Clare & the Burren

Day 1: Arrival in Ennis, Co. Clare
Day 2: Ennis to Spanish Point, 30 mi. (48 km)
Day 3: Spanish Point to Doolin, 29 mi. (46 km)
Day 4: Doolin to Ballyvaughan, 31 mi. (50 km)
Day 5: Rest day in Ballyvaughan
Day 6: Ballyvaughan to Kinvara, 24 mi. (39 km)
Day 7: Kinvara to Ennis, 31 mi. (49 km)
Day 8: Departure from Ennis

*All distances are approximate. Due to circumstances beyond control, weather conditions or provisions issued by local authorities, therefore the itinerary may be subject to some changes before and/or during your holiday. For example, along the way you may find temporary deviations/detours caused by roadwork, In this case, please follow the directions posted on site.

Day 1: Ennis, Co. Clare
On arrival in Ennis, you will make your way to your B&B. Check-in is after 2:00 pm on the day of arrival. A folder containing your route details and information on collection of your bikes will be waiting for you at the guesthouse. Ennis is a fantastic town for music and entertainment so the rest of the day can be spent relaxing and enjoying the sights.

Accommodation: Ashford Court Hotel

Day 2: Ennis - Spanish Point, 30 mi. (48 km)
In the morning you will cycle towards West Clare, cycling along quiet country roads through rolling green fields to the Coast. You stay the night in a comfortable Hotel at Spanish Point. The area gets its name named from those Spanish Armada Ships which sank here in 1588 during their retreat home to Spain.

Accommodation: Bellbridge Hotel

Day 3: Spanish Point - Doolin, 29 mi. (46 km)
Cycling along quiet country roads you meander your way to the popular holiday town of Lahinch where you stop for lunch. In the afternoon, you visit the Cliffs of Moher which rise a spectacular 660 ft up from the Atlantic waves below. You can stroll along the cliff face and watch the birds gliding in the updraft. After visiting the cliffs you head to the village of Doolin. That night you can have a pub meal and enjoy the wealth of traditional music for which the village is famous.

Accommodation: Suantrai B & B or Seascape

Day 4: Doolin - Ballyvaughan, 31 mi. (50 km)
In the morning you begin to see the first hints of the limestone landscape of the Burren and visit the monastic site at Kilfenora and its stone high crosses. Kilfenora is also home to the Burren Heritage Centre which gives you an excellent insight into the formation and history of the Burren. Later you can stop off for lunch at the matchmaking town of Lisdoonvarna.
The afternoon's cycle is a beautiful run where the road hugs the coastline with Galway Bay and the Aran Islands on your left and the limestone cliffs of the Burren on your right. You stop for two nights in our comfortable hotel in the seaside village of Ballyvaughan.

Accommodation: Wild Atlantic Lodge or Hylands Hotel

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

Accommodation: Wild Atlantic Lodge or Hylands Hotel

Day 6: Ballyvaughan - Kinvarra, 24 mi. (39 km)
The cycle heads straight into the heart of the Burren where you can visit the locality and most famous historical sight, the Poulnabrowne Dolmen a small ancient burial site dating back to 2500BC. Veering off the beaten track you can stop at the village of Carran for lunch in an old police barracks. In the afternoon, you cycle through quiet backroads to visit the Burren Perfumery which makes a wide variety of perfumes using the local flora and has a wonderful slide show illustrating the beautiful and unique botany of this region. You then descend through a limestone lunar landscape to the pretty seaside village of Kinvarra where you spend the night.

Accommodation: Kinarva Guesthouse or Fallon's B & B

Day 7: Kinvarra - Ennis, 31 mi. (49 km)
For the last day, you head back into the Burren through another limestone moonscape, passing Lough Buny and the impressive Mullaghmore before stopping for lunch in Corafin. In the afternoon, you can visit a 16th Century Tower House and an even older monastic sight . This is also the site of the famous battle of Dysert O’Dea where the Irish Chieftains defeated the Normans and kept them out of Clare for another 200 years. You then cycle back into Ennis for a final night on the town.

Accommodation: Ashford Court Hotel

Day 8: Departure

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You will be staying in guesthouses, B&B’s, or occasionally small hotels. Below in the day to day details, you will find the preferred accommodations listed. The majority of the time, these small establishments do not have elevators so please pack accordingly. All hotel bookings are based on availability. If the preferred accommodation is not possible, a suitable alternative of equal standard will be booked.