New Self Guided Tours route packs available for 2024. All routes supplied as either generic .gpx files (works for all satnavs, most apps, google maps etc) or Garmin .gdp files. All the routes are created in Garmin BaseCamp and based on both my guided tours and personal gallivanting.

Each pack contains 2 folders:

• Folder 1 = Routes, either in GPX or GDB format.
• Folder 2 – All POI’s and routes in Google Earth .kml format so you can familiarise yourself with the tour routes in Street View or load into your “MyMaps account in Google Maps and navigate the routes that way.

All the .gpx/.gdb routes are supplied as separate day routes, so Day 1, Day 2 etc. Each Route begins and ends at a suggested 3 star hotel accommodation that generally has safe parking, wifi, food etc . These hotels are places I’ve stayed in myself, usually multiple times. You of course don’t have to use them as their purpose is just route shaping points. Other nearby accommodation options are supplied in the POI folder, so if you choose another accommodation option you just need to simply amend the day route start/end points to reflect your amended route.

For the most part all the day routes cover between 200km and 300km per day and generally take aprox 5-6 hours in the saddle. So, by the time you take in photo/coffee/food stops factor in roughly 8 hours per day travel time between accommodations. Obviously those times are approximate as riding experience, weather, traffic and knackered prostates causing regular pit stops can slow you down.

How to get the routes. Email me at denis.smyth@roadtrooper.com with the route pack you’re looking for and I’ll email you back with the routes within a zipped file once payment is made. Payment can be made in Euros using either PayPal or Wise for GBP/USD, let me know which you prefer and I’ll send you the acc details.

Note: Once you load these .gpx or .gdb files onto your satnav or routing smartphone app it’s important to check the loaded route against the corresponding .kml file in Google Earth/Maps. Certain apps or satnavs have avoidance/preference options like “avoid motorways”, “ferries”, “small lanes/link roads”, “choose shortest/quickest route” etc. If you have these options checked on your device they may easily override my intended route and change the route to cater for your checked preferences. If you notice your device changing the routes it’s best to clear the preference/avoid options on your device and re-load the routes. If you’ve any questions just email me and I’ll get back to you asap. For the longer SGT routes I’m happy to arrange a call to talk you through the routes, answer any questions etc.

Currently most of these routes are intended for motorcycles which can easily access the smaller roads and/or mountain passes, some of the roads are not suited for larger vehicles as they use narrow single lane roads. If you need a custom tour or need me to amend the SGT’s to cater for larger cars, campervans etc. just drop me an email.

Note on accommodation: My advice, unless you’re camping plan well ahead of time. At the best of times the west coast in summer is busy. However, currently half or more of the tourist beds in Ireland are reserved for “corporate bookings”, i.e. the Irish government has taken the bulk of hotel beds to house our refugee friends from Ukraine. This is most evident in the Cork and Kerry regions where 40-45% of refugees have been given accommodation. So there’s far less tourist beds than usual and competition is extremely high for good locations. This may continue for some time so, like I said, plan well ahead to ensure the best possible road trip. I’ve included over 160 biker friendly hotels within my routes, but of course there are far more accommodation options than that in Ireland. If the listing in my route pack don’t work for you here are some links below to help you.

Accommodation Links:

www.booking.com
www.airbnb.ie
www.bandbireland.com
www.discoverireland.ie/Where-To-Stay/B-Bs
www.ireland-bnb.com
www.ireland.com/accommodation/bed-and-breakfast
www.hostelworld.com/hostels/Ireland
http://hostels-ireland.com/
https://www.campingireland.ie/

 

Current Self Guided Tour route packs and Motorcycle Trips for 2024

 
 

Route 01 Killarney Base – 6 Day SGT of West Cork & Kerry

 
Price: €30.00 (EUR)

This is my best selling route with both individuals and bike clubs returning year after year to do it.. Each route starts and ends in the WAW gateway town of Killarney which is ideally located to access the best roads in the south west. All the routes take in the best motorcycling highland and coastal roads in this, the most rugged and mountainous region in Ireland. It includes 5 of the most spectacular peninsulas in the west, Mizen, Sheeps Head, Beara, Iveragh and Dingle. The selected start end point of each day route is Scotts Hotel in the centre of Killarney which has dedicated safe underground motorcycle parking. Multiple other options are available in the POI’s listings. Once you secure accommodation booking you just need to amend the route start/end points to reflect that.

