Day 1 - Arrival - Ballynahinch
You will be collected from Shannon or Galway airport and will be brought to you hotel in Ballynahinch Castle where you will spend the first two nights. Route notes and maps for your tour will be waiting for you at your hotel. You will be met by a Connemara Adventure Tours representative this evening or tomorrow morning to allocate your bicycles and equipment.
Day 2 – Around Ballynahinch
You have a choice of relaxing in the wonderful surroundings of Ballynahinch Castle or taking a break from the bicycle and walking hand and hand in its wooded areas. Ballynahinch is steeped in a wealth of tradition and has been intertwined in the history of Connemara and its people for many centuries. From the days of the O' Flaherty Chieftains, to Grace O'Malley, the Pirate Queen of Connemara, to Humanity Dick Martin, founder of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and to H.R.H. the Maharajah Ranjitsinji, also known as the 'Ranji', Prince of Cricketers. There is also a lovely cycling route for you around the South Connemara Peninsula going via Cashel and Carna to Kilkerin returning on the bog road and through Ballinafad back to Ballynahinch.Tonight your dinner is included in the restaurant of Ballynahinch Castle.
Day 3 – Cycle from Ballynahinch to Lough Inagh Valley - 17 kms
From Ballynahinch you take a breathtaking cycling through the Lough Inagh Valley which has spectacular views over Lough Inagh with the Twelve Bens Mountain range on your left and the Mamturks on your right.
Your accommodation at Lough Inagh is located in a wonderful secluded valley in the Connemara Mountains. Your meal tonight will be in Lough Inagh Lodge, a rebuilt fishing lodge. On the shores of a freshwater lough, seafood and game is a speciality in the restaurant with delicious home-baked bread at all meals.
Day 4 – Cycle from Lough Inagh to Renvyle - 30 kms
Through the Lough Inagh Valley you make your way via Kylemore Abbey where a visit of Kylemore Abbey is worth a visit with its Victorian Walled Gardens, visitor centre and audiovisual theatre. It has a wonderful history where in 1862 Mitchell Henry, a wealthy Manchester merchant, inherited a fortune from his father with which he decided to build the Victorian Kylemore Castle, as a present to his wife Margaret. They had first seen Kylemore on their honeymoon in 1850. From Kylemore you continue your cycle to Renvyle where you stay in a wonderful hotel at the end of the peninsula.
Day 5 – Cycle from Renvyle to Cleggan and visit Inishbofin Island - 23 kms
Well fed and well rested, you will leave the mainland today to the Island of Inishbofin. Leaving Renvyle you will cycle to the small fishing village of Cleggan. Today Inishbofin has a population of about 200 people, but was chosen in 655 by St Coleman for the site of his monastery, as it was a place of tranquillity and peace. Several safe sandy beaches strewn with shells and with crystal clear water make swimming, snorkeling and diving a joy. You will be taken to “Bofin” on a ferry, where you will get a chance to settle into your hotel before sampling the islands wonderful pubs & hopefully one of their legendary music sessions.
Day 6 - Cycle from Cleggan to Clifden - 38 kms
You depart after breakfast you will take the morning ferry back to Cleggan. Today’s destination is Clifden via Claddaghduff (visit the island of Omey if the tide is out) and the Sky Road offering you fabulous views over Clifden Bay and the islands lying out in the Atlantic. This evening you will have a chance to discover all this vibrant charming town has to offer.
Day 7 - Departure
Breakfast, followed by farewell and departure!