MizMal Route and GPX Files

All our cycle tours are supported with GPX files of the entire route. These start at the door of the hotel you are leaving and finish right at your finish hotel. The GPX route files for your Ireland End to End cycle tour will be sent well in advance for you to check uploading to your bike computer. Any revisions will be resent.

Ireland End to End Cycle Route & Itinerary

The route is very scenic with the following itinerary (note figures may differ slightly):

Arrival Day (no cycling)

You may choose to arrive in Belfast, Dublin or Cork Airport. We prepare bikes and gear and stay over in the Cork Airport Hotel. If you have a bike box, it will be taken away and stored until the end of the tour. At the end of the tour, you can choose to be dropped off at Belfast International Airport, or in the city of Belfast.

Cycling Day 1 - Mizen Head to Glengarriff 61 km 642 m (37.881 mi 2105.76 ft)

From our hotel in Cork, we take a coach transfer to Mizen Head –one of the extreme points of the island of Ireland. We then cycle the beautiful Mizen Peninsula with its atlantic breakers and rugged coastline. We pass through the pretty coastal town of Bantry and on to Glengarriff.

Cycling Day 2 - Glengarriff to Killarney 69 km 963 m (42.849 mi 3158.64 ft)

This day includes three climbs. The Caha pass culminates at the summit with a tunnel hewn into the rock. The second climb takes us up a scenic pass to Molls Gap. Then it’s a descent to the Black Valley followed by our third climb to Killarney via the Gap of Dunloe. Killarney is a treat with its lively night life, restaurants, pubs, music and breath-taking National Park.

Cycling Day 3 - Killarney to Ballybunion 75 km 617 m (46.575 mi 2023.76 ft)

A mostly flat day of rolling rural landscapes with one significant climb. We head east on the Dingle Peninusla and then traverse the peninsula with sea views and a thrilling descent. We stop in Ballybunion with its steep and rocky cliffs, surfing beach and the first statue of former US President, Bill Clinton.

Cycling Day 4 - Ballybunion to Spanish Point 83 km 528 m (51.543 mi 1731.84 ft)

From Ballybunion we take the quiet rural roads by the Shannon Estuary to Tarbert. Then it’s a pleasant and relaxing 20 minute ferry journey across the estuary with its colony of bottlenose Dolphins. The brave can venture into the Atlantic at Spanish Point for a cool-down!

Cycling Day 5 - Spanish Point to Kinvara 79 km 685 m (49.059 mi 2246.8 ft)

Cycling Day 6 - Kinvara to Galway 39 km 222 m (24.219 mi 728.16 ft)

Cycling Day 7 - Galway to Clifden 94 km 584 m (58.374 mi 1915.52 ft)

Day 7 takes us to our most westerly point of the tour to the historic town of Clifden. We ride through the bogs of Conemarra past shimmering lakes, rivers and views of the Maamturk and Twelve Ben mountain ranges. This is one of our mot remote days and you can cycle for miles without seeing much sign of human existence. This all changes when we reach the busy hub of Clifden –popular with hikers and outdoor enthusiasts and well-known for its great seafood restaurants and pubs.

Cycling Day 8 - Clifden to Wesport 84 km 955 m (52.164 mi 3132.4 ft)

Leaving Clifden we embark on a truly spectacular day of mountain passes and fjords. We head north-east into the mountains of County Mayo. We have lunch at the Killary Fjord –nestled snuggly within the heather covered mountains. Our biggest climb is the Sheeffry Pass where we cycle the tiny roads through the sheep farms to the summit, before tackling the thrilling descent and on to Westport.

Cycling Day 9 - Wesport to Sligo 106 km 800 m (65.826 mi 2624 ft)

Today we ride off the beaten track on quiet, rural Irish roads passing through picturesque small villages and towns. The lake at Pontoon is beautifully unspoilt and largely left alone by the tourists. The terrain is gently undulating with few significant climbs. We reach Sligo on the quieter roads via Oakfield. In Sligo you will have time to enjoy its scenic river walks and cathedral. Benbulben mountain rises dramatically to the north.

