Connemara Galway and Mayo

This Tour explores the beautiful region of Connemara famous for its rugged granite landscape as well as its beautiful lakes and rivers. The route offers an incredible variety of scenery each day. In the morning you can be cycling along beautiful coastline while in the afternoon you could be a quiet bog road with stunning views of the surrounding mountains. On our rest day we stay in a lovely family run hotel in the charming seaside village of Roundstone before heading towards the Irish speaking village of Carraroe. The tour finishes up with an overnight stay on the Aran Islands.

Note: This tour is also available as a self led tour, starting any day except Saturday.

DAY 1 (Saturday) Arrival in Galway City/ Overnight in Clonbur
Meeting with the guide at 6 pm in the bar of Jury’s Galway Inn Hotel at the bottom of Quay Street in the centre of Galway city.After dinner and an introductory chat from the guide we take a coach transfer to the village of Clonbur which lies on the peninsula between Lough Corrib and Lough Mask, on the Galway/mayo boarder. Once settled into our accommodation there is a chance to enjoy a drink and some traditional Irish music.

DAY 2 (Sunday) Clonbur to Westport (60 km /38 miles)
Once fitted out with bikes, we head north along the quiet backroads through rolling green fields full of grazing sheep, before descending down to Lough Mask and a wonderful cycle along the shores of the lake. After lunch we have our biggest climb of the week over the Partry Mountains and then cycle along a quiet back road with stunning views of the surrounding landscape all the way to colourful village of Westport.

DAY 3 (Monday) Westport to Leenane (52km / 33miles)

DAY 4 (Tuesday) Leenane to Roundstone (72km / 45 miles)
We cycle into the heart of Connemara overlooked by the Twelve Bens Mountain Range to visit Kylemore Abbey, a wedding gift from a wealthy Liverpool businessman to his wife in 1868. We then cycle along quiet backroads past small fields with grazing cattle to the seaside village of Cleggan where we stop for lunch. In the afternoon we follow the scenic coast road to Clifden, where you can watch cars travel across the beach to Omey Island only accessible when the tide is out! After a stop-off in Clifden, the capital of Connemara, we cycle along a quiet country bog road surrounded by small lakes and freshly cut peat with wonderful views of the Twelve Ben mountain range.That night we stay in the picturesque fishing village of Roundstone where we will spend the next two nights.

DAY 5 (Wednesday) Rest Day in Roundstone
The day can be spent in rest and relaxation or you can take part in a variety of activities including a day sailing cruise, walking, a game of golf or horseriding. You can also spend the day just relaxing on one of the two beautiful white sandy beaches just outside the village overlooking a clear blue sea. In the evening a ceili is typically organised in the hotel where we are staying.

DAY 6 (Thursday) Roundstone to Aran Islands (51 km / 32 miles)
We cycle along beautiful waterways and another picturesque bog road with its freshly cut peat waiting to be harvested, both offering wonderful views of the surrounding countryside before cycling the final afternoon stretch to the ferry in Rossaveel which will bring us to Inis Mor, the largest of the Aran Islands where we will spend the night.

DAY 7 (Friday) Aran Islands/Galway (35 km / 22 miles)
The day can then be spent touring the unique landscape of the island with its wealth of ancient stone forts and monastic sights. In the late afternoon we return to the mainland and take a bus back to Galway city. We have a final dinner and night on the town together before going our separate ways the following morning.

You have all day to cover the trip so you can take your time to stop at places of interest. With the exception of roads in and out of Galway the traffic on the route should be quite light. However you should cycle carefully at all times, especially when going downhill or during any rain showers.

Tour Highlights:
- Lough Mask
- Westport
- Croagh Patrick
- Aran Islands

Group Tour Dates:
- May 21
- June 18
- July 9, 23
- August 6, 13, 20, 27
- September 24