Hi there, I'm fairly new to the biking community and am looking to start touring. First around the UK then Europe and see where it takes me.

First trip will be to Ireland from Milton Keynes so was going to head to holyhead in the morning of Mon 2nd Aug then ferry to dublin (bloody expensive), then get the ferry back sunday night, but as of yet don't really know the best places to camp.

My girlfriend wants to stay in a hostel in dublin mon and tues night, I thought wild camp wed-fri, sat night hostel in belfast.

Anyway I'm waffling, any help/advice would be great!!!

Thanks in advance

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"Last One Dead's a Sissy" - Joe Simpson

Welcome to the HUBB. In answer to your question: IMHO, Go West.
Chris

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I am going to Ireland with some friends in May,going over for the North West 200 then going to tour down the west coast,planning to do a mix of hostels & camping. Donegal looks to have some great roads & some great scenery,also the Dingle Peninsular.
when we get back I can give you more info if you like

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Andy L

From the midnight sun to the silk & rhubarb roads, 2014
I am not an adventure rider, just a biker that has adventures.

You're not going to see much if you only do Dublin to Belfast whilst there.
A round trip of Ireland is only about 1500 miles including MK to Holyhead (for Dublin) and Fishguard to MK (from Rosslare) so easily done in a week.
I'd suggest :
Mon 2 Aug - MK to Holyhead 240m - ferry to dublin - 2 nights in Hostel as gf suggests
Wed 4 Aug - Dublin to Belfast 100m again Hostel or similar
Thurs - Sat around West coast ending up in Rosslare Sun 8 Aug for the ferry to Fishguard or Milford Haven
Fishguard to MK 240m
Just my idea - never done this trip, but its what I'd plan in the circumstances.
Good Luck

NW coast road, if you can get nice weather, its one of the best biking roads in Europe.
Have a happy and safe trip
TSS

Did a round trip over two weeks a few years ago. All of the west coast and the southwest corner were my favorite bits. I wasn't so keen on Dublin/Belfast though so didn't stay long in these places. If you can avoid the cities, you'll see more of the 'real Ireland' IMHO.

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Definatly head south from dublin then west. Keep to the south as you head west. Enjoy the local hospitality and great roads, the national park by dingle and kerry is awsome. Galway is the best destination and you will wish for more time there, from there its a half a day back to dublin on the main hwy, just my 2 cents. Luke

cheers guys thanks for the help, what i was thinking so far was to head south from Dublin then try to head around the majority of the coast, might try to persuade the gf to loose a day in dublin and spend a bit more time in Galway.

Other places I looked at going to were: mizen head, limerick, waterford, dunfanaghy and giants causeway, tullamore, kilkenny castle. But if anybody thinks some of these aren't worth it let me know.

Holodragon - be great if you could let me know when you get back about how it went and what was great, have a great trip!

Realise that its a lot of miles a day, but as biking is new I want to spend time on the bike!

Also whats everyone's thoughts on wild camping?

Cheers, Tris

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"Last One Dead's a Sissy" - Joe Simpson

In 2004 I took my VFR around Ireland (clockwise from Dublin) and had a great time, with one exception - the roads in the South West. The scenary and hospitality were great, spent 3 nights in Dublin, a night in Kilkenny, 2 nights in Kinsale (very nice, the GF will love it), a nigth in Kilorglin so that I could go round the "Ring of Kerry" (worst road of the whole trip - bottomed out the front end in a pothole and nearly lost the lot, although beautiful scenary) and then up to Galway, which was great, and back to Dublin.

Stayed in B&B along the way, so no idea about the camping, but the trip was great, and it's a great way to see some fantastic places, meet some great people and just have a great time!

For two of the most senic routes in Ireland try the Google Maps links below.
Avoid Limerick, don't even drive through it...

Galway, Co. Galway, Ireland to Westport, Co. Mayo, Ireland - Google Maps


Cork, Co. Cork City, Ireland to Tralee, Co. Kerry, Ireland - Google Maps

Hi Tris. Remember if you have never been here its all good to see. Has for wild camping keep to the quiet areas or public land around the coast.
CTC Forum • View topic - Wild Camping possibilities in Ireland?
If you make if north of the border sent me a post and I'll Meet up if you want.
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Georgie

