One-day ride: Killarney
Ireland’s west coast is a magnet for visitors looking for great scenery and brilliant roads
THE WILD ATLANTIC Way. The Ring of Kerry. The Ring of Beara. Dingle. The Cliffs of Moher. Spanish Point. Moll’s Gap. Inch beach. There’s no doubt that the south-west coastline of Ireland is rich in amazing places with names to inspire. It’s also blessed with beautiful scenery and amazing roads. The weather… well, the weather is what it is. Some days it’s beautiful, on other days it rains: pack waterproofs.
This one-day ride is based around the tourist hot-spot of Killarney — an ideal place to stay as it’s so well set-up to receive visitors and is at the heart of the best riding. This route strings together our favourite roads in this famous area: the Healy Pass on the Beara Peninsula; the Conor Pass on the Dingle Peninsula; and a healthy chunk of the Ring of Kerry. It’s a full but truly spectacular day on the bike.
STAGE ONE Killarney to Glengarriff 55 miles
Leave Killarney heading south on the N71 to Kenmare. This carries you over the Moll’s Gap pass. Follow the one-way system through Kenmare, staying on the N71 to Skibbereen. Immediately after crossing the bridge, turn right on the R571 to Castletownbere and the Ring of Beara. Stay on this road for 14 miles, following brown signs for Healy Pass. Turn left just after a small church on the R574 to Adrigole and Healy Pass. When it meets the R572, turn left towards Cork. When it joins the N71, turn right to go into Glengarriff for coffee.
Morning coffee Jim’s Coffee Shop We’d head for Jim’s Coffee Shop on the harbour: great coffee and full Irish.
STAGE TWO Glengarriff to Waterville 55 miles
From Glengarriff town centre, head back towards Kenmare and Killarney on the N71. Cross Kenmare town centre and, just after the garage on the right, turn left on to the N70 to Camersiveen, Sneem and the Ring of Kerry. Take this road all the way to Waterville for the lunch stop. There shouldn’t be any tourist buses to overtake as they must do the Ring of Kerry anti-clockwise, so this direction tends to be much better and more fun for bikes.
Lunch An Corcan Lots of options for lunch in Waterville, but we’d go to An Corcan: top-notch fish and chips (other dishes are available…). Sandwiches are good value if you don’t want a big meal. www.ancorcan.com
STAGE THREE Waterville to Inch Beach 55 miles
Carry on along the N70, hugging the coast to complete the Ring of Kerry. Cross the bridge in Killorglin and turn left at the roundabout on the N70 towards Tralee. Don’t miss the turning six miles later to stay on this road. After half a mile turn left on the R561 to Dingle and Inch. Stay on this road until turning off to park at Inch Beach (note this is a beach you can ride your bike on, if you want).
Afternoon tea Sammy’s The restaurant on Inch Beach is an institution: a great stop for hot and cold drinks with an amazing view. If you’re still hungry, it’s famous for its chowder… www.inchbeach.com
STAGE FOUR Inch Beach to Killarney 65 miles
Carry on along the R561, turning left to Dingle when it meets the N86. Cross the first roundabout in Dingle, turn right at the next one and follow the brown signs for Conor Pass. Take the R560 past Castlegregory and keep going as this becomes the N86 to Tralee. Stay on this road around Tralee until picking up the N22 to return to Killarney.