HERO's new
Irish Trial and Tour
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Provisional Itinerary as at 1 July 2003
Monday 19 April: Day One: Dublin - Cork (Trial 247mi/397km, Tour 197mi/317km) The Triallers make an early morning start from Citywest, followed by a circuit regularity test at Mondello Park. They cross the Wicklow Mountains via Sally Gap (one of the great Circuit of Ireland special stages) to a coffee stop at the famed heritage site of Glendalough. There's a 26 mile (42km) regularity section at Aghavannagh (another traditional Circuit stage), then spectacular views from Mount Leinster en route to lunch halt near Thomastown. A short test at Kiltorcan Raceway precedes a couple of observed uphill tests and a 28 mile (45km) regularity section in the Comeragh Mountains before a pleasant run to end the day at the preserved heritage site of Old Midleton Distillery. The Tourers head directly into the Wicklow Mountains and over Sally Gap to Glendalough, then down the scenic Vale of Avoca, past the historic house of Avondale and the Meeting of the Waters. They also cross Mount Leinster, en route to Graiguenamanagh, a pretty little town with fine abbey remains. After lunch, they continue the monastic theme, passing the splendid Jerpoint Abbey and Kells Priory before arriving at Ireland's most important historic site, the Rock of Cashel. There's sadly only time for a brief pause before continuing over the Knockmealdown Mountains by the famous Vee Road, and passing beneath the splendid walls of Lismore Castle en route to Old Midleton Distillery. OVERNIGHT: Rochestown Park and Maryborough House hotels, Cork.
Both divisions start the day starts with a run out to Kinsale (control at Charles Fort) before a lovely drive along the celebrated South Cork coast, passing through such beauty spots as Timoleague with its waterside abbey ruins, to a brief halt at picturesque Glandore. The Trial then takes in a wonderful 22 mile (35km) coastal regularity section near Skibbereen before a lunch halt at Glengarriff. A tour of the superb Beara peninsula then includes three of Ireland's finest rally roads, the Tim Healy Pass, Ardgroom and Codos Head; then it's over the legendary Moll's Gap to overnight in Killarney. The Tourers follow a generally similar route, taking in a run over the Goat's Path on the Sheep's Head peninsula and through the characterful port of Bantry (and a chance to visit the superb Bantry House and its gardens) en route to the Glengarriff lunch halt. Then they too cross the Healy Pass and Moll's Gap en route to Killarney, where if they don't linger along the way (very tempting in this part of the world) they can arrive in time to visit the Museum of Irish Transport or Ross Castle or Muckross House and Gardens (or the shops). OVERNIGHT: Great Southern Hotel, Killarney Wednesday 21 April: Day Three: Killarney - Galway (Trial 242mi/390km, Tour 218mi/350km) The Trial starts off with a long regularity section on some of the finest roads from the famous Circuit of Ireland Sunday Run (and more recently the Rally of the Lakes), including Ballaghbeama Gap and Caragh Lake. Then a long run on country roads through quiet hills brings us to a lunch halt by the River Shannon at Castleconnell. In the afternoon, there's a 33 mile (53km) regularity section through the wild rocky land of The Burren, before our overnight halt in Galway.
