Day 2 – 335km/ 209m (4hrs 30 mins riding)

Bike orientation – We take time to make sure you are comfortable on your bike, have the correct riding gear and ready for Ride Briefing for today

Today you’ll start with some nice riding routes as you ride through the lush meadows of Co. Meath, then making your way through the Heartlands of Ireland and staying in the lively town of Killarney (4 star).

Day 3  – 248km/ 155m (6 hours 25mins including lunch and breaks)

• Our route starts out on the famous Ring of Kerry, which is a “must do” on every visitors list while in the South West of Ireland. We ride the Ring in a clockwise direction so that you ride with the sea on your left and in the opposite direction of the coaches – it’s the perfect way to see the Ring of Kerry!
• Riding with Kenmare Bay on your left, you’ll pass through Parknasilla and then we divert up to see Staigue Fort. Back onto the ring for  Coomakista Pass which offers fantastic views over Kenmare Bay
• The Skellig Ring scenic drive starts in Waterville  and takes in the wonderful Valentia Island accessed by bridge from the picturesque Portmagee and Ballinskelligs.
• Valentia Island – The Valentia Island Tetrapod Footprints are the most extensive of the four Devonian trackways in the world.  Riding down the island you’ll reach Knightstown where you can take a short ferry ride to Reenard Point back onto the mainland – with options for excellent lunch breaks in either town.
• Cahirsiveen, Mountain Stage, Kells Bay, Glenbeigh – these are famous parts of The Ring of Kerry. You can switch off your intercoms and enjoy the spectacular views in silence!
• Killorglin – Home to the famous annual Puck Fair. Puck Fair, (‘poc’ being the Irish for a male goat) is one of Ireland’s oldest fairs. The “Queen of Puck”, traditionally a young school girl from one of the local primary schools, crowns the goat “King Puck“. It takes place each August 10th. The goat is released unharmed!
• Dingle – Truly a gem of a town!  Dingle is famous for its pubs and music night life and Fungi the dolphin!  Our optional rest day stay’s a second night in Dingle.  There’s lots to see and do!
• Overnight in Dingle, Co. Kerry (4 star)

Day 4  – 302km/ 189m (7 hours 30 mins including lunch and breaks)

• Slea Head – Start early as this route is very popular with tourists!  The Slea Head Drive is a circular route beginning and ending in Dingle, that takes in stunning views on the western end of the peninsula.
• The Conor Pass is the highest mountain pass in Ireland, and provides the most dramatic and scenic way of entering or leaving Dingle. This narrow, twisting road runs between the town of Dingle and Kilmore Cross on the north side of the peninsula on through Castlegregory.  It’s a lovely biking route but take time to stop and look back at the views!  You’ll pass through Blennerville which was the main port of emigration from Co. Kerry to North America during the Great Famine.
• Tarbert to Killimer Ferry.  You cross the Shannon Estuary leaving Kerry and crossing into Co. Clare.  Here you will appreciate one of the many wonders of the Wild Atlantic Way, with ever changing scenery.
• The Cliffs of Moher in County Clare are Ireland’s most visited natural attraction with a magical vista that captures the hearts of one million visitors every year and are a Signature Discovery Point in the heart of the Wild Atlantic Way. They stretch for 8km as the crow flies, along the Atlantic coast of County Clare in the west of Ireland and reach 214m (702 feet) at their highest point. Evening is the best time to view the Cliffs, in our experience, as the sun sets west over the Atlantic.
• Overnight in Kinvarra (3 star)

Day 5 – 320km/ 200m (6 hours 15 mins including lunch and breaks)

• Blackhead Lighthouse – more noteworthy for the moon like landscape which slopes down to the Atlantic than for the lighthouse itself, it’s a serene spot to savour.
• The Burren National Park – The word “Burren” comes from an Irish word “Boíreann” meaning a rocky place. You can spend hours riding around here – its landscape is very different to other parts of the Wild Atlantic Way. We like to visit the Burren Smokehouse (it’s not what you think!) and the set location for Fr. Ted, where Mrs. Doyle lookalikes still serve cups of tea!  Ah go on, go on, go on!!
• Roundstone, Connemara – it’s a very picturesque village by the sea, and have a great selection of restaurants and gourmet food pubs.
• Visit to Matt Molloy’s pub, in Westport – Matt Molly is a member of the famous Chieftains – where live traditional musicians play 7 nights a week in an authentic intimate setting. Not to be missed!
• Overnight in Westport, Co. Mayo (3 star) Westport is a regular winner of Ireland Tidiest Town and is truly a gem to visit. 

