Cycle the Best of the Wild Atlantic Way

For regular cyclists looking to discover the Atlantic coastline and raw beauty of Ireland’s loughs and mountains by bike, cycling along the country and coastal roads of Galway, Connemara and Mayo. Experience the world famous Irish hospitality, spending each night in the heart of villages and towns at family run B&B’s and guesthouses, always within easy reach of a traditional pub or two!

Classic Routes | If you’re the active, outdoorsy type, who’s interested in taking on the great routes of the world or looking for a challenge, then our Classic Routes are for you. We’re talking the West Highland Way in Scotland, the world renown Tour Du Mont Blanc and Germany's Moselle Cycle Path, to name but a few!

Leisure Cycling | Leisure Cycling

Solo Travellers

The minimum age for this tour is: 15 Years

This cycling tour is graded moderate. The grade is determined on the basis of the entire trip. Individual days may vary in terms of difficulty, i.e. some rides may be slightly more difficult or easier than the overall grade and the daily routes follow a combination of small country lanes and coastal roads.  Please view the itinerary for more details about the daily routes. You will be cycling along sections of the Wild Atlantic Way, which may feel a little busier near towns and villages as it is a popular route for all modes of transport. There are also some fairly narrow roads and parts where traffic may go a little faster. Between Leenane and Westport, the route passes through Glenamurra, which is remote in places with little to no phone signal depending on your network provider. Please be aware of this.

This cycling tour is suitable for relatively fit and regular cyclists seeking an active holiday. You'll spend much of the day in the saddle experiencing a region and discovering its variety. Daily distance varies between 35.5km (22mi) to 67.5km (42mi), and daily total ascent/descent averages around 300m (985ft), with the exception of the ride to Cong from Westport (ascent/descent: +408/-414m or +1339/-1358ft).

During this trip you will stay in B&B's and a 3* hotel. Depending on the time of year you are travelling, you may be accommodated in a hotel or inn of equal standard, within the surrounding area.

Solo Cyclists & Single Rooms

If you’re cycling with friends or family and prefer to have your own room, single rooms are available subject to a supplementary payment. This trip is also available to solo cyclists.

Meals

The routes are partially waymarked and for the most part easy to follow. Navigation is straightforward as you can use the Macs Adventure Smartphone App which has maps, turn-by-turn directions, GPS tracks, and daily route information. Simply download the GPS tracks for offline use and follow the route on your phone with the assurance that navigation will be simple, and you can’t get lost.

You will find more information on downloading the app in your Macs Adventure Account. Should you require any assistance, we offer 24/7 telephone support throughout your trip.

This cycling tour is available between mid-April to the start of October. You have the flexibility to start on any date, subject to availability. Ireland's West Coast is particularly busy over the summer months, so if you are planning on traveling between June and August, we recommend booking in advance to avoid disappointment, especially when traveling in a group.

In our opinion, one of the most beautiful times to visit this region is in spring when colourful wildflowers are in bloom, forming a beautiful contrast against the ocean. July and August are the busiest months and accommodations tend to fill up fast, but you're also more likely to encounter a local music festival or two and you can appreciate long hours of daylight. For a quieter experience, September is an ideal month and it has the advantage of the crowds beginning to thin.

Irish weather is typically unpredictable year-round so be prepared for any conditions and you will be pleasantly surprised. No matter what month you choose to travel, being close to the Atlantic means it can get wet and windy at any time of year. It is important that you check the local weather forecast before setting off each day.

For travel planning we recommend using Rome2Rio.

Traveling to Galway:
Galway does not have an airport but the town can be easily reached from Knock Airport ("Ireland West") and Shannon Airport. Both airports are approximately a 1-hour drive from Galway. If you would like a private transfer from either of these airports please let us know in advance and we can provide you with a quote.
There is a direct bus from Knock Airport to Galway (duration: 1h30m) and from Shannon Airport (duration: 2hrs). 

From Dublin there are hourly train services to Galway (duration: 2h30m). Please check Irish Rail for timetables, prices, and tickets.  

On arrival in Galway
After arriving in Galway on Day 1 of your trip, you will be transferred to your first hotel in Clifden (duration: 1h15m). Please inform us of your arrival times so we can arrange this. The latest departure time from Galway is 4pm, as you will be required have your bike fitting this day. 

Daily door-to-door luggage transfers are included in the price of your trip, allowing you to set off on each walk carrying a light backpack.

At Macs Adventure we work in partnership with many luggage transfer providers who set a limit on how many bags/suitcases they will transfer per person, and also the weight of the bag/suitcase. Ninety-nine percent of the time they will only transfer one bag per person, but the allowed weight ranges from anything between 15 and 20kg per bag, depending on the tour you are taking. We do not have control over the limits that these providers set. Therefore, it is very important that you read the luggage information specific to your tour before departure. If you do not adhere to these limits there is a great possibility that you will be charged locally both for extra bags (including shopping bags or boots) and if they are too heavy. This limitation can be a challenge, especially as airlines generally have limits that are higher. However, our luggage providers have reasons for these limits (usually due to the Health and Safety of their employees) which we must respect.

On this trip, we ask you to keep your luggage to a maximum weight of 15 kilograms per item. Although most airlines have a standard baggage allowance of 23kg, we kindly ask you to distribute any excess weight over a separate bag. Please note that 2 bags per person are allowed, meaning 4 bags per couple.