Cycling Day 10 - Sligo to Donegal 86 km 716 m (53.406 mi 2348.48 ft)

We leave Sligo and head towards Rosses Point before following the coastline north-east. This area is made famous as the birth and resting place of the poet Yeats. You can take time to visit his grave as we pass Drumcliffe Cemetery. Continuing on our way, we make a shortloop around Mullaghmore with its fantastic headlands, vast sandy beach and small fishing village. We continue on to Donegal via Rossnowlagh Beach and spectacular views of the bay before arriving in Donegal –Ireland’s home of country music!

Cycling Day 11 - Donegal to Letterkenny 90 km 1130 m (55.89 mi 3706.4 ft)

On Day 11 we ride north deep into the heart of County Donegal –Ireland’s most remote county. We pick our way through quiet roads, many with grass up the middle! Passing through pretty villages such as Glenties, then along the shores of Lough Fin. From there it’s on into the bogs, mountains, rivers and lakes of the Glenveagh National Park. The views are stunning as we tackle our biggest climb of the day from Lough Barra up to one of the Park’s most photographed viewpoints.

Cycling Day 12 - Letterkenny to Malin Head 91 km 840 m (56.511 mi 2755.2 ft). Then coach to the city of Belfast via the International Airport

Leaving Letterkenny, we pass through Buncrana –the gateway to the Inishowen Peninsula and continue north. Once on the peninsula the terrain is hilly and spectacular with surprises around every bend. The tidal sea loughs are vast and unique with backdrops of distant headlands, sand dunesand mountains. Malin Head is the most northerly point and with its windy location it both looks and feels it! After celebrations and photos, we pack and head south back to Belfast where you can be dropped at the airport on the way, or in Belfast City.

Cycling Terrain and Bike Suitability

Our uniquely designed Ireland End to End cycle tour is primarily on quiet roads with a small number of joining sections on busier roads. Some cycling in towns and cities is necessary, particularly at the start and end of the day. Roads are generally well surfaced and suitable for road bike tires of 25 mm or more. We recommend a good quality and well-fitted road bike with dropped handlebars or hybrid style bike for this 12 Day ACTIVE tour. If bringing your bike in a box, we can remove it and return it to you at the end of the tour.

You can arrive with your bike fully built and ready, or in a travel box or bag. In this case your box or bag will be taken away and stored securely for the duration of the tour. It will be returned to you at the end.

Accommodation on the Ireland End to End Cycle Tour

You will sleep and eat breakfast in local, good quality hotels or guest houses in shared or single rooms. Customers are delighted with the high standard of accommodation that we provide. There is a supplement for a single room and the number of singles is limited and subject to availability. Experienced crew will support the trip with help as required. All belongings will be taken ahead to your next stopover and there will be mechanical assistance if required.

Lunch, Snacks and Refreshments

Lunch is included and will be in local restaurants, cafés or pubs - or sometimes picnic style (weather dependent!). We will provide recommendations for stopping off for coffee on the way as well. Evening meals are NOT included in the price.

Water, fruit, bars and snacks are available without limit each day from the support van. Just help yourself.

Arriving for Your Mizen to Malin Cycle Tour

The first date on any advertised tour is arrival day. Our meeting point at the start is a venue close to Cork Airport.

From Dublin Airport

If required, we can provide transfers to the Cork International Hotel on start day for you, your bike and your luggage from Dublin Airport. There is an extra supplement of £70 per person for this. Please contact us if you have other travel requirements you wish to discuss and we will do our best to assist!

International Arrivals

We are delighted that so many international cyclists ride Mizen to Malin with us. We regularly have cyclists from from the USA, Australia, Canada and of course Britain and Europe to name but a few. Get in touch if you have any specific questions or concerns. By email to hello@wildatlanticcycling.com. We can help with your planning.

