Clare & the Burren

Skill Level — Easy–Moderate

This is an easy to moderate, self-guided, or supported hotel tour. The roads are all tarmacked and the route is designed to ensure that you spend most of the week on quiet back roads. Occasionally it will be necessary to ride on busier roads which is unavoidable as there may be no minor roads on certain stretches of the route. To experience the majestic scenery of this area the route does have some climbs, so it is worth getting a few weekends training on a bike in varied terrain before coming, thus ensuring that you can fully enjoy the week. It will make your time in the saddle much more enjoyable. Cycling requires a good command of your bike, good balance, and the ability to stop and start quickly.

Airport Info

Fly into Shannon International Airport (SNN/EINN) or Dublin International Airport (DUB). Shannon is the closest airport, but Dublin will have more route options.

Local Travel

Shannon Airport:
Bus Eireann provides connections to and from all of Ireland’s major cities. From the airport, the city center of Ennis is only 13 miles away and costs approx. €13. If you prefer a taxi, the cost will be approx. €35.

Dublin Airport:

1. Bus + train:
   Take the Airlink shuttle (bus) service into Dublin city where you can transfer to a train to Ennis from Heuston Station. The bus requires exact currency which is approximately €6 for a single adult ticket into the city. The train to Ennis takes approx 2 hrs 20 mins. Details of all train travel are on IrishRail.
   
2. Bus:
   There is a bus service direct from Dublin city to Ennis available. Check BusEireann for more information.

Climate

Ireland is called the Emerald Isle. The rolling, green hills and lush landscapes are possible because of the frequent rainfall so don’t forget your rain gear, as well as your sun hat, as a day that starts with rain, can end with glorious sunshine! However, because it is an island, located near the gulf stream, Ireland has a very mild climate making it ideal for cycling. The temperature range during the summer is between 15 and 22 degrees centigrade (60 to 72 degrees Fahrenheit).

Day of Rest

Day 5 is a day of rest in Ballyvaughan. The day can be spent doing a wide variety of activities. You can join a wonderful four-hour walking tour of the Burren with a local man who is a very entertaining character and an encyclopaedia of knowledge on the area. There is also an optional short cycle to the impressive ruins of a Cistercian Abbey or you can visit the nearby Ailwee Caves. Alternatively, the day could be spent relaxing in this attractive village

Recommended

Padded cycling shorts and/or a gel saddle cover which will definitely make your cycling days more comfortable. Rain gear is not provided. Be sure to bring some lightweight rain gear.

Remarks

If you wish to use toe clips please bring your own pedals with toe clips (and spanner) which you can attach to your bikes, as they come with flat pedals. You can also bring your own saddle which should be possible to attach.

The rental bikes don’t have lights. This is no problem on the long summer evenings, but if you are traveling in May or September, please bring your own light or high-visibility vest.

There are a limited number of electric bikes available for this tour. Please request at the time of booking.

Important to know

Covid Entry Requirements

Due to the changing requirements for entry, it is imperative that you stay up to date on requirements set by the country/countries that you are visiting. Please visit our Travel Restrictions Tool page and the country/countries government webpage for this information.

Documents

Before you travel, please check your country's passport and visa requirements and the passport and visa requirements of the country/countries you plan to visit. For US citizens, the US Department of State website is a good source of information. The Country Information tab in the International Travel section provides details about passport validity, blank passport pages required, etc. For our other international clients, please be sure that you research your own country's travel requirements. It is each traveler's responsibility to ensure proper documentation.

*Important note: Beginning July 1, 2021, additional documentation from the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) will be required to visit any of the 26 Schengen-member countries for tourism, business, medical, or transit. This is an additional check on security rather than a visa.

More on self-guided vs. supported

Self-guided tours assume a level of independence and a desire to cycle at your own pace without the pressure of cycling with a group or guide. GPS tracks are available as well as good maps and route descriptions. For this tour, on the set departure dates, you will have the back-up of a guide and support van if the bookings reach 8 or more. The aim is to allow you to feel like an independent traveler, free to cycle each day at your own pace while at the same time having the security of knowing that support is close by!  If bookings are less than 8, you must be prepared to cycle completely self-guided.

Extra Stay

It is possible to request extra accommodation in Ennis at the start or end of your tour. Pricing on request. We do not assist with extra nights in Dublin. If you are planning to spend a few days in Dublin at the end of the tour, we recommend that you book accommodation well in advance as the capital is very busy on weekends.

Tour Operator