G J Murtagh - Cycle Europe, Walk the Camino: A Practical Guide to Walking and Cycling

The purpose of this book is to encourage you to take to the road either walking or cycling and to maybe venture further afield from your own local area involving a stay away from home of three or more nights. I have attempted to answer the simple question how do I go about it?

This book is aimed primarily at the solo traveller but applies equally to small groups.

I have detailed two circular routes in Ireland and outlined several others in France, Germany, Alsace and the Camino in Spain. All these routes can be walked or cycled. I have not included maps but instead refer in each case to the relevant website with maps and other helpful features. The distances shown are estimates.

The simplest is a loop walk or cycle so you can return to where you started.

The most adventurous journey is the Camino and I have included advice on preparing for and managing your walk along with sample itineraries.

I normally plan to cycle 60km a day so I can enjoy the scenery and stop for interesting places. These journeys can be done quicker than I have indicated but are not designed to be speed trials.

All the photos in this book were taken by me on my travels and may not therefore be the traditional views generally associated with each of the routes.

With any journey it is always advisable to have your return journey planned. The trips outlined in this book assume you are travelling on your own.

One variation is to have someone meet you with transport at the end of your walk or cycle so you dont need to do a loop or return to where you started.

Even better is have someone follow you in a car and take your luggage with them this makes travelling easier for you and gives you company in the evening since its nice to chat with friends amiably over dinner rather than scrutinise the other diners and the waiter!

For Spain, Germany, Alsace and France I have taken Paris as the starting point and therefore given directions from there.

Throughout this book I have referred to Hotels where I stayed. Generally I looked for Bed and Breakfast wherever I could find it or two or three star Hotels and then have dinner in a local restaurant.

Occasionally I went for luxury, for example, the Paradors in Spain when I felt the need for sanity or that I deserved to be pampered!

Restaurants vary by country and town and where I had a memorable meal I have suggested a visit may be enjoyable but this is a very personal experience so dont take my suggestions as a guarantee of enjoyment tastes and staff change frequently.

I generally found the Logis group of hotels in France to be wonderful. They always cater for the solo traveller with good food, wine and a welcoming smile. They even look after the bicycle.

The Ring of Kerry in South West Ireland is a natural three day cycle and because it is a ring ie a loop you can start and stop anywhere. It has everything the cyclist could want beautiful scenery, a well surfaced road, hills and valleys, a plentiful variety of accommodation and restaurants and the hospitable Kerry people.

I favour starting at Killorglin (famous for the Puck Fair held every year in August) on the North East corner and cycling anti clockwise so I am on the inside of the road looking out at the sea since the road is narrow in places and can be busy with coaches in the high season.You can hire bicycles in Killorglin, Kenmare and Killarney.

• By car to anywhere in Kerry
• Bus to Killarney via Limerick and Tralee
• Train to Tralee or Killarney
• Fly to Kerry airport at Faranfore

• www.ringofkerrycycle.ie [This website was designed for a charity cycle round the ring and includes an outline map of the route]
• www.discoverireland.ie [This website also has details of each stage]
• www.buseireann.ie
• www.irishrail.ie
• www.bikehirekerry.com
• www.killarneyrentabike.com
• www.kerryway.com