This route pack contains 6 routes and 1 bonus route to the Burren & Cliffs of Moher, 94 photo stops, 18 campsites, 50 bars/restaurants/cafes, 45 hotels/B&B’s, 19 mountain passes, 3 motorcycle mechanics and more.



Itinerary:

• Day 1. Killarney-Beara Peninsula 236km
• Day 2. Killarney-Mizen Head 245km
• Day 3. Killarney-Dingle Peninsula 190KM
• Day 4. Killarney North ROK & Highlands 225km
• Day 5. Killarney-South ROK (Ring of Kerry) & Highlands 200km
• Day 6. Killarney Sheap’s Head Peninsula 240km (Boreens)
• Bonus Route. Killarney to Co. Clare Bonus Route (Cliffs of Moher, The Burren) 391km

 

Route 02 Ireland South, Dublin-Cork-Kerry-Clare-Galway-Connemara 6, 8, 10 or 12 Day Tour Beginning/ending in either Belfast, Dublin, Cork or Rosslare

 
Price €50.00 (EUR)

This SGT tour runs along the east, south and west coast (WAW) beginning in Dublin, Rosslare or Cork and ending in Westport in County Mayo. This route pack contains multiple day routes with 6, 8 or 10 day options. with Day 8 being a route from Westport to Ireland’s ancient east which includes the Neolithic sites of Newgrange, Knowth Passage Tomb, Hill of Tara and Trim Castle. Day 9 is a route I never tire of through the scenic Dublin/Wicklow mountains. The final day being a primarily motorway run to your exit port or Dublin, Belfast, Cork or Rosslare. There are also 2 bonus routes giving an option of extending your tour to a total of 12 days. The bonus route “Burren Scenic Drive” is one I highly recommend as it’s one of my favourite routes with incredible landscape an interesting places to visit like the famous Poulnabrone Dolmen. The route pack also contains the Official Wild Atlantic Way route as a reference or for route adaptation.

This route pack contains 21 route options, 2 bonus routes, 163 photo stops, 34 campsites, 111 bars/restaurants/cafe’s 110 hotels/B&B’s, 26 mountain passes, 4 motorcycle mechanics, 8 Whisky Distillery Tour Options and more.


 

01 East & South Coast Section Guide

 

• Day 1-A Dublin Port to Kinsale Actons Hotel 345km M9 6-7hrs (Best Ride Route)
• Day 1-B Tour Route Dublin Port to Kinsale Actons Hotel 290km 4-5hs (Motorway – No Fun)
• Day 1-C Tour Route Rosslare Port to Actons Hotel Kinsale – 270km 7hrs
• Bonus Route (Requires 2 night stay in Kinsale, Yougal or Dungarvan) Munster Vales Scenic Drive 228km

 

02 Cork WAW Section Guide

 

• Day 2 Tour Route Cork- Kinsale – Teddy’s B&B Bar Restaurant 265km Aprox. 7hrs
  Official Wild Atlantic Way, Co. Cork Route 454km

 

03 Kerry WAW Section Guide

 

• Day 3 (6 Day) Tour Route Kerry Beara to Dingle 270km 7-8hrs
• Day 3 (8,10 Day) Tour Route Kerry Beara to Killarney 265km 7hrs
• Day 4 (8,10 Day) Tour Route Kerry Day 2 Killarney to Dingle 240km 7hrs

Official Wild Atlantic Way, Co. Kerry Route 432km
 

04 Clare WAW Section Guide 215km

 

• Day 4 (6 Day) Tour Route Dingle to Ballyvaughn 277km 8hrs
• Day 5 (8,10 Day) Tour Route Dingle to Ballyvaughn 277km 8hrs
• Bonus Route (Requires 2 nights in Doolen or Ballyvaughan) The Burren Scenic Drive 160km

 

05 Galway WAW Section Guide 335km

 

• Day 5 (6 Day) Tour Route Galway Ballyvaughn to Wyatt Hotel Westport 280km 8hrs
• Day 6 (8 Day) Tour Route Galway Ballyvaughan to Roundstone 200km 7hrs
>Day 7 (8 Day) Tour Route Galway Roundstone to Wyatt Hotel Westport (Mayo) 220km 7hrs

Official Wild Atlantic Way, Co. Galway Route 335km
 

06 Westport to Dublin-Rosslare-Cork Ports (Day 6-8)

 

