BIKING
DAYS 1–2 Bike through sparsely populated Connemara, a land peppered with small loughs (lakes) and villages • Traditions thrive here, where the lilt of Gaelic is ubiquitous • Rest your head at the glorious Ballynahinch Castle • Explore a winding route along Ireland’s windswept western coast • Cycle meandering country roads, where breathtaking views of the sapphire ocean, windblown grasses and golden beaches abound • After grabbing a bite at a pub near the beach, dip your toes in the Atlantic • Hear the heartbeat of pub music with a stirring bodhran demonstration. » Ballynahinch Castle Hotel - Premiere DAY 3 Pedal beneath the jagged Twelve Bens mountains • Wander the quintessentially Irish town of Clifden • Sip some of the area’s best whiskey • Relax amid the old-world charm of a local pub and feel the infectious rhythm of traditional Irish music. » Abbeyglen Castle Hotel - Casual DAYS 4–6 Cycle around majestic Croagh Patrick, a sacred pilgrimage site • Bike through a kaleidoscope of landscapes, including craggy shores, soaring mountains, shimmering lakes and a deep fjord • Pedal into Joyce Country, a region rich in Gaelic speakers and rolling farmland • Rejuvenate at the Lodge at Ashford Castle, set on an expansive royal property • Take a peaceful stroll in Cong, a quaint village with medieval abbey ruins • Enjoy one last ride past beautiful farms framed by ancient stone walls. » The Lodge at Ashford Castle - Premiere Bike winding curves along the Wild Atlantic Way and up to the Twelve Bens. Rugged cliffs, green pastures, lively pubs and the melodious sounds of Gaelic and the sea. Windswept Coast & Castles on the Emerald Isle IRELAND’S CONNEMARA
IRELAND
CROAGH PATRICK
Dublin
LONDON
Cong
Twelve Bens Ballynahinch CONNEMARA NATIONAL PARK
AUGHRUS
Lough Corrib
Clifden
From/To Dublin
Recess
Atlantic Ocean
6 Days Activity Levels 2-4 Premiere Hotels $5,399 to $5,899 / person double occ. See web for date-specific pricing. Choose a Trip for • Couples, Friends & Solos shown here • Your Private Group o \ Search IRCB on backroads.com “Pre-trip the only thing I was really thinking about was the biking. But by the end of day one it simply became just one great component among many in a tremendous trip.”
STEPHEN ABRAMS • DENVER, CO
877.462.2848 | 7–5 Monday–Friday, 7–3 weekends PT | 81
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