The Grand Guided Motorcycle Tour of Ireland
11 Days (10 Nights) : 17th - 27th June, 2010
On the first day you will collect your rental motorcycle and after a full briefing we will go on a orientation ride to Larne in County Antrim Northern Ireland and our first nights hotel. There everyone will get to know each other over a meal or possibly a pint or two of Ireland's famous dark brew.
Friday, and we will take an easy ride to a local viewoint for before setting off along the A2, the famous Antrim Coast Road with it's stunning views across the North Channel to Scotland. Past the Glens of Antrim we will stop for a look at Carrick-A-Rede rope bridge and the Giants Causeway before arriving at our hotel overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.
Sunday morning and we'll follow the little roads to view the sea cliffs at Slieve League, reputed to be Ireland's highest. there will be an opportunity to stop in Donegal before we head south to Sligo and the lovely, lonely mountains of County Mayo and to our hotel on Achill Island.
Monday, and it's off around the Atlantic Drive and a visit to a mountain top viewpoint before leaving Achill and travelling through Connemara to the village of Cong, still celebrating the fact that the John Wayne film, "The Quiet Man" was filmed in the locality in the 1950's. Read the book, see the film: buy the T shirt, mug, fridge magnet etc.etc... we stay in Cong tonight.
Wednesday we cross the River Shannon on a ferry (15 mins and less than 10 Euro) to the County Kerry shore. We will travel over Irelands highest mountain road to the pretty town of Dingle, famous for it's colourful shopfronts, Irish music and dolphin... it has taken up residence in the bay. Tonight we will have the opportunity to sample some traditional music and nightlife.
An easy start on Thursday to allow you some time in Dingle before taking the road out to Slea head and Ireland's most westerly point, Another film, Ryans Daughter was filmed here in the early 1970's. We have to return to Dingle Town to take the road along the southern coast of the Dingle Peninsula to our hotel for the last 3 nights of the tour close to the bustling town of Killarney.
Friday and it's a day of mountain passes as we take the road into the Caha mountains, through some short tunnels into Co. Cork and onto the Beara Peninsula for the Healey Pass. This takes us back into Co. Kerry where we will ride the most scenic part of the road around the Iveragh Peninsula which is known as The Ring of Kerry. If is is clear we should have some fine views of Carrauntoohil, Ireland's highest mountain at 1038metres.
No trip to Ireland would be complete without a visit to Blarney Castle and the famous Blarney Stone... kiss it and you have the "Gift of the Gab", lets see who dares to lean back from the castle wall to complete the challenge... After visiting Blarney we'll travel through delightful West Cork and back to Killarney and our last night of the tour.
Sunday morning and it's time to make our way back home across Ireland to Dublin and then due North to our base to drop of the motorbikes.
Most days we will be riding 150 - 200 miles, so some touring experience is required for this tour. The cost of the tour includes ten nights hotel accommodation with full Irish breakfast, hire of a motorbike, parking at the hotels for the motorbikes, daily itinerary and route description, and the services of an experienced motorcycle tour leader.
Rental Motorcycle and Tour - Rider and passenger (sharing) £2550
Lowered Bikes Available
(Prices shown include rental of motorcycle, experienced tour guide, B&B or 3 star hotel accommodation. Not included are fuel, food (except breakfast), drinks, ferries, parking, entrance to tourist sites, fines, tickets or any other personal costs you may incur during your trip).