Clare & the Burren
Ireland Bike Tours
A bike tour in County Clare, Ireland
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Tour Type
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Skill Level
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Length8 days
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Prices from€1168 Rates
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Overview
If you want to experience a taste of Ireland’s musical heritage, you could not have picked a better Ireland cycling tour. Clare is the music center of Ireland, and, on this tour, you are sure to have your feet tapping to traditional tunes nearly every night of the week.
The Burren region is also an amazing limestone moonscape, famous around the world for its wonderful variety of botany. The area is rich in ancient and early Christian historical sites and offers some beautiful coastal cycling overlooking Galway Bay that will give this Ireland bike tour memories you won't forget.
Finally, you can bike the Cliffs of Moher in County Clare, one of the best-known and most breathtaking landmarks of Ireland.
Highlights
- Ennis
- Cliffs of Moher
- Village of Doolin (famous for its three pubs that compete to provide the best music)
- Spectacular coastal rides
- Limestone landscape of the Burren
- Overnights in coastal towns/villages
This tour encompasses the very best of Ireland from start to finish!
All of our bike tours in Ireland can be found here.
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Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Ennis, Co. Clare
Day 2: Ennis to Spanish Point, 30 mi. (48 km)
Day 3: Spanish Point to Doolin, 29 mi. (46 km)
Day 4: Doolin to Ballyvaughan, 31 mi. (50 km)
Day 5: Rest day in Ballyvaughan
Day 6: Ballyvaughan to Kinvara, 24 mi. (38 km)
Day 7: Kinvara to Ennis, 31 mi. (49 km)
Day 8: Departure from Ennis*All distances are approximate. Due to circumstances beyond control, weather conditions or provisions issued by local authorities, therefore the itinerary may be subject to some changes before and/or during your holiday. For example, along the way you may find temporary deviations/detours caused by roadwork, In this case, please follow the directions posted on site.
Day 1: Ennis, Co. Clare
Arrive in Ennis and make your way to your B&B. Check-in is after 2 pm. A folder containing your route details and information on collection of your bikes will be waiting for you at the guesthouse. Ennis is a fantastic town for music and entertainment so the rest of the day can be spent relaxing and enjoying the sights.Sample accommodation: Temple Gate Hotel
Day 2: Ennis - Spanish Point, 30 mi. (48 km)
In the morning you will cycle towards West Clare, cycling along quiet country roads through rolling green fields to the Coast. You stay the night in a comfortable Hotel at Spanish Point. The area gets its name named from those Spanish Armada Ships which sank here in 1588 during their retreat home to Spain.Sample accommodation: Bellbridge Hotel
Day 3: Spanish Point - Doolin, 29 mi. (46 km)
Cycling along quiet country roads you meander your way to the popular holiday town of Lahinch where you stop for lunch. In the afternoon, you visit the Cliffs of Moher which rise a spectacular 660 ft up from the Atlantic waves below. You can stroll along the cliff face and watch the birds gliding in the updraft. After visiting the cliffs you head to the village of Doolin. That night you can have a pub meal and enjoy the wealth of traditional music for which the village is famous.Sample accommodation: Suantrai B&B or Seascape
Day 4: Doolin - Ballyvaughan, 31 mi. (50 km)
In the morning you begin to see the first hints of the limestone landscape of the Burren and visit the monastic site at Kilfenora and its stone-high crosses. Kilfenora is also home to the Burren Heritage Centre which gives you an excellent insight into the formation and history of the Burren. Later you can stop off for lunch at the matchmaking town of Lisdoonvarna.
