Great days ride.

Follow the pre-programmed route to Kilkenny city via the rugged Wicklow national park.

Visit Glendalough 5th century monastic site and have lunch at the hotel.

Continue to Kilkenny medieval city as per the Garmin instructions.

Check in to Kilkenny accommodation.

Visit the magnificent Kilkenny Castle and St. Canices Cathedral and round tower, both in the town.

First stop is Cahir and the great Cahir Castle, optional visit.

Continue to Lismore and another great castle, Lismore Castle, not open to the public but the Castle gardens are well worth visiting. Also Lismore Hotel is quite nice for food. Lismore Hotel is the first hotel built in Ireland.

Onwards over the popular mountain pass called ‘The Vee’ with great views across 4 counties of lush Irish country side..

Continue to Midleton, optional stop at the Old Midleton Whisky Distillery.

Next stop is the enchanting Blarney Castle, just outside Cork, to kiss the Blarney stone at the parapet of this great castle, the gift of eloquence is bequeath to all who kiss this mystical stone!

Onwards to the exciting coastal town of Kinsale with its abundance of great restaurants, also of interest is Desmond’s Castle in the town, now a wine museum, and the great Charles Fort, found in your Garmin in the ‘Favourites’ section.

Check into your accommodation.

First stop is Drumbeg Stone Circle, also known as Druids Alter, this site is 3200 years old.

Onwards to Baltimore and Baltimore Beacon with great views over Baltimore Bay. Short walk to the beacon from the car park, be careful not to go to close to the edge of the cliffs!

Ride to the Beara Peninsula, the warmest part of our island due to the warming influence of the Gulf Stream, and the amazing Healy Pass, a twisty mountain pass started to be built during the great famine years on the 1850s.

Continue to Molls Gap via Kenmare, a great scenic mountain ride, than onwards to Killarney.

En route to Killarney stop at Ladies View, outstanding view over the lakes of Killarney, than Torc Waterfall, short walk, are well worth it, both are saved in your Garmin in ‘Favourites’ and well sign posted too.

Killarney town nestles in Killarney National Park, surrounded by majestic rugged mountainous countryside including the MacGillycuddy Reeks, Irelands highest mountain range.

Check into Killarney accommodation

Alternatively, ride the world famous Ring of Kerry, and the incredible Gap of Dunloe, the most beautiful glaciated valley in Europe, a challenging ride but very much worth the effort.

Continue around the Ring of Kerry, and also ride the Skellig Ring, another awesome off shoot off the main Ring of Kerry route.

Continue back to Killarney accommodation

Today’s ride takes you passed a famous pub called ‘The South Pole Inn’ in Anascaul, ancestral home of Tom Crean, Arctic explorer.

Onwards to Ireland’s highest mountain pass, Conor Pass, with incredible ocean views of both sides of the Atlantic Ocean.

Be careful as streams often run across the narrow road near summit of the pass!

From Dingle, ride a truly mind blowing coastal road called the ‘Slea Head Drive’.

A visit to the ‘Blasket Islands Visitor Centre’ is advised.

Continue back to Dingle or Cloghane accommodation for the evening, great town and village for music and food.

Follow route in Garmin to Brandon Head viewing point, stunning ocean views.

Continue to Tarbert for the delightful ferry crossing to Killimer in Clare.

Ride to the towering majestic cliffs of Moher, – which is a World Heritage Site, famous the world over.

Return to Doolin accommodation, optional ferry from Doolin to the base of the cliffs of Moher, unbelievable amount of wild birds nest near the base. It’s very common to see otters, dolphins and whales.

Doolin is famous in Ireland as a traditional Irish music hub with live music daily in the quaint pubs in this little village.

Murrooghtoohy is unique in all the world, a limestone beach, part of the Burren National Park, covered in millions of boulders from the Ice age, beautiful wild orchids grow profusely among fissures in the rock, and the ocean is just a short 400 metre walk

Skirting around Galway city todays ride is magical as it takes you through an ancient hauntingly beautiful landscape, a wilderness of moorland and brooding mountains, Connemara National Park.

Onwards to Clifden Town, nice traditional Irish town, good place to stop for lunch. From Clifden Town you will ride the aptly named ‘Sky Road’ with beautiful sea views.

Next must visit place is Kylemore Benedictine Abbey, set amongst a stunning backdrop, amazing gardens and good restaurant.

Onwards to Leenane, Irelands deepest fjord, Killary harbour, than ride the stunning Doo Lough Mountain Pass.

Onwards to Westport accommodation.

Leaving Westport for Achill island along Clew bay, first optional stop is Burrishoole Abbey, (saved in your Garmin in the ‘Favourites’ section) set in lovely quiet countryside adjacent to a still lake.

Continue along the route to Mallarranny, and on to Achill sound, than ride over the bridge onto Achill island itself.

Onwards to Keem beach, a lovely blue star beach, ideal place for a swim on a hot summers day.

Ride back to Westport for the evening and enjoy this wonderful town, voted best town in Ireland in 2012.

Please visit Ballycroy National Park visitor and information centre, like all visitor centres in Ireland, this place is beautifully designed and staffed by local people, very willing to inform tourists about the history and landscape of this outstanding wilderness of moorland, with the Nephin Beg Mountains in the distance.

Visit Drumcliff burial place of W.B. Yeats, Irelands most beloved poet and storyteller. The mighty Benbulbin, a table top mountain, dominates the skyline.

Entering Donegal town, check out Donegal Castle and Magee’s tweed shop, conveniently located 100 yards from each other in the town centre.

Good restaurants are ‘The Harbour’ and ‘The Olde Castle’.

Check into Donegal accommodation for 2 nights.

From Donegal ride to Killybegs, Ireland’s deep seas fishing port.

