Circuit of Ireland by bicycle

In 1990 I wrote: "While a student, with bicycle and friend, I discovered the magic of Ireland in 1960. The next year I returned with my brother of 16. Newly graduated, I hoped to cycle the Circuit of Ireland before a working career brought an end to long holidays. He found the going hard and my enthusiasm over ardent. We started at Cork, but quarreled at Tra-na-Rosann and left through Larne, the Circuit not Complete. Since then my bike and I have explored most corners of this lovely Island. Still I yearn for the consumation of the Circuit. Now 50, less fit but enthusiastic, circumstances permit the realisation of a dream of 30 years. A third age brings a long holiday away from the madding crowd. May the gods smile on my enthusiasm this time" Later in 1990 I wrote again: "I did it! In 28 days, 1559 miles, 21 Hostels, 7 B&Bs. Weather generally good, 5 punctures, 2 broken spokes." In 2010 I write: Now I am 70, my brother says he would like to have a go at the Circuit himself next year, what route did I take? So I dig out my old logbook, and use it to knock up this website, and put it online to help him. Good luck little brother, send me a postcard from Slieveleague! Contact the author on for more information.

Route | Some photos | Logbook | Bike Problems | Poems | Weather | Kit | Hostels | Log 1961

Route in red dots, overnights in large red dots, total miles in blue

DAY Date Weather ROUTE miles 1 May 10 Rain Poole - Oxford - Wolverhampton - Crewe - Holyhead - LLandudno - Dunleary - DUBLIN YH 10 2 May 11 Sun Dublin - Enniskerry - Glendalough - Laragh - Drumgoff -AGHAVANNNAGH YH 47 3 May 12 Sun Aughavannagh - Aughrim - Shillelagh - Carnew - Ferns - Enniscorthy - Adamstown- New Bawn - Gusserane - ARTHURSTOWN YH 75 4 May 13 Cloud Passage East - Taramore - Annestown - Bunmahon - Dungarvon - Annestown - Cappoquin - LISMORE YH 60 5 May 14 Rain Tallow - Rathcormac - Cork - Belgooley - KINSALE YH 56 6 May 15 Rain Ballinspittle - Timoleague - Clonakilty - Rosscarbery - Leap - Skibbereen - Baltimore - CAPE CLEAR YH 52 7 May 16 Wind Skibbereen - Ballydehob - Schull - Goleen - Mizzen Head - Goleen - Dunmanus - DURRUS B&B 60 8 May 17 Sun Ahakista - Kilcrohane - Ballroon -Sheeps Head - (Goulado - Bantry) - GLENGARRIF B&B 28 9 May 18 Sun Adrigole - Castletownbere - Dursey - Allihies - Eyeries - GLANMORE LAKE YH 73 10 May 19 Cloud Kenmare - Sneem - Parknasilla - Cahirdaniel - Waterville - Ballinskelligs - Portmagee - Knightstown - VALENTIA YH 85 11 May 20 Cloud Portmagee - Cahirciveen - Kells - Glenbeigh - Kiloglin - Castlemaine - INCH B&B 59 12 May 21 Sun Anascaul - Dingle - Ventry - Slea Head - DUNQUIN YH 30 13 May 22 Sun Ballyferiter - Dingle - Conor Pass - Camp - Tralee - Listowel - Tarbert - KILRUSH B&B 80 14 May 23 Wind Creegh - Milltown Malbay - Quilty - Lahinch - Ennistimion - kilfenora - LISDOONVARNA YH 40 15 May 24 Sun Ballyvaughn - Kinvara - Kilcolgan - Galway - Salthill - Spiddle - INVERIN YH 63 16 May 25 Sun, T wind Maam Cross - Lenane - WESTPORT YH 52 17 May 26 Sun, T wind Newport - Mulrany - Ballycroy - Bangor Erris - Glenamoy - POLLATOMISH YH 52 18 May 27 sun, S wind Ballycastle - Killala - Ballina - Skibereen - Beltra - Ballysadare - SLIGO YH 78 19 May 28 Sun, T wind Ballyshannon - Bundoran - Donegal - BALL HILL YH 44 20 May 29 Drizzle, mist Mountcharles - Dunkineeley - Killybegs - Carrick - Bunglas - Slieveleague - TEELIN B&B 40 21 May 30 Cloud, sun Glencolumbkille - Glengesh Pass - Ardara - Kilclooney - Maas - Lettermacaward - Derrydruel - Meenacross - CROHY HEAD YH 51 22 May 31 Cloud, T wind Dunglow - Gweedore - Dunlewy - Cashel - Carrigart - Downings - TRA-NA-ROSANN YH 50 23 Jun 01 Cloud, showers Carrigart - Milford - Letterkenny - LONDONDERRY B&B 51 24 Jun 02 Cloud, T wind Limavady - Coleraine - Portrush - Giants Causeway - Bushmills - Ballintoy - WHITE PARK BAY YH 55 25 Jun 03 Rain, T wind Ballycastle - Cushandall - Ballypatrick Forest - Carnlough - Ballygalley - Larne - Carrickfergus - BELFAST YH 79 26 Jun 04 Sun, S wind Newtownards - Greyabbey - Portaferry - Strangford - Minerstown - Ardglass - Clough - NEWCASTLE YH 60 27 Jun 05 Rain, H wind Kilkeel - Warrenpoint - Newry - OMEATH YH 40 28 Jun 06 Rain, H wind Carlingford - Dundalk - Castlebellingham - Dunleer - Drogheda - Dowth - NEWGRANGE B&B 51 29 Jun 07 Cloud, S wind Drogheda - Naul - Ballyboghil - DUBLIN YH 38 30 Jun 08 Rain, wind DUBLIN YH 0 31 Jun 09 Cloud DUBLIN YH 0 32 Jun 10 Cloud DUBLIN YH 0 33 Jun 11 Sun Dunlaoghaire - Holyhead - Crewe - Smethwick - Oxford - Reading - POOLE 8 DAY Date Weather ROUTE 1,567

Planned, cycled, written, typed, formatted, hyperlinked, encoded, and copyright © 2010, . All Rights Reserved.