The afternoon's cycle is a beautiful run where the road hugs the coastline with Galway Bay and the Aran Islands on your left and the limestone cliffs of the Burren on your right. You stop for two nights in our comfortable hotel in the seaside village of Ballyvaughan.Sample accommodation: Wild Atlantic Lodge or Hylands Hotel
Day 5: Rest day in Ballyvaughan
The day can be spent doing a wide variety of activities. There is a wonderful four-hour walking tour of the Burren with a local man who is a very entertaining character and an encyclopedia of knowledge on the area. There is also an optional short cycle to the impressive ruins of a Cistercian Abbey or you could visit the nearby Ailwee Caves. Alternatively, the day could be spent relaxing in this attractive village.Sample accommodation: Wild Atlantic Lodge or Hylands Hotel
Day 6: Ballyvaughan - Kinvarra, 24 mi. (38 km)
The cycle heads straight into the heart of the Burren where you can visit the locality and most famous historical sight, the Poulnabrowne Dolmen a small ancient burial site dating back to 2500BC. Veering off the beaten track you can stop at the village of Carran for lunch in an old police barracks. In the afternoon, you cycle through quiet backroads to visit the Burren Perfumery which makes a wide variety of perfumes using the local flora and has a wonderful slide show illustrating the beautiful and unique botany of this region. You then descend through a limestone lunar landscape to the pretty seaside village of Kinvarra where you spend the night.Sample accommodation: Kinarva Guesthouse or Fallon's B&B
Day 7: Kinvarra - Ennis, 31 mi. (49 km)
For the last day, you head back into the Burren through another limestone moonscape, passing Lough Buny and the impressive Mullaghmore before stopping for lunch in Corafin. In the afternoon, you can visit a 16th Century Tower House and an even older monastic sight. This is also the site of the famous battle of Dysert O’Dea where the Irish Chieftains defeated the Normans and kept them out of Clare for another 200 years. You then cycle back into Ennis for a final night on the town.Sample accommodation: Ashford Court Hotel
Day 8: Departure
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Map
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Hotels & Bikes
You will be staying in guesthouses, B&B’s, or occasionally small hotels. The majority of the time, these small establishments do not have elevators so please pack accordingly. All hotel bookings are based on availability. If the preferred accommodation is not possible, a suitable alternative of an equal standard will be booked. You can take a look at the day-to-day itinerary for the preferred accommodation used.
Bicycles
Giant Alight 2 City
Frame ALUXX-Grade Aluminium Fork ALUXX-Grade Aluminium (w/ Low-rider Rack Mount) Shock N/A Handlebar Giant Connect, Low Rise Stem Giant Sport Seatpost Giant Sport Saddle Liv Comfort Pedals Giant Sports Shifters Shimano Altus 24 Speed Front Derailleur Shimano Tourney Rear Derailleur Shimano Altus Brakes Tektro TK837 linear pull
Giant Escape City
Frame ALUXX-Grade Aluminium Fork ALUXX-Grade Aluminium (w/ low-rider Rack Mount) Shock N/A Handlebar Giant Connect, Low Rise Stem Giant Sport Seatpost Giant Sport Saddle Giant Connect Upright Pedals Giant Sports Shifters Shimano Altus 24 Speed Front Derailleur Shimano Tourney Rear Derailleur Shimano Altus Brakes Tektro TK837 linear pull
Ease-E + 2 Electric Bike
Motor Giant SyncDrive Silent drive front hub motor, 30Nm Sensors Giant PedalPlus 2- sensor technology Display RideControl LED Battery Giant EnergyPak 300, 36V Rechargeable Lithium-Ion Panasonic Frame ALUXX aluminum Fork ALUXX aluminum Handlebar Aluminum Stem Aluminum adjustable Seatpost Aluminum Saddle Selle Royal Nuvola Pedals Anti-slip Shifters Shimano 8 speed Tourney Revoshift Rear Derailleur Shimano RD-M310 Altus Brakes Linear Pull -
Inclusions
What’s Included
- Accommodations for 7 nights
- Full Irish breakfasts
- 24-speed hybrid bicycle with a rear rack, small pannier bag (not waterproof), repair equipment, lock, and bottle cage
- Helmets
- Luggage transfer
- Route maps and details given as GPS tracks
What’s Not Included
- Individual arrival to your first hotel
- Lunches (approx. €15 to €20 per lunch)
- Dinners (approx. €20 to €30 per dinner)
- Guided walk of the Burren (approx. €20)
- Horse riding in Ballyvaughan (approx. €20)
- Bike Protection
- Travel Insurance
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Dates & Pricing
Dates
Arrivals are possible daily from April 15 to October 1, 2024
Please Note
- Rates are per person, based on double occupancy
- Tour prices are based on the fuel costs at time prices are set, often months or years in advance. In rare cases, additional fees may apply for fuel cost increases.
