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Camped in nowheresville NI. Todays bam ( whats irish / northern irish for bam?) Has a Stalwart in his shed
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Anyone any clues about routes across NI? Im at the southeast corner of lough neagh and vaguely heading for the west coast. Anyone?
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there's the sustrans routes, doesn't look like anything specifically off road heading west.
Ta
I have the sustrans map. It just I was concentrated on getting here not what to while i am here 😀
Ie i dont know what are the nice places to visit. Time for some random ness
Head North to the magilligan ferry onto Inishowen (malin head) the mooch south along the coast via the Loch swilly ferry?
If you're on FB, Touring and Bikepacking Ireland group should be able to help.
Sorry tj never really done the touristy thing in Ireland so not much help to you. I generally just visit people when over.
Keep us up to date though. Great trip you are doing!
A big wee adventure into the unknown! 😆
Do you use komoot, as there are a good few routes from the Neagh are into the Republic? I'd say Ride with GPS will have the same.
Here are a few nice places to visit, have a google and see what takes your fancy:
Dingle, Slea Head Drive, Inch beach,
Skelligs Islands (can't take the bike but it's only a few hours trip)
Clare Burren National Park,
Doolin,
Don Aonghasa on the Aran islands (you can take the bike on the ferry)
Clifden and Sky Road,
Leenane,
Achill Island (there a bridge!),
Great Western Greenway,
Slieve League,
Glenveagh,
Donegal coast & beaches
Causway costal route (Derry to Belfast),
Belfast to Newcastle to Rostrevor
Rostrevor to Carlingford (use the Carlingford Ferry with your bike)
Failing that just follow the Wild Atlantic Way!
if you are still in Belfast then this would be a good one to do
Causway costal route (Derry to Belfast),
if you go to the giants causeway it's only the visitor centre that costs to get into, the actual causeway is free
then
Head North to the magilligan ferry onto Inishowen (malin head) the mooch south along the coast via the Loch swilly ferry?
Wild Atlantic Way is a good shout.
Rode to Armagh via sustrans routes. Lots of tiny roads with character. A few loughs and its all very green. Sitting in the campsite with a cold beer.
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@tjagain Should have headed for Giants Causeway and Bushmills for essential supplies. Ice cream at "The Port" (Portrush) and a visit to "Free Derry" taking in the North Coast.
A whizz around the lakes in Ulster is also worth a go. Don't forget to have a Fry or two.
https://www.openstreetmap.org/#map=9/54.3301/-7.8181&layers=C
I see openstreetmaps has some cycle stuff marked on the maps, might help, might not, no idea if they are any use or not. But spotted it, and thought it might be of interest.
Ta chaps
Short day today. Checked into a hotel in Monaghan. I seem to have crossed into the republic by accident. Big feed and a real bed sound mighty fine.
Random church with union flags.
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All looking good TJ, hope you are having fun and the legs are getting stronger.
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Ffs crumble custarda d cream on an effing slate. How do you combine them?
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^ I had that last week in a pub in poncy Hampshire. What's wrong with a plate or bowl?
Heineken in Ireland!?!?!
You brute !
Looking bloody marvelous tj, some great memories being made and thanks for sharing on here.👍
Sorry dude, this passed me by. A few comments.
1) Good on you, it looks incredible.
2) Should've started a blog! At least you're taking notes here.
3) In the unlikely (and unfortunate) eventuality that you find yourself in East Lancs, we have space for a bike and a deeply uncomfortable futon. Uh, that is to say, we have a deeply uncomfortable futon and space for a bike. The Leeds-Liverpool canal is a nice easy thoroughfare East-West.
Cougar. I am updating in 3 places on social media. I will almost certainly be heading your way. I have a pals to visit in leigh and manchester and leeds to liverpool sounds good to me
Leigh…? I’m sorry for your loss.
Brilliant stuff, the west coast is amazing you'll love it.
Anyone else picturing TJ holding court at the bar of a border pub "So lads, ....religion....." 😜
Ie i dont know what are the nice places to visit. Time for some random ness
My suggestions along the west (mainly in geographical order)
Slieve league cliffs
Killybegs - proper fishing town
Avoid bundoran
Yeats grave in Sligo
Kilcullens Seaweed Baths, Enniscrone
Cliffs of Moher
Tarbert ferry
(The lonely) Banna strand
Not Tralee
I would swerve doolin as well
Killirglin - Puck Fair is on 10-12 august so the town will be rammed for that, otherwise the town has died a bit
Kells for a beach swim
This may be useful; https://reeksdistrict.com/explore/
Ballinskelligs ring
Hake hatch in Ballinskelligs
Valentina island - visit the cliffs
Kimego forest for wild camping after a swim at the beach at Cooscrome
Knocknadobar Mountain, Stations of the cross walk. A good walk with spectacular views. You could probably wild camp on top of the weather was ok and you’re feeling hardy!!!
