Last year a band of intrepid Tools For Solidarity (TFS) volunteers and friends had the crazy notion to cycle from Belfast to Cork. They looked at the map and thought it must be downhill all the way. Nevertheless they managed to do this 280-mile cycle in only 4 days!
Inspired by this feature a new group of volunteers, friends, family and assorted followers are taking to the saddle for their own West Side Story — Galway to Enniskillen — from the 6th to the 13th July. It is partially to raise funds for our workshop in Downpatrick, please donate generously, and partially to see some beautiful parts of Ireland with some beautiful people.
We will be snapping away and uploading pictures to some social networking thingy — cause if you don’t take a picture of it, it hasn’t happened…
The “route” — not fixed in stone:
We have worked out the “route” to take us to some of the most beautiful and interesting places on the west coast of Ireland, Galway to Enniskillen, from the 6 to the 13 of July 2013.
The trip starts in Galway heads to Connemara, then through Louisburgh, Westport to Achill, then North to the Mayo coast and along to Sligo and finally Enniskillen. The overall distance is 560 km or about 350 miles in old money — working out at 50 miles per day — wee buns!
There is flexibility built into the planning, routes and end point — we could finish a day earlier in Sligo, if necessary. Options to be discussed when we are on the road!
Geoff has very kindly agreed to take us all down to Galway in a 14 seater minibus! Start time on Saturday is 8am sharp from Newington Street, Belfast. And the bikes need to be delivered this Friday (tomorrow).
Day 1: Claude Toft Park, Salthill, Galway to Roundstone, 81 km R336/R340/R342/R341, Camping at Gurteen Bay, Gurteen Bay Caravan Holiday Park
Day 2: Roundstone to Lettergesk, 48 km R341/N59/R344/N59 (West)/Renvylie, Connemara Coastal Loop, Connemara Caravan And Camping Park
Day 3:
Option 1: Lettergesh to Achill Island — Connemara Coastal Loop, Roonah Point, Clare Island, Cloghmore, Sandybanks, Achill — 79 + 10 to 15 km (cycling on Clare Island), Connemara Coastal Loop/N59 (East)/R335/R378/Mweelin/R319, Keel Sandybanks Caravan & Camping Park
Option 2: Lettergesh to Westport, 61 km, Connemara Coastal Loop/N59 (East)/R335/L1824/N59/N5 Westport House
Option 3: Lettergesh to Achill Island, 119 km, Connemara Coastal Loop/N59 (East)/R335/L1824/N59/Westport cycle way/R319 Lavelle’s Golden Strand Caravan & Camping Park or Seal Caves Caravan and Camping Park or Valley House Hostel Camping
Day 4: Rest Day on Achill or Westport to Sandybanks, 7 Km, via the Great Western Greenway and R319
Day 5: Achill to Rossport, 83 km, head northwest on Keel Holiday Cottages/R319/N59/R313/L1204/R314/L1023, this is the only day where we do not have a confirmed campsite
Day 6: Rossport to Enniscrone 82 km, L1023/R314/R297, Atlantic Caravan and Camping Park, Enniscrone
Day 7:
Option 1: Enniscrone to Strandhill, 61 km R297/N59/R292 /R277, Strandhill Caravan & Camping Park
Option 2: Enniscrone to Lough Arrow, 75 km R297/N59/R290, Lough Arrow Touring Caravan Park
Day 8:
Option 1: Strandhill, Marble Arch Caves to Enniskillen, 66 + 21 km R297/N59/R292 /R277, Strandhill Caravan & Camping Park
Option 2: ELough Arrow, Marble arch Caves to Enniskillen, 65 + 21 km R297/N59/R290, Lough Arrow Touring Caravan Park
The approximate route:
Join the facebook event here
Dear Melissa,
It will be a pleasure to have you there with us. You are very welcome!
I’m really happy to have the possibility to share with you this experience, purple rain-my bike- as well..if she will reborn in the next week. Thanks and see you soon for the organisation. If you need some food for the trip the 5th and the 6th of july Tesco will collect food to donate to charity associations for helping vulnarable people around Uk.
http://www.fareshare.org.uk/getinvolved/help-us-feed-people-in-need/