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Wild Atlantic Way (Photo credit: Tony Webster)
Moto Ireland & Wales
Early Summer Adventure
9-day Tour of South West Ireland and Wales
Trip Outline
Crossing to the Republic of Ireland from Pembroke Docks in West Wales, the route heads to West Cork, completes the Ring of Kerry, rides a section of the Wild Atlantic Way, visits the Cliffs of Moher, and the cities of Galway and Dublin. Returning across the Irish Sea to Holyhead, the tour completes with a terrific ride home through Snowdonia and Mid-Wales.
Wales Route
Ireland Route
A section of the Wild Atlantic Way
The outward ride follows an interesting route across Salisbury Plain, north Wiltshire, and the Cotswolds towards Gloucester, heading onwards towards the Welsh border for an overnight stop at Ross-on-Wye.
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From Ross, we track into mid-Wales, cross the Brecon Beacons before heading to the coast at Pembroke for an afternoon ferry across the Irish Sea to Rosslare. A short crossing later, we ride to Wexford for an overnight stop.
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The following morning, we'll start our Irish Tour proper:
It will take in the cathedral city of Cork; ride along the stunning, wild coastline of West Cork county; find some cracking mountain roads and views close to Ireland's highest peak, Carrantoohil (1039m); ride the Ring of Kerry circuit; visit Dingle and cross the Conor Pass, before picking up the Wild Atlantic Way northwards along the coast to admire the wildness of the ocean at the Cliffs of Moher to finish in the city of Galway.
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Nearing the final days of our tour, we'll head back across the Irish countryside to Dublin, allowing time to explore the city ahead of a fast ferry back across the Irish Sea to Holyhead on the Isle of Anglessey.
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Heading homewards, we'll cruise the mountain roads of Eryri (Snowdonia) en-route to fast roads across Mid-Wales, the Brecon Beacons and Black Mountains before crossing back into England for a blast back home.
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The complete tour takes 9 days, with ovenight stops in Ross-on-Wye, Wexford, Cork, Killarny, Dingle, Galway, Dublin, and Brecon.
Cliffs of Moher
Cork city
The Wild Atlantic Way
Tour itinerary
Day 1: Home -> Ross-on-Wye:
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From home, we'll head north-west across the North Hampshire Downs and Salisbury Plain towards Cirencester, The Cotswolds and Gloucester.
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The final section takes us across the Severn, and on towards the Welsh border for an overnight stop at Ross-on-Wye; (121miles, 3h02).
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Day 2: Ross-on-Wye -> Pembroke -> Rosslare -> Wexford:
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Into Wales, across the Black Mountains and the Brecon Beacons, fast roads take us south-west to Pembroke for the short, Irish Ferries crossing to Rosslare;
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After an evening arrival, we ride the short distance to the charming town of Wexford for our overnight stop; (128miles, 3h04 to Pembroke; 4h ferry crossing; 20km, 0h20 to Wexford).
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Day 3: Wexford -> Cork City:
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From Wexford, we cruise across the open countryside of south-east Ireland towards the coast - perhaps a for a lunch stop at Waterford - towards to the delightful and very Irish city of Cork our overnight stop, arriving with plenty of time to explore the city; (180km, 2h47).
Day 4: Cork City -> Killarny:
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As we head further west, Ireland becomes wilder and more sparsely populated. The undulating West Cork countryside hints of higher ground to come, complete with a craggy coastline of inlets and cliffs. Our route skirts Bantry Bay, then crosses some of the highest uplands in Ireland to arrive in Killarny for our overnight stop; (198km, 3h11).
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Day 5: Killarny -> Ring of Kerry -> Dingle:
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We'll take spectacular roads across the high ground of Killarny National Park to pass close to Ireland's highest peak, Carrantuohill at over 1000m.
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Back down to the coast, we circumnavigate the Kerry peninsula (aka The Ring of Kerry), arriving in the quaint fishing town of Dingle for our overnight stop; (202km, 3h35).
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Day 6: Dingle -> Cliffs of Moher -> Galway:
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We're now in real Wild Atlantic Way territory, and start our day taking the Conor Pass, one of the highest mountain roads in Ireland, to cross the Dingle peninsula from south to north.
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Then skirting the coast, we take the short ferry across the Shannon at Tarbert to head for the spectacular Cliffs of Moher, reputed to be one of Ireland's 'must see' sights. This amazing day finishes in the city of Galway for our overnight stop; (226km, 4h56).
Day 7: Galway -> Dublin:
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For our final biker day in Ireland, we head east across the country to Dublin. We can take the M6 motorway if we're tired of twisting, Irish roads by now, or if not then we can follow nearly-as-fast and likely empty national routes to Ireland's capital city for our overnight stop. Either way, there will be plenty of time to explore the city. (207km, 2h14 or 212km, 3h12).
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Day 8: Dublin -> Holyhead -> Brecon:
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A breakfast-time fast-ferry takes just two hours from Dublin to Holyhead on the Isle of Anglessey, leaving us most of the day to wind our way through Snowdonia to mid-Wales and the town of Brecon for a final, overnight stop; (153miles, 3h31).
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Day 9: Brecon -> Home:
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The last day of our Wales/Ireland Road Trip re-traces the opening day of the ride as we leave Wales to cross the Severn and head homeward bound. Back into England, we'll follow a cross-country route, perhaps stopping in Bath for lunch; (156miles, 3h32).
Cliffs of Moher, on the coast of County Clare
