goldiefish
17-08-05, 11:04 PM
Speaking to many motorcyclists visiting Ireland from The UK and the rest of europe, I notice many are drawn to Killarney and the Ring of Kerry.
No,No No!
Why do you want to be stuck behind a queue of tour buses and camper vans on roads that are too narrow and twisting to overtake on?
Try this instead.
Go to Killarney anyway. Enjoy the smell of horse poo, diesel fumes,and lost tourists wandering into your path. Make your way towards the railway station and follow the signs for Molls Gap/Kenmare(Neděn)N71.
Pass Muckross,pause if you wish at Torc Falls.(its no Niagara). Make your way up the mountain roads(highest in ireland). These roads are regularly used for Rallying so beware of the Boy racers trying to outdo them. Most thankfully end up killing their suspension on the bumps long before they kill someone else. The roads here are why @Ts were built. Ladies view gives spectacular views of the Lakes and national park,but who wants to be a sightseer,when you can enjoy the view from your machine?
Continue on to Molls gap,take care for sheep,most have more roadsense than pedestrian tourists,but occasionally you will surprise one and find them waking from a slumber in the middle of the road.
Follow the alpine like roads down to kenmare,as you enter Kenmare,observe the traffic heading right for Sneem. This is the beginning of the Ring of Kerry. You can head this way if you like,but there is better if you go straight on.
Kenmare is an excellent spot for a bite to eat. Evening times Cafe Indigo,which sits above the "Square Pint", but the same kitchen does pub grub during the day....advice, don't visit before exercise, or after eating. Staff are trained to roll those who have not heeded this advice out the door. Lots of B&B or camping around here if you need to get the head down,and if one is booked out,they usually have a list of alternates nearby. Follow the one way system through the town, following the signs for Bantry,right at the T and left at the next one,over the Overdesigned Kenmare river bridge where a choice beckons. Both the R571 and N71 provide spectacular views and fast twisties.
-If you take the R571 you then have the choice to continue along the coast to remotest Ireland,or turn left at Lauragh onto the R574 and climb the wonderful road to the Healy Pass. Words cannot describe the view here,but if the weather is with you,you will forget its the west of ireland, and find yourself singing "self preservation society" from the original Italian Job. The roads here were designed by a man who used spagetti as a ruler.It rejoins the Main Glengarrif-Castletownbere road spectacularly on a blind bend.
-If you take the N71 you have some fast straights, taking care for gravel which is often used to resurface roads around these parts. But the Hilight is the Caha pass, consisting of a trio of tunnels increasing in size. On a foggy day its quite disconcerting when the road in front of you becomes a cliff face, as all other traffic use the hole in the cliff wall on your right.(even scarier when you approach from the south,and your eyesight is assaulted on your return to daylight by the road vanishing 90degrees to your left). The descent into Glengarrif can be nice enough,but you must remember that you are dropping from 300m to sea level in 8 miles. Expect lots of ear popping. On arrival in Glengarrif you could meet your kindrid spirit who took the R571 option. Both of you can now continue along to Ballylicky and bantry,with the Wonderful Bantry Bay,and tragic Whiddy Island Oil terminal on your right. Your trip ends in the Main Square of Bantry. (If you are fond of Seafood,this place produces some of the best Mussels in the world)
Its one of my favourite roads anyway. Beats being stuck behind a bus any day. May is the best month. June can be wet, July and August is full of tourists.
I'll give you a few more if you want them.
No,No No!
Why do you want to be stuck behind a queue of tour buses and camper vans on roads that are too narrow and twisting to overtake on?
Try this instead.
Go to Killarney anyway. Enjoy the smell of horse poo, diesel fumes,and lost tourists wandering into your path. Make your way towards the railway station and follow the signs for Molls Gap/Kenmare(Neděn)N71.
Pass Muckross,pause if you wish at Torc Falls.(its no Niagara). Make your way up the mountain roads(highest in ireland). These roads are regularly used for Rallying so beware of the Boy racers trying to outdo them. Most thankfully end up killing their suspension on the bumps long before they kill someone else. The roads here are why @Ts were built. Ladies view gives spectacular views of the Lakes and national park,but who wants to be a sightseer,when you can enjoy the view from your machine?
Continue on to Molls gap,take care for sheep,most have more roadsense than pedestrian tourists,but occasionally you will surprise one and find them waking from a slumber in the middle of the road.
Follow the alpine like roads down to kenmare,as you enter Kenmare,observe the traffic heading right for Sneem. This is the beginning of the Ring of Kerry. You can head this way if you like,but there is better if you go straight on.
Kenmare is an excellent spot for a bite to eat. Evening times Cafe Indigo,which sits above the "Square Pint", but the same kitchen does pub grub during the day....advice, don't visit before exercise, or after eating. Staff are trained to roll those who have not heeded this advice out the door. Lots of B&B or camping around here if you need to get the head down,and if one is booked out,they usually have a list of alternates nearby. Follow the one way system through the town, following the signs for Bantry,right at the T and left at the next one,over the Overdesigned Kenmare river bridge where a choice beckons. Both the R571 and N71 provide spectacular views and fast twisties.
-If you take the R571 you then have the choice to continue along the coast to remotest Ireland,or turn left at Lauragh onto the R574 and climb the wonderful road to the Healy Pass. Words cannot describe the view here,but if the weather is with you,you will forget its the west of ireland, and find yourself singing "self preservation society" from the original Italian Job. The roads here were designed by a man who used spagetti as a ruler.It rejoins the Main Glengarrif-Castletownbere road spectacularly on a blind bend.
-If you take the N71 you have some fast straights, taking care for gravel which is often used to resurface roads around these parts. But the Hilight is the Caha pass, consisting of a trio of tunnels increasing in size. On a foggy day its quite disconcerting when the road in front of you becomes a cliff face, as all other traffic use the hole in the cliff wall on your right.(even scarier when you approach from the south,and your eyesight is assaulted on your return to daylight by the road vanishing 90degrees to your left). The descent into Glengarrif can be nice enough,but you must remember that you are dropping from 300m to sea level in 8 miles. Expect lots of ear popping. On arrival in Glengarrif you could meet your kindrid spirit who took the R571 option. Both of you can now continue along to Ballylicky and bantry,with the Wonderful Bantry Bay,and tragic Whiddy Island Oil terminal on your right. Your trip ends in the Main Square of Bantry. (If you are fond of Seafood,this place produces some of the best Mussels in the world)
Its one of my favourite roads anyway. Beats being stuck behind a bus any day. May is the best month. June can be wet, July and August is full of tourists.
I'll give you a few more if you want them.