Overview of EuroVelo 1 in Ireland

Eurovelo 1 – Atlantic Coast Route in the Republic of Ireland travels along the southern and western coast exploring the wild and rugged Irish coastline for over 2300km. There are some inland sections, but soon you join the coast again.

The route begins (or ends depending on your direction of travel) in the southeast corner of Ireland at the ferry port of Rosslare Harbour. From here ferries connect to the UK, France and Spain. Rosslare Harbour is 2.5 hrs from Dublin by train. There are 10 train stations along the route allowing cyclists to join or leave the route at each of those train stations. Further details are provided here – Public Transport.

The route in the Republic of Ireland joins with the route in Northern Ireland adding another 220km. In Northern Ireland the route is all inland and connects the city of Derry/Londonderry with Belfast.  From here there are ferry connections with Scotland where EuroVelo 1 continues.

What to expect

The route winds along mostly quiet rural roads. The terrain varies from flat, to undulating to hilly. There are some traffic free greenway sections which are typically about 40km long. Most of the route is on road providing cyclists with an immersive experience and a direct connection with the country, its villages and its people.

Be aware – Cyclists doing EuroVelo 1 in Ireland will have a hugely rewarding experience but should be comfortable in an environment occasionally sharing space with other traffic. While the route is mostly on quiet roads with very little traffic, there are some busier roads used, in both rural and urban areas, where the option of a quiet road or cycle path is not yet available. Lastly, the route is on the Atlantic Coast, so expect some wind and maybe some rain. Remember, the wind usually comes from the southwest – so going south to north is generally easier from Kerry northwards.

Who is this route suitable for?

The greenways on the route and the sections on very quiet roads and flat terrain are suitable for less experienced cyclists. However, due to the need to share with other traffic and the nature of the terrain, this route overall it is best suited for experienced cyclists with a good level of fitness. Section of the route can be challenging. A bike with a good range of gears including some low gears is recommended. The surface is all asphalt but can vary in quality so wider tyres are also recommended for your comfort and enjoyment.  Most of all expect the experience of a lifetime!

GPX files

There are links to downloadable GPX files for the full route in Ireland below. There are also links within the section pages with downloadable GPX files for each section.  The route is the same whether you cycle from south to north or from north to south. However, in the Republic of Ireland there are slight variations in some urban areas where the route follows a one-way traffic flow that applies to all vehicles including cyclists. There are therefore links to GPX files for both directions of travel. In Northern Ireland the route is identical in both directions of travel so there is only one link to the file for this section.

The GPX files for the route in the Republic of Ireland are maintained by Cycling Ireland and the GPX file for the route in Northern Ireland is maintained by Sustrans NI.

Note: for consistency the terms south to north and north to south are used when referring to direction of travel. This refers to the overall route from one end to the other. However, for some parts of the route the actual direction of travel may be east to west or west to east or other intermediate directions.

The full route is signposted with EuroVelo directional signs in the Republic of Ireland. In Northern Ireland the route is signposted between Strabane and Cookstown only. See here for more on Signing. Even where the route is signposted we strongly recommend that you load the GPX file(s) onto a device (phone or bike computer) so that you can follow the route on the device.

There are over 2500 signs on the route and for various reasons there can be a problem with a sign (e.g. misaligned, damaged, hidden by vegetation, or even missing). In Northern Ireland some sections are not signposted. Also, even if there is a sign you may miss it and go off the route unintentionally. Having the route on a device will ensure that you will always be clear that you are on the correct route.

EuroVelo 1 – Republic of Ireland

GPX file for SOUTH TO NORTH direction of travel – Rosslare Harbour to Derry/Londonderry

GPX file for NORTH TO SOUTH direction of travel – Derry/Londonderry to Rosslare Harbour

EuroVelo 1 – Northern Ireland

GPX file for either direction of travel