Swi500

Swi500 The page for swi500.ie, south west Ireland's 500 mile touring route taking in the 5 peninsulas of Mizen, Sheepshead, Beara, Iveragh & Di**le.

The Sheep’s Head Peninsula. Overlooked by most when ‘doing’ the Wild Atlantic Way yet it has roads that hug the coast an...
15/08/2022

The Sheep’s Head Peninsula. Overlooked by most when ‘doing’ the Wild Atlantic Way yet it has roads that hug the coast and the mountains with the most stunning views and rugged scenery and significantly less traffic and people than in the RoK, which everyone aims for. So, next time you visit why not spend a little time exploring this wonderful peninsula?

I run the bike tours because a) I enjoy it, and b) there are so many people who simply don’t know how stunning the scene...
03/08/2022

I run the bike tours because
a) I enjoy it, and
b) there are so many people who simply don’t know how stunning the scenery and roads are in the SW of Ireland and I wish to share that with them.

But, whilst the bike tours are really aimed at incoming tourists and not those that already live here, anyone who does live here might be interested in something else I organise; The Long Day Down a long distance ride from Malin Head to Mizen Head to raise much needed funds for Irish Community Air Ambulance.

If you’re interested in taking part in next years challenge then simply pre-register via www.thelongdaydown.ie 👍

02/07/2022

The next small group, organised, tour is September 18th to 24th and there are still some places left, if this is of interest to you just DM, email, WhatsApp or call 👍

This morning at sunrise, not that we could see it as it was a bit soft, myself and others set off on The Long Day Down a...
21/06/2022

This morning at sunrise, not that we could see it as it was a bit soft, myself and others set off on The Long Day Down a charity ride from Malin Head to Mizen Head via the Wild Atlantic Wat, to be done in the daylight hours on the longest day of the year, all to raise money for Irish Community Air Ambulance which relies solely on public donations.

As I write this everyone is over half way down, it’s a loooonnnggg day in the saddle. If you can see yourself donating to this cause please do👍

www.justgiving.com/thelongdaydown

Just a few photos from today’s spin around the north west corner of Donegal. I did 300km in a little under 5hrs riding a...
20/06/2022

Just a few photos from today’s spin around the north west corner of Donegal.

I did 300km in a little under 5hrs riding and I only saw a small fraction of Donegal, which is a beautiful county. I reckon when organising a trip along the WAW you need to think of at least 2 full days to fully appreciate it.

Remember folks the is there to be enjoyed and savoured, not rushed just do you can tick a box.

When the weather’s as it is at the moment, sure, why would you want to be anywhere other than the Wild Atlantic Way👍. 20...
20/06/2022

When the weather’s as it is at the moment, sure, why would you want to be anywhere other than the Wild Atlantic Way👍. 20c, beautiful blue skies & seas, traffic free roads (just the odd sheep🤣). Perfect.

A bit away from home today, scoping out Donegal.

Jeeez, it was wet out there today 😮💦💦💦💦 and really windy 🌬🌬🌬🌬 but when people want to go for a ride we go for a ride. Th...
18/05/2022

Jeeez, it was wet out there today 😮💦💦💦💦 and really windy 🌬🌬🌬🌬 but when people want to go for a ride we go for a ride. The day started off fine, a quick jaunt up to Killarney to meet the group on tour for the week, a photo op of the Gap of Dunloe from a distance, then onwards.

Leave the hotel about 09.30, through the National Park, photo stop up beyond Ladies View, Moll’s Gap, Gap of Dunloe, coffee stop at The Coffee Pot by Kat Kearney’s. We got inside, the heaven’s opened. We thought we’d just missed it 😁👍. Stair-rods.

The rain eased off We left at 11.30 ish to do what I call the McGillycuddy Reeks Ring and 5 mins later the heavens opened again, and the wind got stronger and stronger, jeez it fair funnels through Ballagbheama Gap, no one wanted photos at the top there today.

Down into the valley and on to Sneem where an early lunch was called for, mainly just to dry off. Thank you bakery, Sneem for allowing the 7 of us to flood your back room as the water dripped off 👍

We waited for the rain to pass, and waited, and when it got less decided to call it a day and head back to Killarney so people could dry off. Ha, LOL, the weather gods had a different idea, just when you thought the rain couldn’t get any heavier, it did, 10 fold. Everyone got soaked (except Kevin Freckleton in his new Rukka Goretex-Pro laminate suit) but eventually we got back, albeit at a snail’s pace due to the rain and streams of water washing across the road surface. Never has a cup of tea been so welcome 👍. Still, despite being almost blown off the roads (and bikes) and despite being utterly and continually and unrelentingly being p11&ed on by the heaviest rain any of us have ever experienced we all had a great day …. I think 🤔.

Spring Tour - Day 5, a day at leisure. On the week long tours there’s always a free day so people can do what they want,...
14/05/2022

Spring Tour - Day 5, a day at leisure.

On the week long tours there’s always a free day so people can do what they want, go where they want, at their leisure. This week it was Friday and the guests decided, as they enjoyed riding back & forth over the Caha Pass so much (great views, great road surface and brilliant bends) to visit Lorge Chocolatier in Bonane and Garnish Island in Glengarriff 👍. Not your usual biker haunts perhaps but underneath the waterproofs, leathers and body armour we’re all people at the end of the day, with a myriad of ‘normal people’ interests, it’s not just bikes, bikes, bikes (and bacon sandwiches😀).

Spring Tour 22 - Day 4, the RoK. First stop, Sneem for coffee, then around the southern part of the Ring of Kerry, in a ...
13/05/2022

Spring Tour 22 - Day 4, the RoK.

First stop, Sneem for coffee, then around the southern part of the Ring of Kerry, in a clockwise direction as all the buses & coaches go anti-clockwise. Would have stopped at CastleCove which is always a great photo op but for the roadworks there, looks like Kerry CC are widening the road. Onwards to the Coomakesta (different spellings are available) Pass for a fantastic view to the south over Derrynane and the north to Waterville. Down the other side of the pass, through Waterville, famous as Charlie Chaplain’s holiday spot, around the Skellig Ring, over the Coomaspig Pass (there are 3 really tricky hairpin bends to be traversed so be aware), the Kerry Cliffs and into Port Magee for lunch. The Smugglers is highly recommended👍. Over the bridge that links Valentia Island to the mainland, across Valentia, a quick ferry trip across the water to Caherciveen, then the fast road back along the north side via Kells, Glenbeigh and into Killorglin. Finally another run through the hundreds of bends through the Killarney National Park to Kenmare. Although we’d gone over that road yesterday, get it when there’s not a car in front and it’s fantastic and the visitors enjoyed it so much they wanted to do it again 👍

Spring Tour - Day 3 - The Di**le Peninsula.A day of stunning scenary, non-stop twists & turns, some fast some slow & tec...
12/05/2022

Spring Tour - Day 3 - The Di**le Peninsula.

A day of stunning scenary, non-stop twists & turns, some fast some slow & technical. First stop, Molly Gallivan’s after running up and down the Caha Pass, followed by The Black Valley, The Gap of Dunloe, then the South Pole (for lunch) where we bumped into the Shamrock Vintage Rally. After lunch, Slea Head, Connor Pass, then a hunt for Scotia’s Grave as a special request; even I learn things 👍. Then return via Killarney (🙁 too busy, too much traffic, best avoided IMO), and the National Park.

All in all a long, tiring but stunningly beautiful day.

If you’re interested in joining a small group guided tour, please visit www.swi500.ie or make contact through here 👍

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Anam Cara
Skull
P81KD36

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