Ultimate Wild Atlantic Way Motorcycle Tour

Day 2 – Trim to Kinsale (365km)

• The Lemonrock team will meet you at your hotel first thing after breakfast.
• Bike orientation – We take time to make sure you are comfortable on your bike, have the correct riding gear and understand the routes on our Sat Navs. It’s good to get to us early as this will take the best part of 2 hours.
• Your route will take you through the Wicklow mountains, which is a favorite destination for local Dublin bikers.  There are plenty of good gastro pubs and restaurants to stop off at for lunch.  We will include several good recommendations in your road book.
• The final leg of the journey takes you south westward to Kinsale.
• Kinsale in the Gourmet capital of Ireland – a seaside fishing town, with rich history and French influenced culture. An amazing array of restaurants are available for a diverse range of tastes!
• You will overnight in a boutique hotel right in the centre of Kinsale.

Day 3 – Kinsale to Killarney (242km) 

• The Wild Atlantic Way officially begins in Kinsale, and today you’ll ride the Haven Coast. 
• Today’s ride is enchanting and spectacular which we hope will leave you with indelible memories of your trip to Ireland.
• Leaving Kinsale, we’ll skirt some beautiful coastal towns and villages, join the Wild Atlantic Way. You will pass through beautiful villages such as Glandore, Baltimore, Skibbereen, Crookhaven before riding the Healey Pass on Beara Peninsula – the first of the 3 Peninsulas.
• Overnight in Killarney, Co. Kerry. Killarney is a bustling town and has a superb choice of entertainment. 
• Accommodation – luxurious 4 star accommodation at The Brehon.

Day 4 – Ring of Kerry (246km)

• The Ring of Kerry – Your 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!
• Your route will take you through Killarney National Park, through Molls Gap before taking the route to Sneem.
• 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!
• 2 nights in Dingle, Co. Kerry (4 star)

Day 5 – Rest Day in Dingle

• Dingle is a super little town and although it attracts a lot of tourists, it deserves its attention. Dingle is famous for its pubs and music night life and Fungi the dolphin! 
• On your rest day you’ll find that there’s lots to see and do! Our road book will give you lots of interesting tips to make sure you get the most out of your time here.
• You can ride around the tip of Dingle Peninsula, known as Slea Head. On a summers evening you can witness fantastic sunsets, as the sun disappears over the horizon of the Atlantic ocean.
• You can opt to explore the town for the day or take a ride around Slea Head which offers spectacular sunsets

Day 6  – Dingle to Co. Clare (285km)

• Today’s ride will bring you over the north side of the Dingle peninsula up across the river Shannon estuary into Co. Clare and up to South Galway.
• First on the list is the Conor Pass which 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 (20 minute crossing) 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.
• Time permitting, a visit to 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 – it’s 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!) 
• Overnight in Ballyvaughan or Kinvarra, depending on hotel availability. This is a very busy spot (and deservedly so!) in high season. So we often have to juggle between hotels to accommodate all our guests. We do the stressing so you don’t have to!
• 3 star accommodation

Day 7 – Clare to Westport (250 to 280km)

• Ballyvaughan / Kinvarra to Westport
• The ride today goes through Galway City before heading out into Connemara, which is in Co. Mayo and is a quintessentially Irish part of Ireland!
• Roundstone, Connemara – it’s a very picturesque village by the sea, and have a great selection of restaurants and gourmet food pubs.
• Spectacular views are available from the Atlantic Sky Road which is a must see
• Kylemore Abbey is definitely worth a visit! The Abbey was built in the late 1800s. Today Kylemore Abbey is owned and run by the Benedictine community who have been in residence here since 1920, where you can enjoy a nice cafe and teahouse.
• Riding next along Killary Harbour, Ireland’s only fjord before heading northwards along the Doolough Pass, bringing you into the town of Westport.
• Two nights in Westport, Co. Mayo (3 star). Westport is a regular winner of Ireland Tidiest Town and is truly a gem to visit.

Day 7 – Rest Day in Westport

• Westport is a superb location to either rest up and soak up the atmosphere of this town, or ride out and explore the many local scenic rides. Your road book will give you lots of ideas of how best to spend your time here. 
• 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!  
• The adventurous could climb Croagh Patrick mountain which overlooks Clew Bay which is a traditional pilgrimage (and good workout!) trekked by locals in their bare feet!
• We will also include an optional riding route on your Sat Nav, if you prefer to explore Connemara and Co. Mayo by bike.

Day 9 – Westport to Sligo (367km)

• 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.
• Achill Island – Achill has a long history of human settlement and there is evidence that Achill was inhabited as many as 5,000 years ago. Megalithic tombs and promontory forts testifying to this can be seen at Slievemore, along the Atlantic Drive and on Achill Beg Island.
• Kildamhnait Castle is a 15th century tower house associated with the O’ Malley Clan, who were once a ruling family of Achill. Grace O’ Malley, or Granuaile, the most famous of the O’ Malley’s was born in Clare Island around 1530. Her father was the chieftain of the barony of Murrisk. The O’Malleys were a powerful sea faring family, who traded widely and refused to submit to English rule. Grace became a fearless leader and gained fame as a sea captain and pirate.
• Ballina, situated on the famous River Moy, is Mayo’s largest town.
• Enniscrone – There are 5km of safe, clean golden beaches. For eight decades people have come to bathe in hot sea water and seaweed renowned for its therapeutic qualities. 
• Overnight in a quirky thatched roof bar and restaurant by the sea.

Day 10 – Sligo to North Donegal (287km)

• Heading East towards Sligo town up through Strandhill where you can stop for a nice coffee or an ice cream
• Onwards with the Atlantic Ocean in view towards Ballyshannon and Donegal Town.
• Take the time to visit Slieve League, noted as being the highest sea cliffs in Ireland over 600m sheer drop into the ocean.
• Follow the coast road onwards to Glencolumbkille and Glengesh Pass, which is Donegal’s answer to the Stelvio Pass, except more beautiful!
• The route takes you up as far as Gweedore, Falcarragh, Dunfanaghy onto your destination in Downing Bay for a well earned rest.

Day 11 – Northern Headlands to South Donegal (336km)

• Today we hug the Northern Headlands coastline as you ride up to Malin Head, the most northerly point of Ireland, which is home to the Malin Head Signal Tower.
• We have chosen a route which is engaging and picturesque, which is detailed in your roadbook and Sat Nav.
• Finally we begin our ride back southwards through Glenveagh National Park.
• The inland roads here are spectacular and give a wonderful view of the vast landscape that is so unique to Donegal.
• We overnight in the charming seaside town of Ardara.

Day 12 – Donegal to Trim (280km)

• This route will take you south eastwards through south Donegal across into Northern Ireland into the charming town of Belleek. It makes for a great coffee stop and also an opportunity to visit the famous Belleek Pottery
• We ride southwards down the westernern shoreline of Lough Allen, which is the highest lake on the River Shannon system.
• The route will take you through lovely secret parts of the Irish midland, which are outlined in your road book
• Typically we like to stop off in Glassan, Co. Westmeath for lunch as it has a number of gastro pubs which serve good food.
• Then we take some favoured biking roads back eastwards into Trim. By the time you reach your destination, you will have a big smile on your face!

Day 13 – Depart

Chauffeur transfer to Dublin Airport for flight home.  Alternatively, you can choose to have your car take you to Dublin city if you are planning on visiting the capital city for a day or two.