The activity will be available on one day a week (Fridays initially, but other days are available on request), and will be in small groups (max 6 people). If your party has more than 6 people, you will be split into 2 groups, and the itinerary will be as follows.
Meet at 10am at Garrykennedy Harbour car park.
Group 1 – Safety briefing from your kayak instructor, followed by kayaking in Youghal Bay.
Group 2 – Safety briefing from your eBike guide, followed by eBiking along the shore and up into the hills near Garrykennedy.
Both groups will meet back at Garrykennedy at around 12 to 12.30, and go to lunch at Larkins Bar and Restaurant. Or you may bring your own lunch to eat outdoors if you prefer.
At around 2pm, the afternoon’s activities begin.
Group 1 – Safety briefing from your eBike guide, followed by eBiking along the shore and up into the hills near Garrykennedy.
Group 2 – Safety briefing from your kayak instructor, followed by kayaking in Youghal Bay.
Kayaking
My Next Adventure have been operating since 2019 around Killaloe, at the southern end of Lough Derg. You will be provided with an open deck kayak, wet gear and a buoyancy aid, and your instructor will show you the ropes, and stay with the group at all times.
The kayaking will be in the shallow calm waters of Youghal Bay (map shown below), and will allow you to view the lakeshore from a different angle, as you meander along the shore, viewing beautiful lakeside houses, harbours and wildlife. It’s a totally different way to experience the Lough, and your instructor will ensure the group moves along at a pace that’s comfortable for everyone and will also ensure that everyone stays safe.
eBiking
For eBiking, you will be provided with a helmet and hi vis jacket, and will be given full instruction on how to operate the bike. They’re pretty easy to learn and once you get the hang of it you’ll glide along with ease, conquering those uphills with no problems! Full safety checks are completed on each bike between rentals.
The eBike route will take you away from Garrykennedy through quiet roads. First you will head up into the Arra range. There are some uphill sections, but your eBike will make light work of them. As we progress past Lackamore (see map below), we will make a choice of routes. For the confident group, we will head uphill to the Graves of The Leinstermen (bottom left of the map below). This is a viewpoint near the top of Tountinna, with fantastic views down over the Lough and into County Clare. However, it does involve some steep climbs, so for groups who are less confident we will instead go to the Lookout (middle left on the map below), where there are also fantastic views down over the Lough. Next we will head down into Castlelough, where there are interesting historical buildings, a beach and a forest, before heading back to Garrykennedy.
Lunch
Lunch is provided by Larkins Bar and Restaurant in Garrykennedy, who offer a 10% discount to our customers. Please note lunch is not included in the booking fee. Or if you prefer, you can bring your own lunch and enjoy it at one of the many picnic benches by the lakeshore.
Weather
The experience operates from Spring until the end of Summer, but this being Ireland, there is always a chance of bad weather. Generally speaking, high winds would be the most problematic weather conditions on the lake. But don’t let this put you off booking. In the event of severe weather, we will offer a full discount or a reschedule (the choice is yours). You can also avail of a full refund for any reason up to 48 hours in advance. In the unlikely event that the weather wasn’t suited to kayaking but was ok for cycling you would also be offered the option of a 50% refund and go ahead with the cycling portion only.
We are very much looking forward to offering this experience and hope you will enjoy it. For further details please see our website, or to book please click here.
