Wednesday 3rd July

Clonakilty - Castelfreke - Ross Carberry - Glendore - over narrow bridge - Union Hall - Skibbereen - Ballyourane - Culomane - Bantry
The day started fine and it remained sunny all day - encouraging after yesterday. We took small roads following the coast, passing estuaries and one sandy bay before Ross Carberry. The hedges are still full of flowers - honeysuckle, dog roses and blackberries in flowers. We rested by the big estuary at Glendore and had picnic lunch by another estuary at Union Hall - both very attractive.
This coastal route has plenty of long uphill rides, but avoids traffic. Skibbereen was completely packed out with traffic, so we gave its centre a miss, taking a small road north. Now we were passing through rolling, lush farm land with cows.
We had an awful ride up a newly tarmaced and gravelled steep track to the pre-booked B & B at Drumcloc House. However the landlady offered to drive us into Bantry for our meal as she was afraid we might fall off on the way down - as another cycling visitor had done. This B & B is very well-organised and comfortable as well as having a beautiful setting with a view over Bantry Bay.
We walked to the nearby beach with the landlady's dog, then went for our meal at 'The Snug' in Bantry.

On the beach at Castelfreke	Beach at Castelfreke
On beach with landlady's dog	Kerry mountains across Bantry Bay
Bantry waterfront	Bantry has plenty of pubs too!
Bantry Bay and the Kerry peninsula	Sunset at Drumcloc House

B & B. Mrs. Dympna Crowley, Dromcloc House, Bantry. Tel 00353 (0) 27 50030
Distance 40 miles today