Irleland and the wild atlantic way CIR2601
Some of our guests used the first day, before the actual tour started, to explore a little bit of Dublin and learn more about the city’s fascinating history. Of course, we couldn’t miss the story of the Easter Rising of 1916 and the Irish rebels who played such an important role in the country’s history. After visiting the historic GPO (General Post Office) and the Spire, we crossed the famous Ha’penny Bridge and headed into the lively Temple Bar area. From there, we continued to Christ Church Cathedral, another important part of Dublin’s history. And for lunch, there was only one thing that really made sense: a proper Fish and Chips. To finish the day, we visited the famous Book of Kells, another must-see for anyone interested in Ireland’s history and culture. In the evening, the whole group came together at the hotel for our Welcome Briefing. We went through the important information for the days ahead, talked about the route and answered the last questions before setting off. And then finally came the moment everyone had been waiting for: the motorcycles were handed over! Engines started, the excitement was building, and suddenly the tour felt very real. The tour can come – we’re definitely ready!
The day we had all been waiting for finally arrived, and we hopped on our motorcycles for the very first ride of the tour! Leaving Dublin turned out to be remarkably smooth, even for a normal workday, as we hopped on the highway for a brief stretch to bypass the city's endless traffic lights. Our first stop was in Trim to admire its magnificent medieval castle—one of the largest and most important in Ireland—and enjoy a well-earned coffee break. Recharged and back in the saddle, we pointed our bikes north towards Dundalk, pulling over at a wonderfully cozy spot for lunch. Shortly after, we crossed into Northern Ireland, where the only real sign of entering a new territory was getting used to speed limits posted in miles per hour instead of kilometers! From there, we joined the curves of the Mourne Coastal Route, following the dramatic shoreline up through Newcastle before pushing on to Belfast, arriving with plenty of time for a relaxing pre-dinner walk around the city. Stay tuned for more!
Day 3 – From Belfast to Letterkenny After just one night, it was already time to say goodbye to Belfast. Unfortunately, there was no time to experience the city’s nightlife or enjoy its famous music scene – another exciting day on the road was waiting for us. Our route first took us north before turning west towards our first stop at Carnlough Harbour, a location made famous by Game of Thrones. This is where Arya Stark crawled out of the water in one of the episodes. We decided on a more relaxed approach, enjoying a coffee and taking in the atmosphere of the picturesque little harbour. From there, we continued towards Torr Head and then on to the spectacular Giant’s Causeway. During our morning briefing, we had already heard the famous legend of the Irish giant Finn McCool, and now we had the chance to see this unique natural wonder for ourselves. We continued west along the coast, getting closer to the Wild Atlantic Way. The first signs were already appearing along the road – a great taste of what was still to come over the next few days. We also made a short stop at the North West 200 starting grid, before continuing on to Letterkenny, where we’ll spend the night. Another great day on the road, with plenty of scenery, history, and a few famous film locations along the way.
The biggest riding day of the entire tour finally arrived—a massive leg stretching well over 300 kilometers! Today marked the official start of our journey along the legendary Wild Atlantic Way, a world-famous route that hugs Ireland's dramatic western coastline for nearly 2,500 kilometers. We're looking forward to covering a substantial portion of it over the coming days! The Atlantic wasn't feeling particularly welcoming at first, greeting us with heavy clouds and a few passing rain showers along the way. But true to the spirit of the road, we geared up, embraced the moody Irish coastal weather, and pushed through every single kilometer.
Today we left Ballina and headed towards Galway. The day was all about **St. Patrick**, but along the way we also encountered some fascinating chapters of Ireland’s history. Our first stop was **Downpatrick Head**, one of the most spectacular coastal landmarks on the west coast. The dramatic headland stretches out into the Atlantic and is best known for the striking sea stack **Dún Briste**, rising dramatically from the water just offshore. According to legend, St. Patrick founded a church here, and the remains of a small chapel and a stone cross can still be found at the site. On a clear day, the views stretch along the Mayo coastline and towards Achill Island. At the viewpoint, we also came across a fascinating reminder of a lesser-known chapter of Irish history: the **Éire 65** marking. During the Second World War, Ireland remained neutral, and large stone markings spelling out “Éire” followed by a number were placed along the coastline. They were clearly visible from the air and helped pilots identify Ireland as a neutral country. The number 65 identifies this particular location – an easy detail to miss, but a great piece of history to discover along the route. From Downpatrick Head, we continued to **Mary’s Bakery** for a quick coffee stop before heading towards **Claggan Mountain**, where our chef Domenico had prepared a fantastic picnic for us. It was the perfect place to recharge while enjoying the beautiful Irish landscape. After lunch, we continued towards **Croagh Patrick**, one of Ireland’s most famous mountains and pilgrimage sites. According to tradition, St. Patrick spent 40 days fasting and praying here in the 5th century. Every July, thousands of pilgrims still climb the mountain, many of them traditionally doing so barefoot. Opposite Croagh Patrick, we made a short stop at the cemetery, which serves as a reminder of the victims of the **Great Famine**. The famine of the 1840s remains one of the defining and most tragic events in Irish history. Around one million people died, while millions more were forced to leave the country. Unfortunately, by the afternoon the mountains were completely covered in cloud and mist, accompanied by the obligatory Irish rain. But rather than spoiling the scenery, it created an incredibly atmospheric and almost mystical feeling. And for us riders, the winding roads through this rugged landscape were an absolute highlight. We eventually reached Galway during rush hour and checked into our hotel. After a long and varied day on the road, we relaxed with a well-earned drink before enjoying dinner together and bringing another memorable day to a close.
