Cycling in Ireland

Q: I am going cycling to Ireland and I have 7 days and would like to know which route to take. I prefer the coast. Cycling will be about 70 km per day. - Mohamed Desai

A: There is plenty of information available in guidebooks and on the Internet. For a listing of interesting routes int he country, try the www.cycle-route.com website or www.cycletoursireland.com. For a written guide, the Irish tourist board has compiled a booklet titled 'Cycling in Ireland', which shows 24 cycle routes covering South and Northern Ireland. It appears that the Kingfisher Trail is regarded by many as one of the premier cycle routes in Ireland.The seven-day route starts from the longest inland waterway in Europe at Carrick-on-Shannon, meandering alongside the waterway through the rejuvenated towns of Keshcarrigan, Ballinamore and Ballyconnell. Then the trail passes through the towns of Redhills and Clones, locations for the filming of The Playboy and The Butcher Boy, and on to the ferry crossing of Lough Erne at Crom Estate. The goal is the highest point of the Trail at Doon, before you head down to the source of the Shannon and the ride home along Lough Allen. It covers around 50 miles (80kms) per day. Places of interest on the route include the National Trust Estate at Crom, the House and Estate at Florencecourt, and the show caves at Marble Arch. (14 June 2009)