• Day 6/8 Tour Route Westport – Dublin Ferry Port 370km 5-6hrs
• Day 6/8 Tour Route Westport to Ferry Belfast-Liverpool Ferry 310km
• Day 6/8 Tour Route Westport to Cort Port 300km 4-5hrs
• Day 6/8 Tour Route Westport to Rosslare Europort 360km 7-8hrs

 

07 Westport to Irelands Ancient East (Day 8, 9,10 Route Option)

 

• Day 8 Westport to Trim Castle Hotel Via Newgrange & Hill of Tara 290km
• Day 9 Trim Castle Hotel to Glendalough Hotel 234km
• Day 10 Glendalough Hotel to Ferry Dublin Port UK-France Ferry 52km
• Day 10 Glendalough Hotel to Ferry Rosslare Europort 120km

 

New Self Guided Tour route packs and Motorcycle Trips for 2024

 

 

Route 03 Ireland North Westport-Donegal-Belfast 6 or 9 days.

 
Price €40.00 (EUR)

This route starts where Route 2 above ended, in Westport County Mayo. Day 1 is your access route, a mix of national N roads and motorway beginning at Belfast, Dublin, Rosslare or Cork ending in Westport. Note: If you invert this route it can work with an entry point of Belfast. From Westport the day routes bring you north along the WAW through Sligo and Donegal onto the beginning of the Northern Ireland Causeway Coastal Route on Day 5. Day 6 has 2 options. Opt 1 ends in Belfast where you can end the tour or continue to the Isle of Man with my IOM routes/poi’s. Opt 1 Follow the 9 day route back into the ROI. Day 7 begins in Carlingford Lough where you have 2 options, either my route directly to Dublin Port or choose to continue the tour via the fascinating New Grange site to the historical town of Trimm then into the Dublin Wicklow mountains on Day 8. Day 9 is your exit route via Dublin, Rosslare or Cork. The route pack also contains the Official Wild Atlantic Way route as a reference or for route adaptation. Each day route starts/ends at a suggested hotel, but these are primarily route shaping points. More accommodation options are listed in the POI section.

This route pack contains 20 route options, 2 bonus routes, 127 photo stops, 7 campsites, 38 bars/restaurants/cafe’s 53 hotels/B&B’s, 11 mountain passes, 4 motorcycle mechanics, 10 Whisky Distillery Tour Options and more.


 

01 Mayo-Sligo Section Guide

 

• Day 1 Belfast-Liverpool Ferry to Westport Wyatt Hotel 310km
• Day 1 Cork Ferry to Westport Wyatt Hotel 300km 4-5hrs
• Day 1 Dublin Ferry Port to Westport Wyatt Hotel 315km 5-6hrs
• Day 1 Rosslare Europort to Westport Wyatt Hotel 360km 7-8hrs
• Day 2-A Westport to Augris Beach Bar Sligo 287km Option 1 (RT’s Choice)
• Day 2-B Westport to Sands Ocean Hotel Sligo 265km

Wild Atlantic Way, Co. Sligo-Mayo Full Coastal Route 635km
 

02 Donegal Section Guide

 

• Day 3-A Sligo Beach Bar B&B to Ardara 234km (Donegal)
• Day 3-A Sligo Sands Ocean Hotel to Ardara 260km (Donegal)
• Day 4 Ardara to Carrigart Hotel 258km (Get Food & Beer in Logues Trad Bar)
• Day 5 Carrigart Hotel to Finn MacCools Pub & Inn Bushmills NI 262km

Wild Atlantic Way Donegal Full Coastal Route 565km
 

03 Northern Ireland Section Guide

 

• Bonus Route North West 200 Circuit 14km
• Day 6 IOM Route – Finn MacCools Pub & Inn to Corr’s Corner Hotel Belfast 155km
• Day 6 Finn MacCools Pub & Inn Bushmills to Carlingford 247km

Official Causeway Coastal Route 180km
 

04 Isle of Man Section Guide

 

• IOM Discovery Day Route 180km
• IOM Southern 100 Billown Circuit 7km
• IOM TT Circuit Start / Finish to Photo/POI TT Main Stands 61km
• IOM TT Viewing Central Access Points

 

