In some ways this latest tour offering is geared towards previous clients of Celtic Rider who have already experienced our Wild Atlantic Way tour along the western seaboard of Ireland, or our Scotland tours.
Approximately 40% of our clientele each year are previous clients, which is a remarkable statistic as most riders come from North America or Canada.
The thinking behind this self-drive tour is to allow our overseas riders to experience a more authentic and genuine Ireland, what we as native Irish people call ‘the real Ireland’.
With two nights in each location, this tour is slower paced, relaxed and yet still very interesting as the places we have chosen and highly recommend that you visit are engaging, thought provoking and enchanting. This new tour is 11 days (10 nights) however like all our self-drive tours it can be reduced or extended. For me, what this tour is all about is to give riders a deeper insight and understanding of our past and more importantly, our present. In other words, what we Irish deeply love, from the beautiful world class great gardens that thrive in our temperate climate, castles, both restored or in ruins, awesome blue star beaches, ancient places of worship, some dating back over 5000 years, amazing lighthouses, national famine museum, greenways for walks and cycling, and so on. Trust me, you will spend as much time off your motorcycle/Spyder, or your car each day as on it. Hidden gems are bountiful on this self-drive tour.
Day 1 and 2, Glendalough, Wicklow national Park.72 kms, 2 hours.
Day 1 takes you to the small village of Glendalough, located in Wicklow national park, affectionately known as ‘the Garden of Ireland’. A wilderness of peat and moorland, todays ride take’s you past the wishing bridge, made famous by the Hollywood film, ‘PS, I Love you’. Onwards then to lough Tay, the Guinness Lake. Glendalough means ‘the glen of two lakes’, and is famous for its monastery, St. Kevins, founded in the 6th century with its tall round monastic tower, and stone buildings dating back from early Christian times. Amazing choice of walks here, from easy to difficult, the choice is yours on arrival.
Day 2, Glendalough to Glendalough 90kms, 3 hours
Via Glencree, a German cemetery, respectfully maintained in memory of mostly young German men who perished during the two great wars. Onwards to Powerscourt demesne and its magnificent waterfall and gardens, next stop is Avoca, Ireland’s oldest Woolen mills, dating back to 1723, a nice store to purchase some handmade wool gifts.
Learn more about Powerscourt Estate
Day 3, Glendalough to Waterford, Ireland’s first Viking city, 913AD. 235kms, 4 hours.
First place to visit today is Wicklow Jail, which is haunted, due to the hundreds of years of pain, misery and death inflicted on its unfortunate inhabitants since the late 1700’s.
Next stop, Wicklow Lighthouse, nice walk and lovely Irish sea views.
Onwards to Morriscastle beach, a magnificent powdery sand beach, feel free to go for a swim if weather and conditions permit.
From Morriscastle ride to the amazing JFK Arboretum, over 500 acres of stunning botanical gardens and lakes, located on Slieve Coillte mountain, dedicated to the Kennedy family homestead, located nearby.
Onwards to the 9th century Viking city of Waterford for the next two evenings.
World famous for its Waterford crystal, the Viking triangle is a compact section of this old city well worth visiting. Guided tours are available as are boat trips. Access to the Waterford greenway is from the Quayside.
Day 4, Waterford to Waterford. Hook head lighthouse, oldest in the World. 105kms, 3 hours
First place to visit today is the World’s oldest lighthouse, located in Hook head
(12th century, however, the original lighthouse on the same site was 5th century).
Learn more about Hook Lighthouse
En route to hook head lighthouse you will pass by Loftus Hall, Loftus Hall is a large country house on the Hook peninsula, in county Wexford. Built on the site of the original Redmond Hall, it is said to have been haunted by the devil and the ghost of a woman.
The landscape around the lighthouse is an ideal place to go for a walk but do exercise caution on the rocks. Like almost all visitor centres, the lighthouse has all facilities on site, and most people enjoy sitting outside having a bite to eat in the fresh sea air. Guided tours are available but these need to be pre-booked.
On your return to Waterford city, the Waterford Museum of Treasures is worth visiting, and of course if you wish to cycle, bicycles can be hired to ride the Waterford greenway, or it can be walked.
Day 5, Waterford to Cork or Kenmare via Cobh, , 252 kms, 4 hours.
