To sign up to our peloton, please send your name and phone number to lucy@iyf.ie
Location
Cork, Kerry, Clare, Galway, Mayo, Sligo and Donegal
Duration
6 days 7 nights (6 days cycling).
Accommodation
3*/4* Hotels
Difficulty
Avid Cyclists
Elevation
6,039m
Distance
696km
Dates
Sept 25th - Oct 2nd
Rates
From €1,800
Day One
25th Sept. Dublin to Cork
This is where your adventure begins. All participants will be asked to meet at a predetermined location in Dublin. Guests are welcome to make their own travel arrangements if they so wish. We plan to leave Dublin at 10 a.m. (tbc) A coach will take the cyclists to Schull and our crew will be transferring your bikes separately.
As the journey is a little over 5 hours, we will be stopping off for lunch on the way. The group will be staying in the Schull Harbour Hotel. Once checked in, we will meet for dinner, where you will be introduced to the crew and will be briefed on the weeks cycling ahead.
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Day Two
26th Sept. Mizen to Killarney
Hotel – The Killarney Hotel
123km
Distance
1383m
Elevation
After breakfast, we will separate everyone into 3 groups of 8. Each group will be assigned a Road Captain, who will remain with the group for the week. Your bicycles will be transported to the start point by our crew and will be waiting for you on arrival.
Our first day of cycling and it’s a beautiful route to kick start the tour. We leave Mizen Head and set off to the town of Kenmare, where we will be stopping for lunch.
We have two big climbs today. The Caha Pass and Molls Gap. Both are a good tester but the stunning scenery will help take your mind off the inclines. And the scenic descents will be worth it. We will be passing Ladies View, one of the most celebrated panoramic views of The Killarney Lakes. It’s a flat run into the town of Killarney where we will be staying at The Killarney Hotel.
Day three
27th Sept. Killarney to Ennistymon.
130km
Distance
1084m
Elevation
Day Two and we’re off to Co. Clare. It’s a hilly start to the day with two climbs. Actually, it’s a bit of up and down for most of the day but another beautiful route. Quick coffee stop in Listowel before we take the ferry across the Shannon Estuary.
Back on the bikes and continue on our Wild Atlantic Way journey through a landscape like no other. At times you will feel you are cycling on another planet, Welcome to The Burren.
We have 50km of cycling through undulating landscape before we reach Lahinch. Our Hotel is situated 10 mins away in Ennistymon.
You’ve completed 2 tough days of cycling, so we have booked you in to The Award Winning Falls Hotel & Spa. You can take a dip in the pool, relax in the jacuzzi or Sauna and the bar’s not bad either.
It’s a short run into Galway tomorrow, almost a rest day! So we may even let you have an extra hour in bed. Maybe! 🙂
Day FOUR
Sept 28th. Ennistymon to Galway.
76km
Distance
645m
Elevation
Day Three of cycling and we’re off to Co. Galway. A relatively short day compared to the previous two days but still a few testing climbs to start the day before it levels out after 30 km.
We would like to get all the groups to Galway for lunch but we will see how the day pans out. Don’t worry, we will not let you go hungry! 
At this stage you will have covered over 329km and climbed more than 3,000 metres. Time for a break from the bike, the afternoon is all yours. And no better place than Galway to have some free time. We will be staying in The Ardilaun Hotel tonight. The Ardilaun Leisure Club & Gym offers complimentary access for all residents and is an exclusive leisure facility that provides a huge variety of services catering for all tastes.
So whether it’s pints or pampering you want today, your stopover in Galway has it covered.
Day Five
Sept 29th. Galway to Sligo.
153km
Distance
771m
Elevation
The Big Day. The Queens Stage. If you over did it on the pints last night you’re going to feel it today. 153 km is not far off a cyclists Marathon. We have kept down the elevation as much as possible for today, but it’s still a long way to Sligo.
We have an option for people who may not wish to travel the full distance but we encourage everyone to give it their best shot.
Lunch will be at 80km but as always our support vehicles will have what you need to keep going in-between those precious coffee stops.
Once today is completed, we can almost see the Flamme Rouge.
Allez Allez Allez!
Day SIX
Sept 30th. Sligo to LETTERKENNY
126km
Distance
1323m
Elevation
Our penultimate day will bring us to Letterkenny. Another beautiful spin awaits. In the morning we will be passing by the Dartry Mountains and the famous Ben Bulben. Welcome to Yeats Country…. “the innocent and the beautiful have no enemy but time”…..So a quick selfie and back on yer bike, it’s time for lunch in Donegal town. Fuel up well before getting back on the bike, we may have one or two more speed bumps ahead. But nothing you can’t handle after the last four days of cycling.
The Four Star Clanree hotel awaits you. Malin Head is in touching distance. We say Chapeau to all for getting this far. We might even buy you a drink (non alcoholic, we’re not there yet)
Day seven
October 1st. Letterkenny to Malin Head.
88km
Distance
833m
Elevation
Today is our Oktoberfest!! 88km and a town called Muff stands between you and Malin Head. You got this! You are about to join an elite group of cyclists who have completed this epic challenge. Not only that, you will have helped raised vital funds for The Irish Youth Foundation.
For the final day, there will be be no groups. We will cycle to our final destination together. This week is about supporting the charity and supporting each other. We started back at Mizen Head as one group and will finish at Malin Head as one group.
The Champagne (LIDL prosecco) will be waiting for you and it’s time to celebrate. A coach will be waiting to bring you back to The Clanree Hotel for a prize giving dinner. We might even hand out a Yellow Jersey, although it would be more appropriate to award a King of the Mountains jersey. Let’s see how it goes.