Kingfisher Trail 2018
May 4th-7th 2018
The Kingfisher trail is a cycling route on the western border between Ireland and Northern Ireland. Popular starting points include Enniskillen and Carrick-on-Shannon (I chose the latter for the train station) and the trail is 200+ miles (with optional add-on loops). It's been on my "list" to do this trail for a while, so I was glad to take the opportunities of cheap flights on a UK bank holiday weekend (interestingly not an Irish bank holiday weekend!) to do it.
Day 1 - Carrick-on-Shannon to Ballyshannon
(with 10 mile add on from Cabinteely to Dublin train station)
60 miles, 3900 ft climbing
Having compared the cost of flying my bike over versus hiring a bike, I had decided to hire one, but bring over what seemed like half my bike anyway...My checked bag was full of pannier, tent, shoes and even a saddle! The evening prior to Day 1 was spent preparing my bike, but I realised as soon as I set off that I should have tested it too as my panniers were preventing me from pedalling (despite giving the hire guy my height and gender the bike was a teeny bit too short for me). This issue was easily rectified however by pushing my panniers back, and we set off to ride to Dublin train station.
At nearly 10am, we boarded the train, wrestling our bikes into racks that were a bit too short (theme of the day). The journey was about two and a half hours, and lunchtime had us in Carrick-on-Shannon. Ideally I'd have been a bit earlier but trains were only two-hourly and there were no bike space on the previous one. With sixty miles to cover in an afternoon(!), we set off and were soon off in open countryside, which was luscious and green as well as lightly undulating.
Having made an effort to be fairly efficient about any stops, we made it to the campsite before dusk, enjoying the views out to the lake from the tent. Food was next on the agenda, but unfortunately we discovered the gas canister we had was not compatible with the stove! A quick cycle into town found us some fast food, and then back to the campsite for a lovely sunset.
Day 2 - Ballyshannon to Enniskillen
70 miles, 4500 ft climbing
Determined to see the sea (I am from the Midlands after all!), I used an optional and rather hilly Kingfisher loop to take us right out to the Ross. This in my opinon was totally worth it - being early in the morning a beautiful empty beach stretched out before us and I couldn't resist a little stroll and a play.
Bike shoes back on, we headed south west, towards Lough Erne, which we would effectively spend the day cycling around.
The sun came out and the rolling countryside looked even better. Not feeling the need to push on as much as yesterday, we enjoyed leisurely stops and some lovely remote roads. When we reached the campsite we were delighted to find it perched along the side of a river. Now equipped with gas from the town just beforehand, we spent the evening enjoying the showers and being able to cook for ourselves!
Day 3 - Enniskillen to Lough Erne
(including picnic loop)
43 miles, 2550 ft climbing
After two big days, we decided in our planning that today would be a shorter day. Indeed the campsite was less than 30 miles from the previous, perched between Upper and Lower Lough Erne. This included a pretty epic climb near Derrylin, from which it was pretty much downhill all the way.
Once there we set up camp, then enjoyed a slightly more lightweight ride out to a quiet lough-side picnic spot. I was pondering a swim to the Ireland but that swim got saved for later in the day - a nice flat part of lough in part of the campsite.
From here we followed the cycle route to Crom, where it technically crossed the lough via ferry. However, I was glad that I hadn't relied on this whilst plotting the main route as it seemed to be a daily occurrence at best, and one that required booking well in advance. Crom itself was a lovely reserve though, and we swapped shoes to stroll around the forest trails before heading back to the campsite for a swim and tea.
Day 4 - Lough Erne to Carrick-on-Shannon
(with 10 mile add on from Dublin train station to Cabinteely)
55 miles, 1500 ft climbing
We reluctantly left Lough Erne and headed into the slight head-breeze, SW towards Carrick-on-Shannon. There were watery views aplenty today, although I was very disappointed that I did not spot a single Kingfisher along the trail. Maybe they weren't "in season"? The wildlife (generally, apart from people's pet dogs who often chased us) and plant life generally was beautiful, I always feel that Ireland has a lot to offer.
We made good time and were back to Carrick-on-Shannon's lakeside over two hours ahead of schedule - for which we were rewarded with being able to catch an earlier train back to Dublin, where the 10 mile cycle home awaited us. It was another warm day, the sun feeling particularly hot in Dublin, where many people were out enjoying the city (I almost needed suncream!).
