Trail of the Banshees
Guided Tour of 10 days
Motohire Spain’s Trail of the Banshees, known elsewhere as the Wild Atlantic Way, forms part of the world’s longest coastal touring route.
Motohire Spain is proud to offer this fabulous tour, starting in the Summer of 2024.
PERIOD
PRICE
Distance
Approx 1500km
Duration
Group Size
5 – 12 People
Accomodation
Twin or Double
Wild Atlantic Way
- This trip includes many of the unmissable sights that the Emerald Isle has to offer. You will love riding in this land of rolling green fields, ancient myths and castles, not forgetting the “craic” – no one has fun like the Irish.
- Ireland is a stunning country to visit but for a biker, there’s nothing better than the western Atlantic coast, taking in the wonders of the Ring of Kerry, the Cliffs of Moher, the limestone moonscapes of the Burren, the wilds of Connemara. We could go on…
- Our Wild Atlantic way Trail of the Banshees spans 10 days in all, from start to finish.
Note:
For those traveling internationally, we strongly advise arriving in Dublin at least 2 days before your tour departs, mainly for the purpose of overcoming your the jet lag, which will affect you however seasoned a traveller you are.
Daily Itinerary
Note that times and mileages are “Google accurate” but don’t necessarily reflect our daily journeys as we’ll stop for coffees, photos, etc.
Day 1 Arrival day in Dublin, Ireland.
A friendly face from Motohire Spain will meet you at the airport and take you to the hotel. Depending on arrival time, you may have time to relax or do some sightseeing before our detailed briefing session. Then, the whole group will get together for dinner in a local restaurant where you’ll get to know your fellow biking companions. Note that Day 1 and Day 10 of the itinerary are your arrival and departure days.
Day 2 Dublin – Waterford
Journey details: 210 km / about 4.5 hrs
A nice introduction to Irish roads on this ride southwards, looping round Dublin before entering the delightful Wicklow mountains, and an early stop in the stunning lake-side area of Glendalough. Then onwards and downwards to Waterford, our final stop on this first day.
Day 3 Waterford – Kenmare
Journey details: 230 kms / 3h45
Heading westerly, we ride to Cork, the last port visited by the Titanic in 1912. If time allows, we’ll visit the Blarney Stone of Blarney Castle, monument to chatterers worldwide! And then onto Glengarriff before heading north to our nights’ destination, Kenmare, over a twisty mountain pass.
Titanic, docked in Cork, last place before disappearing
Day 4 Kenmare - Dingle
Journey details: 230 kms / 4h30
Today is the the Ring of Kerry. Known in Ireland as “the Kingdom.” When you tour the Ring’s placid lakes, majestic mountains, mysterious ruins, and charming villages, you’ll understand why. This ride round the Iveragh Peninsula is an exploration of Ireland’s spectacular beauty, from the Lakes of Killarney to the ancient stone forts of Cahersiveen. Arriving in Dingle, a hub of literary and creative culture, you’ll love the narrow streets and epic pubs, spirited live music and super seafood.
A village in the Ring of Kerry
Day 5 Dingle – Doolin
Journey details: 160 kms / 4h00 / local visits
Over the Conor pass today, one of Ireland’s highest mountain passes, providing the most dramatic views. We’ll also see the monumental cliffs of Moher and the Burren, veritable rock star of Irish vistas. Vast and moon-like, the Burren in County Clare is one of the most compelling of places. Cool grey rock etched with crevices and cracks tumbles down to the wild Atlantic, complemented by an incredible array of flowers. The Tarbert to Killimer ferry will get us across the estuary from County Clare into Co. Limerick and on to our stay in Doolin.
Day 6 Doolin - Doolin - Rest Day!
Journey details: Depends how you’re feeling!