The Moorings at portmagee for a pint
O’Neils at Renard point for a pint and a lobster ( great place by the Valentina ferry - doesn’t take reservations)
Head northish to Glencar for some excellent roads, Bealach Oisin and Bealach Beama. Just after Bealach Beama you can cycle up past Lough Brin and into the Black Valley and then up through the Gap of Dunloe to Glencar - imho one of the most beautiful routes in Ireland
Climbers inn at glencar for pint and lodging
Walk up Carrauntoohil (this is a proper walk with scrambling and occasional deaths so not to be taken lightly. There are guides and groups in the area)
Gap of Dunloe and The Black valley
Sneem and Kenmare
Glengarrif and Garnish Island
Healy and Caher passes
Why avoid bundoran? Tullan strandis stunning and plenty camp on top of cliffs, coast walk/ short ride down to main beach. Some good cafes there now in town then down coast via mullaghmore, streedagh on to rosses point and strandhill.
Just spent 3 weeks in bundoran, has tacky seaside town vibe but also much improving in recent years.
If was around week of the 12th I'd avoid totally as different town, but quite nice right now.
All this academic if he's ended up in monaghan though 😁
Always found bundoran the tacky seaside vibe a bit much, but each to their own and as you say for a long distance cyclist it may be handy
From Monaghan I’d still head for the west coast, maybe aim for Sligo
Was going to add the Famine Monument at Murrisk in Mayo
Theres a much less tacky side to it now, in my opinion, have just spent 3 weeks there.
I reckon he'd also appreciate a pilgrimage up Croagh Patrick barefoot for the full experience.
TJ, if you're headed West you should try to take in Achill Island and Connemara. If your feet are sore when you get towards Leenaun you could stop at the Aasleagh Falls and paddle in the pools for some restorative therapy. It's also a good place to watch the trout trying to swim up the falls.
Ta folks. I am basically heading for sligo but the ncn 91 wanders all over I think probably to find all the hills.
All very pastoral round here
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Some great suggestions ta. Ill try and get some good miles in before lunch then have a ponder where to pootle to next
Camped up not far from Sligo. A day of meandering along lovely lanes listening to birdsong. Good for the soul.
Arrived at the campsite and its both deserted and a caravan club site🙄.
I pitched up anyway. Lets see if someone wants money in the morning.
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Nothing wrong with Tralee - good cycle group there if you need some advice. The Chain Gang.
View from the campsite
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Nothing wrong with Tralee
I’ve always found it a bit depressing whenever I’ve gone there, I think it may be that coming over from London I get hacked off if I end up having to spend time in big towns (usually being dragged around shops by Mrs Kilo).
Not sure I’d put it on a must see list if I was on a cycling tour though.
Although I was driving through it once a few years back, came around a corner and a man was walking an elephant down the street which was a bit surprising and it has a good chainsaw shop.
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I’ve always found it a bit depressing whenever I’ve gone there
I have family there so I go there a lot. It's not a tourist centre but if TJ wants a reasonable hotel and food it'll be cheaper.
If he follows the Wild Atlantic Way he could end up crossing the Shannon at Tarbet and go on to Fenit through Tralee then out to Dingle.
Anyone else picturing TJ holding court at the bar of a border pub “So lads, ….religion…..”
I know TJ's not keen on polystyrene head coverings but it's not a religious fervour!
Even I am not that daft!!!!
No one ever appeared at the campsite. Im now tucking into bacon rolls and coffee down the road
Im laying up in Sligo for two nights. Checked into a hotel. I need a rest dsy and getting clothes washed and som supplies bought including a decent map
a decent map
https://webapps.geohive.ie/mapviewer/index.html
Paper maps
https://store.osi.ie/index.php/paper-products/discovery-and-discoverer.html
Sounds like a great trip TJ. I was due to do some bike touring in Ireland with a mate this year but he spent his holidays on a trip to the states instead. Priorities!
