French travel writer Sylvain Bazin (left) and his friend Thomas Prud'Hommes on the road between Louisburgh and Westport.

Top french travel writer cycles entire length of wild atlantic way

SOME 250,000 people in France will be reading all about the Wild Atlantic Way this autumn in the popular outdoor magazine Wider, thanks to French travel writer Sylvain Bazin.

Bazin has taken on the mammoth task of cycling the entire Wild Atlantic Way - that's 2,500 km along Ireland’s western seaboard.

Tourism Ireland in France invited Sylvain to undertake the marathon cycle so that he could experience the Wild Atlantic Way and then inspire his readers and followers to come and discover it for themselves.

In Mayo, Bazin stayed at Westport House Camping Park and, the next day, cycled the Great Western Greenway to Achill, stopping off in Newport and Mulranny along the way.

He then overnighted at Keel Sandybanks Caravan & Camping Park in Achill and also visited Belmullet and Ballina, camping at Belleek Park.

Monica MacLaverty, Tourism Ireland’s manager of southern Europe, said: “France is one of the top four markets for tourism to Ireland and 2015 has got off to a positive start, with the most recent CSO figures showing growth of +12% for March to May - an additional 14,800 French visitors compared with the same three-month period last year.

“Tourism Ireland is determined to ensure that tourism growth continues and we have an extensive programme of promotions under way in France in 2015.”

Sylvain has been joined by a French friend for the journey who is travelling by recumbent bike.