OVERNIGHT: Corrib Great Southern Hotel, Galway Thursday 22 April: Day Four: Galway - Enniskillen (Trial 257mi/414km, Tour 218mi/350km) Both divisions head west into the wild Gaeltacht (Gaelic-speaking area) of Connemara. We pause at Willie Boulger's pub on the shore of Bertraghboy Bay, before taking the Bog Road to a brief halt at the memorial to transatlantic aviators Alcock and Brown near Clifden. The Trial then pauses at Letterfrack before a scenic 17 mile (27km) regularity section on the little coast roads of the Rinvyle peninsula. The scenic run around the deep fjord of Killary Harbour and over the Sheeffry Hills past Doo Lough was another memorable Circuit of Ireland stage, taking us to the lunch halt at Westport Quay. Then it's a long run north-east across remote country to a 29 mile (47km) regularity section on classic Circuit of Ireland roads in the Arigna Mountains, by Lough Allen. Late in the day, we cross into Northern Ireland for our finish control at Florence Court. From Clifden, the Tourers take in the spectacular Sky Road before pausing briefly at Letterfrack. Just beyond, they can visit the beautiful Kylemore Abbey. Their route then skirts Killary Harbour en route to lunch at Westport Quay. In the afternoon, they go via Castlebar and the lake views at Pontoon to Foxford, where they can visit the traditional textile mills. They then follow attractive quiet roads to lovely Lough Gill, overlooked by Parke's Castle, before crossing into Northern Ireland and ending the days run at the fine National Trust house of Florence Court. OVERNIGHT: Manor House Hotel, Killyhevlin Hotel and other hotels, Enniskillen. Friday 23 April: Day Five: Enniskillen - Londonderry (Trial 249mi/399km, Tour 197mi/317km) After two or three early morning tests for the Trial in the Enniskillen area, the Trial joins the Tour for a wonderful morning run through the counties of Fermanagh and Donegal. After some superb views of Lower Lough Erne, crews head across to the magnificent Atlantic coast to pass along the quaysides of the bustling fishing port of Killybegs and gaze in awe at the giant cliffs of Slieve League, before pausing at the little folk museum at Glencolumbkille. The lunch halt is in The Rosses at another fishing port, Burtonport, in the Lobster Pot restaurant. In the afternoon, the route cuts through Donegal's high mountains, in the shadow of Errigal's great cone, to the beautiful peninsulas of the north coast. The Tourers pause at Roe Castle before a run around the famous Atlantic Drive (another famous Circuit of Ireland and Donegal Rally stage), while the Triallers tackle a truly superb 34 mile (56km) regularity section around the lovely and intricate little lanes of Fanad. The two routes rejoin at pretty waterside Rathmelton before ending the day at Bridgend, on the Northern Ireland border. In the evening, there's a special ceilidh. OVERNIGHT: Radisson Roe Hotel and Country Club, Limavady; Towers Hotel, Londonderry
A wonderful climax to the rally, the shorter distance giving time to visit some of Ireland's finest attractions. The Trial gets away early, to drive peaceful country roads across to the superb Antrim Coast for a regularity section around the classic special stage of Torr Head before it gets busy with tourist traffic. There are also two or three good tests. The Tour makes a later start, to head across to spectacular clifftop Glenluce Castle. Both routes then take in visits to some of Ireland's finest attractions here on the Causeway Coast: the Giant's Causeway itself (with time to walk down to the shore), Carrickarade Rope Bridge and Dunseverick Castle, culminating in a visit to Bushmills Distillery. From here, the Tour takes excellent minor roads south via another couple of tests en route to visit the historic motor racing circuit of Dundrod for a touring lap - enough to bring home the bravery of all those who have tackled this fast and tricky course over the years. Finally, we drop down to Belfast to finish at the City Hall. The Tour meanwhile takes its turn to visit Torr Head, before a long road on remote roads through the Glens of Antrim and across the wild Antrim Mountains to their first spectacular sight of Belfast Lough from the Knockagh Monument. They then drop down to majestic Carrickfergus Castle before running along the shore into the city and a warm welcome home at Belfast City Hall. That night, there's a wonderful prizegiving party. OVERNIGHT: Hilton and Holiday Inn hotels, Belfast. Total distance: Trial 1,401 miles (2,254km), Tour 1,119 miles (1,800km) Sunday 25 April: time to go home - or to stop awhile to explore in your own time. The above programme is provisional and may be amended. |
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Tuesday 20 April: Day Two: Cork - Killarney (Trial 225mi/362km, Tour 162mi/262km) 
The Tour takes a completely different route. The morning is mainly taken up with a tour of the Dingle Peninsula, a World Heritage Site thanks to its wealth of ancient monuments and its magnificent scenery. Our suggested route makes brief visits to Slea Head and to a number of historic places including Minard Castle, Dunbeg Fort, the beehive huts and Gallarus Oratory. There's time to pause at the attractive fishing port of Dingle before heading over the spectacular Connor Pass. Skirting the congestion of Tralee on minor roads, we head across country to arrive at the Shannon estuary at Carrigafoyle Castle. We cross by the Tarbert - Killimer ferry before heading north to the Cliffs of Moher and the wild coast of The Burren, where there's a chance to visit the splendid Aillwee Cave or the fine ruined Corcomroe Abbey, or pause at Dungory Castle overlooking the pretty fishing village of Kinvarra, before our night halt in Galway. 
Saturday 24 April: Day Six: Limavady - Belfast (Trial 170mi/274km, Tour 127mi/204km) 