Today’s route take you along ‘the copper coast’ a geo park with amazing coastal rock formations. Stay sharp and focused whilst riding along this stretch of road, circa 25 kms.
Onwards to Cobh in Cork to visit the heritage Museum there. You may have heard of Cobh as most Irish people sailed from this small port to Ellis Island from the 1890’s. Learn the story of Annie Moore, the first person along with her children to have emigrated from Ireland to Ellis Island. There are many very interesting historical and maritime stories to be experienced here, to include the last stop off place of the ill-fated Titanic, a history of forced Irish emigration over three hundred years, a sad story of over six million who had to emigrate since the great famine of 1845.
Day 6. Cork or Kenmare and back.
Another interesting day today with a visit to the Bonane heritage park, with standing stones dating back to the bronze age, circa 2500BC. Also, the ride down the westernmost part of Ireland along the Mizen peninsula is well worth doing, for the ocean vistas alone. And the footbridge is most memorable to walk across. Quiet unassuming tiny villages are dotted along this peninsula, sheep grace peacefully with jaw dropping ocean views all around, it’s really quite stunning is an unassuming way, real old Ireland indeed.
Day 7 and 8, Kenmare or Cork city to Ennis in County Clare, via Moll’s Gap and the Black Valley, 242 kms, 5 hours.
Ferry from Tarbert to Killimer in county Clare, with nice views of the Shannon Estuary, next place to experience is Loop head peninsula. Optional visit to Loop head lighthouse but do take a walk along the adjacent cliffs for breathtaking views of the Atlantic Ocean, with sea stacks full of nesting wild birds
Learn more about Loop Head Lighthouse
This area is less touristy and offers a tranquil experience. Departing loop head there is an optional stop in Kilrush to explore the Marina there and the beautiful walled gardens of Vandeleur, to include a visitor centre and café. Arriving in Ennis, enjoy the rich musical heritage, good food and traditional music from its many local pubs.
Day 8, Ennis to Ennis via the Burren national park.
After the usual hearty breakfast, todays ride is centred on exploring this unique national park, Europe’s largest limestone Karst, a lunar landscape formed over countless millions of years. This place is littered with stone ring forts, many dating back 5000 years.
Learn more about Buren National Park
First stop is Murrooghtoohy stone beach, which is a firm favourite of mine, park up and ramble along this Ice age stone beach to the ocean, its unique in the world.
Next up is Doolin cave, which houses some of the largest Stalactites in the world. Guided tours are available, again this is a memorable experience.
Next stop is the little quaint village of Kilfenora. Pop into the Burren Centre in the village of Kilfenora and unravel the stunning sights and ancient mysteries of this unspoilt landscape. The Cathedral there and also the rare and world-famous Irish high crosses are examples are the best Celtic stone mason’s artwork, some from the 9th century. En route back to Ennis for the evening an optional stop at Caherconnell Stone fort and sheepdog exhibition is worth visiting. Caherconnell stone fort was built in 1000ad and inhabited up to the 16th century.
Day 9 and 10, Ennis to Carrick-on-Shannon via Cong in Galway, 215kms, 4 hours.
Departing Ennis, the first important stop over is in Cong, the village where ‘The Quiet man’ was filmed in 1952. The cottage, now a museum, is still there in Cong, which is a lovely traditional village, the original home of one of Irelands most famous playwright, Oscar Wilde.
Cong village straddles county Galway and County Mayo and has a large Augustinian monastery dating back to the early 12th century, built by the high King of Ireland, Turlough O’Connor. However, this monastery like most others in Ireland, was built on the foundations of a much earlier 6th century church, associated with St. Feichin. At one time, the abbey had 3,000 inhabitants, who were excellent scholars and skilled craftsmen. All abbeys in Ireland were the same, with full blown villages built around them, they were like original towns and some even blossomed into modern cities. This historical site includes a monks Fish house, built on the river cong. Cong Abbey is also the location where Rory O’Connor, Ireland’s last High King, died in 1198. He just wasn’t able to stop the Anglo-Norman invasion of Ireland, and I’m sure we all know what happened then, nearly 800 years of occupation by a foreign nation.
Onwards to Foxford village en route to Carrick-on-shannon in county lovely Leitrim.