Departing at the End

On the last day we cycle to Malin Head where the tour finishes at a venue close to Malin Head. From there we provide transport to the Belfast International Airport and the city of Belfast. Due to the uncertainty of finish times, we discourage you from booking onward flights on the finish evening. Instead you may wish to book into the Maldron Hotel at the Belfast International Airport, or the Premier Inn at the Titanic Quarter, Belfast and continue the next day. Your bike box / bag will be taken to your set-down point where you can then repack your bike at your leisure.

What to Expect on a Wild Atlantic Cycle Tour of Ireland

Weather on the Ireland End to End Tour

The weather is changeable. The west coast attracts low pressures and it gets its fair amount of rain.

The beauty about changeable weather is that every day can be different. Clouds form overhead and completely change the look of the landscape. One hour you can be bathed in sunshine, the next you can be marvelling at the cloud shadows, colours and rainbows against the green fields, mountains and bluffs.

A challenging day of ‘less than perfect’ cycling weather can make you feel alive like nothing else! And you will definitely want to stick around in the pub to swap survival stories!

Group Size and Tour Leaders

Our groups are generally around 12 to 18 people. All our Ireland tours go ahead with a minimum of six people.

Our groups are supported by a tour leader and assistant, both of whom have previous tour support experience and are themselves cyclists who fully appreciate just how it feels however your day pans out. The tour leader and assistant ride in the van to better aid a speedy assist where required. On most tours we also have a rider on the road with basic mechanical and first aid skills who will try to ride ‘mid-pack’, but the van generally gets there first.

At the initial briefing all cyclists are provided with the tour leader and assistant’s number, as well as that of the emergency services which they are instructed to use in the event of an emergency.

English is the main language of Ireland.

Camaraderie

Camaraderie forms a big part of the whole experience our tours provide and although single supplements are available, our tours are priced and catered for such that a single cyclist can feel comfortable making a booking and opt to share a twin room with someone they don’t know.

People tend to settle into their own way of cycling throughout the day and groups can vary from day to day and evening to evening. You can cycle at your own pace for a solitary cycle or join others.

Navigating the Ireland MizMal Cycle Route

We recommend you bring a bike computer onto which you can upload the GPX files of the route. GPX files of the Mizen to Malin route will be emailed to you before the start of the tour.

We will also email route profile sheets to help with finding your way.

Direction of Travel

We travel south to north. The prevailing wind is south-westerly so you should have more wind behind than in front!.

Bike Maintenance

Each morning (and evening) bike cleaning materials, basic tools, pumps and lubricants will be available so you can groom your trusty steeds.

You can telephone any time for mechanical support where required.

Mechanical Issues

With regards to mechanical issues it’s helpful if everyone knows how to repair a puncture or replace a tube. However, we are on call if you need help re-seating a stiff tyre on the rim.

Minor mechanicals can be dealt with roadside and where more specialist help is required we can transport you and your bike to a local bike shop to carry out repairs.

Support Van & Cyclist

Our support van with water and refreshments will pass you at least once each morning and afternoon en route to lunch and hotel so you will normally be able to access your day pack before lunch, at lunch and in the afternoon.

We usually have a Support Cyclist on the road as well.

In the afternoon we ensure we get your bag to the hotel before you arrive.

Daily Routine

Every day starts with a hearty breakfast and a briefing.

Breakfasts vary but for the most part will include full Irish breakfast (eggs, bacon, sausage, soda bread, potato bread, tomato etc. Cereals, fruit, baked goods and coffee / tea, juice are also usually available.

We’ll advise of a suitable morning coffee stop for ‘second breakfast’ and we’ll also specify a lunch stop where the van can be found.

Evening meals are available in some of our Ireland hotels. We do however advise a little walk each evening just to sample the delights these towns have to offer. Sample some Irish Guiness and enjoy the music and culture of this fun area.

Mizen to Malin Cycle Tour (13)

Mizen to Malin 13 Day Cycle Tour Route Map

Distance, Climbing & Elevation

Price

What is included in the tour

What is NOT included in the tour