05 Louth-Meath-Dublin Section Guide

 
Bonus Route Skerries 100 Race Route

• Day 7-A Carlingford to Trim Castle Hotel Via Newgrange 167km
• Day 7-B Carlingford to Dublin Port 143km
• Day 8 Trim Castle Hotel to Glendalough Hotel 234km
• Day 9-A Glendalough Hotel to Dublin Port 55km 1-3hrs 54km (Traffic M11/Dublin)
• Day 9-B Glendalough Hotel to Rosslare 117km
• Day 9-C Glendalough Hotel to Cork Port 165km

 

Route 04 Full Island of Ireland Coastal Tour 12, 13 or 15 Day Tour 3,395km

 
Price €90

This tour brings everything the whole of Ireland has to offer, north and south of the border. Mountain passes, coastal cliffs, whiskey distilleries, celtic and monastic sights, you name it I’ve got it in this self guided motorcycle trip. This route can also be easily split in two sections for two separate visits if you’ve not got the time to do it in one go. This SGT is geared to those looking to see all the sites, ancient and modern, as well as the epic roads along the Wild Atlantic Way of course. Certain sections of this tour are not suitable for large vehicles like campervans. Contact me and let me know how you’re travelling and I’ll adapt the route to suit.

This route pack contains 20 route options, 242 photo stops, 27 campsites, 138 bars/restaurants/cafe’s, 148 hotels/B&B’s, 31 mountain passes, 5 motorcycle mechanics, 14 Whisky Distillery Tour Options and more.


Itinerary:

• Day 1-A Cork Ferry to Baltimore 155km (Cork)
• Day 1-B Rosslare Harbour to Baltimore (Cork) 290km
• Day 2 Baltimore to Castletownbere 250km (Cork)
• Day 3 Castletownbere to Killarney 250km (Kerry)
• Day 4 Killarney to Dingle 230km (Kerry)
• Day 5 Dingle to Doolin or Ballyvaughn 280km (Clare)
• Day 6 Doolin/Ballyvaughn to Roundstone or Clifden 260km (Galway)
• Day 7 Roundstone/Clifden to Westport 220km (Mayo)
• Day 8 Westport – Beach Bar B&B Sligo 285km (Sligo)
• Day 9 Sligo Beach Bar B&B to Ardara 235km (Donegal)
• Day 10 Ardara to Carrigart (Logues Trad Bar) 260km (Donegal)
• Day 11 Carrigart to Bushmills-Finn MacCools Pub & Inn 260km (Antrim NI/UK)
• Day 12-A Bushmills Finn MacCools to Portaferry 200km (Co. Down, NI/UK)
• Day 12-B Bushmills-Finn MacCools to Belfast 150km (NI/UK)
• Day 13-A Portaferry to Trim via Newgrange & Tara 188km
• Day 13-B Portaferry to Dublin Port Direct 220km
• Day 14 Trim Castle Hotel to Glendalough Hotel 234km
• Day 15-A Glendalough Hotel to Dublin Port 55km 1-3hrs 54km (Traffic M11/Dublin)
• Day 15-B Glendalough Hotel to Rosslare 117km
• Day 15-C Glendalough Hotel to Cork Port 165km

 

Route 05 WAW Highlights 7 Day Tour 1,935km

 
Price €25.00 (EUR)

This trip is designed for those on a short break looking for the quickest route along the whole Wild Atlantic Way and Northern Ireland’s Causeway Coastal Route. You wont see everything or ride every great road but you’ll still see all the best bits and have a blast. This route is suitable for bikes, cars, campervans. The entry/start point for this is Cork Ferry Port and finishes in just outside Belfast in a great little hotel just a short hop to Belfast Ferry terminal.

This route pack contains 7 daily routes, 40 photo stops, 30 campsites, 6 bars/restaurants/cafe’s, 8 hotels/B&B’s, 10 mountain passes and more.



Itinerary:

• Day 1 Fast Route Cork to Killarney 227km
• Day 2 Fast Route Killarney to Dingle 275km
• Day 3 Fast Route Dingle to Ballyvaughn Sligo 230km
• Day 4 Fast Route Ballyvaughn to Westport 290km
• Day 5 Fast Route Westport to Aughris Beach Bar B&B Sligo 300km
• Day 6 Fast Route Beach Bar B&B Sligo to Carrigart Donegal 300km
• Day 7 Carrigart Donegal to Belfast 310km

Tags: ireland, motorbike routes, Motorbike Tours, motorbike tours ireland, motorcycle tour