14 Day Wild Atlantic Way Tour

Great days ride, not too long as Kilkenny is a great little city and arriving in the afternoon allows time to visit recommended places.

Transfer to collect bike(s), then enjoy our safety orientation course, both classroom and on the road along todays actual route.

Follow the pre-programmed route to Kilkenny city via the winding rural country roads skirting the Wicklow national park, passing through the four counties of Kildare, Wicklow, Carlow and Kilkenny.

After the first couple of hours riding, you will realise why the BMW motorcycles excel so much over here.

Continue to Kilkenny medieval city,  as per the Garmin instructions.

Check in to Kilkenny accommodation.

Visit the magnificent Kilkenny Castle and St. Canices Cathedral and 9th century round Monastic tower, both in the town.

Depart Kilkenny todays ride takes you to the beautiful coastal gourmet town of Kinsale and the official start of Celtic Rider’s Wild Atlantic Way tour.

First stop is Cahir and the great Cahir Castle, optional visit.

Continue to Lismore and another great castle, Lismore Castle, not open to the public but the Castle gardens are well worth visiting. Also Lismore Hotel is quite nice for food. Lismore Hotel is the first hotel built in Ireland.

Onwards over the popular mountain pass called ‘The Vee’ with great views across 4 counties of lush Irish country side..

Continue to Midleton, optional stop at the Old Midleton Whisky Distillery.

Next stop is the enchanting Blarney Castle, just outside Cork, to kiss the Blarney stone at the parapet of this great castle, the gift of eloquence is bequeath to all who kiss this mystical stone!

Onwards to the exciting coastal town of Kinsale with its abundance of great restaurants, also of interest is Desmond’s Castle in the town, now a wine museum, and the great Charles Fort, found in your Garmin in the ‘Favourites’ section.

Check into your accommodation.

Departing Kinsale for Killarney, affectionately known as the ‘Jewel of the South West’ todays ride is very interesting.

First stop is Drumbeg Stone Circle, also known as Druids Alter, this site is 3200 years old.

Onwards to Baltimore and Baltimore Beacon with great views over Baltimore Bay. Short walk to the beacon from the car park, be careful not to go to close to the edge of the cliffs!

Ride to the Beara Peninsula, the warmest part of our island due to the warming influence of the Gulf Stream, and the amazing Healy Pass, a twisty mountain pass started to be built during the great famine years on the 1850s.

Continue to Molls Gap via Kenmare, a great scenic mountain ride, than onwards to Killarney.

En route to Killarney stop at Ladies View, outstanding view over the lakes of Killarney, than Torc Waterfall, short walk, are well worth it, both are saved in your Garmin in ‘Favourites’ and well sign posted too.

Killarney town nestles in Killarney National Park, surrounded by majestic rugged mountainous countryside including the MacGillycuddy Reeks, Irelands highest mountain range.

Check into Killarney accommodation

Either take a rest day and cruise the Killarney lakes taking in the majestic Mountain views and a pony and trap ride over the Gap of Dunloe, plus a bit of shopping, relax if you wish..

Alternatively, ride the world famous Ring of Kerry, and the incredible Gap of Dunloe, the most beautiful glaciated valley in Europe, a challenging ride but very much worth the effort.

Continue around the Ring of Kerry, and also ride the Skellig Ring, another awesome off shoot off the main Ring of Kerry route.

Continue back to Killarney accommodation.

Ride to Dingle via Blennerville, optional stop at Blennerville Windmill.

Today’s ride takes passes by a famous pub called ‘The South Pole Inn’ in Anascaul, ancestral home of Tom Crean, Arctic explorer.

Onwards to Ireland’s highest mountain pass, Conor Pass, with incredible ocean views of both sides of the Atlantic Ocean.

Be careful as streams often run across the narrow road near summit of the pass!

From Dingle, ride a truly mind blowing coastal road called the ‘Slea Head Drive’

A visit to the Blasket Islands Visitor Centre is advised.

Continue back to Dingle accommodation for the evening, great town for music and food.

Depart Dingle, ride over Conors Pass the opposite direction, great views of inland corrie lakes from the last ice age.

Follow route in Garmin to Brandon Head viewing point, stunning ocean views.

Continue to Tarbert for the delightful ferry crossing to Killimer in Clare.

Ride to the towering majestic Cliffs of Moher, – which is a World Heritage Site, famous the world over.

Return to Doolin accommodation, optional ferry from Doolin to the base of the Cliffs of Moher, unbelievable amount of wild birds nest near the base. It’s very common to see otters, dolphins and whales.

Doolin is famous in Ireland as a traditional Irish music hub with live music daily in the quaint pubs in this little village.

Departing Doolin the ride along the coast to Murrooughtoohy and Blackhead is simply mind-blowing. A short few miles into todays ride brings you to Murrooghtoohy, watch out for the sign on your left and park up.

Murrooghtoohy is unique in all the world, a limestone beach, part of the Burren National Park, covered in millions of boulders from the Ice age, beautiful wild orchids grow profusely among fissures in the rock, and the ocean is just a short 400 metre walk.

Skirting around Galway city todays ride is magical as it takes you through an ancient hauntingly beautiful landscape, a wilderness of moorland and brooding mountains, Connemara National Park.

Onwards to Clifden Town, nice traditional Irish town, good place to stop for lunch. From Clifden Town you will ride the aptly named ‘Sky Road’ with beautiful sea views.

Next must visit place is Kylemore Benedictine Abbey, set amongst a stunning backdrop, amazing gardens and good restaurant.

Onwards to Leenane, Irelands deepest fjord, Killary harbour, than ride the stunning Doo Lough Mountain Pass.

