QUEST KENMARE ROUTE INFO
We discovered 3 challenging routes to test you no matter what level of fitness you have. Run, cycle and kayak across the stunning Kenmare landscape
The Quest team has put together a route that is both challenging and inspiring with the rugged landscape and breathtaking scenery.
Precautions
Competitors undertake Quest Kenmare adventure race at their own risk.
Please familiarise yourself with the route maps, race briefing document and the areas on the route where care must be taken. Please observe warning signs, race steward’s advice and listen carefully to the race briefing before the race.
*All routes are subject to change, statutory approval and license agreements.
Expert Route – 78km
| STAGE | DISCIPLINE | DISTANCE KM | ELEVATION M |
| Stage 1 | CYCLE | 26.00 | 460 |
| Stage 2 | RUN | 7.50 | 288 |
| Stage 3 | CYCLE | 19.00 | 268 |
| Stage 4 | RUN | 8.00 | 371 |
| Stage 5 | CYCLE | 14.20 | 72 |
| Stage 6 | RUN | 1.00 | 1 |
| Stage 7 | KAYAK | 1.00 | 0 |
| Stage 8 | RUN | 1.10 | 10 |
| Total | Â | 77.80 | 1470 |
Stage 1
Starting in Kenmare town on your bike with a controlled rolling start for 1km you head out the N70 Ring of Kerry road, a fast flat 6km out to Templenoe. Turn left up Rossacoosane for a 7km climb up to Barrfinnihy Lake and Molls Gap. A fast decent from Molls Gap back towards Kenmare and a left turn to the bike transition at the bottom of the Kerry Way trail.
Terrain:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Secondary roads, sealed tarmac.
Precautions:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Open secondary roads, grass in the middle of the road, debris and water on road in parts..
Distance:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 26km Cycle
Total Elevation:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 466m
Link to route:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Stage 1 Route
Stage 2
Parking your bike in at the bike racking at the bottom of the Kerry Way trail (Transition 1) you will follow the famous Kerry Way trail. It is muddy and there are a few rivers/streams to jump over. It is 4km out and 4km back with amazing views across Killarney National Park.
Terrain:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Well-maintained mountain trails.
Precautions:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Slippery, wet stone across streams, timber sleepers and boggy.
Distance:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 7.50km Trail Run
Total Elevation:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 285m
Link to Route Map:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Stage 2 Route
Stage 3
Jump on the bike at Transition 1 and cycle through fast, downhill back roads to the Kilgarvan Road and cross over Roughty Bridge towards Bonane Valley. There is grass in the middle of the road and some short steep hills. Following the original stage 1 route cycle route to transition 2 at Molly Gallivans.
Terrain:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Secondary roads, sealed tarmac.
Precautions:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Open secondary roads, grass in the middle of the road and debris on road.
Distance:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 19km Cycle
Total Elevation:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 324m
Link to Route Map:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Stage 3 Route
Stage 4
From the transition at Molly Gallivans you will follow a trail, road and mountain track to the base of Esk Mountain. It is an up and back route to the top of Esk Mountain at an elevation of 370m to the Cork and Kerry border. Please note that elements of this route are affected by the weather and this could change the route slightly closer to the time of the event.
Terrain:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Trail, gravel track, open mountain.
Precautions:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Wet, loose debris, boggy underfoot.
Distance:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 8km Run
Total Elevation:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 370m
Link to Route Map:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Stage 4 Route
Stage 5
From the transition at Molly Gallivan’s you will follow the main road back to Kenmare town. This is a fast downhill section with a good road surface. Bike transition is at Kenmare Golf Club, in Kenmare Town.
Terrain:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Sealed tarmac
Precautions:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Roads open to traffic
Distance:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 14km Cycle
Total decent:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 219m
Link to Route Map:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Stage 5 Route
Stage 6
Bike Transition is in Kenmare Golf Club, in Kenmare Town. You will run to the kayak area to begin the kayak stage.
Terrain:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Trail Run
Distance:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 1km Run
Link to Route Map:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Stage 6 Route
Stage 7
Kayaking on Kenmare Bay on double sit on top kayaks. Final route of kayak to be confirmed closer to event day based on tidal conditions.
Terrain:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Wet
Distance:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 1km Kayak
Stage 8
Final run to the finish line. From the kayak area there is a short run through town to the finish line in the Square in Kenmare where hot soup and your medal will be waiting for you.
Distance:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 1km Run
Link to Route Map:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Stage 8 Rout
| STAGE | DISCIPLINE | DISTANCE KM | ELEVATION M |
| Stage 1 | CYCLE | 18.00 | 324 |
| Stage 2 | RUN | 8.00 | 371 |
| Stage 3 | CYCLE | 14.20 | 72 |
| Stage 4 | RUN | 1.00 | 1 |
| Stage 5 | KAYAK | 1.00 | 0 |
| Stage 6 | RUN | 1.10 | 10 |
| Total | Â | 43.30 | 778 |
Stage 1
Starting in Kenmare town on your bike with a controlled rolling start for 1km you will cycle past Sheen Falls and through the historical Bonane Valley. This is a secondary tarred road with grass in the middle of the road for most parts. A couple of gradual inclines until you go back onto the main N71 Kenmare to Glengarriff Road. You will then cycle up to the transition at Molly Gallivans.