Continue to the highest sea cliffs in Europe, Slieve League Cliffs, via Carrick, turn right 100 meters after ‘The Rusty Pub’. The ride up is beyond memorable as is the sight from the upper car park.

Continue back down from the Slieve League Cliffs and ride to the Irish speaking village of Glencolumbkille.

Next is a great mountain pass ride over Glengash Pass, some tight hairpins involved.

Continue on the route programmed on your Garmin GPS to Clooney, Glenties than on to Donegal accommodation.

Enjoy Donegal town for the evening.

Wild Irish red deer roam freely in Glenveagh National Park, as do golden eagles.

Entering Glenveagh national park, note the towering mountains around you, most noticeable is Mt. Errigal, a quartzite capped mountain.

From Glenveagh visitor centre, take the dedicated mini bus to Glenveagh Castle, along Derryveagh lake, stunning castle, very interesting guided tour.

Ride onwards to Carndonagh town, on the wild Inishowen peninsula, highest part of Ireland.

Continue north to Bamba’s Point in Malin head, most northerly part of Ireland, enjoy awesome sea views.

Ride on to Fort Dunree, magnificent military museum towering over and overlooking Lough Swilly.

Next is the magical Mamore mountain pass, with wonderful ocean views from the viewing area.

Stopping at the Glenevin car park in Clonmany village, take the short walk along an ancient gorge to view Glenevin Waterfall

Your next must see is Doagh Famine village in Doagh Isle, an authentic small Irish village, see for yourself what life was like during the 1840s in Ireland.

Continue to Carndonagh to your accommodation.

Optional visit to the Giants Causeway, a Unesco heritage site. A bit commercialised but worth walking the Unesco Site as it is a world renowned natural wonder.

Optional stop at Ballintoy harbour (Game of Thrones) and again at Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge. 10 minute walk to this sea stack with a narrow foot bridge.

For the very adventurous, a short detour from Cushendon to Torr Head can be added, but bear in mind that the road is a single track with steep inclines and sharp turns.

Great views of Scotland can be seen from here (Rathlin Island and the Mull of Kintyre) across the Irish Sea.

Onwards to accommodation in or near Belfast city.

I highly recommend the black Taxi tour, a political tour of the city, takes around 90 minutes, it will leave a lasting impression on you.

The cathedral quarter in Belfast is where its at for socialising, good choice of pubs, several serve good food, and taxi is cheap to get back to your accommodation.

Whites bar, opened in 1630, on Winecellar street is amongst the bars I recommend.

I advise having lunch on the ferry, thus allowing to ride straight to Edinburgh

Initially hugging the coast you’ll head west to the great city of Edinburgh along the route downloaded in your Garmin.

After checking into your accommodation for the evening, enjoy this vibrant city.

The whisky tour is good fun, and there are good restaurants and pubs in plentiful numbers. The Royal mile from Edinburgh Castle to parliament buildings should be experienced.

Great museums and art galleries, Cathedrals and parks.

Edinburgh Castle itself, home to Scotland’s Crown Jewels.

A blend of beautiful old architecture and new modern buildings, just a really beautiful old city to walk through.

First stop is Stirling and one of the most important castle’s in Scotland, Stirling Castle, built in the 12th century. Old cobble lock steep streets up the castle, with really nice views over the town and countryside.

Onwards to Lough Lomond, hugging the Lough and then into the heart of Trossachs National Park, truly a beautiful place to ride through.

Lough Lomond, stunning twisty ride, with superb lake and mountain views.

Continue to Pitlochry town, which is located in a most scenic, clean, fresh mountainous area. Good locally produced food is readily available in the pubs and restaurants in this quaint town.

Check into your accommodation, its been a long days ride, expect an early night.

This is an awesome ride, the Cairngorms is the largest national park in the UK.

Continue to Inverness and enjoy the hospitality of the capital city of the Scottish highlands.

Heading north-east along the newly opened North Coast 500, todays ride brings you to the town of Thurso or Wick. These are 5000 year old Norse coastal towns on the northern tip of Scotland With a latitude 59.6 it is on the same line as Hudson Bay, only 30 degrees Celsius warmer in winter due to the Gulf Stream.

The coastline is stunning and offers up some spectacular ocean vistas. You’ll see ruined castles and sea stacks, and ride past quiet fishing villages. This is the wide open country and really is a lovely ride.

On the north-west tip of Scotland is the world famous John O’Groats, just 11 miles from Dunnet head, the very most northerly part of England.

On arrival into the town, check into your accommodation provider and explore and savour the local cuisine, in particular the bounty fresh from the North Sea.

Today’s route takes you south-west towards the town of Ullapool along the NC500 route, which offers both stunning ocean views and wild countryside.

The picturesque fishing town of Ullapool, is located on the shore of Lock Broom.

This area is low is population, a very unspoilt natural environment, with nice walks in and around the town.

On arrival, check into your accommodation. Enjoy the fresh sea air and a nice meal in one of the local establishments.

Leaving Ullapool for Portree on the Isle of Skye, via the wonderful Skye Bridge, todays ride finishes with the NC 500 route.

Entering Portree, a small fishing village and note the towering mountains around you, I advise riding the A885 route north of the village, it’s a magical ride and brings you anti-clockwise around the peninsula.

The Isle of Skye forms part of the Hebrides Island off the west coast of Scotland.

Check into your accommodation and enjoy your evening in Portree.

Continue along the route in your Garmin to the Five Sisters Mountain Range.

Onwards to the Glencoe area, enjoy the lovely scenery through this mountain pass.

Onwards to Oban, you have a choice of some great seafood restaurants as the town has a long history of fishing.

Oban is a coastal town with a wide selection of cafes, restaurants and optional boat trips. It also has an old single malt whisky distillery from the late 17th century. The walk along the promenade into the town is very impressive.