DESTINATIONS WILD ATLANTIC WAY | UK & IRELAND


Another newcomer for 2024, Wilderness Ireland’s exciting bike-based itinerary exploring western Ireland combines the rewarding feeling of pedal power with the ease of e-biking. Although days on wheels can cover up to 43 miles, the boost of an e-bike’s motor means that even the most leisurely of cyclists can keep up – and there’s always a cosy Irish B&B to look forward to at the end of the day. After being picked up from


Galway train station, the tour begins in charming Clifden, Connemara, where e-bikes are hired and custom-fitted to clients’ requirements. A 10-mile warm-up cycle on Connemara’s Sky Road


reveals the waves of the Wild Atlantic Way from up high. Next day, the tour changes gear with a 40-mile loop through the mirror-like lakes and endless grasslands of Connemara National Park, stopping off at a Lough Inagh fishing lodge for lunch to give the legs a break. The scenery changes as the trip winds inland through County Clare,where greenery becomes sparse and the terraced, rocky mounds of Burren National Park take over. Although it’s Ireland’s smallest national park at just under six square miles, Burren has plenty of interesting residents: rare pine martens and lesser horseshoe bats make their homes in the nooks and crannies. An e-bike allows clients


to speed through their habitat without disturbing them, offering greater chances to spot wildlife. After returning the bikes, a


coach transfers the group back to Galway: suggest clients add on a couple of nights in this harbourside city for a bit of Irish cultural immersion. Eating a cone of brown bread ice cream from Murphy’s parlour is one way to cool off on a warm summer day. Sipping a pint of Murphy’s by the waterfront is another. Book it: E-Bike Ireland’s West Coast is priced from £2,833 (with departures on June 22, August 10 and September 21), including e-bike rental, meals, transfers and accommodation. Flights are extra. wildernessireland.com


Cycle The Dingle Peninsula


its filming locations, Inishmore. A guide born and bred on the isle will lead a wander through its harsh karst landscape, shedding light on natural wonders such as the Serpent’s Lair rectangular pool and a mystical prehistoric hill fort, Dún Aonghasa. Book it: The eight-day Walking Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way costs from £2,899. Includes seven nights’ B&B accommodation, transfers, six lunches, two dinners and listed activities. Excludes transport to Ireland. Departures from June 15. exodus.co.uk


Connemara ² travelweekly.co.uk 14 MARCH 2024 31


PICTURE: Exodus/Ireland Walk Hike Bike


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