Visit the magical Aran islands by ferry and on the return journey, get a faceful of the majestic Cliffs of Moher. Or the Burren Smokehouse in nearby Lisdoonvarna. See how they smoke the wild salmon, and best of all, taste it! Sporty? How about the Doolin 18 hole pitch & putt. Or just take it easy in one of the pubs. A leisurely day is pretty much guaranteed in this wonderful part of Ireland.
Day 7 Doolin – Westport
Journey details:
County Mayo, historically Ireland’s poorest county, is also its most hauntingly beautiful. The ride through Connemara’s vast and stark landscape as we head to our destination makes for a truly memorable day out. We’ll leave Co. Clare, head into Co. Galway, aim for a nice lunch spot in Roundstone, enter Co. Mayo and round off the day through the Doolough Pass before finding our base in Westport, voted Ireland’s best place to live in 2012.
Day 8 Westport – Athlone
Journey details: 240 km / 5h00
Day 9 Athlone – Dublin
Journey details: 220 kms / 4h00
The final stretch: On our way to Dublin today, we’ll take in the incredible World Heritage site that is Newgrange: at 5,200 years old, this Stone Age monument is older than Stonehenge and the Great Pyramids of Giza. It is the jewel in the crown of Ireland’s Ancient East. Then onwards to a relaxing evening in your Dublin hotel.
Day 10 Departure day
We hope you’ll go home with fabulous memories and look forward to seeing you again. Slán go Fóill (see ya later)!
Included With your tour
Included
- Airport or railway pickup on Day 1 of the tour.
- Additional equipment and clothing can be booked on request.
- A handy tour handbook showing the route and the highlights along the way.
- A multilingual guide who knows how to get you safely and entertainingly round the Emerald Isle for the duration of your trip (with 2nd guide and support vehicle for larger tours).
- Last but not least, your very own, very special, Motohire Spain tour souvenir!
Not included In The Tour
- Transport to Dublin, lunches, petrol / gasoline, drinks, tolls, personal spending and tips, and anything not included in the “Included in Tour” list.
Accomodation
-
Overnight stays in carefully chosen hotels & guest houses, guaranteed to be welcoming and friendly.
Meals
-
Delicious dinners each night and breakfast every morning.
Your Ride
- Very recent BMW GS motorcycles, all equipped with cases, top-boxes, and phone / GPS carriers.
Fancy making this a private tour, at dates that suit you? Drop us a line and we’ll be happy to organize your own bespoke tour.
Total 0
Other riding options:
- Self-ride (regular rental in Spain): We’ll collect you at Malaga airport, drive you to the Motorhire Spain offices in Teba or Malaga, get you briefed and kitted up, point you in the direction of your choice and you’ll be in charge of your schedule for the duration. Latest satnavs are available or you can bring your own phone. Chargers and holders will be provided.
- Self-guided (Spain, Portugal and Morocco): Do you like the freedom of riding on your own but also the comfort of having all the little details organized for you, such as super places to eat and award-winning routes that you’d struggle to find on your own? If so, let the guys at Motorhire Spain help you. We’ll take care of all the tour details: great places to eat, a tour handbook, and a pre-loaded GPS. A friendly face from Motorhire Spain will meet you at Malaga airport, bring you to our Teba or Malaga offices for a comprehensive tour briefing, and set you on your way. If riding on your own is how you like to travel but you want to take advantage of MHS’s expertise then our Self-guided tours might be exactly what you’re looking for.
- Guided tours: As above, with the difference that you’ll be guided along the way by one of our friendly and highly experienced guides. Between us, we have over 60 years of riding experience round these parts, stretching from the loughs of Ireland to the deserts of Morocco, and having a guide allows you to relax and just enjoy the biking and the overall experience. Our guides are 100% discrete so if you want to be on your own in the downtime, that’s totally cool, and if you’d like to break bread and have a few beers with him or her, that’s cool too.
In all cases, we are just a phone call away in case you have any questions. Our fleet consists of highly maintained BMW GSs, ranging from 750 to 1300 cc.
