Mizen Head to Malin Head: getting to start (and from finish) by public transport

[DGR]

I’m thinking of doing the Irish End-to-End, i.e. Mizen Head to Malin Head.

Before I start, I’d have to get myself and my bike to Mizen Head.

There are various ways I could get to Cork. E.g. train to Holyhead, ferry to Dublin, train to Cork. But I’d prefer not to have to cycle from Cork to Mizen Head.

I’m looking at the West Cork Connect bus-services, at https://westcorkconnect.ie . On the face of it, I ought to be able to use Service 230 to get between Cork and Skibbereen, or to use Service 237 to get between Cork and Schull or Cork and Goleen. And I ought to be able to put my bike in the bus’s luggage compartment.

Does anyone have experience of how – for this purpose – Service 230 or Service 237 actually work out in practice? Do I need to worry about whether my bike and/or other people’s luggage might slide around in the luggage compartment, and whether my bike could get damaged? Is there anything simple that I could do to reduce any risk of damage?

Similarly, when I’ve finished, I’d prefer not to have to cycle from Malin Head to Derry/Londonderry, to catch a train. Does anyone have experience of travelling on the https://northwestbusways.ie/carndonagh-derry/ bus with a bike (e.g. from Culdaff)?

[I've seen the thread entitled “Mizen Head”, which started on 4 Sept 2022. Unfortunately, that thread didn’t entirely cover my queries.]

[Cowsham]

Can't help with the Mizen end but maybe with the Malin head end.

Discounting buses cos I don't know much about the Irish bus service and presuming that you can put a bike on although that means they throw it in the boot on it's side if there's room ( which I'd suspect there very well might be since it's out in the sticks ).


As for the train I'd cycle the 23 miles to greencastle -- get the ferry across ( services from 9am to 8.15pm between Greencastle and Magilligan Point.)

After that it's just another 5 miles to Bellarena where you can catch the train back to the ferry in Belfast. Yorkgate station would be my choice cos it's opposite the IOM ferry but you can cycle down within the docks complex to the Stenaline docks.

[irc]

It's a long time ago - late 1990s. but when I toured in Ireland I got a bus from the west coast back to Belfast. Bike just placed in load bay underneath. No problem. The bus was stopping at every village. I remember quite a clear invisible line when the accents of the passengers getting on chatting to the driver changed from west coast to Belfast. In fsct it was two buses. The first bus went to a hub where I switched buses. I'd be srprised if there was a problem but I'm sure someone has more up to date experience.

[Cowsham]

It's a long time ago - late 1990s. but when I toured in Ireland I got a bus from the west coast back to Belfast. Bike just placed in load bay underneath. No problem. The bus was stopping at every village. I remember quite a clear invisible line when the accents of the passengers getting on chatting to the driver changed from west coast to Belfast. In fsct it was two buses. The first bus went to a hub where I switched buses. I'd be srprised if there was a problem but I'm sure someone has more up to date experience.

There is a bus from Malin head to Derry but I'm not sure it'll have facility for bike carriage but here is a link to the bus company with phone number but you'll need to put 0353 in front of phone number taking out the zero.

https://northwestbusways.ie/timetables/

Here's the site that gives a route planner

https://www.transportforireland.ie/plan-a-journey/

[Norman H]

Have you got a route in mind? A lot of the routes that others take seem to compromise quieter roads and better scenery for a more direct route. I'm tempted by the idea of an Irish End-to-End but would definitely follow a more meandering course.

[tim_f]

I did Mizen to Malin Head in July of this year . I followed this route - http://www.mizmal.com/wild-atlantic They do not publish the detailed route but Google searching found GPS tracks for each day on teh ride with GPS site. I made some very slight modifications to te route and adjusted the breaking down in to days,

I was camping with one night in ayouth hostel in Galkway, It took me 7 days to do the route.

I cycled to Holyhead from hoem in Kendal, caught the ferry to Dublin, the cycled to the start at Mizen. At the end I cycled to Larn via the Antrim coast, ferry dver to Cairnryan and then cycled back to Kendal.

Coming back from Malin head I took the ferry across the estruary to Northern Ireland that was sugested above.

The complete circulit took me 16 days. 2 days to Holyhead, 4 days to Mizen from Dublin, 6.5 days to Malin, 1.5 days to Larne, 2 days back to Kendal. 2222 km cycling.

It is an excellent trip from Malin to Mizen and route deivised by Wild Atlantic cycling holidays that I copied was excellen in chosing quiet roads and taking in the best scenary.

[bikepacker]

As the OP asked about buses taking bikes here is what I know although I have not used them myself but know of others that have.

Cork to Skebbereen a friend used this service when stating the MtoM the bikes are loaded into the luggage bay.

Normal bus services into and out of Derry take bikes if there is nothing taking up the wheelchair/pram space. I rode the last few miles to Malin with a lady that caught a bus back from there to Derry. You may find it a nicer by going the route already suggested and ride to the ferry across the Foyle and cycle to the nearest railway station.

[Cowsham]

I did Mizen to Malin Head in July of this year . I followed this route - http://www.mizmal.com/wild-atlantic They do not publish the detailed route but Google searching found GPS tracks for each day on teh ride with GPS site. I made some very slight modifications to te route and adjusted the breaking down in to days,

I was camping with one night in ayouth hostel in Galkway, It took me 7 days to do the route.

I cycled to Holyhead from hoem in Kendal, caught the ferry to Dublin, the cycled to the start at Mizen. At the end I cycled to Larn via the Antrim coast, ferry dver to Cairnryan and then cycled back to Kendal.

Coming back from Malin head I took the ferry across the estruary to Northern Ireland that was sugested above.

The complete circulit took me 16 days. 2 days to Holyhead, 4 days to Mizen from Dublin, 6.5 days to Malin, 1.5 days to Larne, 2 days back to Kendal. 2222 km cycling.

It is an excellent trip from Malin to Mizen and route deivised by Wild Atlantic cycling holidays that I copied was excellen in chosing quiet roads and taking in the best scenary.

Wow that sounds like a great trip -- very envious but you must be very fit to be able to do that.