Cycling Ireland on the roads of Connemara

You arrive in Galway, capital of western Ireland. Set off to explore the port city and its lively streets. Stop off at one of the many traditional pubs where traditional Irish music concerts often take place.

You are transferred from Galway to Cong where you start your cycling route. Drive through the Joyce Country region and enjoy the peace and beauty of the surrounding nature. Stop off with a shepherd dog breeder who will passionately explain his job to you. Your route continues through the mountains of Maamturk and Partry, let yourself be charmed by the sumptuous landscapes that surround you. You end your stage in Leenane, a charming village located at the mouth of Killary Harbour, Ireland's only fjord.

You take the road through the green hills of Sheffrey, then continue towards Louisburgh and Delphi. The landscapes are breathtaking and offer you a unique experience in the heart of Connemara. If you have an adventurous soul, you can climb Croagh Patrick mountain, a symbolic Irish place where Saint Patrick fasted for forty days in 441 and built a church.

You follow the Atlantic coast crossing the villages of Tully Cross, Lettergesh and Gurteen, little treasures of the Irish west. You can discover the Connemara National Park in Letterfrack.

For history lovers, we recommend a detour to Kylemore Abbey, a Benedictine abbey founded in 1920 on the site of Kylemore Castle. You also have the possibility of extending your itinerary by following the Wild Atlantic Way, one of the largest coastal roads in the world which offers a breathtaking panorama of the sea, with dizzying cliffs but also beautiful secret beaches.

At the crossroads between the Owenglin River and the Atlantic Ocean, you arrive in Clifden, nicknamed the capital of Connemara.

You have the opportunity to cycle loops from Clifden and/or enjoy the town. The first loop takes you on the Sky Road, one of the most beautiful roads in Ireland with a breathtaking panorama of the Atlantic coast (16/26km). The second loop takes you to Derrigimlagh, landing place of the first transatlantic flight and the peaceful Errislannan peninsula (30km).

Heading south, you cycle towards the large beaches of Ballyconneely and Dog’s Bay where the turquoise water and brilliant white sand are surprisingly reminiscent of the Caribbean! You take the road again towards Canva, passing through Cashel. The town of Carna is located in the center of the Gaelic region of Connemara, and it is said that many Spanish sailors whose ship wrecked on the Irish coast settled there.

You will be taken from Carna to the port of Rossaveal to take a ferry to Inis Mor, the largest of the Aran Islands. The islands are an extension of the limestone rocks discovered at Burren.

The island's quiet roads are ideal for cycling, as you cycle through a maze of oddly shaped stone walls. The most important site on Inis Mor is Dún Aengus, a spectacular prehistoric stone fort suspended from the edge of a cliff overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.

We highly recommend your visit! After your excursion, you take the ferry back to Rossaveal, then you will be transferred to Galway to spend your last night.

Transfer Carna > Port of Rossaveal (45min) + ferry / Port of Rossaveal > Galway (45min)

You enjoy one last stroll in Galway city before leaving.