Day 6 – 262km/ 164m (4 hours 25 mins) 

• Newport nestles on the shore of Clew Bay which is famous for its 365 Islands and is a pleasant seaside resort and part of an attractive and unspoiled coastline.
• Mulraney – acclaimed as Ireland’s best small tourist town, a European Destination of Excellence – it is a superb stop for taking a walk on the beach and enjoying the spectacular views.
• Riding north through Ballinacroy National Park in North Co. Mayo, before heading eastwards to Ballina, Sligo, Ballyshannon and Killibegs.
• We will follow the coast road onwards to Glencolumbkille and Glengesh Pass, which is Donegal’s answer to the Stelvio Pass, except more beautiful!
• Overnight in Ardara, with dinner included. 

Day 7 – Rest Day

Enjoy a well earned day off in Ardara, Co. Donegal, or head out for an optional ride to explore more of beautiful Donegal. 

Optional ride: A figure of 8 loop totalling 200km, allowing you to do a part or all of the ride (1-3 hours riding). Visit Slieve League, noted as being the highest sea cliffs in Ireland over 600m sheer drop into the ocean or Glenveagh National Park 

Day 8 – 180km/ 111m (3 hours 30 mins)

Today we are taking a ride onto the Inishowen Peninsula and crossing Lough Foyle by ferry to the North Antrim Coastline.

Follow the famous North West 200 race track where legends have raced before you. We will stop off to visit Bushmills Distillery, which is reputedly the oldest whiskey distillery in the world! We may take a few “wee drams” with us to savour later back at the hotel.

Our hotel this evening is themed on The Game of Thrones, featuring one of the intrinsically carved GOT Doors.

Should we arrive at the hotel early, we can use the time to relax or alternatively visit the close by Giants Causeway and explore the famous rope bridge at Carrick a Rede. Either way, we will need to get an early night in preparation for a longer day travelling the next day to Scotland!

Day 9 – 384km/ 240m (7 hours 15 mins including 2 hours on ferry)

We need an early start to ride the 8 or so miles to Larne to pick up our ferry for Scotland. The ferry takes about 2 ½ hours and has good facilities, so it’s a good opportunity to have lunch and be ready for the road when we disembark. We take an easterly route before heading northwards to our first overnight destination in Drymen, near Loch Lomond.

Day 10 – 348km/ 218m (5 hours 40 mins)

Our route today takes us to Glencoe, Fort Augustus along the shores of Loch Ness before heading North Westwards toward the Isle of Skye. We are staying two nights in Portree, the “capital” of the island. Dinner is included both nights at our stay in Portree.

Day 11 – Rest Day

Well deserved at this stage, but some may wish to ride around the island to explore or simply take a day off and wander around the very picturesque town of Portree. The town is perched on cliffs overlooking the harbour, so there is plenty to see and do for the culturally curious!

Day 12 – 485km/ 303m (6 hours 44 mins)

One of the features of motorcycling in the Scottish highlands are the longer distances needed to be covered, so today’s ride is our longest of the tour. By this stage everyone should be bike fit so it should be a good day’s ride and finishing up in the national park of Cairngorms. Our route will bring us along the western seaboard as far as Ullapool before heading inland through the highlands to the east coast, finally southwards to Cairngorms, where we stay for the night.

Day 13 – 250km/ 156m (4 hours)

Today we have a shorter ride south through the Cairngorms National Park to get us into Edinburgh a little earlier, so we have time to explore this beautiful city. A tour of Edinburgh Castle is a must see and it is situated close by our hotel. Edinburgh has increasingly become known for its culinary experiences, so we have a selection of very nice restaurants to explore!

Day 14 – 310km/ 194m (5 hours 30 mins)

Today’s ride takes us through some lovely riding roads towards Dunfries where we can visit Robert Burns house and absorb some of the Scottish literary culture. Finally our ride takes us through the Galloway Forest Park to our overnight destination. We can have a leisurely night here as our ferry in the morning does not depart until 11:30am.

Day 15 – 310km/ 194m (6 hours 35 mins including ferry to Ireland)

Our ferry is very close by the hotel so we should be on the high seas by 11:30 and making our way back to the Emerald Isle! Once we arrive in Belfast, we have a choice of riding the main motorway back to Trim, which will get us in for an early final dinner, or if the weather is on our side, we can take a more circuitous route down the Ards Peninsula and meander through some of the lesser known parts of Northern Ireland before crossing over to Carlingford by a short ferry. We will make our decision on the day and plan for the best outcome!

Our final evening will include dinner and some festivities in the historic town of Trim.  

July 24th or August 13th 2021

Transported back to Dublin Airport for your flight home.