The Quest team have put together routes that are both challenging and inspiring with the beautiful landscape and breathtaking scenery.

Precautions
Competitors undertake Quest Lough Derg 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.

Stage 1

Starting on your bike, on the banks of the River Shannon, with a controlled rolling start for 1km, this short but tough stage will get the heart rate pumping. After a nice 5km on the main road you will hit the 15% gradient for 2km up to the transition area located historic site the Graves of Leinster Men. The toughest cycle of the day.

Terrain:                                   Secondary roads, sealed tarmac
Precautions:                           Open secondary roads, debris and water on road in parts, steep ascent
Distance:                                7.5km cycle
Total elevation:                       301m
Link to route:                          Stage 1 Route

Stage 2

Racking your bike at transition 1, you’ll follow a marked forest trail which leads to you up to the summit by Millennium Cross revealing stunning views of Lough Derg.  From the summit you’ll the Millennium Cross trail back to tranisition 1.

Terrain:                                   Forest, gravel and mountain rails
Precautions:                           Slippery when wet, steep descent
Distance:                                7km trail run
Total elevation:                       291m
Link to Route Map:                Stage 2 Route

Stage 3

Starting at Transition 1, you will cycle on small country roads to Garrykennedy. The first 3km is a fast downhill on a secondary road with grass in the middle of the road, please be take care on this section. From Garrykennedy you will follow the Lough Derg way with some short steep hills thrown in.

Terrain:                                   Secondary roads, sealed tarmac. 500m rough section
Precautions:                           Open secondary roads and debris on road
Distance:                                26km cycle
Total elevation:                       319m
Link to Route Map:                Stage 3 Route

Stage 4

To cross the River Shannon safely we have constructed a new temporary bridge that is a 3m wide floating pontoon. You must dismount your bike and proceed across the pontoon on foot with your bike.

Terrain:                                   Temporary pontoon.
Precautions:                           moving floating pontoon.
Distance:                                100m run with bike

Stage 5

You must run with your bike along the key side to the main road. From here you will get back on your bike and cycle along the main R463 road.After 4km you will go left and hit the Crag Wood climb on your bike. Back onto the main road and into transition number 2 to rack your bike.

Terrain:                                   Sealed tarmac.
Precautions:                           Open roads to traffic.
Distance:                                10km cycle
Total decent:                           191m
Link to Route Map:                 Stage 5 Route

Stage 6

From the bike transition at Twomilegate recreation area, you will proceed to the kayak stage on the shores of Lough Derg. This will entail a 1km triangular kayak route. We provide all required kayak equipment, full safety cover on the lake and double sit-on-top kayaks. You must get into the double kayak with the next person who arrives at the kayak section after you.

Distance:                 1km kayak.

Stage 7

Starting at the kayak transition area on the shores of Lough Derg, you will proceed on foot on a fully marked out course around the Ballycuggaran trails to the summit of Moylussa at a height of 532m. This is a varied trail run on fire track, forest, and bog trail. It will be the toughest section on this route. Trail runners are required for this section.

Terrain:                                   Fire track, forest & bog trails
Precautions:                           Slippery when wet, steep descent
Distance:                                12km trail / mountain run
Total elevation:                       600m
Link to route:                          Stage 7 Route

Stage 8

After the Moylussa trail run you will get back on the bike in Transition 2 for a short 3.5km cycle on a flat good surface road to Transition 3 in Killaloe town. You must dismount your bike when entering the transition. Please note you will rack your bike for the final time here and you are not allowed to collect your bike from this transition until 14.30 after the race to allow all participants to rack their bikes and complete the race safely.

Terrain:                                Good sealed tarmac roads
Precautions:                        Open secondary roads
Distance:                             4km cycle
Total elevation:                    43m
Link to route:                       Stage 8 Route

Stage 9

After you drop your bike at transition 3 your will proceed on foot along the river Shannon shoreline to cross the river on the temporary pontoon. The pontoon will allow you to safely cross the river and run directly into the finish line at Flanagans on the Lake on the Ballina (Tipperary) side of the river. A truly unique finish your Quest adventure.

Terrain:                                  Gravel trail, pontoon
Distance:                               3km run
Link to route:                         Stage 9 Route

Stage 1

Starting on your bike, on the banks of the River Shannon, with a controlled rolling start for 1km, this short but tough stage will get the heart rate pumping. After a nice 5km on the main road you will hit the 15% gradient for 2km up to the transition area located historic site the Graves of Leinster Men. The toughest cycle of the day.

Terrain:                                   Secondary roads, sealed tarmac
Precautions:                           Open secondary roads, debris and water on road in parts, steep ascent
Distance:                                7.5km cycle
Total elevation:                       301m
Link to route:                         Stage 1 Route

Stage 2

Racking your bike at transition 1, you’ll follow a marked forest trail which leads to you up to the summit by Millennium Cross revealing stunning views of Lough Derg.  From the summit you’ll the Millennium Cross trail back to tranisition 1.

Terrain:                                   Forest, gravel and mountain rails
Precautions:                            Slippery when wet, steep descent
Distance:                                 7km trail run
Total elevation:                        291m
Link to Route Map:                 Stage 2 Route

Stage 3

Starting at Transition 1, you will cycle on small country roads to Garrykennedy. The first 3km is a fast downhill on a secondary road with grass in the middle of the road, please be take care on this section. From Garrykennedy you will follow the Lough Derg way with some short steep hills thrown in.

