Yep, it's that time of year again time to start telling you all about this year's guided tours, the first of which is in May. The full itinerary is below, any questions, just ask. This year I'm using a boutique (read small and well appointed) B&B who cater for bikers. They have just 6 rooms and I've booked them all so you'd better get in quick before they go. SWI500 Spring Tour - May 2022 Tour Dates : Sun 8th May to Sat 14th May. Client arrival at accommodation - Sunday 8th May from 14.00hrs. Client departure from accommodation - Saturday 14th May before 12.00hrs. Accomodation - 6 nights. Meal Plan - 6 breakfasts plus 1 evening meal. Accomodation address : The Happy Pig B&B, Kenmare, Co. Kerry, Ireland. PROPOSED ITINERARY. Please note the tour organiser reserves the right to amend the itinerary if needs be to take into account the local weather conditions each day. For example, there is no point attempting to cross a high mountain pass if the area is in low cloud and alternative routes may have to be chosen. additionally, the days on which each peninsula is scheduled to be toured may have to be altered due to local weather. This is a relaxed touring week, enjoying the 5 southern peninsulas of Ireland, Mizen, Sheepshead, Beara, Kerry (Iveagh) and Dingle, interspersed by evenings of craic and good food. Sun 8th May Arrive in Kenmare, Co. Kerry, staying at the Happy Pig B&B for the week. This guesthouse has been chosen for a variety of reasons; It’s a biker friendly luxury B&B with safe off street parking for the bikes, within walking distance (10 mins) of Kenmare town centre with its large choice of bars & restaurants , the food is good and the breakfasts are copious. Sunday evening we eat together - a kind of get to know everyone meal.The following is the planned itinerary but please be aware we reserve the right to change it slightly to take into account the weather on the day. Mon 9th May Starting with an overdose of scenery, we’ll head north from Kenmare, crossing the mountain via Moll's Gap and descend into the Black Valley, a wild desolate and remote part of Ireland. From their we’ll climb up the mountains on the north side, pass through the Gap of Dunloe then head north to Millstreet, Castlemaine, and take the coast road out to Dingle via Inch Beach and what can only be described as a quintessential coast road under Red Cliff before turning inland and heading into Dingle. From Dingle we'll take the Slea Head Drive around the end of the Dingle Peninsula (note this can be very wild at times) visit the Blasket Visitor Centre and return to Dingle for lunch. In the afternoon we take the mountain road over the peninsula and the Connor Pass, then depending on the weather and time there'll be a photo opportunity detour to Fahamore then back onto the coast road, over the Caherconree Pass which crosses the Sleeve Mish mountains, back to Castlemaine, on to Farranfore and pick up the fast road back to Killarney. From Killarney we’ll pass through the Killarney National Park - an area of outstanding natural beauty and you'll certainly see why - by the Killarney Lakes, climb up to Molls Gap and then descend back into Kenmare. Tues 10th May Departing Kenmare we'll take the coast road along the northern flank of the Kenmare River and around the Ring Of Kerry. We'll be going in a clockwise direction to avoid any tour buses and motorhomes which should be traveling in an anticlockwise direction. We'll pass through Sneem, Castle Cove, Caherdaniel and climb up and over the Coomakista Pass with amazing views around every corner. We'll drop back down to sea level at Waterville, take the Skelligs Ring, the bridge from Port Magee to Valentia Island and the ferry back to the mainland. Lunch will be either in Port Magee or Cahersiveen depending on timings. From Cahersiveen we have two choices, we can either stick to the coast road along the northern edge of the Kerry Peninsula and head for Killorglin or we can take the road less travelled and head inland, via the Ballagasheen Forest, through the Kerry Highlands and over two mountain passes (Ballagasheen and Ballagbheama) in the shadow of Carrauntoohill, Ireland's highest mountain, back to Moll's Gap and down the mountain into Kenmare. Wed 11th May We take the coast road out of Kenmare, along the southern edge of the Kenmare river climbing up over the mountains then dropping back down to the coast at Lauragh where we take a turn inland and head up into the mountains to traverse the Healy Pass, a switchback of a road to rival any Alpine pass and which drops us down into Adrigole on the