The Kingfisher trail is a cycling route on the western border between Ireland and Northern Ireland. Popular starting points include Enniskillen and Carrick-on-Shannon (I chose the latter for the train station) and the trail is 200+ miles (with optional add-on loops). It's been on my "list" to do this trail for a while, so I was glad to take the opportunities of cheap flights on a UK bank holiday weekend (interestingly not an Irish bank holiday weekend!) to do it.Day 1 - Carrick-on-Shannon to Ballyshannon
(with 10 mile add on from Cabinteely to Dublin train station)
60 miles, 3900 ft climbing
Having compared the cost of flying my bike over versus hiring a bike, I had decided to hire one, but bring over what seemed like half my bike anyway...My checked bag was full of pannier, tent, shoes and even a saddle! The evening prior to Day 1 was spent preparing my bike, but I realised as soon as I set off that I should have tested it too as my panniers were preventing me from pedalling (despite giving the hire guy my height and gender the bike was a teeny bit too short for me). This issue was easily rectified however by pushing my panniers back, and we set off to ride to Dublin train station.At nearly 10am, we boarded the train, wrestling our bikes into racks that were a bit too short (theme of the day). The journey was about two and a half hours, and lunchtime had us in Carrick-on-Shannon. Ideally I'd have been a bit earlier but trains were only two-hourly and there were no bike space on the previous one. With sixty miles to cover in an afternoon(!), we set off and were soon off in open countryside, which was luscious and green as well as lightly undulating.
Having made an effort to be fairly efficient about any stops, we made it to the campsite before dusk, enjoying the views out to the lake from the tent. Food was next on the agenda, but unfortunately we discovered the gas canister we had was not compatible with the stove! A quick cycle into town found us some fast food, and then back to the campsite for a lovely sunset.
Day 2 - Ballyshannon to Enniskillen
70 miles, 4500 ft climbing
Determined to see the sea (I am from the Midlands after all!), I used an optional and rather hilly Kingfisher loop to take us right out to the Ross. This in my opinon was totally worth it - being early in the morning a beautiful empty beach stretched out before us and I couldn't resist a little stroll and a play.Bike shoes back on, we headed south west, towards Lough Erne, which we would effectively spend the day cycling around.
The sun came out and the rolling countryside looked even better. Not feeling the need to push on as much as yesterday, we enjoyed leisurely stops and some lovely remote roads. When we reached the campsite we were delighted to find it perched along the side of a river. Now equipped with gas from the town just beforehand, we spent the evening enjoying the showers and being able to cook for ourselves!
Day 3 - Enniskillen to Lough Erne
(including picnic loop)
43 miles, 2550 ft climbing
After two big days, we decided in our planning that today would be a shorter day. Indeed the campsite was less than 30 miles from the previous, perched between Upper and Lower Lough Erne. This included a pretty epic climb near Derrylin, from which it was pretty much downhill all the way.Once there we set up camp, then enjoyed a slightly more lightweight ride out to a quiet lough-side picnic spot. I was pondering a swim to the Ireland but that swim got saved for later in the day - a nice flat part of lough in part of the campsite.
From here we followed the cycle route to Crom, where it technically crossed the lough via ferry. However, I was glad that I hadn't relied on this whilst plotting the main route as it seemed to be a daily occurrence at best, and one that required booking well in advance. Crom itself was a lovely reserve though, and we swapped shoes to stroll around the forest trails before heading back to the campsite for a swim and tea.
Day 4 - Lough Erne to Carrick-on-Shannon
(with 10 mile add on from Dublin train station to Cabinteely)
55 miles, 1500 ft climbing
We reluctantly left Lough Erne and headed into the slight head-breeze, SW towards Carrick-on-Shannon. There were watery views aplenty today, although I was very disappointed that I did not spot a single Kingfisher along the trail. Maybe they weren't "in season"? The wildlife (generally, apart from people's pet dogs who often chased us) and plant life generally was beautiful, I always feel that Ireland has a lot to offer.We made good time and were back to Carrick-on-Shannon's lakeside over two hours ahead of schedule - for which we were rewarded with being able to catch an earlier train back to Dublin, where the 10 mile cycle home awaited us. It was another warm day, the sun feeling particularly hot in Dublin, where many people were out enjoying the city (I almost needed suncream!).
Comments
Post a Comment