I like this small Irish town, which is world famous for a few reasons, to include its iconic Foxford woolen blankets, estb 1892. Located on the lovely river Moy, which is adjacent to Lough Conn.
And would you believe, the founder of the Argentinean Navy and national hero of Argentine, was called William Brown ( Admiral) born in Foxford and proudly recognised with a monument in his honour.
Also adjacent to the 13th century Straide Abbey is a beautifully restored church which now serves as a visitor centre dedicated to another great Irish patriot, Michael Davitt, and the Irish land league, which was an instrumental organisation for the process of getting our land back from the British. Michael is intered there in the grounds of Straide Abbey, and you can pay your respects there if you wish too. Something to bear in mind folks as you meander from place to place is this, its the other people that you meet, and subsequent unexpectected conversations with strangers, I find a lot of these experiences are very memorable, and indeed form a huge part of your traveling remembranances as the years pass. Enjoy a soft drink whilst overlooking the river Moy, while chatting with locals about the history and people who came from around the Foxford area. Onwards to your next destimation, Carrick-on Shannon, 60 miles drive.
Carrick-On- Shannon, county Leitim.
On arrival into this town, which is located on Ireland’s largest river, the Shannon, check into your accommodation for the evening. Enjoy a walk along the river, and the Marina is full of river boats, river tours can be arranged by prior booking.
Day 10, Carrick on Shannon
Many places worth visiting are the shed distillery, only a 10-mile ride, home of gunpowder Gin, a good tour whether you drink or not, as the distillation process and huge copper distillery vessels make an impression. And just like our family run business, passion abounds from the owners. Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin, Drumshanbo Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey & Sausage Tree Pure Irish Vodka, located in the heart of rural Ireland in the village of Drumshanbo.
Next, a visit to the 18th century Strokestown house and famine museum,16 miles from Carrick, authentically restored to its former self, with original furnishings, is well worth a profession guided tour of. Also, it has fully restored and beautiful Georgian walled gardens on no less than 6 acres. Designed in the 1740’s you get a detailed insight into the horticultural practices from that time to the present.
Lastly, and most important, is the Famine Museum, which explains that terrible tragedy that unfolded over several years back in the 1840’s.
En route back to Carrick-on Shannon, you pass through Rooskey village, where you can stop for a little while and enjoy a walk along peaceful, tree-lined, riverside pathways. Onwards for your last evening in Carrick-on-Shannon.
Day 11, return to Celtic Rider.
Today’s route is approximately 155 kms, easy morning too, so allow around three hours of leisurely riding to get back to Celtic Rider. Today’s route, like every day, has no tolled motorway riding.
On arrival back to Celtic Rider we can assist with unpacking, complete the paperwork and pre-auth. We advise clients to have the Uber app on your phone, as this is the most popular app in Ireland.
Pricing & Details *please note that we endeavor to keep all prices as stated below, however due to certain peak times some accommodation providers costs increase and this can be reflected on your quote. All prices below are ‘From’ the price stated but more often they are the actual price stated.
Category A
- From €5,770 Rider + Pillion
- From €8,650 Riders Sharing
- BMW F800GS, Honda NC750X
Category B
- From €6,010 Rider + Pillion
- From €9,140 2 Riders Sharing
- BMW R 1300 GS, BMW R 1300 GS Adventure
Category C
- From €7,460 Rider + Pillion
- From €10,800 2 Riders Sharing
- Can-Am Spyder
Optional extras
Hire of premium guaranteed waterproof KLIM riding gear is €25 per day.
If you would prefer to stay in a blend of B&B Guest Houses and 4 or 5 star Hotel accommodation, contact Celtic Rider for custom pricing.
The Celtic Rider Package for all our self-drive tours.
Optional
Some of Our Small Print
To avail of our Motorcycle Rentals in Ireland, Riders must have a full license for riding the category of motorcycles that we rent and the rider must be 25 years of age or older.A pre-authorisation for damage excess of €1500 will be reserved on your credit card on collection of the motorcycle. For motorcycles going abroad the damage deposit is €2500. This is the maximum cost charged in the event of accidental damage or theft. Your signature on the rental agreement page shall constitute authority for us to debit the final total charges against your account and your specific card-issuing organization. Celtic Rider office staff must be notified immediately of any accidents.
Please refer to our Terms & Conditions