Spending two nights in Galway gave us a well-earned rest day with plenty of choices on the table. Somebody decided to stay in town to explore the vibrant historic center or do a bit of shopping while some decided on the best option: a motorcycle ride, despite of the not perfect weather forecast! We set off into the rugged Connemara landscape and made our way to the charming town of Clifden just in time for a fantastic lunch. From there, we tackled the spectacular Sky Road, without a doubt one of the most breathtaking coastal drives in the entire region, offering sweeping views of the Atlantic and the surrounding little islands. On the loop back towards Galway, we paused at the iconic Kylemore Abbey for a quick photo stop and then rolled back to the hotel with plenty of time to recharge, perfectly prepped for a fun dinner out on the town tonight!
Today we left Galway and continued south towards Killarney, following the Wild Atlantic Way for most of the day. After about an hour, we stopped in Ballyvaughan for our morning coffee. The break turned out to be a little more eventful than planned, as we also had to lend a hand with a temporary repair to a car tyre. Luckily, with a bit of teamwork, we were soon back on the road. Our next stop was one of Ireland’s absolute highlights: the spectacular Cliffs of Moher. Rising dramatically from the Atlantic, the cliffs are one of the most iconic sights on the west coast. Even with the typically Irish weather, they were impressive as expected. For lunch, we enjoyed a picnic at Querrin Pier, before continuing south to Killimer. From there, we crossed the Shannon by ferry to Tarbert – a welcome little change of pace and another chance to enjoy the scenery from a different perspective. Our final destination was Killarney, where we arrived at our beautifully located hotel right on the shores of Lough Leane, in the heart of Killarney National Park. After another fantastic day along Ireland’s Atlantic coast, this was the perfect place to relax and enjoy the evening. But there was one more special moment waiting for us. During the evening, we had the pleasure of recognising some of our guests for their incredible loyalty to Edelweiss Bike Travel: Robert has travelled with us five times, David ten times, and Katherine and Mark an amazing fifteen times! That kind of loyalty means a great deal to us. Sláinte to all of you – and to many more adventures together!
Today, the world-famous Ring of Kerry was on the menu! Known as one of the most magnificent coastal drives in all of Europe, this rugged, mountainous peninsula attracts more travelers than almost anywhere else in Ireland. We kicked off our loop by tackling the narrow, twisty road through the Gap of Dunloe, carefully sharing the tight bends with the traditional horse-drawn carriages. From there, we swept down toward the coast, stopping in the colorful village of Sneem for a well-earned coffee break and a spot of souvenir shopping. The views were so incredible that we couldn't resist pulling over every few miles for photo ops before rolling into Glenbeigh just in time for lunch. The afternoon brought even more riding bliss as a series of tight, sweeping roads draped over breathtaking scenery led us all the way back to the hotel. What a truly unforgettable ride!
Today just wasn’t quite our day—or so we thought, but it turned into a great story anyway! Our original plan was to cruise from Killarney to Waterford via Blarney Castle, but a few unexpected delays right after setting off meant we had to pivot and skip the castle. Instead, we headed straight for Cobh, where we enjoyed a fantastic lunch break by the sea! While some of us set off to explore the colorful town, stroll up to the impressive cathedral, or grab a bite, others took advantage of the stop to make a few quick calls and handle some last-minute logistics. Just another day on a real motorcycle adventure—sometimes you just have to go with the flow! Afterward, we set our sights directly on Waterford. We were making great time and looking forward to an early arrival, but the day had one last little twist in store for us: a massive traffic jam that cost us an extra 20 minutes. At the end of the day, though, only one thing really matters: everyone arrived safe, sound, and in high spirits at the hotel! Now it’s time to unwind, kick back with a delicious dinner, and raise a glass to an unforgettable day here in Waterford. Not every riding day goes exactly according to plan—but those are almost always the days that create the absolute best stories to laugh about later!
The final day of this wonderful tour started under a crystal-clear blue sky—a very promising start for our last stretch! With only 200 kilometers ahead of us, we got to enjoy some of the most spectacular roads in southern Ireland. Our first stop of the day was at the magnificent Jerpoint Abbey, a 12th-century Cistercian monastery. Later on, another absolute highlight was stopping at St. Kevin’s Monastery in Glendalough—one of the oldest monastic sites in Ireland—to admire its famous round tower and ancient history. To top it all off, we rode through the breathtaking Wicklow Mountains National Park before heading into Dublin. Thanks to it being Saturday, traffic was light, allowing us to arrive at the hotel with plenty of time to relax and recharge before our big farewell dinner tonight! Thank you to everybody for a great time and a great ride together. See you hopefully soon again on another Edelweiss Bike Travel tour! Thomas and Domenico