- Overview
- Trip Outline
- Trip Includes
- Gallery
- FAQ
- What people say...
- Pricing
- Travel
- Accomodation
- Resources
- Booking
Introducing our updated 2026 Copper Coast Tour, an inspiring blend of Ireland’s coastal grandeur and timeless charm—while still preserving all the favourite highlights that our cyclists have loved for years.
This refreshed journey still makes its way to Dunmore East, via the rugged Irish coast, where sweeping sea views and salt-tinged breezes set the tone for an unforgettable ride. A night in Dunmore East is followed by a wonderful cycle along the beautiful Copper Coast to your overnight stop in Dungarvan. The route then winds to the charming seaside village of Ardmore, known for its quiet coves, ancient round tower, and warm local hospitality. Further inland, the tour explores the medieval town of Lismore, where castle silhouettes, stone streets, and centuries of history enrich the experience at every turn.
From there, the cycle heads back towards Dungarvan for another night before finishing the tour on the celebrated Waterford Greenway, gliding through lush countryside, historic railway tunnels, and tranquil riverside trails.
As part of Ireland’s “sunny southeast,” this part of Ireland soaks up more sunshine than most corners of the country. Thoughtfully designed and beautifully paced, our 2026 edition keeps the best of what you’ve always loved, now elevated with fresh scenery, cultural discovery, and a lot more coastline!
Click here for the full itinerary : Copper Coast self guided 2026
Click here for the full itinerary : Copper Coast self guided 2026
A downloadable version of the itinery is available from the Dossiers Tab
Itineraries
Day 1
Arrival in Waterford
You will have been sent all your accommodation and bike rental details before departure.
Sitting in the heart of Ireland’s Ancient East, Ireland’s oldest city is a treasure-trove of ancient artefacts, elegant architecture and great local food. Once you have checked into your accommodation you can then spend the rest of the day exploring the city.
Day 2
Waterford to Dunmore East ( 68kms )
The morning starts on quiet roads, towards the South Coast of Ireland. En route you pass the village Fethard and visit Baginbun beach where the Normans first landed in Ireland and on to Hook Head.
Hook Lighthouse has been guarding the Maritime gate way to Irelands Ancient East for over 800 years. It is the Oldest Intact Operational Lighthouse in the World.
That afternoon you keep to the coast as much as possible, taking a short ferry ride across Passage East, that brings you ever closer to the beautiful seaside town and fishing port of Dunmore East where you spend the night.
Day 3
Dunmore East to Dungarvan (57 kms)
Your first stop today is the seaside village of Tramore where you can have a coffee and visit the beautiful Lafcadio Hearn Japanese Gardens
The cycle then brings you along the beautiful Copper Coast and inspiration for this tour. A stunning section of the Irish Coastline, it rolls up and down along an unspoilt shoreline. Although hilly in sections all climbs are worth the literally breathtaking views.
The last section of the cycle is on one of the few dedicated cycle paths in the area. Your night's destination is the attractive town of Dungarvan where you are spending two nights.
Day 4
Dungarvan to Ardmore (41kms)
The route now starts to deviate from our previous years as a shorter distance offers plenty of time to enjoy the coast.
You can stop for a break in the attractive seaside village of Ring, located in an Irish Gaeltacht where Irish is still spoken by locals.
The route continues onto your nights location of Ardmore, winner of many awards, including the national title in the Tidy Towns Competition.
Ardmore is a very pleasant place to stay and enjoy the pubs and the excellent food in the restaurants. There are also some lovely walks you can do in the area if you arrive early, including a visit to one of Ireland’s best preserved round towers.
Day 5
Ardmore to Lismore ( 48kms )
Today you head initially to the seaside town of Youghal in County Cork where you can stop for a break. From here you head inland back on quiet country roads to the beautiful Medieval town of Lismore.
The small town is dominated by an impressive Medieval Castle. Although the castle is private the gardens at Lismore Castle are open to the public, and they’re considered among Ireland’s oldest continually cultivated.
Day 6
Lismore to Dungarvan (44kms)
The highlight for today is undoubtedly in the morning as you head towards the “Vee” mountain pass. Although the planned cycle does not take you all the way to the top of the mountain pass ( although of course you can climb to the summit and re route back on the tour ! ) you will still be afforded some beautiful views.
Your nights destination is back in the town of Dungarvan.
Day 7
Dungarvan to Waterford ( 50kms )
The old railway line from Waterford City to Dungarvan is a spectacular 46km off-road cycling and walking trail which travels through time and nature across eleven bridges, three impressive viaducts and a long atmospheric tunnel all the way from Dungarvan Bay to the River Suir.
Along this route in Ireland’s Ancient East is the site of a 9th century Viking settlement; the world renowned ornamental gardens at Mount Congreve; Waterford & Suir Valley narrow gauge heritage railway; former woollen mills and railway stations; and beautiful landscapes of the Comeragh Mountains.
- 7 nights accommodation with breakfast mix of 3 star hotels & guesthouses
- Luggage transfer
- GPS tracks
- One printed set of route details and maps per booking
- 24 hour service hotline
Bike Rental is not included in the basic tour price.
All rentals come with a pannier, lock and repair equipment
Hybrid Touring bike : €110.00
Electric bike : €150.00
On a self-guided tour we will organize your bike hire, the accommodation and the luggage transfer. Your route details will be waiting for you in your first night’s accommodation. In the route details, you will also find recommendations for lunch stops and places to have dinner. You will set off by yourself and the luggage will be transferred to the next stop by our local taxi transfers. And should there be a day you won’t be able to cycle, it is possible to arrange a lift with the luggage transfer.
