Ireland  Bike Tour Reviews (page 4)

  • Wild Atlantic Way Cycling
    (5/5) JimJ December 3, 2015

    Far exceeded my expectations--which were already high!

    · Wild Atlantic Way Cycling

    I went on this tour as a BikeTours.com staff member and was joined by a friend. More than a year later, we still talk about it: the quiet routes, the lush rural settings, the seaside views, the welcoming villages, the wonderful lodging, the charming people, the superbly attentive tour company and the tasty Irish cuisine (far tastier than I expected). Everything exceeded our expectations. I have the opportunity to go on tours all over the world, and I rarely do "repeats." I'd repeat this tour with joy. The daily distances were perfect for our leisurely cycling, the terrain mostly flat to rolling with just a few longer or steeper climbs that challenged us.

    The Wild Atlantic Way is an amazingly scenic route covering the western coast from north to south. I've done not the whole route, but I'd rate this segment a 10 for sure. The mix of countryside, seacoast, farms, woodlands, rolling hills and even a spectacular fjord and a remote island (with overnight) made this bicycle tour one we'll remember even above most others.

    How many tours have you completed?
    35
    Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
    As expected
    Who is this tour suitable for?
    Families with teens, Solo travelers, First-time bike tourists
    Do you recommend this tour?
    Yes
    Countries included in this tour?
    Ireland
    • Photo 1 (photo by JimJ)
    • Remote island of Inishbofin (accessible only by ferry) offered some of the more memorable scenery of the tour. (photo by JimJ)
    • Inishbofin harbor at low tide (shot from hotel room) (photo by JimJ)
    • The ruins of Murrisk Friary overlook centuries of tombstones. (photo by JimJ)
    • No bicycle tour to Ireland is complete without visits to local pubs--with live music, of course. (photo by JimJ)
    • Very content coastal cows roam the beaches. (photo by JimJ)
    • 5/5 Value
    • 5/5 Included meals
    • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
    • 4/5 Hotels or boat
    • 5/5 Scenery
    • 5/5 Ease of navigation
    • 4/5 Tour documents
    • 5/5 Local tour company services
    • 5/5 Route selection
  • (4/5) Brittany at BikeTours December 3, 2015
    · Wild Atlantic Way Cycling

    I went on this tour as a BikeTours.com staff member. Connemara is a dreamy, scenic region of Ireland! The views were magnificent. The route was 95% on quiet back roads. The cycling is definitely a level two tour, with intermittent rolling hills. As this tour has very low mileage, there is plenty of time to meander and take in the surroundings. I went at the end of the season (mid October), and I experienced closed establishments for the upcoming winter. However, there were 1 or 2 dining places to choose from in each village, even with the closures. I would recommend this tour to first-time travelers and travelers that want to have an off-the-beaten-path experience.

    How many tours have you completed?
    2
    Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
    Much easier
    Who is this tour suitable for?
    Families with teens, Solo travelers, First-time bike tourists
    Do you recommend this tour?
    Yes
    Countries included in this tour?
    Ireland
    • Photo 1 (photo by Brittany at BikeTours)
    • The Kylemore Abbey (photo by Brittany at BikeTours)
    • Hiking on Diamond Mountain in Connemara National Park (photo by Brittany at BikeTours)
    • The Atlantic coast (photo by Brittany at BikeTours)
    • Resting near Leenaun Village (photo by Brittany at BikeTours)
    • Sheep! (photo by Brittany at BikeTours)
    • 5/5 Value
    • 4/5 Included meals
    • 4/5 Bikes + equipment
    • 4/5 Hotels or boat
    • 5/5 Scenery
    • 4/5 Ease of navigation
    • 5/5 Tour documents
    • 5/5 Local tour company services
    • 4/5 Route selection
  • Highlights of the Highlands
    (5/5) Alpskier November 14, 2015

    The Rugged Beauty of the Emerald Isle

    · Highlights of the Highlands: Donegal by E-bike

    Highlights of the Highlands was one of my favorite trips. The affable local tour operator met us at our b&b in Donegal Town and told us what to expect. Bikes were great and the b&b lodgings were solid, including a satisfying breakfast. To be sure, the ride has parts that are truly rigorous, including a couple of long, steady inclines. And most of the ride follows low-trafficked roads, first along the rocky coast and later inland through national parks. The Irish were most welcoming and so were the pubs. But the beauty is in the land, resplendent vistas, hours of riding through glacial valleys. It was a pretty cool thing to ride through a pack of sheep. We road in the summer. Expect changeable weather, a bit chilly and rainy. Needless to say, bring a camera!

    How many tours have you completed?
    8
    Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
    As expected
    Who is this tour suitable for?
    Solo travelers
    Do you recommend this tour?
    Yes
    Countries included in this tour?
    Ireland
    • 5/5 Value
    • 4/5 Included meals
    • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
    • 4/5 Hotels or boat
    • 5/5 Scenery
    • 4/5 Ease of navigation
    • 4/5 Tour documents
    • 5/5 Local tour company services
    • 5/5 Route selection