard Touring Bicycles for all our tours and we also have an upgrade available to Hybrid Bicycles.
Please check out our Bike Information page for all the details of our bikes.
The upgrade hybrid bicycles are standard on all our Luxury Tours. Guests on all other tours can upgrade to a Hybrid bicycle for an extra charge.
We also provide bicycle helmet, high-visibility jacket, water bottle, front handlebar bag, repair kit, pump, and lock. We can also provide side panniers if requested (€ 20.00 EUR extra charge), as well as toe clips. You can bring your own pedals if you wish and we will fit them for you. The bikes are equipped with back racks but not mud guards. Maps and route notes are also provided for all our cycling tours. -
Do I need to bring a power adapter?
Electricity is 230V AC in the Republic and 240V AC in Northern Ireland. Plugs are three-pin flat but 2-pin round wall sockets are also found. British electrical appliances will work everywhere. North American appliances require a transformer and a plug adapter. Australian and New Zealand appliances need just a plug adapter.
