The best road cycling routes around Tralee

Small town, spruced up, colorful houses, many pubs and shops for shopping.

Banna Strand, where part of David Lean's 1968 film Ryan's Daughter was shot. Also in Banna, Roger Casement landed with weapons in preparation for the 1916 Easter Rising, before being given away by a local farmer and captured in Ardfert. Banna Strand (Memorial): A 17-foot high limestone obelisk marking the exact spot where Casement came ashore from a German submarine on Good Friday 1916. The monument was unveiled in 1966.

The ruins of the cathedral and churches form a moving whole, a testament to the intense spiritual life of the Middle Ages. There are graves from the time of the first monastery (6th century), founded by Saint Brendan the Navigator. The cathedral (13th century) is now nothing more than a great open-air ship, which will amaze you with the elegance of its high Gothic windows. The statue (13th century), placed in a niche in the northwest corner, is thought to represent Brendan. On the west side, the Romanesque portal (12th century) has been renovated with a little too much enthusiasm, but the Irish Heritage Preservation Office unfortunately does not have the means to bring in specialists. The other two buildings also contain remnants of sculptures, one with flowers, the other with griffins.

St. John’s Church is centrally located in Tralee and forms a recognizable landmark with its tall tower and quiet church square. On the side of the building, you will find a simple holy water tap in the outer wall, an unexpected but frequently used spot where parishioners can draw water at any time. It is a small, almost hidden addition to the church that makes the daily ritual visible. (but I didn't find it)

The Tralee Ship Canal is a historic 3 km long navigable waterway connecting the centre of Tralee with the sea at Blennerville. Opened in 1846 to allow large ships of up to 300 tons to access the town, it fell into disuse in the 20th century. Following a large-scale restoration in the 1990s, the towpath is now an important recreational link.

The Blennerville Windmill, built in 1800, is the largest working corn mill in Ireland and Great Britain. Located on the edge of Tralee Bay, this white smock mill marks the starting point of the Dingle Peninsula for cyclists departing from Tralee (N86).

From the parking lot of Ceann Sratha (Clogher), you look directly at the monumental red sandstone cliffs of Ceann Sibéal. These 200-meter-high rock faces cut through the Atlantic surf like a knife and served as a spectacular backdrop for the Jedi temple in Star Wars. For cyclists, this spot offers an unparalleled 360-degree view: from the jagged 'teeth' of the Blasket Islands in the south to the distant contours of Mount Brandon in the north.

Slea Head Drive unfolds as one of Ireland's most impressive coastal drives, where the road winds along rugged cliffs and open Atlantic vistas. As you cycle westward, the landscape opens up to the Blasket Islands, lying as dark silhouettes in the ocean. The route passes by spots like Dunmore Head and Coumeenoole Bay, where the surf crashes against the rocks and the light constantly shifts. It is a region where nature and history intertwine: ancient agricultural terraces mark the slopes, and traces of early Christian settlements are scattered across the landscape. The whole experience feels like a journey along the edge of Europe, where every turn offers a new panorama and the Atlantic wind sets the rhythm of the day.