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Title: Cycling Kerry - Great Road Routes
Authors: Donnacha Clifford and David Elton
Publisher: Collins Press
Year: 2017
Pages: 152
Order: Collins
What it is: A guide to cycling in Kerry
Strengths: Comprehensive coverage of the area with easy to follow instructions
Weaknesses: It's a bit utilitarian and doesn't really sell the place
Dublin for the cup, Kerry for the holidays.~ Traditional Irish saying
They call it the Kingdom. Westeros is away up north, the Stormlands and the Land of Always Winter. Down in the Kingdom it's all Ryan's Daughter and Excalibur, with a bit of Harry Potter thrown in for the kids. And, these days, a lot of Star Wars. An awful lot of Star Wars. But now, with Donnacha Clifford and David Elton's Cycling Kerry - Great Road Routes Kerry is also the Kingdom of la petite reine, the Tralee-based duo behind KerryCycling.com letting others in on the secret of the best places to ride in Kerry.
The Ring of Killarney
Clifford and Elton's selection of routes caters for all tastes, whether you're just looking to pooter about for a couple of hours or whether you're looking to really stretch your muscles:
The Casement Tour | Tralee | 38 kms | 230 metres ascent |
Brandon Point to Point | Castlegregory | 44 kms | 452 metres ascent |
Ballyhar and Milltown Loop | Killarney | 45 kms | 361 metres ascent |
Kerry Head | Tralee | 48 kms | 306 metres ascent |
Camp and Maharees Loop | Camp | 48 kms | 328 metres ascent |
The Butter Road | Maglass | 52 kms | 542 metres ascent |
The Three Counties Cycle | Castleisland | 53 kms | 652 metres ascent |
Slea Head | Dingle | 54 kms | 603 metres ascent |
Valentia Island and the Skellig Ring | Cahersiveen | 56 kms | 733 metres ascent |
The Ring of Killarney | Killarney | 59 kms | 607 metres ascent |
Annascaul, Minnard and Bóthar na gCloch | Camp | 62 kms | 915 metres ascent |
King Puck's Route | Milltown | 62 kms | 428 metres ascent |
Priest's Leap and the Borlin Valley | Kenmare | 65 kms | 1,050 metres ascent |
North Kerry Hurling Tour | Ballyheigue | 68 kms | 388 metres ascent |
Killarney to Tralee: the Hidden Roads | Firies | 68 kms | 739 metres ascent |
The Gap of Dunloe and the Black Valley | Killarney | 73 kms | 1,076 metres ascent |
The Lacey Cup Circuit | Tralee | 74 kms | 662 metres ascent |
Cromance, Rossbeigh and Caragh Lake | Killorglin | 74 kms | 756 metres ascent |
Sliabh Luachra Loop | Rathmore | 80 kms | 885 metres ascent |
The Dan Paddy Andy Figure of Eight | Maglass | 83 kms | 950 metres ascent |
The Conor Pass Circuit | Blennerville | 89 kms | 1,201 metres ascent |
Sneem and Kenmare Loop | Torc | 90 kms | 1,243 metres ascent |
The Three Climbs and Two Counties Cycle | Killarney | 100 kms | 1,201 metres ascent |
North Kerry and the Coast Road | Listowel | 100 kms | 870 metres ascent |
Kenmare and Croom | Kenmare | 100 kms | 1,344 metres ascent |
Mini Ring of Kerry | Glencar | 104 kms | 1,358 metres ascent |
The Ring of Beara | Kenmare | 140 kms | 1,485 metres ascent |
The Ring of Kerry | Killarney | 170 kms | 1,741 metres ascent |
The Wild Atlantic Way - Day 1 | Tarbert | 126 kms | 842 metres ascent |
The Wild Atlantic Way - Day 2 | Castlegregory | 148 kms | 1,548 metres ascent |
The Wild Atlantic Way - Day 3 | Glenbeigh | 161 kms | 1,932 metres ascent |
The route descriptions tend toward the utilitarian, descriptive without ever really selling the selected routes. Each route comes with a bit of an introduction, with the turn left here, turn right there bit following. Here we are being introduced to the Gap of Dunloe:
Cycling Kerry - Great Road Routes, by Donnacha Clifford and David Elton
"The Gap of Dunloe and the Black Valley are among the most renowned areas for tourists in Kerry and with good reason. The glacial landscape appears timeless and for the most part untouched by modern life. The majority of the route is on quiet roads with little traffic and ample opportunity to soak up the surrounds, including views of [the] Lakes of Killarney, the MacGillycuddy's Reeks, Purple Mountain, Ladies View and Muckross Park. The surface for most of the route is as good as you would hope for in a remote area such as this; however, caution is required in one or two areas. This route is relatively short but due to the varied terrain and some challenging climbs it is a good idea to begin the cycle with plenty of provisions as options for buying food are located only at the start and towards the end of the cycle."
The Gap of Dunloe
And here we are being instructed through the Skellig Ring:
Cycling Kerry - Great Road Routes, by Donnacha Clifford and David Elton
"Leaving Ballinskelligs, follow the signposts to the right at a fork in the road for Portmagee and continue along the Skellig Ring. Shortly after this fork in the road the first climb of the day, up to Croom, begins. This climb has a steady average gradient of 3% and is just under 3km in distance. Descending from Croom there are fantastic views of St Finan's Bay ahead as well [as] the Skellig Islands in the distance. The larger of the two islands, Skellig Michael, which is designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was visible in all its glory in the 2015 Star Wars film The Force Awakens, which has boosted tourism and interest in the area significantly. The Skellig Islands will be a prominent feature for much of the remainder of the cycle. At the base of the descent is the home of the Skelligs Chocolate Factory and café, which is very difficult to pass without at least a quick peek in the front door."
Slea Head
In addition to Kerry the Great Road Routes series also includes Cycling South Leinster (by Turlough O'Brien) and Cycling Munster (by Dan MacCarthy). Additional titles are due to be added in the coming months.
Great Road Routes series, by Collins Press