Cycling in Connemara, Galway and Mayo, Ireland August 25, 2007

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 on a quiet bog road with stunning views of the surrounding mountains. Enjoy a rest day in a familiar little hotel in the lovely seaside village Roundstone. Two highlights wait for you at the very end of the tour with the Irish-spoken village Carraroe and a visit of the Aran Islands.

Day 1: Galway City
Meet with the guide at 6.30pm in the bar of Jury’s Galway Inn Hotel in the centre of Galway city. Galway is a very historical city with a great atmosphere so you can spend the afternoon pottering around the many shops in the old town or calling into one of the many pubs to listen to some traditional music.

Day 2: Galway / Cong – Westport (approx. 65 km)
In the morning we take a coach transfer to the village of Cong where the tour proper starts.

Day 3: Westport – Leenane (approx. 50 km)
We cycle between Croagh Patrick and the beautiful Clew Bay with its many small islands, to the village of Louisburgh where we stop for lunch. In the afternoon we head south through one of the highlights of the week, the stunning Delphi Valley with its beautiful lakes overlooked by Ben Bury the highest mountain in Connemara. That night we stay in the small village of Leenane which looks out over Killary Harbour, Irelands only fjord.

Day 4: Leenane – Roundstone (approx. 70 km)
We cycle into the heart of Connemara, overlooked by the Twelve Bens mountain range and visit Kylemore Abbey, a wedding gift from a wealthy Liverpool businessman to his wife in 1868.
We then cycle along quiet back roads 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: 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 horse riding. 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.

Day 6: Roundstone – Carraroe (approx. 50 km)
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 Irish speaking village of Carraroe.

Day 7: Carraroe – Aran Island/Galway (approx. 35 km)
In the morning we cycle to the port of Rossaveel to board the boat to Inis Mor, the largest of the Aran Islands. The day can then be spent touring the unique landscape of the Island with its wealth of ancient stone forts and monastic sights. You have all day to cover the trip so you can take your time to stop at places of interest.
In the late afternoon we return to the mainland and to Galway city by local bus. We have a final dinner and night on the town together before going our separate ways the following morning.

Day 8: Farewell to our cycling companions.

What is a Semi Escorted Tour?
Semi guided bicycle tours include all services provided to our “Individual” riders, as well as the following additional services:
Tour Escort, well familiar with the region, with a van.
Daily personal tour introduction.
Opportunity to ride the van if your legs need a rest.
By common consent the tour escort will organise sightseeing and picnics.
Entrance fees and guided sightseeing are (partly) included in the price.

Price includes :
7 nights in excellent quality, small family run guesthouses and B & B's, all rooms with showers and bathroom facilities.
Substantial breakfast each day.
Professional tour guide at your disposal each evening, in an accompanying van during the day.
Daily tour discussion in the morning
Luggage transport from hotel to hotel
Bus transfer from Galway to Cong
Maps with indicated routes, detailed route description, tourist information about places of interest. 21 speed Trek hybrid bike with pannier, mudguards & water bottle.
Note: The optional cruise of Killary Harbour is approx € 18,-
The ferry trip to the Aran Islands and the bus back into Galway is € 20,- (payable to your guide)
The entrance to Kylemore Abbey is € 6,50

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Official Website: http://www.paragontravel.com/mmaadventures/calendar%20events/Cyclying%20in%20Connemara%20Galway%20Mayo%20details.htm