cycle routes around skibbereen

seanin4711

down for the BHW and wondering if there are any scenic routes 60-70 km around the area.
failing that whats the local cycling club and hook up with them for a spin.
any help appreciated .

2 Wheels Good

Did this as part of the emergency services cycle last year. 87km. Durras to Schull is a nice scenic spin and you can add to that by going more towards Goleen rather than inland for Drimoleague if you fancy more scenery.
Otherwise, head south from Skibbereen for Tragumna and take the coast road for Castletownshend (A dead end but a nice little village) then on to Union Hall, Glandore and Rosscarbery, you could keep going to Clonakilty on coast roads if you're feeling energetic and it's easy enough to follow. Should be plenty climbs for the legs in that.

cyclic

They're all scenic spins. It's in one of the majestic beauty areas in western Europe. Just get out there.

west cork lad

There is a new club in west cork. West Cork Cycling Crew. They have a Facebook page. There are loads of spins listed on their page. Usuall start in Dunmanway but pass through most towns in west cork so you could start from anywhere. A lot of the club in Kerry over the weekend so I don't think there are any spins organised.

west cork lad

If you like hills head west 😜. If not mad about hills head eastðŸ˜႒. One nice route from skib to ballydehob up over a big hill to bantry then back the main road to skibb again. That is about 50k with a nice climb and big decent after. Enjoy your spin which ever you do but stay safe.

seanin4711

cyclic wrote: »

They're all scenic spins. It's in one of the majestic beauty areas in western Europe. Just get out there.

thats grand and all but i would like to do a certain amount in a loop,as da missus needs to know when i will be back!!!

west cork lad

Any of the 100 k loops should take you about 2 hours 120 min. Leave at 05:30. Back in time for breakfast with herself. :-)

REBELSAFC

Skibb---Tragumna--(Detour for a lap round Toe Head,)--Castletownsend--Union Hall--Glandore--Rosscarbery--Skibb.


Around 60ks. Reasonably hilly. Absolutely beautiful

seanin4711

west cork lad wrote: »

Any of the 100 k loops should take you about 2 hours 120 min. Leave at 05:30. Back in time for breakfast with herself. :-)

50km an hour good going!!!

seanin4711

went to lough hyne for a spin and decided to take the blue and white cycle route #2 .
jaysus talk about going from nice and flat to 16% gradient in a heartbeat on freshly laid gravel.
Now when i got to the top the scenery was awesome but a tough spin to get there(had to walk it).
Not sure how leisure/tourist cyclist would get up this hill as its the toughest i have encountered.

found it!
from discover ireland website.
they would be in for a bit of a shock when they read this and do the cycle!!

Loop 2: Baltimore: 3½ hours. 35km Start: Skibbereen Heritage Centre
This is a trip out to the fishing village of Baltimore, taking in the challenging Lough Hyne along the way. Alternatively cyclists can turn back before Lough Hyne, staying on the loop, in which case it is the easiest route. Lough Hyne is a saltwater lake with a unique ecosystem, and is a designated Marine Nature Reserve. The route continues on past Lough Hyne to the seaport of Baltimore. After exploring the quayside and town centre, return by the same route.

2 Wheels Good

seanin4711 wrote: »

went to lough hyne for a spin and decided to take the blue and white cycle route #2 .
jaysus talk about going from nice and flat to 16% gradient in a heartbeat on freshly laid gravel.
Now when i got to the top the scenery was awesome but a tough spin to get there(had to walk it).
Not sure how leisure/tourist cyclist would get up this hill as its the toughest i have encountered.

found it!
from discover ireland website.
they would be in for a bit of a shock when they read this and do the cycle!!

Loop 2: Baltimore: 3½ hours. 35km Start: Skibbereen Heritage Centre
This is a trip out to the fishing village of Baltimore, taking in the challenging Lough Hyne along the way. Alternatively cyclists can turn back before Lough Hyne, staying on the loop, in which case it is the easiest route. Lough Hyne is a saltwater lake with a unique ecosystem, and is a designated Marine Nature Reserve. The route continues on past Lough Hyne to the seaport of Baltimore. After exploring the quayside and town centre, return by the same route.

You get used to the hills around here after a while

west cork lad

Nice one Sean. Some tough hills around west cork all right. You missed my attempt at humour with the 2 hour + 120 min. At least you got a spin in. :-)

seanin4711

2 Wheels Good wrote: »

You get used to the hills around here after a while

ah jaysus gravel and that % incline there was no way up it!!!

rrrrrrrr

Me and some friends are going cycling in this area for a weekend in June.
We're big mix of fitness and abilities.

Accommodation is booked, so it's:
Day 1: Baltimore to Schull
Day 2: Schull back to Baltimore.

I was thinking of:
Day 1: Baltimore-Skibb-Balleydehob-Durus-Kilcrohane-Durus-Blairs Cove-Schull
Day 2: Schull-Ballydehob- Skibb-Union Hall-Glandore-Union Hall-Castletownsend- Tragumna- Loughine-Baltimore

Any opinions from those who know the area?

