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West Cork Peninsulas
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The alluring area around Bantry has breathtaking splendour of mountain scenery. Our fixed base-Bantry- is a market town, the splendid Bantry House being a wonderful place to visit. Sheep?s head is almost devoid of traffic. Mizen Head is Ireland?s most westerly point with Mount Gabriel, its high point and Schull, a busy yachting port in the summe. Inland ? some quiet roads will lead us to Lough Allua ? and the Gaeltacht ? Irish speaking area of Ballingeary and nearby Gougane Barra ? with it?s monastic church.
COST of these tours May - ? 350.00. August ? 375.00
Single supplement: Limited number available - ?60.00 total - for 3 nights.
Cost includes 3 nights accommodation - sharing, 3 breakfasts, 2 ev. meals and 21 speed - hybrid - bike (Trek or Claud Butler) alloy frame hybrid bike hire.
Cost excludes coffee stops, sundry expenses and insurance.
Note: If you have been on a previous "Rothar cycle tour" subtract ?20.00 from brochure price.
FITNESS: Some level of fitness is required for this tour ? hilly on middle day.
You will be accompanied throughout the tour with snack?s and breakdown / pick up service if necessary.
Temperatures: Expect 14?-18? May, 20?-24? August. It can be warm in Ireland?
ACCESS TO THE TOUR: Rail ex Dublin ?
Dept. 13.00 H ? Arr. Cork 15.45H* (see bus dept.)
Dept. 14.00 H ? Arr. Cork 16.50H
Dept. 15.00 H ? Arr. Cork 17.45H (tight !)
Bus: Bantry dept.*Cork 16.30 H arr 18.40H
Bantry dept. Cork 18.00 H arr 20.05H
RETURN ? Bus Bantry to Cork
Dept. 17.00 H ? Arr. 18.25H
Dept. 18.55H ? Arr. 20.25H
Rail to Dublin ? Dept. 19.30 ? arr. 22.20H
By air: Cork airport 55 miles to Bantry. Cork airport has many U.K. and European air connections. Bus: There is a regular bus service from the airport to the bus station.
BRINGING YOUR OWN BIKE: - subtract ? 35.00 from the full price. Bike must have been serviced and in p.m.o.
Maps - Ireland south 1/250,000 covers the route. More detail maps are Discovery series no?s 85 and 88.
However a detailed map and route guide will be given out at the tour start. Also these tours are now marked at all critical junctions and turns. Just follow our "Rothar" signs.
Friday May 2nd. 2008
Meet at our centrally located accom. after 20.00 H near Bantry town centre. Retire for a drink nearby!
Saturday May 3rd.
After breakfast collect bikes. We leave Bantry for Durrus and morning coffee. By waters edge to Drishane Bridge, then uphill around Mount Gabriel. Great views from here. Decend into Schull, and lunch. The back road to Rossbrin will take us to Ballydehob. A 10.5-mile inland route returns us to Bantry 32 M (51 km)
Sunday May 4th,
This longest day will take us inland to Kealkil and morning coffee. The Shehy Mountain route is truly spectacular with a freewheel onto the south lough Allua lake road to Ballingeary. Lunch, then visit Gougane Barra forest park. Return to Bantry via the Pass of Keimaneigh. This is big Camera clicking day! 38M (61km)
Monday May 5th,
We keep the best wine till last. To Durrus for coffee - again. Then in Ahakista we visit the remarkable sculpture by Cork artist Ken Thompson on the Air India disaster in 1985 where over 320 people were blown apart in the skies over this area. We lunch in Kilcrohane. A short hill takes us to the other side of the peninsula and return to Bantry. 29 miles (48km) Enjoy your journey home. Slan abhaile.
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