North-west Trail, Ireland

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toroddf

Guest
How is it possible to loose out on the best bits of that area as this tour does ? That tour looks good though, but there is a better tour. Let's call it The NorthWest CycleChat Trail. And it is....

Start in Larne (ferry from UK mainland and/or train from Belfast) and the truly incredible north coast to Derry. After visiting this truly outstanding town, cycle over the border (and please report back if you find it) to Letterkenny. Then the truly incredible N57 combined with R257 and R259 to Donegal City. Then either over Fermanagh to Omagh and Belfast again with return to UK mainland or the coastal roads down to Sligo and over with a train to Dublin.

A far better route than the rather dull looking North-west Trail, delivered to you by CycleChat.
 
I'm doing something similar at the end of May. If you didn't want to go through Derry you can cut it out by using the Lough Foyle and Lough Swilly ferries. It was doubtful if they would operate this year but it seems funding has been found and they will run . The only thing is, the Swilly ferry doesn't start until June so will be no good for me.
 

jags

Guru
How is it possible to loose out on the best bits of that area as this tour does ? That tour looks good though, but there is a better tour. Let's call it The NorthWest CycleChat Trail. And it is....

Start in Larne (ferry from UK mainland and/or train from Belfast) and the truly incredible north coast to Derry. After visiting this truly outstanding town, cycle over the border (and please report back if you find it) to Letterkenny. Then the truly incredible N57 combined with R257 and R259 to Donegal City. Then either over Fermanagh to Omagh and Belfast again with return to UK mainland or the coastal roads down to Sligo and over with a train to Dublin.

A far better route than the rather dull looking North-west Trail, delivered to you by CycleChat.
looking at your website at the moment some great tours photos are excellent, can i ask what was your favourate tour and have you got it listed.:bicycle:
 

toroddf

Guest
looking at your website at the moment some great tours photos are excellent, can i ask what was your favourate tour and have you got it listed.:bicycle:

My favorite tour ? That is a very, very (impossible !) difficult choice. But in Northern Ireland, it is most definate the Antrim coast tour. For the rest, I do not know. I had one excellent 60 km tour two days ago which gave me a massive boost (my girlfriend thought I was on cocaine... I was not !!).

I honestly cannot answer your question. I got so many, many great moments on the bike.
 

jags

Guru
My favorite tour ? That is a very, very (impossible !) difficult choice. But in Northern Ireland, it is most definate the Antrim coast tour. For the rest, I do not know. I had one excellent 60 km tour two days ago which gave me a massive boost (my girlfriend thought I was on cocaine... I was not !!).

I honestly cannot answer your question. I got so many, many great moments on the bike.
thanks for that we will be cycling the antrim coast come this may on our tour of ireland. thanks again
 

toroddf

Guest
Remember that you have the possibility to do the Larne to Coleraine. Then you can jump on the train to Derry (check the train times before leaving) for a quick bypass of the less interesting bit and then spend some time in this very fascinating town before you head of again on the road. Don't forget to visit Bushmills distillery for the obligatory my-bike-and-a-distillery photo.... :laugh:
 

jags

Guru
Remember that you have the possibility to do the Larne to Coleraine. Then you can jump on the train to Derry (check the train times before leaving) for a quick bypass of the less interesting bit and then spend some time in this very fascinating town before you head of again on the road. Don't forget to visit Bushmills distillery for the obligatory my-bike-and-a-distillery photo....
thanks for that i was reading your epic tour of the mourns 250km in one day wow over all those hills .
no wonder your folks were worried about you:wacko: ferry service in malin still there.
 

spokes101

New Member
It was doubtful if they would operate this year but it seems funding has been found and they will run . The only thing is, the Swilly ferry doesn't start until June so will be no good for me.
avatar4.jpg
 

tyred

Squire
Location
Ireland
Remember that you have the possibility to do the Larne to Coleraine. Then you can jump on the train to Derry (check the train times before leaving) for a quick bypass of the less interesting bit and then spend some time in this very fascinating town before you head of again on the road. Don't forget to visit Bushmills distillery for the obligatory my-bike-and-a-distillery photo.... :laugh:

I disagree. The seacoast road between Coleraine and Limavady is well worth a ride. Downhill, Castlerock, Magilian Point and Benone are simply beautiful spots, Musenden Temple on the clifftop at Downhill is one of the most iconic landmarks in the north of Ireland. If you have really low gearing and fancy a bit of hill climbing, take the B201 from Coleraine through Binevenagh Forest (I warn you that it is seriously lumpy, but the coast road is fine). I agree that Limavady to Derry is boring but it's only about 15 miles, or you could get the train to Derry from Benone.
 
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