The best road cycling routes around Dromore Lough

Beautiful abbey, hardly any tourists.

Gleninagh Castle is an impressive 16th-century L-shaped tower house that majestically overlooks Galway Bay. A former stronghold of the O'Loughlin clan, it is built from the characteristic limestone of the Burren and remains in remarkably good condition. Beside the castle ruins, you will find a small medieval church, a holy well, and a circular 'fullacht fiadh' (cooking place). The contrast between the robust structure and the bare, grey karst landscape makes this a fascinating historical anchor point along the northern coast of County Clare.

The R477 coastal road winds through the heart of the Burren and is considered one of Ireland's most spectacular driving routes. On one side, the grey limestone mountains tower up, while on the other, the Atlantic Ocean crashes directly against the rock plateaus. This road connects Fanore with Doolin and offers constant views of the Aran Islands and Galway Bay. It is the perfect route to experience the raw scale of the karst landscape, with numerous parking bays for a short walk across the iconic 'limestone pavements'.

Fanore Beach is one of the most beautiful sandy beaches along the Wild Atlantic Way, uniquely situated at the foot of the Burren's limestone hills. This award-winning Blue Flag beach is known for its vast dunes and is a favourite spot for surfers, swimmers, and walkers. As the Caher River flows into the ocean here, you can enjoy sweeping views of Galway Bay and the Aran Islands. The contrast between the golden sand and the grey moonscape of the surrounding rocks makes this an unmissable stop for any nature lover.

Near the coast of Fanore, in the shadow of Black Head, lie the overgrown stone ruins of an abandoned settlement that recalls the Great Famine (1845-1852). These simple one-room dwellings, often built from local limestone, once housed families who lived off small-scale farming and fishing until extreme poverty and hunger forced them to abandon their homes.

The Burren, this immense limestone plateau ravaged by erosion, forms a unique, strange and captivating landscape. Between these moonscapes of pale grey stones, crossed by walls of pebbles that block the horizon. A handful of rare flowers, a circular fort, a colossal dolmen or an old abbey spring up in some places. But the Burren hides more than this desolate spectacle of hectares of pebbles, remnants of a geological upheaval. You have to walk the paths incessantly to let yourself be won over little by little by its mystery, before falling forever under its spell, at the bend of a sunken path

If you turn towards the coast and follow the small path, you will reach Gleninagh Castle. This L-shaped tower castle from the 16th century sits right on the edge of the Burren and offers a wide view over Ballyvaughan Bay. The castle was once a strategic outpost of the powerful O'Loughlin family, who controlled the region until the late 19th century. An ideal place to get off your bike for a moment, enjoy the impressive location and let the tranquility of this historic tower work its magic on you. The area around the castle, with its mixture of coast and rugged cliffs, offers a varied scenery. Especially on the bike, you get a feeling of traveling back in time, while the barren but fascinating landscape of the Burren offers the perfect backdrop for a relaxing break.

As I rolled along the Burren cycle path on my racing bike, it felt like I was entering another world. The coastal road, which initially accompanied me with the turquoise sea, suddenly led me into this rough, rocky landscape that looks like a gigantic field of rocks. The ground beneath me, completely covered with rugged limestone slabs, reminded me of how nature has left its mark here over thousands of years. It was as if the earth had exposed its skin. The cool breeze blowing in from the Atlantic brought the stony wasteland to life and a very unique, almost meditative atmosphere emerged.