an Boireann mór

ROUTES

160km, 9am 21st June 2025

The routes are subject to change. The examples provided below offer a strong indication of the route on the day.

Go All the Way

This spin gives you everything the Burren has to offer – from Lough Bunny and the Burren Lowlands to Fanore and the Clare coastline. Experience this haunting part of the world at its most wild and wonderful and recall the legendary words of Oliver Cromwell about the Burren (An Boirinn – The Great Rock): “There isn’t a tree to hang a man, water to drown a man, nor soil to bury a man.”

You’ll enjoy relatively good road surface with just a few bumpy spots, together with unmatched views of the Burren National Park. Tourist traffic is a hazard so please be extra cautious and do not take risks.

Section 1: 40km

0 – 40km

Barefield to Carran

Leaving Barefield, riders I’ll head for Crusheen and onto Tubber. From here you will get glimpses of your destination, The Burren National Park and its unique Karst landscape.

To get there you will pedal through the Burren Lowlands. The first 28km’s is mostly flat and you’ll be nicely warmed up as you head through the Valley of Goats.

Keep an eye out for our wild goats as you head for the bottom of Glann Hill aka The Mini Corkscrew. If you took part in the TdeB24 you pedaled down this climb on the way home.

Section 2: 33km

40km – 73km

Carran to Ballyvaughan

As you leave Carran you will head for the home of Red Mary, Màire Rua O’Brien. No its not a cocktail, it’s the home of a notorious aristocrat, Leamaneh Castle.

If you escape her grasp you’ll head for the village of Kilfenora , Chèile band country. From there you’ll spin along the Barony of the Burren towards the Dolmen. You will descend down Ballyallaban, passing the Aillwee Caves and into Ballyvaughan for the foodstop..

Section 3: 38km

73km – 111km

Ballyvaughan Loop via Black Head & Sliabh Elva

You will leave the food stop in Ballyvaughan and left for The coast, Black Head Lighthouse and Fanore.

At O’Donoghue’s pub in Fanore you will turn left and commence the most significant climb of the day, Sliabh Elva. Steep in parts, you’ll be out of the saddle at times but there are stretches of relief also. Nice 30 or 32 ring on the back helps and spin up. Try to take in the views!

At the top you’ll be looking down on the coast and the Aran Islands. Be careful descending onto the Lisdoonvarna road. Expect the unexpected, so stay in control and ease your way down.

You will turn left for The Corkscrew Hill and descend into Ballyvaughan for the second time. Be careful on the descent and watch those hairpins. Grab a top up in Ballyvaughan before you head for Section 4 & 5, the road home.

Section 4: 17km

111km – 128km

Ballyvaughan to Carran

This is the run for home but you’ve a bit of work to do yet. You leave Ballyvaughan for Bell Harbour along the coast road. Be aware this stretch of road is busy with tourist traffic.

You will turn right at Bell Harbour and you will take on the Carran Drag arriving in Carran Village.

Section 5: 35km

128km – 163km Home

Carran to Barefield

You will leave Carron for the second time and travel back down to Leamanagh Castle but this time you will turn left for Kilnaboy. You will travel on to the village of Corofin. please be cautious going through Corofin village as it is always a busy village. Outside Corofin on the Ennis Road you will take a left for Ruan village.

In Ruan village you will take a left at the shop and just after Ruan National School you will take a right for Dromore Nature Reserve.

After Dromore Nature Reserve you will take a right hand turn and eventually exit out onto the main Crusheen Road, turning right for Barefield Village.
You are now on the home straight.

Congratulations you have completed the Tour de Burren 2025!

Full route

An Boireann Mòr – TdeB25

RECOMMENDATIONS

25-28mm tyres for road bikes with appropriate psi or gravel bikes with 35-40mm tyres with about 35psi and a comfier spin. An MTB is fine too, but please no tribars.

Difficulty Rating: 9/10