southern side of the Beara. We'll then head west to Castletownbere, one of Irelands two main Atlantic Fishing ports, then further west to Dursey, the site of Irelands only cable car, on the way we’ll pay a visit to the Dzogchen Beara Buddhist Sanctuary. After Dursey we’ll follow the headland to Allihies for lunch. After lunch we'll return via the northern Beara coast and, depending upon the timings, either take the Healy Pass for a second time, then via Glengarrif, the Caha Pass and back to Kenmare, or take the shorter coast road route back. The Healy Pass Thurs 12th May Free day - relax and explore Kenmare, Killarney or the surrounding area. Suggested routes can be provided if you want to ride out and there are plenty of other mountain routes and passes that can be taken and routes along the coast and inland that can be advised, with lots of points of interest to stop off at. Fri 13th May We head south, over the Cork & Kerry mountains (made famous by ‘Whiskey in the Jar’, Thin Lizzie and the Dubliners) via the Caha Pass to tour the Mizen & Sheepshead peninsulas. Our first stop will be in the small fishing harbour of Crookhaven, Ireland's most southerly mainland village. From here we will ride on to Mizen Head and the signal station from where Marconi perfected his idea for wireless transmissions. We return via the old coast road, a single track route, to Durrus and then out on the Sheep's Head Peninsula, stopping in Ahakista for lunch. After lunch we head out to the very end of the Sheep's Head and then return via the Goat's Path a cliff hugging single track route with fantastic views over Bantry Bay. Once in Bantry, it's back to Kenmare via the Caha Pass again. Depending on the weather we may take the Priest's Leap pass, Ireland’s highest mountain pass, across the Coomhola Mt rather than the Caha Pass. Sat 14th May - depart for your respective homes. The tour is designed to provide relaxed touring days, no early starts, we’ll be leaving around 9.30 - 10am each day, no late returns and with several stops for photos, coffee/tea breaks and food; a local guide will be on hand each day to assist and guide on route, all you need to do is follow the guide. There’s no navigation required on your part, just sit back, enjoy the ride, the roads and the magnificent scenery. Rooms have been booked on a B&B basis with the inclusion of a group 'get to know everyone' supper on the Sunday night. Therefore, Mon/Tues/Wed/Thurs/Fri nights people are free to do what they want and there are plenty of good bars and restaurants, of all standards, in Kenmare. Costs €890 (£775) per person on a single occupancy basis. Rider + pillion €1150 (£1320). Please contact us if you wish to room share ie, 2 riders, 2 bikes. What’s Included: 6 nights accommodation 6 breakfasts 1 evening meal Secure parking each nigh Assistance of a tour guide each day. Maps and route guidance instructions. What’s not included: Getting to and from Kenmare, although help, guidance and assistance with routes & ferries can be provided. Bikes Fuel Tea/Coffee/Drinks/Lunch during the day Evening meals on each of Mon-Fri Travel insurance Breakdown insurance NB. You are strongly advised to have both travel insurance and breakdown insurance and a copy of your breakdown insurance policy will be required. Payment: £€250/person deposit required when making the booking. Full balance due no later than 31st March 2022. In the event you have to pull out before 31st March you will receive a full refund of the deposit. In the event you have to pull out after the 31st March deposits and any balance paid will only be refunded if your space can be re-sold. For further info check out the website www.swi500.ie or contact me at [email protected] or via this forum. A short video can be seen here.
Just an update. As of today all Covid related travel restrictions for Ireland have been dropped. There’s no need to have any vaccination status, no need to have a negative PCR or RT test result, no need to complete a Passenger Locator Form, just get a ferry and travel . There are still places available on the May tour so if your thinking about it, then why not? Come and enjoy the Craic and all Ireland has to offer, with the added benefit of glorious sunshine here in the South West https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/7...SMO8-H0RtKhM1n6mQrIHBZTe4aWvHdIxzKUHQpRktUoE#
Anyone from the mainland thinking of heading over, we live in Fishguard where the Fishguard/rosslare ferry runs from and can offer accommodation and parking for anyone needing it, see separate post in this tab