Terrain:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Secondary roads, sealed tarmac.
Precautions:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Open secondary roads, grass in the middle of the road, debris and water on the road in parts.
Distance:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 18km Cycle
Total Elevation:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 321m
Link to route:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Stage 1 Route
Stage 2
From the Transition at Molly Gallivans you will follow a trail on road and track to the base of Esk Mountain. It is an up and back route to the top of Esk Mountain at an elevation of 370m to the Cork and Kerry border. Please note that elements of this route are affected by the weather and this could change the route slightly closer to the time of the event.
Terrain:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Trail, gravel track, open mountain.
Precautions:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Wet, loose debris, boggy underfoot.
Distance:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 8km Run
Total Elevation:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 370m
Link to Route Map:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Stage 2 Route
Stage 3
From the transition at Molly Gallivan’s you will follow the main road back to Kenmare town. This is a fast downhill section with a good road surface. Bike transition is at Kenmare Golf Club, in Kenmare Town.
Terrain:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Sealed tarmac
Precautions:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Roads open to traffic
Distance:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 14km Cycle
Total decent:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 219m
Link to Route Map:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Stage 3 Route
Stage 4
Bike Transition is in Kenmare Golf Club, in Kenmare Town. You will run to the kayak area to begin the kayak stage.
Terrain:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Trail Run
Distance:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 1km Run
Link to Route Map:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Stage 4 Route
Stage 5
Kayaking on Kenmare Bay on double sit on top kayaks. Final route of kayak to be confirmed closer to event day based on tidal conditions.
Terrain:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Wet
Distance:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 1km Kayak
Stage 6
Final run to the finish line. From the kayak area there is a short run through town to the finish line in the Square in Kenmare where hot soup and your medal will be waiting for you.
Distance:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 1km Run
Link to Route Map:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Stage 6 Route
| STAGE | DISCIPLINE | DISTANCE KM | ELEVATION M |
| Stage 1 | CYCLE | 7.00 | 195 |
| Stage 2 | RUN | 8.00 | 297 |
| Stage 3 | CYCLE | 10.00 | 60 |
| Stage 4 | Run | 1.00 | 1 |
| Stage 5 | Kayak | 1.00 | 0 |
| Stage 6 | Run | 1.10 | 10 |
| Total | Â | 28.10 | 563 |
Stage 1
Starting in Kenmare town on your bike with a controlled rolling start for 1KM, you head out on the N70 Ring of Kerry road. From there, you will turn right onto Hospital Rd before turning left to make your way to the base of the Kerry Way trail.
Terrain: Secondary roads, sealed tarmac.
Precautions: Open secondary roads, grass in the middle of the road, debris and water on road in parts.
Distance: 7km
Total Elevation: 195m.
Link to route: Stage 1 Route
Stage 2
Parking your bike in at the bike racking at the bottom of the Kerry Way trail (Transition 1) you will follow the famous Kerry Way trail. It is muddy and there are a few rivers/streams to jump over. It is 4km out and 4km back with amazing views across Killarney National Park.
Terrain: Well-maintained Mountain trails.
Precautions: Slippery, wet stone across streams, timber sleepers and boggy.
Distance: 8km.
Total Elevation: 285m.
Link to Route Map: Stage 2 Route
Stage 3
Jump back on your bike at Transition 1 and cycle through fast, downhill back roads to the Kilgarvan Road and cross over Roughty Bridge. From there you will cross over Sheen Bride, joining back onto the N71 and back to Kenmare, turning right at St Patricks Church to rack your bike at Kenmare Golf Club (Transition 3).
Terrain: Secondary roads, sealed tarmac.
Precautions: Open secondary roads, grass in the middle of the road, debris and water on road in parts. Â
Distance: 10km.
Total descent: 237m.
Link to Route Map: Stage 3 Route
Stage 4
Bike Transition is in Kenmare Golf Club, in Kenmare Town. You will run to the kayak area to begin the kayak stage.
Terrain: Trail run.
Distance: 1km
Total Descent: 10m.
Link to Route Map: Stage 4 Route
Stage 5
Kayaking on Kenmare Bay on double sit on top kayaks. Final route of kayak to be confirmed closer to event day based on tidal conditions.
Terrain: Wet.
Distance: 1km kayak.
Link to route map: Stage 5 route
Stage 6
Final run to the finish line. From the kayak area there is a short run through town to the finish line in the Square in Kenmare where hot soup and your medal will be waiting for you.
Terrain: Tarmac roads.
Distance: 1km.
Total Elevation: 10m.
Link to Route Map: Stage 6 Route
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