Belleek Castle, Markree castle (one of the oldest in Ireland), and Teach Iorrais, (pronounced ‘chalk urrish’) are the places we stay on this amazing tour.

Sights to look forward to, to mention but a few are – the road along Lough Easky, the road from Dromore West to Collooney, the road out to Teach Iorrais, (remote!) and the spin from Collooney to Pontoon. Every day is lovely and quite different to our other two tours.

Day 2
We have a short bus ride this morning to Cong where we begin our trek. Our first spin takes us up along Lough Easky, through Toormakeady and on to Westport. Along the way we have the now famous hill of Maumtrasna to negotiate. Whilst it is a hill, no doubt about that, it is only 800 metres long and the views from the top have got to be some of the most spectacular in the country. So well worth the effort. Then after the descent down the other side along the lake we usually stop and have lunch in the thatched pub just before Toormakeady Look forward to the fish chowder…. We stay right on the quay in Westport and a walk through the town is highly recommended as there are some lovely shops in the town.

Day 3
Today we cycle way out west to a village called Gweesalia. And we stay in the very comfortable Teach Iorrais. You will notice all the signs are in Gaelic as this region we are in all day is one of the last all Irish speaking regions in Ireland. Today’s spin has very little points of interest but this is not to say it is not nice, just wild remote countryside. And Celtic Trails takes an extra loop out past the hotel, (14 miles) that some people described last year as, ‘the most beautiful road we have ever cycled. Honestly didn’t want it to end’. This road goes out around the coast and some of the beaches along it are truly gorgeous. A road one has to ride in one’s lifetime. No doubt about it.

Day 4
We head for Ballina today and the wonderful Belleek Castle is our resting point. Belleek is one of our favourites. Real, not ‘touristy’. It houses one of the most spectacular armories in Ireland and also has an amazing collection of artifacts from the Spanish Armada. There’s lots to see at Belleek castle that’s for sure. And we usually take the whole place over because it is not very big, so we have the run of the place! Dinner? Perfect. Some of the roads we ride today are so quiet you’ll not see a car for miles. And then we hit the coast at Downpatrick Head… Then there’s Polke’s in Ballycastle, Kilalla Bay, the back road to Belleek. Honestly, this is quite a day.

Day 5
Most spectacular spin of the week today, from Ballina to Collooney. The road from Dromore west along the coast to Collooney is amazing. No other way to explain it. We stay in another one of those damn castles tonight. Markree Castle. Breath – taking is the only way to describe the entrance to the castle. One of the oldest in Ireland and lived in by the very same family since it was built hundreds of years ago! This place is quite an experience. We have lunch by the sea, in a place called, ‘Aughris’, (bet you never heard of that before), and on a nice day one can see all the way up the coast to Donegal, including Ben Bulben, a mountain made famous by none other than W.B. Yeats.

Day 6
We decide that seeing as how this place is so nice we would stay two days. Horse riding? A wee spin on the bikes? Walk the grounds? Or just relax. Up to yourself.

Day 7
Last spin today. A nice one for you too. From Collooney through the bogs to Pontoon. Are there any cars in this country?! You will like these roads today.

Day 8
We will take you to the airport at whatever time you need.