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Ireland suggestions

Old 05-16-19, 03:22 PM
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1-track-mind
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Ireland suggestions

My wife and I have 5 days starting from Galway in mid-June. We are in our sixties in average shape. What's our best bet for coastal scenery and light traffic?
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Old 05-16-19, 04:32 PM
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Take the R336 west from Galway, then the R340/2/1 to Clifden, then the N59 to Lenane. Continue on the N59 to Westport, do the Westport greenway cyclepath to Achill Island which you might like to tour (hilly). Along the coast to Belmullet and from there along the coast to Ballina to Sligo.

I did Belmullet to Galway in three days a few years ago when I was in my mid-sixties.
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Old 05-16-19, 06:02 PM
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Originally Posted by Caretaker
Take the R336 west from Galway, then the R340/2/1 to Clifden, then the N59 to Lenane. Continue on the N59 to Westport, do the Westport greenway cyclepath to Achill Island which you might like to tour (hilly). Along the coast to Belmullet and from there along the coast to Ballina to Sligo.

I did Belmullet to Galway in three days a few years ago when I was in my mid-sixties.
Thanks,that looks great... and if you were going to do a hub and spoke ? Galway,Westport or Ballina?
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Old 05-17-19, 02:57 AM
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Originally Posted by 1-track-mind
... and if you were going to do a hub and spoke ? Galway,Westport or Ballina?
Personally I would go for Westport because it's a town rather than a city like Galway and has good cycling facilities and businesses that serve the Greenway. Ballina is fine but more limited.
Both Westport and Galway are popular visitor towns/cities so best to book your accommodation ahead of time.

Good luck.
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Old 05-18-19, 04:01 AM
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A good online resource for routing is https://cycle.travel/map

The streetview option is particularly handy when in strange places....
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Old 05-22-19, 06:37 AM
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Originally Posted by Caretaker
Personally I would go for Westport because it's a town rather than a city like Galway and has good cycling facilities and businesses that serve the Greenway. Ballina is fine but more limited.
Both Westport and Galway are popular visitor towns/cities so best to book your accommodation ahead of time.

Good luck.
Thanks so much. Westport looks like a better option for sure. The other option I neglected to mention for a hub and spoke tour is Sligo.

What is the policy for transporting bikes on trains ?

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Old 05-22-19, 06:59 AM
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Originally Posted by 1-track-mind
What is the policy for transporting bikes on trains ?
Officially only two bikes allowed per train but often see up to 7 on a train, railway staff are usually very accommodating but you might be unlucky and meet a bad one . Best to book your two bikes on the train then if there's any argument you will be the ones allowed on.
You could also use the bus network where it's at the 'driver's discretion' but if you go outside busy hours there shouldn't be a problem. The Bus Éireann (semi-state bus company but there are also private operators) terminus is right beside the train station in Galway city.
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