14 Day Itinerary
 Day
1
You will be met at Muine Bheag (Bagenalstown) train or bus station. A
representative of Celtic Cycling will be waiting for you there. You will
be transferred to your base at near, Bagenalstown, Co. Carlow- transfer
time 15 minutes approximately. Alternatively Celtic Cycling can arrange
private transport from Dublin/Cork/Shannon airports and will be pleased
to quote you a price for this service. On arrival you will have a briefing
session; explanation of the route maps and itineraries; fitting out with
your bicycles & equipment. Depending on your arrival time you may
then like to take a short cycle ride in the vicinity to familiarise yourselves
with your bikes. Overnight at your base.
Day 2
Cycle from your base to the medieval City of Kilkenny (18 miles/29 kms.)
passing through Bennetsbridge where there are several craft industries
to visit (pottery, leather etc.). In Kilkenny you can take a guided walking
tour of the City - a good way to find the places of interest and find
out about their history - and a guided tour of Kilkenny Castle which dates
back to 1170, which has now been completely restored. If you want to spend
more time in the City you will have plenty of time on day 3 as well. In
the evening you may like to go to an Irish music “session”
- your hosts at your accommodation will advise you where to go. Overnight
in Kilkenny.
Day 3
To-day you will have plenty of time to see more of Kilkenny City or take
a cycle ride to the Dunmore Caves about 6 miles/10 kms. from the City.
If you want a longer cycle ride you can continue on to visit the pretty
village of Castlecomer which used to be the centre of the Irish coal mining
industry. The industry has long since closed down. The round trip to Castlecomer
and back is about 35 miles/56 kms. It is possible to come back by a quieter
route through the villages of Muckalee and Ballyfoyle. Overnight again
in Kilkenny.
Day 4
Cycle from Kilkenny to Thomastown (16 miles/26 kms). You can visit the
ruins of the Augustinian Priory at Kells and Jerpoint Abbey where you
can take a guided tour. Both date back to the 12th century. If you are
interested in golf you can visit the Jack Nicklaus championship course
at Mount Juliet where the Irish Open championship was played in 1993,
1994 and 1995 and where the American Express World Championships was played
in 2002 (won by Tiger Woods) and in 2004 (won by Ernie Els). Even if you
are not interested in golf, Mount Juliet is a beautiful place to visit.
If you like horse riding you can take a guided “trek” through
the estate (it is as well to book from Kilkenny the previous day). There
is also a long established stud farm at Mount Juliet where several well
known race horses have been bred. Overnight near Thomastown.
Day 5
Cycle from Thomastown to Arthurstown (25 miles/40 kms.). You will pass
through the picturesque village of Inistioge - Mia Farrow, who starred
in “Widow’s Peak” which was filmed mainly in Inistioge
says that it is her favourite place in Ireland. The film of the Irish
author Maeve Binchy’s book “Circle of Friends” was also
shot in Inistioge. Woodstock Demesne just outside Inistioge, where the
gardens have now been restored, is also well worth a visit and there are
lovely walks/cycle rides in the demesne. Then on to New Ross where you
can have lunch or afternoon tea on “The Galley” floating restaurant
(check departure times). In New Ross you can also visit the “Dunbrody”
which is moored at the Quay in New Ross and is open as a visitors’
centre. Famine ships transported people fleeing the famine in the 1840’s
from Ireland to the U.S.A. and Canada. The J.F. Kennedy Arboretum is located
close by your overnight stopover. It was established by the U.S. and Irish
Governments in memory of the late President and has over 6000 species
of trees from all over the World. Overnight in Arthurstown.
 Day
6
To-day you can take the car ferry from nearby Ballyhack to Passage East
and cycle to Dunmore East a pretty fishing village on the County Waterford
coast. On the return trip you can go through Waterford City if you are
interested in seeing Waterford crystal being made in the factory there.
If your preference is cycling and the countryside, you can cycle to Hook
Head the site of one of the oldest lighthouses in Europe. It is said that
when Cromwell was planning his invasion of Ireland he said that he would
land “by hook or by crook” - there is a place called Crooke
on the Waterford side of the estuary. You can also visit Baginbun where
the Normans first landed in 1169. It is called after the Normans’
two ships “Bag” and “Bun”. There is a Martello
Tower there. By lighting fires on the roofs, Martello Towers which were
always built within sight of each other, were used as an early warning
system during the Napoleonic wars. On each of these tours it is possible
to make the return journey using different roads to those travelled on
the outward journey. Distances vary from 30 miles/48 kms to 35 miles/56
kms. Overnight again in Arthurstown.
Day 7
Cycle the route that you did not take on Monday. Overnight again in Arthurstown.
Day 8
Cycle from Campile to Kilmore Quay (26 miles/42 kms). You have the option
of two routes. The first follows the coastline and you can visit Tintern
Abbey, recently restored by the Irish Government, the “Buried City
of Bannow” and the beaches at Cullenstown. The second takes you
inland through rolling farmland -if you want to take a diversion you can
cycle some of the way up the “Mountain of Forth” - it is only
about 600 feet/150 meters high - from where there are good views across
St. Georges Channel (you can see the coast of Wales on a clear day). Kilmore
Quay is an attractive fishing village well known for its thatched houses.
A new marina has recently been completed here. There is considerable influence
from Brittany (north-west France) in the area due primarily to fishermen
from Brittany coming ashore at Kilmore especially in bad weather. Overnight
in Kilmore Quay.
