Date: June 18th, 2026
Location: Western Ireland — Atlantic Coast
Distance: ~750–820 km (dependent on route option)
Elevation Gain: ~8,000–10,000 m
Event Type: Multi-Day Self-Supported Bikepacking Adventure
Event Description
Trans Atlantic Way is an epic, multi-day bikepacking adventure that traces an immense coastal loop around Ireland’s western seaboard. Designed for riders who crave long days of riding, big landscapes, and remote gravel terrain, this event links the raw beauty of Atlantic cliffs, hidden bays, rolling hills, and quiet rural roads into a single, unforgettable route.
Departing from Galway, riders head north along the rugged coast, crossing through Connemara, Mayo, Sligo, and Donegal, before turning south toward Clare and Limerick, ultimately completing a full circuit that returns to the west. The route showcases Ireland’s dramatic diversity — from windswept beaches and moorland gravel to wooded valleys, historic paths, and quiet lanes that see few travelers.
This self-supported bikepacking experience requires riders to manage their own logistics: food, accommodation, navigation, and mechanical support are all rider-directed. The ride blends gravel roads, farm tracks, coastal paths, and scenic secondary tarmac, offering a mix of surfaces that keeps the adventure continuously engaging. With significant climbing spread across long days in the saddle, the Trans Atlantic Way is a true test of endurance, resilience, and navigation skills.
Steeped in natural beauty and cultural richness, the ride threads through remote villages, historic sites, and landscapes shaped by centuries of Atlantic wind and rain. Evening stops often become moments of community: riders refueling with local cuisine, sharing stories from the road, and watching the sun dip below the western horizon.
The Trans Atlantic Way is ideal for experienced bikepackers and gravel riders seeking a long, varied, and immersive cycling adventure. It’s less about competition and more about self-discovery, endurance, and the pure joy of riding in one of Europe’s most celebrated coastal regions.
Trans Atlantic Way — ride the western edge of Ireland, embrace big terrain, and discover the soul of the Atlantic on two wheels.
Click here to see more inspiring European gravel events
- 08/06/2023
- 07:00
- 15/06/2023
- 14:00
- -1
- https://www.transatlanticway.com/
- Derry, Ireland