Hi Tris, as promised I will outline our trip to Ireland & tell you what I thought of it ,then you can cherry pick what info you like.
Overnight ferry Fleetwood-Larne,mostly used by truckers but food included in price & would use it again.
Northern Ireland-lots to see! Took A2 North then B92 to Cushendun & followed the coastal road to Tor head,lovely scenery,v small twisty roads some steep climbs,coastal road rejoins the A2,Ballycastle is nice,then B15 to Carrickarade & the Rope bridge,well worth a visit. Then on to B146 to the Giants Causeway,this is a must see,we were all blown away,pictures do not do it justice. Stayed in Portstewart @ Ricks Causeway Coast Hostel,v cheap,rooms are rather cramped but facilities were clean & v good.
Day 2 was spent watching the North West 200,good fun,nice atmosphere.
Day 3-A2 to Downhill & Bishops gate,nice for a walk round & the Mussenden Temple has great views (there is a nice hostel below here on the beach;Downhill hostel).Took A2 round Londonderry into the Republic & Donegal,N13 to Letterkenny then the N56,this was a great road,very scenic,everything from rocky crags to sweeping beaches,nice & twisty & surface was ok...mostly,@ Killybegs took R263 to Kilcare,camped @ Derrylahan Hostel,HIGHLY reccomended,good views,owner v friendly,facilities v good.
Day 4-carried on the R263 to Slieve League & Bunglas cliffs,dont stop @ the 1st parking area,open the gate & ride further up to the top,jaw dropping views! N56 to Donegal town then N15 to Sligo,followed R292 for Strandhill then the signposts to Carrowmore Megalithic Cemetery,its tucked away a bit but worth the visit. Then took N59 to Ballina,stayed @ Blind Brook Hostel,NOT v good,dirty sheets,dodgy plumbing,we nicknamed it Hotel California!
Day 5-N59 then the R310 to Pontoon which sits between Lough Conn & Lough Cullin,V pretty,decent roads down to Castlebar,Then N5 to Westport,R335 to Louisburgh & Doo Lough Pass,road surface was rather broken up but the scenery was great,well what we could see through the rain & mist

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Andy L

From the midnight sun to the silk & rhubarb roads, 2014
I am not an adventure rider, just a biker that has adventures.

Day 5 cont- Took the N59 for Clifden then R344 into Connemara past Lough Inagh & Derryclare Lough,again very scenic & rather dampback onto N59 to Clifden,stayed in Joyces Hostel opposite Mannions Pub,both good,owner of the hostel lets us park the bikes behind his house not far from the hostel. Also visited Kylemore Abbey,nice spot if a little expensive & nice twisty road to get there.
Day 6-Back on the N59 to Galway then the N6/N18 to Clarinbridge & the N67 to the Burren;Kinvara,Dongory Castle is a picturesque spot.Take the R480 to the caves,Dolmens & Tombs & bleak but enchanting Limestone covered landscape,Caherconnel Stone Ring Fort was a good place to visit. Do not use the N67 between Lisdoonvarna & ballyvaghan! the Tourist roads are good but this section is terrible. Then took the Coast road from Ballyvaghan to Black head down to Doolin,wonderful views,nice road. Stayed in Doolin @ Aille River Hostel,we camped here,hostel has great facilities inc free computer access(20 mins a time)& free washing! lovely spot with friendly host. Doolin is well known for its traditional music & the local pubs have music every night,well worth it.
Day 7-Cliffs of Mohar,quite a sight & on a bike they often let you park for free & look after your lid/jacket.R478 to Lehinch then N67 to Killrush,you can go to see the dolphins here but you would need to book a boat trip. on to Killimer-Tarbert ferry,20 min crossing,9 euros,nice roads. N69 to Tralee then N86 for Dingle,took the R560 through Connor Pass,the Dingle Peninsular has some of the best scenery in Ireland in my opinion,through Dingle on to R559 to murreagh (an Mhulrioch) all signs are in Gaelic,campsite @ Gallarus Oratory was expensive but we found Black Cat Hostel in Ballyferriter,just above the shop & v homely,good views accross the bay.Good food & in the Hotel just down the road.
More to come when I have time.

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Andy L

From the midnight sun to the silk & rhubarb roads, 2014
I am not an adventure rider, just a biker that has adventures.

It's not much to go on but I used to live in Co Clare and all around Shannon, Galways, Limerick, Ennis etc is a nice part of real Ireland and even the towns aren't like towns that we would be used to.

Have a lovely trip.

Day 8- rode the rest of the Slea Head road,great scenery just beware of the coaches! Dingle is a nice town although we only stopped briefly. Followed the N86 along bottom of the Peninsular then the R561 past Inch (lots of surfers) joined the N70 & the Ring of Kerry,to be honest the north part of the ring was nothing special but the further west & south we got the better it got,beware coaches again! At Sneem we took the R568 & went up through Molls Gap,fantastic views & tight twisty road. Stopped on outskirts of Killarney @ Flesk Camping,nice campsite & you can use the hotel bar & restaurant attached,food was a reasonable price.
Day 9- took the road through Mallow,Waterford to New Ross,part of the N25 is tolled but its only 1euro for a bike. Stayed @ MacMurrough farm hostel,up a tiny track but a lovely spot to stay. Further S & E we got the better the road surfaces were but the roads were not v exciting.
Day 10-Rosslare,ferry back to Blighty.

Favourite bits- Antrim,v scenic,good roads.
Donegal,amazing scenery,proper Ireland,fun roads.
Connemara,great scenery.
Burren & Doolin,interesting roads! good for places to visit.
Dingle Peninsular & Connor pass,more proper Ireland though a little more touristy,great roads,scenery.
West & southern part of Ring of Kerry & Molls Gap.

Watch the road surfaces they go from great to broken up to very bumpy back to great again all over the country.

Have a great time where ever you end up visiting in Ireland,I did & plan to go again at some point.
Andy

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Andy L

From the midnight sun to the silk & rhubarb roads, 2014
I am not an adventure rider, just a biker that has adventures.