Arrival
We will collect you in Galway and transfer you to Oughterard, where after checking in you can try out your bikes and equipment during a short trip along Lough Corrib. Over dinner, you can get to know your fellow cyclists, and your bike guide will run through the itinerary for the week ahead. Then you may just want to sample a Guinness before retiring.

Oughterard to the Aran Island of Inishmore
The biking proper starts with a beautiful 18-mile cycle to the port of Rossaveal. We take a 50min ferry ride to Inishmore, largest of the Aran Islands. After lunch there is time to explore some of the many magnificent historic sites on the island, such as the cliff-top stone-age fort of Dun Aenghus, the Seven Churches, Dun Eoichall, or Teampall Chiaran. Dinner in the evening can be followed by a visit to the lively pubs in Kilronan.

Inishmore – Clifden
There is a chance to visit the impressive Black Fort and perhaps do a little shopping for one of the famous Aran sweaters before we catch the noon ferry back to Rossaveal. After lunch we cycle west through the magnificent Connemara landscape to the town of Clifden, often labelled the metropole of Connemara. The bicycle ride offers plenty of great vistas of the Twelve Bens – the mountain range that sits at the heart of Connemara. Along the way there are several locations where peat is dug for fuel. Accommodation for the next two nights is the family run Foyle’s Hotel in the centre of Clifden.
58km (36mls) climb 250m, longer option available

Clifden Restday, other activities or loop cycles
This is a day where you have various alternatives, perhaps take a day out of the saddle and try your hand at horseback-riding or play a round of golf on the Connemara Links Course, but for those who wish to bicycle there are loop rides availble. Cycle out along the Sky Road to enjoy some sublime coastal scenery. Or head for a longer ride south of Clifden all along the coast to Ballyconneely and Roundstone, before returning to Clifden over a beautiful bog-road.
41km/25mls – climb 292m – 17km/11mls – climb 200m

Westport  –  Loop Rides

Various options for today, hike Ireland’s Holy Mountain Croagh Patrick, cycle the Greenway one of Ireland’s only dedicated cycle trails along the old railway line from Westport to Achill Island or alternatively there is a loop ride into the Partry Mountains and over to Tourmakeady before returning to Westport. You might like to top off your tour with a visit to one of the town’s many musical pubs – Matt Malloy’s (Matt of Chieftains fame) is a favourite.
(57km (36mls) climb 578m – shorter option available)

Breakfast, followed by farewell and departure for your onward journey.

Leenane Hotel

Located overlooking Killary Harbour the hotel offers 66 rooms, all individually decorated some with antique furnishings. The hotel also offers reception rooms and facilities, including a Bar, a spacious Restaurant and a Private Residents Lounge, with free Wifi.
The Restaurant has a deserved reputation for serving good food and fine wines with local produce high on the list of specialties. Locally grown and of the highest standards, on offer are regional specialties such as fresh Killary Bay Salmon and Rack of Connemara Mountain Lamb.

Foyle’s Hotel

Connemara’s longest established hotel, situated in the picturesque town of Clifden, has been owned and managed by the Foyle family for nearly a century.

This impressive building, has recently been redesigned to the highest modern standards, yet retains much of its old charm and atmosphere.