Cycling the Western Way

envirowill

Hi lads,

Outdoor pursuits forum directed me this way. Anyone have experience cycling and camping along the western way? If so any info will be appreciated!

thanks!

Tonyandthewhale

I can't say I have but I know there was a thread at one point about cycling the wicklow way so if that's possible I'm guessing the western way is ridable as well (provided you've got a mountain bike), just be careful about pissing off walkers as it's technically their path not yours.

There's a campsite at the galway end of the way if I remember correctly and there's a hostel at killary harbour not far off the way that's supposed to be quite nice. Otherwise you could probably just camp anywhere as it's pretty remote so there should be somewhere you can camp wild most nights.

Morgan

Tonyandthewhale wrote: »

...cycling the wicklow way so if that's possible I'm guessing the western way is ridable as well

That would be a bit presumptuous. Just because it's called a "way" doesn't mean it's rideable. The Chinese Way would be a case in point.

I've ridden a bit of it - around Maumean and Leenane. I recall parts of it being a boggy hell. Definitely one for the middle of summer only (a proper summer).

Get in touch with the guys at Connnemara MTB or MBW and they'll be able to give you some local knowledge.

justo

envirowill wrote: »

Hi lads,

Outdoor pursuits forum directed me this way. Anyone have experience cycling and camping along the western way? If so any info will be appreciated!

thanks!

I've cycled plenty in the area and walked the Western way section from Oughterard to Leenane. Whereas some of this is on the road and perfectly good for cycling, when the way departs the road you could not take a bike. (Unless it was slung over your shoulder for good distances).

Even in high summer it is boggy in parts and there are long, long stretches where it would not be possible to cycle at all.

I know a section futher north in Mayo and the same goes for here too.

envirowill

Thanks guys. Carrying the bikes should not be too much of a deal aslong as it's not for miles on end. We were thinking of going mid to late August hoping that it will be very dry. I'll ping the connemara and mbw guys for more info.

Many thanks!

justo

envirowill wrote: »

Thanks guys. Carrying the bikes should not be too much of a deal aslong as it's not for miles on end. We were thinking of going mid to late August hoping that it will be very dry. I'll ping the connemara and mbw guys for more info.

Many thanks!

Yikes.

I do not think you can do this with a bike. The stretch in between Oughterard and Leenane does have miles on end when you will have to carry the bike and the section in between Maam and Leenane has a significant enough kill/ mountain to overcome which is off road and which is slow going on foot.

galwaycyclist

Back up the others on this. The last time I did this (on foot circa three years ago) much the section from Oughterard to Maam was a bog slog. You would have to carry the bike on your shoulder for much of it.

Also there are access issues at the back of Leckavreagh.

Ditto for the section up the Inagh Valley. There are sections that are extremely boggy. If you want to cycle a trail I would tend to stick with Wicklow.

Else just follow the roads.

envirowill

Hmm I guess I will check out some of the routes, maybe divert to roads for some parts? Thanks for the tips anyway, better to know in advance than get stuck in a bog somewhere