Day 9
Cycle in the environs of Kilmore Quay. The “Burrow” nature
reserve is located right beside the village. Some rare plants can be seen
here. You can also take a boat trip/fishing trip from Kilmore Quay (weather
permitting) but it is necessary to book in advance. If weather conditions
are favourable you may be able to go ashore on the Saltee Islands one
of the most important seabird sanctuaries in Europe. If you decide to
take the coastal route to Wexford on the following day you could take
the opportunity to visit The National Museum of Agriculture and Rural
Life at Johnstown Castle. Apart from showing farm machinery and implements,
the museum depicts how farming families lived over the years. There are
also magnificent gardens and lakes at the Castle. However as Johnstown
Castle is only 5 miles/8 kms. from Wexford town or may want to save this
visit for day 10. Overnight again at Kilmore Quay.
Day 10
Cycle from Kilmore Quay to Wexford. You can take one of two routes, one
following the coastline (27 miles/44 kms) or the other inland (16 miles/26
kms). The coastal route will take you through Tomhaggard village where
there is one of the last remaining windmills in Ireland now in poor repair.
Further on the route takes you by Our Lady’s Island where pilgrims
come from all over Ireland to pray on August 15th. The pretty seaside
village of Carne is nearby. If you take the inland route you can visit
Johnstown Castle and Museum. Overnight in Wexford.
Day 11
To-day you will have the opportunity of sightseeing in Wexford town with
its quaint narrow streets and exploring the area around the town. In the
town you can visit the Westgate Heritage Centre where there is an audio/visual
show telling you about the history of Wexford. You can visit St. Iberius
Church and the “twin” churches of Bride Street and Rose Street
all of which are of architectural interest. In “The Bullring”
you can see a statue of a “pikeman”. The “pikemen”
fought for the rebels in the 1798 rebellion. The bicentennial anniversary
of the rebellion was celebrated throughout Ireland and especially in Wexford
in 1998. You can also visit the Wexford Wildfowl reserve about 5 miles/8
kms from the town on the north shore of Wexford Harbour. It is located
in an area recovered from the sea known as the north “slobs”.
The Wildfowl Reserve is recognised internationally by ornithologists and
is the winter home for thousands of Brent Geese which migrate here each
year from their breeding grounds in Greenland. Many other rare species
of birdlife can also be seen at the reserve. Close by the town at Ferrycarrig
is the Irish National Heritage Park which depicts Irish history from 7000
BC to the Norman invasion in 1169. The National Heritage Park has recently
been enlarged and upgraded and is well worth a visit but you may prefer
to take in a visit on your way to St. Mullins on day 12. Overnight again
in Wexford.
Day 12
Cycle from Wexford to St. Mullins (28 miles/45 kms.). There are a myriad
of possible routes through the Wexford countryside. A suggestion is from
Wexford through Ferrycarrig passing right by The Irish National Heritage
Park and then follow
the road to the west of the river Slaney to Clonroche (the centre of the
Wexford strawberry growing country) . From Clonroche cycle to Balywilliam
and then to St.
Mullins. If you are interested you can make a short diversion near Ballywilliam
to visit Berkeley Forest House where there is a large collection of 18th.
and 19th. century toys, dolls and costumes, suitably displayed in the
drawing room. St. Mullins was a centre of great ecclesiastical importance
in the 5th. and 6th. centuries and the ruins of small oratories and churches
can still be seen here. It is the burial place of Art MacMorrough Kavanagh,
one time King of Leinster. Overnight in St. Mullins.
Day 13
Cycle from St. Mullins through Graiguenamanagh (“Grange of the Monks”)
to your base near Bagenalstown (15 miles/24 kms). Between St. Mullins
and Graiguenamanagh you will have the opportunity of taking a delightful
ride along the “Barrow Navigation” towpath. This was used
in the past by horses towing barges laden with barley destined for the
breweries and distilleries in Dublin. While it may be a little “bumpy”
it has the advantage of being flat! In Graiguenamanagh (“Grange
of the Monks”) you can visit the beautifully restored Abbey of Duiske.
After passing through Graiguenamanagh you have the option of cycling to
the east or west of the river Barrow on your way to Bagenalstown where
you will overnight. You will pass through the pretty village of Borris
home of the Mac Murrough Kavanaghs who were Kings of Leinster back in
the 5th. and 6th. centuries. One of their direct descendants still occupies
Borris as their family’s private residence. Another of the MacMurrough
Kavanaghs, Arthur, born without arms or legs in 1831, travelled the World,
became a member of parliament at Westminster and hunted and fished (on
horseback) and had a family! At Rathgeeran about 5 miles/8 kms. from Borris
there is the site of a pre-Christian burial ground (c.3000 B.C.) where
you will find a stone with carved concentric motifs typical of these burial
grounds. If you wish to visit the site be sure to get accurate directions
as it can be very difficult to find particularly when it is overgrown
with bracken in summer. Overnight at your base.
Day 14
Cycle in the environs of your base. Celtic Cycling can suggest three possible
routes varying from 20 miles/32 kms. to 30 miles/48 kms. On these routes
you can visit the biggest Dolmen in Europe located near Carlow town; visit
the beautiful gardens at Altamont House (by prior arrangement on week-days)
and the many castles and historic buildings in the area. An alternative
is to take another cycle ride or walk along the Barrow Navigation towpath
another section of which passes close by Lorum.
Day 15
Depart.
Notes:
- If you need to have an E-Mail/Fax contact address while in Ireland
please feel free to use Celtic Cycling’s and any message will
be transmitted to you at the guest House you are staying at that night.
Celtic Cycling’s E-Mail address is: info@celticcycling.com and
fax number is +353-59-0775455;
- Celtic Cycling will be pleased to help you with your accommodation
bookings in Dublin or elsewhere in Ireland;
- Private transfers by car or minibus can also be arranged from/to
Dublin, Shannon or Cork airports or Dublin, Dunlaoghaire or Rosslare
ferryports. Please ask Celtic Cycling to arrange a quotation for you
if you are interested in this service.
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