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West Cork Coastline cycling safari
West Cork
Ireland
Quiet
roads lined with wild, deeply scented flowers, this tour covers all
types of landscape, from rolling green fields to spectacular coastal
rides. West Cork is also best known for its colourful villages, all of
which are brightly painted in a wonderful array of vibrant colours,
with wonderful hanging baskets brimming with flowers out the front of
every pub and shop. This is the more cosmopolitan part of rural Ireland
with many choosing to settle in this idyllic setting. The tour finishes
in the colorful town of Kinsale, easily accessible to Cork Airport and
city.
Our starting point is Cork City on the
banks for the river Lee. It is the river that provides our inspiration
as we begin our journey following backroads along its course to the
wonderful glacial lake and hermitage retreat of Gougane Barra.
The fresh salty air of the Atlantic Ocean is our next inspiration as we
sweep down towards Bantry Bay and take in the wonderfully remote and
unspoilt charms of the Sheep’s Head Peninsula.
We hug the coastline for the rest of the week taking in the charming
villages of Baltimore, Union Hall and Glandore, with the nearby
Neolithic stone circle of Drombeg.
The towns of Clonakilty and Kinsale await where the brightly coloured
villages compete with each other for your attention, all this connected
by sweet scented fushia-lined backroads.
The group tour finishes up in Kinsale, whereas the self gided tour heads back to Cork city for the last night.
Self Guided Option is available
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Meeting:
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Cork City - ends in Kinsale
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Airport:
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Cork, Shannon
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Transfer:
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Cork City
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Riders:
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Min
12 riders
Max
20 riders
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Trip Rating
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Rates and Dates for 2010 | 2010
Rates include:
7 nights Bed & Breakfast accommodation ( a mixture of hotels and guesthouse) , 1 dinner, bicycle hire , tour guide who drives the luggage van and looks after the tour , maps and all necessary equipment. The tour price includes coach transfers when required during the week, but does not include the optional ferry journeys.
| A | 2010 | 8 day trip - guided | 8d / 7n | €695 | $990 |
| Single room supplement (very limited) | €250 | $355 |
| Insurance coverage for the trip | €35 | $50 |
| B | 2010 | 8 day trip - guided | 8d / 7n | €725 | $1030 |
| Single room supplement (very limited) | €250 | $355 |
| Insurance coverage for the trip | €35 | $50 |
Transfer Option:
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2010
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Transfer from Cork City included
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The tour starts with a meeting of the group at 6.30pm on the Saturday evening in a central hotel close to the local train and bus station. This is only a meeting point, typically the group will be staying in nearby guesthouses. The guide is able to return to the meeting place at 9.30pm again that evening.
Rates do not include:
Insurance coverage is mandatory. If you do not have trip insurance, you can get coverage locally.

Day 1 As with each of our tours, the week starts with a meeting of the group at 6:30pm, in a hotel close to the centre of Cork City.
Day 2 We head out the banks of the Lee and travel along quiet backroads to a lunch stop in the market town of Macroom. In the afternoon we continue up the Lee Valley through rolling countryside to the wonderfully peaceful Lakeside retreat of Gougane Barram the source of the River Lee and Ireland's first National Park.
Day 3 We cycle down to the coast past fields of grazing cattle and sheep to the coastal town of Bantry for lunch. In the afternoon we head out to the beautiful Sheep's Head Peninsula and cycle along quiet coastal roads with stunning views of the surrounding landscape. That night you have a home-cooked dinner in your guesthome.
Day 4 We cycle onto the Mizen Peninsula in the morning and the village of Schull. After lunch you can either cycle the coast road or else take a ferry across Roaring Water Bay (it is usually quite calm!) to visit Sherkin Island and then take a later ferry into the village of Baltimore.
Day 5 Baltimore is a lovely village to potter around for the day or else you can take off to explore the nearby islands and countryside.
Day 6 In the morning we cycle along quiet backroads to the peaceful Lough Ine and then follow the West Cork coast to the village of Glandore where we have lunch overlooking the beautiful Glandore Harbour and its two islands, Adam and Eve. In the afternoon we visit a 3,000-year-old stone circle, one of the best examples of its kind in the country, before following another scenic coastal cycle to the bustling town of Clonakilty.
Day 7 In the morning we follow the coast road before heading inland to the village Timoleague, where you can visit a 15th-century Franciscan Friary. After lunch we continue to hug the coastline all the way to the historic town of Kinsale, sit of the 1601 Battle of Kinsale. Kinsale is a colourful cosmopolitan town with a wide range of excellent craft shops. Later than evening we have a final farewell night on the town together.
Dya 8 In the morning you are free to make your own way back to Cork City which is 18 miles away.
Distances: The average cycling distance is an easy 30m (45km ) with longer routes being available each day.

Starting times:
Each of the tours start with a meeting of the group at 6.30pm on the Saturday evening in a central hotel close to the local train and bus station. This is only a meeting point, typically the group will be staying in nearby guesthouses. The guide is able to return to the meeting place at 9.30pm again that evening. After an introductory talk the guide will organise an evening meal and direct clients to their first nights bed & breakfast accommodation.
For those arriving unexpectedly late they can phone our office number in Dublin and the guides’ mobile phone number will be on our answering machine.
