Mileage Chart

Escape to Connemara

This tour brings the cyclists out of County Mayo with a brief excursion into County Galway to see some of the most scenic parts of Connemara. The tour starts from Castlebar heading due west into the picturesque coastal town of Westport which nestles at the base of several hills. It continues due west along the southern coast of Clew Bay with the Atlantic on the right and passes through the village of Murrisk which is the starting pint for the pilgrimage climb of Croagh Patrick. The national Famine Memorial in the form of a coffin ship is on the right hand side of the road and the tour continues along the coast passing the Blue Flag beaches at Bertra and Old Head to the village of Louisburgh. The tour then heads south with a breathtaking descent past Doo Lough and then along the northern edge of Irelands only fjord at Killary Harbour. A brief stop at Ashleigh Falls is well worth while, before heading into the village of Leenane (now made famous by the play The Beauty Queen of Leenane). Leenane also marks the county boundary between Mayo and Galway and a long drag out of the village brings the tour through Connemara into Maam and then along the upper edge of Lough Corrib through the villages of Cornamona and back into County Mayo at Cong (made famous by the John Wayne movie The Quiet Man). Passing the gates of the world renowned hotel, Ashford Castle the tour travels on into Cross, Kilmaine, Hollymount and into Ballinrobe. From Ballinrobe it is due north towards Castlebar passing between the famous lakes of Lough Mask and Lough Carra through the village of Partry and Ballintober (famous for Ballintober Abbey) and on into Castlebar.

Mileage Chart

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