Onwards to Westport accommodation.

Optimal rest day, hire a bicycle and ride the great western greenway, take a boat trip, alternatively ride to Achill Island, largest island off our coast.

Leaving Westport for Achill island along Clew Bay, first optional stop is Burrishoole Abbey, saved in your Garmin in ‘Favourites’ set in lovely quiet countryside adjacent to a still lake.

Continue along the route to Mallarranny, and on to Achill sound, than ride over the bridge onto Achill Island itself.

The ride across the island is very dramatic and wild, with a mix of great ocean views and mountain passes.

Onwards to Keem Beach, a lovely blue star beach, ideal place for a swim on a hot summers day.

Ride back to Westport for the evening and enjoy this wonderful town, voted best town in Ireland in 2012.

Leaving Westport for Donegal todays ride takes you through the most remote part of Ireland, Ballycroy National Park.

Please visit Ballycroy National Park visitor and information centre, like all visitor centres in Ireland, this place is beautifully designed and staffed by local people, very willing to inform tourists about the history and landscape of this outstanding wilderness of moorland, with the Nephin Beg Mountains in the distance.

Visit Drumcliff burial place of W.B. Yeats, Irelands most beloved poet and storyteller. The mighty Benbulbin, a table top mountain, dominates the skyline.

Entering Donegal town, check out Donegal Castle and Magee’s tweed shop, conveniently located 100 yards from each other in the town centre.

Good restaurants are ‘The Harbour’ and ‘The Olde Castle’.

Check into Donegal accommodation for 2 nights.

Today’s ride is short in distance but totally awesome.

From Donegal ride to Killybegs, Ireland’s deep seas fishing port.

Continue to the highest sea cliffs in Europe, Slieve League Cliffs, via Carrick, turn right 100 mts after ‘The Rusty Pub’. The ride up is beyond memorable as it the sight from the upper car park.

Continue back down from the Slieve League cliffs and ride to the Irish speaking village of Glencolumbkille.

Next is a great mountain pass ride over Glengash Pass, some tight hairpins involved.

Continue on the route programmed on your Garmin GPS to Clooney, Glenties than on to Donegal accommodation & enjoy Donegal town for the evening.

Leaving Donegal for Carndonagh on the Inishowen Peninsula, we are now heading for the wild Glenveagh National Park and Castle.

Wild Irish red deer roam freely in Glenveagh National Park, as do Golden Eagles.

Entering Glenveagh National Park, note the towering mountains around you, most noticeable is Mt. Errigal, a quartzite capped mountain.

From Glenveagh visitor centre, take the dedicated mini bus to Glenveagh Castle, along Derryveagh Lake, a stunning castle, very interesting guided tour.

Ride onwards to Carndonagh town, on the wild Inishowen peninsula, highest part of Ireland.

Follow the route on your Garmin, first stop is Five Fingers Strand, largest sand dunes in Europe.

Continue north to Bamba’s Point in Malin Head, most northerly part of Ireland, enjoy awesome sea views.

Ride on to Fort Dunree, magnificent military museum towering over and overlooking Lough Swilly.

Next is the magical Mamore Mountain Pass, with wonderful ocean views from the viewing area.

Stopping at the Glenevin car park in Clonmany Village, take the short walk along an ancient gorge to view Glenevin Waterfall.

Next must visit place is Doagh Famine village in Doagh Isle, an authentic small Irish village, see for yourself what life was like during the 1840s in Ireland.

Continue to Carndonagh accommodation.

Ride to the north Antrim coastal causeway route in Northern Ireland via Derry city. Regardless of whether you are a Game of Thrones fan or not, this is a special day’s ride for you. This days ride takes you past several sites used in the multi-award-winning TV Series.

The north Antrim coastal ride is a beautiful ride with several stops along the route.

The ride takes you past Dunluce Castle. Built c1500, the iconic ruin of Dunluce Castle bears witness to a long and tumultuous history. The castle is the set for House of Greyjoy in GOT.

Bushmills is also an optional visit with the one of the oldest Whiskey distilleries in the world located there.

Shortly afterwards the route takes you to the ‘Giants Causeway’, touristy but nonetheless worth visiting, a Unesco World Heritage Site. A remarkable rock formation to experience. If the tide has been and gone, explore the pools in the columns to see the minute sea life in the form of anemone, crustaceans, shrimp and the like. Cast your eye along the scenery for GOT settings.

Next place is Ballintoy harbour. Ballintoy is a beautiful little harbour with great sea views.You will find a nice café/restaurant, and also Carrick-a-rede rope bridge. Great fun and photo opportunity to walk across to the sea stack. This is about a 10 minute walk from the parking area. GOT fans will recognise the Iron Islands Harbour

From Ballycastle you can take the Torr head coastal section for a few miles, with nice views of Scotland, but the roads are narrow and steep, bear this in mind before deciding to deviate from the recommended route.

Ride onwards to Belfast and your accommodation via Cushendall.

The Cathedral Quarter for the evening for a drink and to eat. We also recommend the Black Taxi political tour which can be arranged by the hotel receptionist. Another option, although it takes a couple of hours, is the Titanic Museum, a monument to Belfast’s maritime heritage on the site of the former Harland & Wolff shipyard in the city’s Titanic Quarter where the RMS Titanic was built.

From Belfast it takes approximately two and a half hours to get to Celtic Rider.

Optional visit to the Titanic quarter in the morning, or just ride straight back to Celtic Rider Rental station.

Returning to our rental station, we will assist with unpacking the bike, motorcycle check-in and paperwork before arranging drop off to our capital city Dublin, your hotel or Dublin Airport.