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Owning a bike means far more than just owning a mode of transport. It’s a way of life.
Perhaps only bikers would understand, but there’s something so liberating about cruising along an unfamiliar road, feeling the wind against your leather, not knowing what the next corner will bring.
That’s why so many bikers go on “biking vacations”. Sure, you could opt for public transportation or rent a car, but if you travel to a new country on a bike, you know that you’re going to experience that country on a whole other level.
One of the most popular vacation destinations for bikers is South-West Ireland, mainly due to the number of stunning routes, trails, and sceneries that are there to enjoy. For this reason, there are multiple companies that offer tours around the region, complete with hotels, B&Bs, food, roadbooks, and – of course – a motorcycle to rent.
The only problem? Dollar signs. If you opt for a motorcycle tour abroad, it will undoubtedly be an incredible experience, but it won’t necessarily come cheap. This is especially true if you’re going with multiple people, including family – who might not exactly take kindly to accommodation hopping every day.
So the question is, can you go on a motorcycle vacation and enjoy the wonders of South-West Ireland on your own? We think the answer is yes, and here’s our reasoning:
The Biker Situation
Okay, the first big point: how do you bring your bike? Well, to get your bike into a foreign country, you may need to temporarily import it using either a TIP or a CPD. You will also need to ensure you have all the right documents to ride your bike in Europe, including the log book, (registration) MoT certificate if applicable to your country, licence, passport, and insurance. If you don’t want to go through all of this, you can always rent a motorcycle when you get to Ireland, as there are a number of great motorcycle rental companies that offer a range of bikes that are perfect for touring.
The Accommodation
When it comes to accommodation, it’s best to pick one place to stay for the duration of your vacation. If you’re travelling with friends or with family, then this place needs to be able to hold multiple people and have the space to live. If you’re looking to go for the ultimate experience, one of the best in our eyes is a place right on the coast of the South-West, a luxury 6 bedroom holiday home called gortadrohid.ie, which is a gorgeous house on a beautiful island that sleeps up to 12, and is close to all of the best biking trails as you can imagine.
The Roads
Speaking of biking trails, you’ll need to pick them for yourself! Across the South-West, there are gorgeous trails that take you through historic sites in Cork, ancient valleys, bustling towns, and – of course – scenic coastlines.
These include the Glengesh Pass, the Hook Peninsula, the Sheep’s Head Drive, The Skellig Ring, the Sky Road, amongst many more. So get researching and plan them out yourself!
The Stranger Conundrum
But hold on, if you’re not on a specific tour, do you not have to worry about getting lost? Well, no. Not really. Ireland is known to be one of the most friendly countries in Europe, and there is a strong biker community that is always glad to lend a helping hand to outsiders. Of course, we don’t recommend that you get lost. Even just in the South-West, it’s always best to carry a map at all times!
Speaking of friendliness, there are also plenty of opportunities to get in with the locals and make some new friends. If you travel in the summer, the South-West of Ireland is known for multiple arts and music festivals. And as well as this, Ireland as a country has countless pubs and inns, which are perfect venues for unwinding, having a couple of beers, and getting to know as many people as you can!
The Overall Cost
Lastly, in contrast to the big cities like Dublin and Belfast, South-West Ireland is actually very affordable. Stopping off and grabbing a coffee and brunch will only set you back the equivalent of around US$11.00, and then you’ll be up and raring to go! Not only this but the towns themselves are varied, with a number of traditional and modern shops where you can buy beautiful Irish trinkets to remember the vacation.
What’s more, because you’re only using one accommodation, you can save on going out for lunches and dinners by simply shopping locally and cooking it in your very own kitchen. Oftentimes, it’s small things like snacks and meals that can build up the expense of a vacation, so having your own kitchen will be a real help when it comes to simply enjoying the whole experience!
