This year’s Bike Week sees the return of the Seven Castles Looped Cycle Heritage Tour to Galway. Also known as ‘Slí na gCaisleán’ (‘The Way of the Castles’ ) the event represents a guided off-the-beaten-track heritage cycle excursion along a looped trail across beautiful countryside that encompasses seven castles on the north and eastern side of Galway city and on into Galway county.
The tour, organised by the Ballinfoile Mór Community Organic Garden, will start at 9.30am on Sunday June 30 from the ‘Plots’ on the Dyke Road which was the site of former urban allotments in decades gone by, then onto Terryland Castle before undertaking a forty km looped cycle route that has castles at Menlo, Cloonacauneen, Killeen, Ballybrit, Castlegar and Ballindooley.
This leisurely cycle will journey over hills, along botharins, past abandoned farms, ruined castles, karst outcrops, bogs, lakes, dykes, turloughs and meadows. Local communities are hoping that it will become part of a new cycling friendly network that could benefit the quality of life of Galwegians as well as become a major green tourism attraction.
Participants should bring along their own bicycle, suitable clothing and packed lunch. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
For further information, contact Brendan Smith at [email protected]