You can also contact us in the office (info@cyclingsafaris.com) or on our emergency number if you need assistance.
You can start the cycling tour on any day that suits you.
If you prefer to cycle with a support van and/or guide we are happy to send you a customized quote for this.
On a self guided tour it is possible to add extra days or shorten the trip if you wish to or we can customize the route for you.
Bike rental is not included in the basic tour price
You can rent a GIANT CITY bicycles for our tours
Bikes come in different sizes and in gents and ladies style frames.
It is very important you give us your height on booking so that we can allocate the correct bike to you.
You can also rent an E-Bike
We are using TREK VERVE ELECTRIC BIKE on this trip.
We offer small and medium-sized e-bikes. Recommended body heights for our e-bikes range from 160cm - 183 cm.
Looking at a scale from 1 - 10 (1 = easiest, 10 = hardest) we are giving this tour 6 points.
The average daily cycling distance is between 40 - 60 km
There are some hills to climb on this tour so we would recommend that you do try to do some cycling before the tour in order to make your week more enjoyable, if possible do it on varied terrain and include some hill climbing.
With the exception of the roads in and out of the larger towns, the traffic on the route should be quite light.
The route is sent to you on a gps format before the tour, but you need to bring your own device.
We would seriously recommend that you bring padded cycling shorts and/or a gel saddle cover that will definitely make your day’s cycling more comfortable. Cycling gloves are also a good investment. You can also bring your own saddle which we should be able to attach to our bikes.
We do provide pannier bags so you can bring your own. Otherwise, you may prefer to use a daypack and there are back carriers on each bike for this purpose.
We do not provide rain gear so be sure to bring your own lightweight waterproofs.
Don’t forget sun cream, sunglasses, sun hat as well as a bathing suit for that refreshing dip in the Atlantic Ocean.
Our touring bikes don’t have lights – no problem on the long summer evenings, but if you are traveling in May or September, please bring your own light or high-visibility vest.
Finally, if you wish to use toe clips please bring your own pedals with toe clips which we can attach to our bikes (the pedals on our bikes do not accommodate toe clips)
You have the option of booking different room types:
Double room = Room with one big bed for two people
Twin room = Room with two single beds for two people
Single room = Room with one single bed
Triple room = Room with one double and one single for three people OR room with three single beds
Family room = Room with one double and two single beds
If the room type you would like to book is not listed on the booking form, you can specify this in the section "other detai
On this tour you will be staying in Waterford, Dunmore East, Dungarvan, Ardmore & Lismore.
On request, we can upgrade the accommodation.
To confirm you onto our tour, we require a deposit of 300 euro per person.
After your initial booking request, we will be in touch with payment details.
The remaining balance for the cycling tour will be due 60 days prior tour start.
Should you wish to cancel, cancellation charges will be imposed. These are calculated from the day written
notification is received by the company or their agent as a percentage of the total tour price, including
surcharges as follows:
60 days before departure – retention of deposit
60-14 days before departure – 50%
14 days before departure – 100%
To claim the balance back, you need to send the details on to your travel insurance who should reimburse you. Please make sure that your travel insurance covers the costs for unforeseen cancellation before signing up.
Great tour - great variety in terrain, scenery and places of interest. Really enjoyed a guided walk in Dungarvan.
Clare G. (Copper Coast self led )
2026 SELF GUIDED TOUR PRICE
€1260 per person sharing in May, June & September
€ 70 per person high season supplement in July and August
€ 380 single room supplement (if travelling with others)
€ 280 solo tour supplement (if travelling alone on a self guided tour)
Bike Rental
€110 24 speed touring bike
€150 E-bike
Self Guided Tour Information
Self guided tours are available from 16th April to 1st October and can start any day of the week.
How to get to Waterford City:
Dublin is the best airport to fly into as has the best transport options to Waterford
From Dublin → Waterford
-
Train — Take a direct train from Dublin Heuston to Waterford’s Plunkett Station. Journey takes ~ 2 h 20–2 h 30. For more details on the train visit IrishRail
-
Car / Driving — Driving from Dublin to Waterford takes around 1 h 45–2 h depending on traffic via motorway (M9/M7)
-
Bus - There is a bus service direct from the airport to Waterford city available (Check JJKavanagh Coach for more info) Alternatively, take the Airlink shuttle service into Dublin city and transfer to get direct bus/train to Waterford
For more details on buses visit Dublin Coach
Below are the hotels / guesthouses that we typically use on this Safari...
WATERFORD
Dooley’s Hotel in Waterford City offers warm Irish hospitality with modern comfort right in the heart of the historic Viking Triangle. It’s the perfect base for exploring the city, enjoying local cuisine, and experiencing Waterford’s vibrant culture.

DUNMORE EAST
The Strand Inn in Dunmore East offers breathtaking sea views, warm hospitality, and a perfect blend of coastal charm and comfort. It’s a perfect place to relax for the evening.

DUNGARVAN
The Park Hotel is a real treat. Over looking the river with a fantastic restaurant and bar its easy to enjoy an evening here. Also the is sauna and a swimming pool too if you want to unwind after a day on the bike.


ARDMORE
Staying at the Round Tower Hotel in Ardmore offers a warm, welcoming atmosphere with stunning views of the Waterford coastline. Its cozy rooms and friendly service make it an ideal base for exploring the village’s historic charm and seaside beauty.

LISMORE
You can enjoy the elegant tranquility of Ballyrafter House in Lismore, where historic charm meets modern comfort. Immerse yourself in breathtaking woodland views, warm hospitality.













