Malin to Mizen

[schneewehe]

First, I know that this is the wrong topic for this forum, but during my last LEJOGS you helped me a lot. So next year I want to do Ireland End-to-End / MIZMAL / WIld Atlantc Way, but on a first view it seems relatively flat compared to a LEJOG. So my question is, has anyone did one of the routes in the recent years or a a mix of them and choosed to include as much climbs as possible? Or maybe has some links, articels or reports as inspiration? Kind regards schneewehe

[bikepacker]

I did this back in 2012 over 10 days starting at Mizen Head and cycling north. The terrain on the route I took was easy going and posed no real problems, Although I did intentionally avoid some of the busy costal roads. You will find it much easier than your E2E. Because of time limits my route was fairly direct.

Best climb I did was Healy Pass well worth doing.

The most enjoyable area for me was The Burren, quiet and beautiful with a great campsite at Corrofin.

These were my overnight stops and that will give you an indication of my route. I camped every night: Mizen Head, Glengarriff, Killarney, Killee (after using Shannon Ferry), Corrofin, Galway, Knock, Rosses Point Sligo, Castlederg, Quigley's Point near Derry, and Bushmills on the way back to the ferry at Belfast.

Hope this helps

[Norman H]

The route can be as challenging as you choose to make it. The Healy Pass, that Backpacker mentions, is a classic but isn’t the most direct route. If you want a more challenging option, Priest’s Leap is a favourite of mine and will have very little traffic.

A little further north the Gap of Dunloe is a much better option than the main road between Molls Gap and Kilarney. That section of the N71 is narrow and twisty and forms part of the Ring of Kerry. It gets very busy with traffic, including coaches and motorhomes. Kilarney is a tourist hot spot and best avoided.

If you search the forum you will find a number of threads on this subject.

[Blondie]

on a first view it seems relatively flat compared to a LEJOG.

That really depends on the route you take. Stick coastal and you’ll be thinking your LEJOG was downhill all the way.

[Cowsham]

on a first view it seems relatively flat compared to a LEJOG.

That really depends on the route you take. Stick coastal and you’ll be thinking your LEJOG was downhill all the way.

I'd say the wind and wash from the Atlantic will be the big challenge of the west coast so if the weather turns nasty head inland --if it's nice stay out on the coast and enjoy the scenery. That said you can have 4 seasons in a day every day. They don't call it the wild Atlantic way for nothing.

[Gearoidmuar]

I've done Lejog four times with Chris Ellison.
I've not done Mizen to Malin but I've done most of the Wild Atlantic Way in stages, many of the bits a few times. Some of the scenery is just brilliant. If you start from Mizen head you can do the next peninsula as well, Sheep's head, then the Ring of Beara but including the Healy Pass one way or the other. There are other great rides on that peninsula. Priest's Leap, the Tunnel Road to Kilgarvan, round the tip of the peninsula and along the Northern coast. Exhausting the Beara Peninsula would be a fabulous tour in itself. Seeing all of the Iveragh peninsula is the same (Pronounced Eve er ah) and the Dingle Peninsula is great especially the whole lot at the end.

[Paul Smith SRCC]

I've cycled both Lejog and Mizen Head to Malin head, I wrote an account of both on my blog that maybe of interest, the latter is in the opposite direction to what you have referenced but you may still find it of value.

I have cycled in Ireland a few times, including East to West, South to North as well as a few circular tours in the South West. Highlights of my Mizen to Malin were the first few days upto the Ring of Kerry and actually the last day, although the finish was as you'd expect at Malin Head, I actually rode back to Londonderry along the side of Lough Foyle; I really enjoyed that section. Potentially if you are starting at Malin you may well fly into Londonderry, in which case I would definitely recommend that cycle alongside Lough Foyle to get to Malin, even though you are on the wrong side of the road for the best view it'll still be impressive.

As for it being flat, it definitely has a Lejog feel, with easier and harder days, some of the climbs were hard; it's not Norfolk that's for sure

Slieve Mish Mountains

Some of the hills can be challenging, the Slieve Mish Mountains after the Ring Of Kerry are very hard.That picture does not do the steepness justice, no hairpins, just straight up. It was one of those 'can I keep front wheel from lifting' type of climbs! Note as highlighted above I rode Mizen to Malin not Malin to Mizen.

[Cowsham]

When I retire in a few years time ( might be a long time away ) I want to do Malin to Mizen and back cos I live fairly close to Malin or alternatively around the coastline. Camping all or most of the way.

[JohnR]

I've cycled both Lejog and Mizen Head to Malin head, I wrote an account of both on my blog that maybe of interest, the latter is in the opposite direction to what you have referenced but you may still find it of value.

Seeing your head-to-head report has prompted me to offer a link to the 2024 Bike Adventures trip with a modified route https://johnr.click/ireland-head-to-head-2024.

[schneewehe]

Thanks for sharing your ideas with me. I'll match the route together in the next weeks.

[Jdsk]

"Round Ireland in Low Gear" by Eric Newby. Not his greatest book but well worth reading, especially if your routes cross:
https://www.harpercollinsrights.co.uk/p ... 007367924/

Jonathan

[Paul Smith SRCC]

Seeing your head-to-head report has prompted me to offer a link to the 2024 Bike Adventures trip with a modified route https://johnr.click/ireland-head-to-head-2024.

I enjoyed your account John, bought back happy memories. My trip was with the original owners of Bike Adventures, I have no knowledge who own it currently but it looks well organised which is good to see. In comparison their business model looks more upmarket than when I used to go, I did several between 2001 and 2011, quite a few I went on were camping, not hotels and naturally priced accordingly.

Kevin White started the company as an evolution of the CTC tours that he had been running, their pricing and what they offered were initially aimed at those on a budget, just as they had been when under the CTC banner. Over time due to requests they started to offer hotel based tours in addition to camping, they then included upgrades to the standard of the hotels they offered on each tour, these became increasingly more popular and gradually the business shifted from budget tours to something far more premium; arguably aimed at a different customer. I can understand why the current owners have continued to focus on that price point and relevant holiday experience, catering for the demand of what the majority of their customers seem to want makes sense. Sadly I still fit into the budget style of cycle touring; Bike Adventures are well out of my pay grade these days.

Comparing the route you took to mine, I like the tweaks, I can't recall much of the last few days which translates to that it must have been forgettable

[eileithyia]

Define 'flat' some of the short hills are quite testing.... we stayed southern end of the Malin peninsula then rode up to the light house... admittedly with touring/camp kit on a tandem with a 8yo child stoker.... but the road twists and turns up and down continually to the lighthouse not unlike the road to Ardnamurchan,,,, whilst I've not done it as one trip... I've done a fair amount of that coastal route and it can be challenging....

[Traction_man]

Define 'flat' ....

Yes the Wild Atlantic Way is 23,000m, or 75,000 feet, elevation in total!