Transfer and Other Options:

Day 1  Meeting in Cork City
The group meets at 6.30 pm in Cork City.  You can check in anytime after 2pm. If you arrive earlier you can leave your bags in the left luggage room at the Reception and then go for a stroll around the town.
After an introductory talk, an evening meal is organized near by. The meal is not included in the tour price.

Day 2  CORK TO GOUGANE BARRA 42 miles / 67 kms
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  GOUGANE BARRA TO AHAKISTA 27 miles / 43 kms
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  AHAKISTA TO BALTIMORE 16 miles / 26 kms
In the morning we cycle through a gap in the mountains to the village of Schull. From there we pedal along a warren of backroads to the small fishing village of Baltimore where you will spend the next two nights. If you feel like a break from the bike you can take a boat ride across roaring water bay from Schull (usually very calm!) to Baltimore.

Day 5  REST DAY IN BALTIMORE
The day can be spent in rest and relaxation or you can take part in a variety of activities including a visit to Cape Clear Island with its stunning views looking back at West Cork. You can go horse riding or hike through the beautiful forest that overlooks the unique Lough Ine, the only salt water lake in North Western Europe. For those who want to experience a unique part of Irish rural life you can take a bus to the local town of Skibereen for the weekly cattle market.

Day 6  BALTIMORE TO CLONAKILTY 36 miles / 57.5 kms
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   CLONAKILTY TO KINSALE 36 miles / 57.5 kms 
In the morning we follow the coast road before heading inland to the village of 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, site of the Battle of Kinsale in 1601. Kinsale is a very colourful cosmopolitan town with a wide range of excellent craft shops. Later that evening we have a final farewell night out on the town together before we go our separate ways the following morning.

Day 8  Departure 
You are free then to make your own way back to Cork anytime on Saturday. We do not arrange this transfer but there are regular buses from Kinsale to Cork and it may be worth bearing in mind that the airport is on the way. The airport is about half an hour at the most from Kinsale.

Distances: The average cycling distance is an easy 30m (45km ) with longer routes being available each day. The recommended route involves a total distance of just over 157 miles (251kms), but a variety of longer routes can be taken each day. A more comprehensive route description and map will be provided at the start of the tour. With the exception of the roads out of Cork, the traffic on the route should be quite light. However, you should cycle carefully at all times, especially when going downhill or during rain showers.

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.

The accommodation is allocated on a twin-sharing basis. We stay in a mixture of B&Bs and small hotels. The B&B accommodation is a combination of two or three guesthouses in each night stop, where we hope to fuse the best standard we can get with the warmest welcome. We ensure en suite facilities almost all of the time however in some of the more remote spots one might occasionally have to share a bathroom.
 

Extra Accommodation: 

We would be happy to help you organize extra accommodation outside of Dublin for the start or the end of the week. If you would prefer to organize it yourself please see the websites below. If you are planning to spend a few days in Dublin at the end of the tour, we recommend that you book accommodation well in advance as the capital is very busy on weekends. We do not actually organize accommodation in Dublin but there are a huge range of websites offering a reservation service. A good starting place is Dublin Tourism (www.visitdublin.com).

Meals: 
All breakfasts are included in the tour price. Clients buy their own lunches and dinner throughout the trip.
You should budget between €7 and €10 for lunch each day and an evening meal each night costing somewhere between €15 and €25.
Most people enjoy coming together each evening to discuss their adventures during the day over dinner, your guide will pre-book and arrange a suitable venue for you each night.
Nearly all restaurants in Ireland now cater for vegetarians but please inform the guide if you are vegetarian so that he/she can organize something for you in more remote places.
Price of other extras (these are only approximate prices and will vary from region to region)
Coffee/tea €2.00    Glass of Beer €2.80  (this is half a pint!)
Soft drink €2.00    Pint of Beer €4.80 (this is a full pint!)
Bottle of water €1.70   bottle of wine €18.00

Extra Expenses
The ferry on Tuesday from Schull to Cape Clear and Cape Clear to our night stop in Baltimore is €15.00 approx.
Bus from Kinsale back to Cork is €7 approx.
Ferry Baltimore to Cape Clear Island €23 approx

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