Terrain:                                   Secondary roads, sealed tarmac. 500m rough section
Precautions:                           Open secondary roads and debris on road
Distance:                                14km cycle
Total elevation:                       110m
Link to Route Map:                 Stage 3 Route

Stage 4

To cross the River Shannon safely we have constructed a new temporary bridge that is a 3m wide floating pontoon. You must dismount your bike and proceed across the pontoon on foot with your bike.

Terrain:                                   Temporary pontoon
Precautions:                           Moving floating pontoon
Distance:                                100m run with bike

Stage 5

You must run with your bike along the key side to the main road. From here you will get back on your bike and cycle along the main R463 road into Transition number 2 to rack your bike.

Terrain:                                   Sealed tarmac
Precautions:                           Open roads to traffic
Distance:                                4km cycle
Total descent:                         42m
Link to Route Map:                 Stage 5 Route

Stage 6

From the bike transition at Twomilegate recreation area, you will proceed to the kayak stage on the shores of Lough Derg. This will entail a 1km triangular kayak route. We provide all required kayak equipment, full safety cover on the lake and double sit-on-top kayaks. You must get into the double kayak with the next person who arrives at the kayak section after you.

Distance:                 1km kayak

Stage 7

Starting at the kayak transition area on the shores of Lough Derg, you will proceed on foot on a fully marked out course around the Ballycuggaran trails. This is a varied trail run on fire track, forest, and bog trail. It will be the toughest section on this route. Trail runners are required for this section.

Terrain:                                   Fire track, forest & bog trails.
Precautions:                           Slippery when wet, steep descent.
Distance:                                 6km trail/mountain run
Total elevation:                       246m
Link to route:                           Stage 7 Route

Stage 8

After the trail run you will get back on your bike in Transition 2 for a short 4km cycle on a flat good surface road to Transition 3 in Killaloe town. You must dismount your bike when entering the transition. Please note you are not allowed to collect your bike from this transition until 14.30 after the race to allow all participants to rack their bikes and complete the race safely.

Terrain:                                   Good sealed tarmac roads
Precautions:                           Open secondary roads
Distance:                                4km cycle
Total elevation:                       43m
Link to route:                           Stage 8 Route

Stage 9

After you drop your bike at Transition 3 your will proceed on foot along the river Shannon shoreline to cross the river on the temporary pontoon. The pontoon will allow you to cross the river safely and run directly into the finish line at Flanagans on the Lake on the Ballina (Tipperary) side of the river. A truly unique finish your Quest Adventure.

Terrain:                                   Gravel trail, pontoon
Distance:                                 1km run
Total elevation:                         3m
Link to route:                           Stage 9 Route

Stage 1

Starting on your bike on the banks of the Killaloe side of the River Shannon with a controlled rolling start for 1km. You will cycle your bike along the main R463 road and after 4km you will go left and hit the Crag Wood climb. Back onto the main road and into Transition 2 to rack your bike.

Terrain:                                   Sealed tarmac
Precautions:                            Rods open to traffic
Distance:                                 10km cycle
Total descent:                           190m
Link to Route Map:                 Stage 1 Route

Stage 2

From the bike transition at Twomilegate recreation area, you will proceed to the kayak stage on the shores of Lough Derg. This will entail a 1km triangular kayak route. We provide all required kayak equipment, full safety cover on the lake and double sit-on-top kayaks. You must get into the double kayak with the next person who arrives at the kayak section after you.

Distance:                 1km kayak

Stage 3

Starting at the kayak transition area on the shores of Lough Derg, you will proceed on foot on a fully marked out course around the Ballycuggaran trails. This is a varied trail run on fire track, forest, and bog trail. It will be the toughest section on this route. Trail runners are required for this section.

Terrain:                                   Fire track, forest & bog trails.
Precautions:                            Slippery when wet, steep descent.
Distance:                                 6km trail / mountain run
Total elevation:                       250m
Link to route:                           Stage 3 Route

Stage 4

After the trail run you will get back on your bike in Transition 2 for a short 4km cycle on a flat good surface road to Transition 3 in Killaloe town. You must dismount your bike when entering the transition. Please note you are not allowed to collect your bike from this transition until 14.30 after the race to allow all participants to rack their bikes and complete the race safely.

Terrain:                                   Good sealed tarmac roads
Precautions:                            Open secondary roads
Distance:                                 4km cycle
Total elevation:                       43m
Link to route:                           Stage 4 Route

Stage 5

After you drop your bike at Transition 3 your will proceed on foot along the river Shannon shoreline to cross the river on the temporary pontoon. The pontoon will allow you to cross the river safely and run directly into the finish line at Flanagans on the Lake on the Ballina (Tipperary) side of the river. A truly unique finish your Quest Adventure.

Terrain:                                   Gravel trail, pontoon
Distance:                                 1km run
Total elevation:                         3k
Link to route:                           Stage 5 Route

Subject to change for 2024

Kayak – All Routes

If you do not reach the Kayak Stage by 2pm you will have to return to Transition 3 and proceed to the finish.

Expert Route Only

For those doing the Expert Route, midway through the Moylussa run (Stage 7), if you don’t get to the Sport & Challenge cut-off before 2pm you can not complete the full Expert run and must complete the Sport run.