5 day tour of the South West Ireland 500

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Not wanting to let them Scots fellas behind the NC500 have it all their own way I spent a lot of time putting together a 500 mile touring route around the 5 peninsulas of South West Ireland; the SWI500. This part of the world is just as beautiful, just as rugged, just as remote (in places) but definitely less congested than the NC500 can be and of course its the beautiful west of Ireland with it's temperate, gulf stream warmed climate, and, it's part of the Wild Atlantic Way.

Now there is some light at the end of the pandemic tunnel I've resurrected the tour I had to cancel last year. It’s a 6 night, 5 day tour, all of which you can do without having to cart all your luggage around as we return to the same base each evening.

The itinerary is as follows:

Sun 5th September - arrive in Kenmare, Co. Kerry, staying at the Kenmare Bay Hotel for the week. This hotel has been chosen for a variety of reasons;
- safe off street parking for the bikes at the front of the hotel,
- within walking distance (10 mins) of Kenmare town centre,
- it has an indoor swimming pool, steam room, sauna, beauty and therapy treatment rooms all available FOC to guests.
- the food is good and the breakfasts are copious.
Sunday evening we eat together in the hotel - a kind of get to know everyone meal.
Mon 6th Sept - we head south, over the Cork & Kerry mountains (made famous by ‘Whiskey in the Jar’, Thin Lizzie and the Dubliners) via the Caha Pass to tour the Mizen & Sheepshead peninsulas
Tues 7th Sept - tour the Beara peninsula, traversing the Healy Pass
Wed 8th Sept - tour the Iveagh (Ring of Kerry) peninsula, with a variety of routes at our disposal
Thurs 9th Sept - free day - relax and explore Kenmare or suggested routes can be provided if you want to ride out.
Fri 10th Sept - tour the Dingle peninsula, taking in the Slea Head Drive and the Connor Pass
Sat 11th Sept - depart.

The tour is designed to provide relaxed touring days, no early starts, we’ll be leaving around 10am each day, no late returns and with several stops for photos, coffee/tea breaks and food; you even have me, a blow-in local, on hand each day to assist and guide.

Rooms have been booked on a B&B basis with the inclusion of a group 'get to know everyone' supper on the Sunday night. Mon/Tues/Wed/Thurs/Fri nights people are free to do what they want and there are plenty of good bars and restaurants, of all standards, in Kenmare.

Costs : £790 per person on a single occupancy basis, if you’re bringing a partner then let me know as the cost/person will be less.

Included:
6 nights accommodation
6 breakfasts
1 evening meal
Dedicated parking outside the hotel (don't worry this is very low crime area, your bike will be safe)
Assistance of me as tour guide
Maps and route guidance instructions.

Not included:
Getting to and from Kenmare, although help, guidance and assistance with routes & ferries can be provided.
Bikes
Fuel
Tea/Coffee/Drinks/Lunch during the day
Evening meals on each of Mon-Fri
Travel insurance
Breakdown insurance

Payment:

£250/person deposit required when making the booking
Full balance due no later than 31st July 2021
In the event you have to pull out before 31st July you will receive a full refund of the £250 deposit
In the event you have to pull out after the 31st July deposits and any balance paid will only be refunded if your space can be re-sold.

There are 6 places available so don’t delay.
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So @Barry Hell seeing as how you have a new touring bike and seeing as how Mrs H wants to go on a tour, will you and she be joining us in Sept? 👍


ps. You might also be interested in this forum if you’ve not found it already


pps. I found it by accident when researching Ducati STs 😕
 
So @Barry Hell seeing as how you have a new touring bike and seeing as how Mrs H wants to go on a tour, will you and she be joining us in Sept? 👍


ps. You might also be interested in this forum if you’ve not found it already


pps. I found it by accident when researching Ducati STs 😕
I mentioned the West Cork trip to Mrs Hell but she seemed to think it was more of a boys trip, she is keen to visit at some point when I told her about your garden accommodation (not the shed 🤣) September would be tricky as no. 2 daughter starts college and I'll be the taxi service 🚕 I said the ST13 would be a good taxi but that wasn't received well 🤔
Thanks fot the link, I did stumble across it checking potential issues to look out for, thermostats can fail - outrageous 😳
 
I mentioned the West Cork trip to Mrs Hell but she seemed to think it was more of a boys trip, she is keen to visit at some point when I told her about your garden accommodation (not the shed 🤣) September would be tricky as no. 2 daughter starts college and I'll be the taxi service 🚕 I said the ST13 would be a good taxi but that wasn't received well 🤔
Thanks fot the link, I did stumble across it checking potential issues to look out for, thermostats can fail - outrageous 😳
👍
 
Deposit paid....Check 💰 (y)

Ferries booked....Check 🚢 (y)

Hotels booked for overnight stays on the way out and back....Check 🛏️ (y)

I'm on my way. :)

👍 good man.

I’d rather have people off here than some randomers I don’t know so as it’s now being marketed to the general public and there’s only a couple of places left, you’d better contact me pronto 👍
 
The latest re travelling is looking very likely that after 19/7 anyone who’s had a vaccine can come into ROI without having to either produce a -ve PCR test or having to quarantine upon arrival - not that people are quarantining anyway.

 
The latest re travelling is looking very likely that after 19/7 anyone who’s had a vaccine can come into ROI without having to either produce a -ve PCR test or having to quarantine upon arrival - not that people are quarantining anyway.

Ignore everything the idiots in government have to say and enjoy the trip there's yellow plates all over the country's roads 👍
 
A small team of us were planning to come over on bikes and ride the bottom of the WAW early September, but the continued dicking about by our government and the EU, meant we reluctantly decided we just can't keep hanging on in the forlorn hope things may just possibly open up again, or even if they do - when the hell will it happen?

Our original plan A was to go into Italy - that went tits up early doors (again), Plan B was always Eire - that is tits in suspension, we are now on plan C which is the land of the kilt. Feck knows whether we will really get there either, the world is mad.

It is fucking annoying though. I am one that needs certainty in all things or I go mad lol :(
 
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