Rory

rrrrrrrr

https://www.google.ie/maps/dir/Schull,+County+Cork/Kilcrohane,+County+Cork/Baltimore,+County+Cork/@51.5496005,-9.6343711,11z/data=!4m35!4m34!1m5!1m1!1s0x484599685602889f:0xa00c7a99731c5b0!2m2!1d-9.5479801!2d51.526867!1m20!1m1!1s0x484582d45a68d7bf:0xa00c7a99731a160!2m2!1d-9.7043771!2d51.5806085!3m4!1m2!1d-9.6978766!2d51.6073225!3s0x48459d4eefcb6d91:0x47b2ec3af4c0cda1!3m4!1m2!1d-9.5800607!2d51.6461967!3s0x484575ecb225b6c7:0xfe078180efa50b20!3m4!1m2!1d-9.4621518!2d51.5626576!3s0x4845a1fc6606b7c3:0xb9cfa477bd5f6337!1m5!1m1!1s0x4845bcd3404086a3:0x17efd8f5911ffa50!2m2!1d-9.3748765!2d51.4771421!3e1?hl=en

https://www.google.ie/maps/dir/Schull,+Meenvane,+Co.+Cork/Castletownshend,+County+Cork/Baltimore,+County+Cork/@51.5218455,-9.4778105,11z/data=!4m60!4m59!1m40!1m1!1s0x484599685602889f:0xa00c7a99731c5b0!2m2!1d-9.5479801!2d51.526867!3m4!1m2!1d-9.394754!2d51.554306!3s0x4845a3d0990bef0d:0x1ca737e539a090e!3m4!1m2!1d-9.3591201!2d51.5295922!3s0x4845a39a98aa0da5:0x5643c4036925c41!3m4!1m2!1d-9.3353853!2d51.5470246!3s0x4845a40d7ec7c181:0xe25b9df691e84993!3m4!1m2!1d-9.3047596!2d51.5567816!3s0x4845a431bbe8f1d9:0x41521392c5f64a61!3m4!1m2!1d-9.1984354!2d51.5553114!3s0x4845af17fb7ec4c7:0xd447d029c2cb665e!3m4!1m2!1d-9.1821007!2d51.5600035!3s0x4845af21bb7325b9:0xa95b179cf050ea89!3m4!1m2!1d-9.134423!2d51.5649641!3s0x4845aea733ee40a3:0x595a871ff592a658!1m10!1m1!1s0x4845ae52d5e19d07:0xa00c7a99731c2a0!2m2!1d-9.1793869!2d51.5265757!3m4!1m2!1d-9.2621238!2d51.4918281!3s0x4845a5317d0d6663:0x1122eed95b5838f2!1m5!1m1!1s0x4845bcd3404086a3:0x17efd8f5911ffa50!2m2!1d-9.3748765!2d51.4771421!3e1?hl=en

REBELSAFC

rrrrrrrr wrote: »

Me and some friends are going cycling in this area for a weekend in June.
We're big mix of fitness and abilities.

Accommodation is booked, so it's:
Day 1: Baltimore to Schull
Day 2: Schull back to Baltimore.

I was thinking of:
Day 1: Baltimore-Skibb-Balleydehob-Durus-Kilcrohane-Durus-Blairs Cove-Schull
Day 2: Schull-Ballydehob- Skibb-Union Hall-Glandore-Union Hall-Castletownsend- Tragumna- Loughine-Baltimore

Any opinions from those who know the area?

Rory

Day 2.. From Skibb take the N71 to Glandore then Return via Union Hall-Castletownshend(Stopping to pick up a bite to eat/coffee https://www.facebook.com/eatthecastle/videos/821196188068493/?hc_ref=ART3sBmOXk5hRe0zM29HhHf55MqdmSD4pQ5hiIOE1jX99k0f0Gun4kv7nj7pK_TuqII&fref=nf)-Tragumna
Tragumna-Lough Ine-Baltimore can be a savage end to a few days with lots of Kms in the legs.There are two routes from here depending on how you're feeling.
For the tougher route head left at the beach up the hill past the public toilets and follow your sat nav from here to Lough Hyne. There are plenty of small country roads to get lost on.At lough Hyne hug the coast around the western shore of the lake and head to Baltimore. It really is a beautiful,but brutal cycle.

If the legs are feeling the efforts of the two days, from Tragumna follow the main rd to Skibbereen and follow the signposts to Lough Hyne (turning left at the roundabout entering Skibb). Its a much easier route but to really get the taste of West Cork, you should try the tougher route.

Where ever you go you will have a great few days. Enjoy the weekend and let us know how you get on.

PS On this route you are never TOO far from Skibb so if any of the weaker members of the group are struggling the easiest route back to Baltimore is via the main rd to Skibbereen

Mr. Grieves

rrrrrrrr wrote: »

Me and some friends are going cycling in this area for a weekend in June.
We're big mix of fitness and abilities.

Accommodation is booked, so it's:
Day 1: Baltimore to Schull
Day 2: Schull back to Baltimore.

I was thinking of:
Day 1: Baltimore-Skibb-Balleydehob-Durus-Kilcrohane-Durus-Blairs Cove-Schull
Day 2: Schull-Ballydehob- Skibb-Union Hall-Glandore-Union Hall-Castletownsend- Tragumna- Loughine-Baltimore

Any opinions from those who know the area?

Rory

If any of the group would like some extra climbing, the climb to the top of Mt Gabriel, near Schull, is a good one.

rrrrrrrr

Thanks a lot for the advice. Will defo adjust day 2 as you suggest REBELSAFC

For day1 Do you think we should go via Sheeps Hd from Baltimore to Schull or might via Mizen Hd (Dunmanus, Goleen, Crookhaven, Barleycove) be better?

rrrrrrrr

Just back from a fab weekend in west Cork.

As planned, on day 1 we did: Baltimore->Schull->Lowertown->Barleycove (via north coast road)->Crookhaven-> Schull

Day 2 was: Schull-> Skibb->Leap->Castletownshend-> Trag Beach-> Lough Hine->Baltimore.

All fantastic. Some ery tough hills, like Castletownshend, 'The wall' outside Trag, and out of Lough Hine, but we managed ok in the end.

Stayed in Rolf's in Baltimore
Would recommend it to anyone!