I used the 1:200k maps. They show (just) enough detail without needing loads of 1:50k s. I got them from here sligo coincidently, here:
Liber Bookshop
+353 71 914 2219
https://maps.app.goo.gl/CNU21jSHSJraPFZi8
The outdoor shop round yhe corner has plenty of 1:50Ks.
There is a traditional music festival on this weekend. Sligo is quite some place. I shall have a good explore tomorrow Van Morrison appears obligatory as i have heard him blaring out of several different pubs
No stwers in sligo?
Wicklow for me.
Im totally in the wrong bit then
There is a traditional music festival on this weekend.
In which case, I would be staying until Monday.
Brilliant stuff. Enjoy the rest.
North Cork here
Well if you had arrived a week earlier I was 20 minutes north of you, so its your own fault 🙂 Now back in the Toon 🙁
There is a traditional music festival on this weekend.
Travelling round the Republic years ago, I fetched up in the arse end of nowhere (like they have a lot of 'somewhere,' but anyway) and found myself in a local pub.
After a little while, people started treacling in with instruments. Chap with a bodhran, lass with a fiddle, another bloke with I don't even know, a lute?
"Oh," I asked, "is there a band on?" Nope, they were just a bunch of randoms who had happened to rock up to the pub with a descant recorder or a tambourine 'just in case'. Then they just started jamming together. Tore the roof off, dancing on tables, brilliant night. That, right there, was the craic.
The model, Knocknarea & Eagles Flying are worth a look in Sligo.
Ta chaps
I am getting freaked out by folk that keep talking to me. This is no country for an introvert 🙄😀
I am getting freaked out by folk that keep talking to me
Everybody walking past you
"Howyeh!"
Arrrgh. Weather is pish so I think its time for a change of plan. Going down down the west coast seems proper daft so I shall head inland and follow the Shannon south. Seems like a better plan
It’s lovely in Edinburgh 😉😁
No doubt it will be shit in a week’s time, once the school holidays start ☹️
Thanks!
Seems like a better plan
Do or do not. There is no better.
😘
Now you know why it's called the Emerald Isle !!!
I used to go every summer to visit family and it was rarely sunny (Co. Wicklow/Carlow/Wexford area)
Oh well. Made it 45 miles south east. I think a good call given the weather not to go thru Mayo and tbe west coast tho its disappointing to miss out but not into a headwind. Bad enough today anyway and it effing pissed it down this morning. Fortunately the hedgerows did give so shelter from the wind but today was tough especially as I have ended up only 50 miles from where I was 3 days ago due to changing my mind on route. Done two sides of a triangle.
Camped up for the night. Its a bit windy
Sat in my tent eating chocolate and listeningto it flap in the wind.
Typical view today
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I think an orchid in which case it is twice the size of the scots ones
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Another day more headwind and rain. Camped up near Athlone. Nice campsite but once again no grub in the pub. Couple of pints tho and i feel squiffy. Watching Gaelic football on telly in pub
Royal canal with orchids
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Hope you enjoyed the Armagh v Galway football match!
Sat in my tent eating chocolate and listening to it flap in the wind.
I had no idea chocolate flapped.
This really is a voyage of discovery.
In my life lots of things flap🙄🙃
You seem a bit fatigued could you not cheat a bit and jump on a train to get to some more interesting bits?
Where headed next? Sticking with the Shannon? If heading away from it there's a nice old rail track bike trail to mullingar (my home town)from athlone, can get on to canal trail towards Dublin from there.
Looks ace, hope the locals aren't talking too much to you 😁
I am still heading for my pals near bantry roughly following the shannon to limerick tomorrow. I might get him to drive up and get me if tomorrows no better. Im not to tired but 4 days riding into headwind has slowed me. I thought it would take 2 weeks to get to county cork
Nice one, no harm in giving yourself a break, you've covered a lot of miles and probably already seen more of Ireland than I have!
What's plan after seeing your mates? Not sure if I missed it, Ride back? Or ferry to France?
After Bantry ride to the ferry to wales and ride across wales and e gland to a north sea ferry to the Netherlands is the plan.
ferry to wales
Fishguard?
I think thats the one.
Well you're in luck, the weather is set to be drier in a few days, at least here.
Just looking at routes for you now.
Im not going to be there for a week or two
@tjagain - when you get to Fishguard, if the weather is good spend a few days in the area and enjoy it. You don't know when you'll be down that way again.
This should help:
https://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/a-week-in-fishguard-pembrokeshire/
Ta