'Col du Wicklow Gap'
This PRoFS is based on Dun Laoghaire, the ferry port for Dublin. It could also be started from anywhere in or around Dublin, or from Courtown Harbour if travelling from Rosslare, or any point en route. It may be ridden in a single day as a Randonnee (15-30kph), but could prove more enjoyable ridden over two days at Tourist Standard. You could also make this a 300km ride by starting from Rosslare, joining the route described at Courtown Harbour, then returning from Courtown to Rosslare.
1. DUN LAOGHAIRE - from foot passenger exit, L@TL, R@T, L@TL $ DALKEY L $ Coast Road L@T (no $) L $ KILLINEY fork L, L@T, 2nd ex rbt $ Bray SO@TL $ Wicklow 2nd ex rbt into SHANKHILL 2nd ex rbt (no$) 2nd ex rbt, SO@2xTL $ BRAY L@TL into Seapoint Rd fork R @ end of sea front into Putland Rd L@TL (no $) 2nd ex rbt, 1st ex rbt $ Greystones fork R on R761 thro’ KILCOOLE & NEWCASTLE to RATHNEW L@T $ Wexford N11 1st ex rbt thro’ WICKLOW, cont’ on R750 L@T $ BRITTAS BAY to ARKLOW L@T on N11 R@T, 2nd ex rbt $ Wexford L $ ‘Rathmore B&B’ imm before rbt onto minor road keep L $ Clogga Strand follow $ to COURTOWN HARBOUR [94]; 2. Retrace from control and cont' on R742 to GOREY 2nd ex rbt then R@T $ N11 Dublin (or for lanes route: L@T $ Wexford N11, under railway, imm R, fork R on climb, descend, SO@X, climb, SO@X, descend, R@T, L@T to rejoin N11 by ‘Toss Byrnes’ pub) L by garage $ COOLGREANEY L @ top of village $ Tinahelly R $ Johnstown fork L, thro’ JOHNSTOWN climb, fork R start descent and fork L by bungalow, thro' farmyard, down steep lane (hairpin bends) R (no $) L@T $ AVOCA 3 (R747) cont’ on R752 to RATHDRUM L to LARAGH [150]; 3a. L $ Glendalough R757 cont' on R756 over WICKLOW GAP R on R758 thro’ VALLEYMOUNT (over reservoir) R@T on N81 to BRITTAS R on R114 to TALLAGHT (outskirts of Dublin) cont' into Dublin or R to follow R113 and $ to DUN LAOGHAIRE [210]. or b. R@T $ Dublin R755 L $ Sally Gap on R115, climb past waterfall, cont' over high moorland and over SALLY GAP, descend and climb, then long descent to outskirts of Dublin R@T, R@T (or L@T and cont’ on R115 for Dublin City Centre) and follow R113 and $ to DUN LAOGHAIRE [200];NB: Control stamps should be obtained at (or as near as possible) to PLACES underlined in bold type; petrol stations or bars may be your best bet. Distances in kilometres to controls are noted [in square brackets]; road signs may show distances in miles or kilometres or both. You are advised to obtain the recently updated OS quarter-inch ‘East’ regional sheet, but do take care over directions in the lanes which are often unsignposted.
David Lewis
12 Ethel Street, Canton, Cardiff, CF5 1EJ (tel: 029 20384806)