‘On Your Bike’ to explore Ireland’s Shannon Region!
Within Ireland’s Shannon Region, there is a feast of great cycling options through a series of scenic routes. There are country roads leading to seaside coves, stopping places by lake and rivers, and to mountain tops. The variety of scenery is almost endless: lowlands with rural villages and towns, castles, historic sites and parks to visit; highlands with fantastic scenary; and the Atlantic coastline of Clare. Rich in breathtaking scenery, the area has been referred to as the cyclist’s paradise.
The choices of terrain on offer range from hill-climbs to flatland so a trip may be planned which will tax the seasoned cyclist’s ability or alternatively will make for a holiday of gentle exercise.
With County Clare been voted in the world top ten of the Lonely Planet’s ‘Best in Travel 2010’ guide, it’s an ideal location for a cyclying holiday. According to the guide, the route between Miltown Malbay and Doolin in west Clare ranks with nine other routes from Vietnam, Cuba, USA, Canada, UK, France, Australia, Italy and New Zealand. “Beginning in fertile lowlands flanking the Shannon estuary,” the guide says, “this route rolls past golden-sand beaches to the dramatic Cliffs of Moher facing the Atlantic”.
It recommends stopping at Milltown Malbay and Doolin before progressing to the Burren, and “a sojourn into Yeats’ country”, understood to be a reference to the poet’s home near Gort, Thoor Ballylee castle, “before sauntering back in a loop through County Clare’s gentle patchwork countryside”.
Whether you are flying into Shannon Airport, travelling down from Galway, cycling up through Kerry or travelling through the midlands to Portumna or Nenagh, you will find that the cycleways are easily accessible from all directions.
So why not hire a bike and explore one of the many Shannon Region cycleways, scenic and historical cycle tours, or the action-packed Ballyhoura mountain biking trail in Co. Limerick.