- Information to read before you book
- We recommend purchasing trip insurance
- Please see our FAQ
Pricing
2024
April, May, June, & Sept. July & August Twin/double $ 1987 £ 981 $ 1,783 € 1168 Ft 492534 kr 172390 ₪ 4422 ¥ 190731 Mex$ 25143 NZ$ 2196 kr 14044 zł 5084 S$ 1681 kr 13729 CHF 1112 $ 1,233 $ 2072 £ 1023 $ 1,860 € 1218 Ft 513619 kr 179769 ₪ 4611 ¥ 198896 Mex$ 26220 NZ$ 2289 kr 14646 zł 5302 S$ 1753 kr 14317 CHF 1160 $ 1,286 Single supplement $ 596 £ 294 $ 534 € 350 Ft 147592 kr 51658 ₪ 1325 ¥ 57154 Mex$ 7534 NZ$ 658 kr 4209 zł 1524 S$ 504 kr 4114 CHF 333 $ 370 Extra Options
Electric bike rental: $ 170 £ 84 $ 153 € 100 Ft 42169 kr 14759 ₪ 379 ¥ 16330 Mex$ 2153 NZ$ 188 kr 1202 zł 435 S$ 144 kr 1175 CHF 95 $ 106
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Extra Info
Skill Level — Easy–Moderate
This is an easy to moderate, self-guided hotel tour. The roads are all paved and the route is designed to ensure that you spend most of the week on quiet back roads. Occasionally it will be necessary to ride on busier roads which is unavoidable as there may be no minor roads on certain stretches of the route. To experience the majestic scenery of this area the route does have some climbs, so it is worth getting a few weekends training on a bike in varied terrain before coming, thus ensuring that you can fully enjoy the week. It will make your time in the saddle much more enjoyable. Cycling requires a good command of your bike, good balance, and the ability to stop and start quickly.
Airport Info
Fly into Shannon International Airport (SNN/EINN) or Dublin International Airport (DUB). Shannon is the closest airport, but Dublin will have more route options.
Local Travel
Shannon Airport:
Bus Eireann provides connections to and from all of Ireland’s major cities. From the airport, the city center of Ennis is only 13 miles away and costs approx. €13. If you prefer a taxi, the cost will be approx. €35.
Dublin Airport:
- Bus + train:
Take the Airlink shuttle (bus) service into Dublin city where you can transfer to a train to Ennis from Heuston Station. The bus requires exact currency which is approximately €6 for a single adult ticket into the city. The train to Ennis takes approx 2 hrs 20 mins. Details of all train travel are on IrishRail. - Bus:
There is a bus service direct from Dublin city to Ennis available. Check BusEireann for more information.
Climate
Ireland is called the Emerald Isle. The rolling, green hills and lush landscapes are possible because of the frequent rainfall so don’t forget your rain gear, as well as your sun hat, as a day that starts with rain, can end with glorious sunshine! However, because it is an island, located near the gulf stream, Ireland has a very mild climate making it ideal for cycling. The temperature range during the summer is between 15 and 22 degrees centigrade (60 to 72 degrees Fahrenheit).
Day of Rest
Day 5 is a day of rest in Ballyvaughan. The day can be spent doing a wide variety of activities. You can join a wonderful four-hour walking tour of the Burren with a local man who is a very entertaining character and an encyclopaedia of knowledge on the area. There is also an optional short cycle to the impressive ruins of a Cistercian Abbey or you can visit the nearby Ailwee Caves. Alternatively, the day could be spent relaxing in this attractive village
Recommended
Padded cycling shorts and/or a gel saddle cover which will definitely make your cycling days more comfortable. Rain gear is not provided. Be sure to bring some lightweight rain gear.
Remarks
If you wish to use toe clips please bring your own pedals with toe clips (and spanner) which you can attach to your bikes, as they come with flat pedals. You can also bring your own saddle which should be possible to attach.
The rental bikes don’t have lights. This is no problem on the long summer evenings, but if you are traveling in May or September, please bring your own light or high-visibility vest.
There are a limited number of electric bikes available for this tour. Please request at the time of booking.Important to know
Documents
It is each traveler's responsibility to ensure that you are in compliance with the country or countries you plan to visit. This includes and is not limited to passport validity, visa requirements and acquisition, blank passport pages required for your destination (s), etc.
US citizens: A good website to research the requirements of the Schengen Agreement and entry into other countries is travel.state.gov.
Non-EU and EU residents: Please research the requirements of your country of residence for international travel and your destination country or countries.
*Important note: Please check on the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) status as once implemented, this will be required to visit any of the 26 Schengen-member countries for tourism, business, medical, or transit. This is an additional check on security rather than a visa.Extra Stay
It is possible to request extra accommodation in Ennis at the start or end of your tour. Pricing on request. We do not assist with extra nights in Dublin. If you are planning to spend a few days in Dublin at the end of the tour, we recommend that you book accommodation well in advance as the capital is very busy on weekends.
Tour Operator
This tour is run by Irish Cycling Safaris.
We value the strong relationship we have with our local partners and the services we provide.
We are not a broker.
We do not inflate tour prices.
We are simply travelers helping travelers.Would you like to learn more About Us? How about What Makes Us Different than other companies?
- Bus + train:
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