Ring of Kerry

On arrival in Killarney you should make your way to your accommodation. If you have time you could visit nearby Ross Castle a wonderfully restored 16th Century Norman Tower House overlooking Lough Leane. You can even hire a boat from here and row out to a 6th Century monastic site located on one of the nearby islands.

The tour starts off by following a cycle track into the beautiful grounds of Muckross House which you can visit, as well as a Franciscan Abbey founded in the 15th Century, now in ruins but beautifully situated with a large yew tree rising up through the cloisters. There follows a wonderful cycle between the Killarney lakes before a steady climb follows to your lunch stop at Molls Gap. You are rewarded with delicious food and beautiful views of the surrounding mountains. Our journey continues to the colourful village of Sneem.

Avoiding the main Ring of Kerry road you cycle across the peninsula. Cycling along quiet roads with stunning views, you climb up to the beautiful Gap of Ballaghbearna and descend into a valley with views of Carrauntoohil, Ireland’s highest mountain. After lunch, there is a wonderful cycle to Caragh Lake which you follow to the seaside village of Glenbeigh where you spend the night in a comfortable hotel.

You start the day with a short coach trip to Dingle where you are based for two nights. You follow the Slea Head Route around the tip of the Dingle peninsula. This is one of the highlights of the tour with a wide variety of archaeological sites to visit along the route and some of the most breathtaking coastal scenery in the country.

A variety of activities can be organised from the town. You can join an archaeological bus tour of the peninsula or you can swap your bike saddle for a horse saddle and go horse riding. There are boat trips to the largest of the Blasket Islands with its wonderful walking trails. You can also simply potter around the town with its many shops and aquarium.

The morning starts with a long steady climb up to the Conor Pass with views of Mount Brandon and the coastline in the distance. There follows a wonderful descent and then along the coast to the village of Camp for lunch. In the afternoon back into the mountains to traverse the peninsula heading up over one side of the mountains to views of the other side of the peninsula with Dingle Bay and Ireland’s highest mountain range stretching out in front of you, to the final stretch to our night stop in Killorglin.

In the morning you cycle to Kate Kearney’s Cottage where you can stop for a cup of tea. You then enter the final highlight of the tour, the Gap of Dunloe, a place you will never forget. Coming out of the Gap you have an incredible view looking down the Black Valley, heading into a peaceful valley surrounded by green fields full of grazing sheep, to return to Molls Gap and on towards a wonderful freewheel back down to Killarney for a final night on the tour.