Not the most glamorous-sounding route, but I took it rather than take the motorway back to Dublin and was pleasantly surprised by this road. Good visibility, nice bends, and mostly good surfaces. Smiley face all the way!
The main downside is hitting a few villages and their 50km limit, but otherwise highly enjoyable. Of course, the usual caveat regarding Irish roads in intensive agriculture areas applies. Farmers have full licence to spread as much shite as they want on the carefully-engineered surfaces, and seem to do so with great zeal. It's a bit like animals marking their territory. At this stage, the whole country smells of shite - but that's another story. Watch out for it in the wet - lethal.
I ended this route at Athy because the town is a traffic nightmare, even on a bike. Almost met my maker when an octogenarian deliberately pulled out in front of me without a care in the world and with his caravan behind him.
After Athy, the road is almost straight and has a bizarre 60km limit most of the way to Naas, so do anything you can to avoid it. Motorway would be better.
So, an unexpected bonus in the not-so-boring Irish midlands.
A mixture of everything, scenery, endless miles of corners. Good and not so good road surface. Mostly country roads but can be busy at times
One of the best Twistie roads in the Sligo area. you pass Glencar waterfall too
just a twistie bit of road leading out to strandhill, pretty scenic and lots of tight corners. quiet a few hidden lanes tho
Blazing Bikers Annual fundraiser for Irish Guide Dogs
Great Northern Run. Blazing Bikers.
Fast some tightening turns
A nice jaunt on a Sunday afternoon. A mixture of nice straight road with a few sections of some nice twisty's (watch out for the tractors though) A few hours ride over a couple hundred kilometers with a great coffee shop in Cootehill
Rural road till Swords, coastal roads from Malahide onwards. Awesome views, plenty nice places to park for a coffee or just to stare at water.
Nice along the coast to Newry. This is a fast version (back via motorway), if have spare time can return along the coast too.
A good alternative when you don't want to use the Motorway. First stretch from Gort is the nicest, nice views and the odd interesting stretch. The second half is gentle roads, nice scenery, with the odd Irish curve coming out of nowhere.
If heading East towards Dublin, get onto the Motorway just North of Tullsmore. Takes about 50mins more than M'way from Gort to Dublin!
North Bull Island - Malahide - Rush - Skerries - Balbriggan and back through the M50
Very scenic route along the rivers Nore, Barrow and Suir, with places to stop off for refreshments and photos.
Spectacular ride with all the gubbins. Brilliant views on the climb with a classic hairpin and other great bends. Just watch out for the moss on the road on the descent to Lismore as the road is covered by trees. Definitely a must do!
Nice spin with a lovely beach at the end
Great way to spend an hour or two :)
part of the Wild Atlantic way well worth a visit very rural ridibg
A very nice leisurely 4hr is ride (if you stop for coffee in Laragh). Loads of climbing & descending. Only place I have seen any speed vans or Garda is on the road from Blessington to the Hollywood turn off.
My favourite ride through beautiful Wicklow and back.
Beautiful scenery with lots of places to visit on the route as well as some slightly off route.
Country roads, surface not great.