The bicycles:
We supply 21 speed hybrid touring bikes for the tours.
Repair equipment, helmets (for guided tours only) and front handlebar pannier bag are available for each client.
Clients are required to take due care of any rented equipment (includes bike, panniers, tool kits and helmets), we reserve the right to charge for any damages caused due to loss or negligence.
Distances:
The average cycling distance is an easy 30 – 40 miles (48- 64 km) with longer routes being available most days. The safaris are suitable for adults of all ages and fitness levels but the tours are not suited for children under 13 years of age.
There are a number of hills on the route but you have all day to do the cycling. You will be provided with a more comprehensive route description and map at the start of the tour. There is an option each day for a variety of longer routes. With the exception of the roads in and out of Killarney, the traffic on the route should be quite light. You should however cycle carefully at all times, especially when going downhill.
The Group, Guide and Back-Up Support
The group size varies from 12 to 20 people . Each group is lead by a local guide driving a support van. She/He will sweep during the day to check on cyclists. In the afternoon they will be gone for about two hours to leave the luggage off at your accommodation therefore may not be on hand to give you a lift, but there is no rush; you have all day to complete the ride. As soon as the guide has delivered the luggage to your accommodation they will sweep back to do a final check on cyclists.
Our aim is to allow you feel like an independent traveller, free to cycle each day at your own pace while at the same time having the security of knowing that a support van is nearby just in case you might need it. Most importantly, our guide is there to help in whatever way possible so that all you have to do is leave your worries behind and enjoy the many wonderful experiences that this cycling holiday has to offer.
Meeting:
Cork City - ends in Kinsale
Airport:
Cork, Shannon
Train station:
Cork
Transfer:
Cork City
The tour starts with a meeting of the group at 6.30pm on the Saturday evening in a central hotel close to the local train and bus station. This is only a meeting point, typically the group will be staying in nearby guesthouses. The guide is able to return to the meeting place at 9.30pm again that evening.
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Tack:
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Horses:
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Pace:
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Level:
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(2
to
3
out of 5)
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Riders:
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Min
12 riders
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Max
20 riders
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Passport and Visa Requirements:
Passports Passport valid for at least three months beyond length of stay required by all except: (a) 1. persons born in the UK travelling direct from the UK (applicable to British passport holde. more
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*Important Notice: The following ratings have been submitted by guests and do not necessarily represent the views of Hidden Trails, its partners or employees.
Every care is taken to ensure accuracy but Hidden Trails is not liable for any errors or omissions.
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Tour Accommodation:
Is on a twin sharing basis in a mixture of family run hotels and guest houses with breakfasts included. Upon booking we need to know whether sharing will be on a twin (two beds) or double (one big bed) basis. Due to the isolated nature of several of the places we stay in, we cannot guarantee the availability of single room accommodation. For people coming on their own we will twin share them with another single person on the tour. In exceptional cases we may be able to provide a single room at a supplement for the week.
Extra Accommodation:
We can arrange additional accommodation either before or after the tour for you -prices are on request.
Meals: The guide will recommend a lunch stop each day where a snack lunch will cost between €8 and €12. A group evening meal is organised by the guide each night which costs between €20 and €30. One evening meal during the tour is included in the tour price
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Tack:
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Horses:
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Pace:
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Level:
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(2
to
3
out of 5)
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Riders:
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Min
12 riders
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Max
20 riders
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Passports
Passport valid for at least three months beyond length of stay required by all except:
(a) 1. persons born in the UK travelling direct from the UK (applicable to British passport holders only).
Note: Whilst UK citizens do not require a passport or visa to enter Ireland, most carriers by air or sea now require some form of identification with photograph, usually a passport or driving licence with photo. Visitors should check what form of ID is required with the individual airline, ferry company or travel agent before travelling.
(b) 2. EU nationals holding a valid national ID card.
Note: EU nationals are only required to produce evidence of their EU nationality and identity in order to be admitted to any EU Member State. This evidence can take the form of a valid national passport or national identity card. Either is acceptable. Possession of a return ticket, any length of validity on their document, sufficient funds for the length of their proposed visit should not be imposed.
Passport Note
3. Imposition of a return ticket as a condition of entry is at the discretion of the Immigration Officer at point of entry.
Visas
Not required by all nationals referred to in the chart above for the following durations:
(a) nationals of EU countries for an unlimited period (nationals of EU countries wishing to stay for longer than three months must register with the Garda National Immigration Bureau).
(b) nationals of Australia, Canada and the USA for stays of up to 90 days.
Note: Nationals not referred to in the chart above are advised to contact the embassy to check visa requirements
| Passport Required? |
| British |
1 |
| Australian |
Yes |
| Canadian |
Yes |
| USA |
Yes |
| Other EU |
2 |
| Visa Required? |
| British |
No |
| Australian |
No |
| Canadian |
No |
| USA |
No |
| Other EU |
No |
| Return Ticket Required? |
| British |
No |
| Australian |
3 |
| Canadian |
3 |
| USA |
3 |
| Other EU |
No |
This information is not being updated on a regular basis. Hidden Trails does not
take any responsibility for the accuracy of the above information. Please, consult
the embassy or consulate for updated info.
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West Cork Coastline cycling safari
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