Orwell Midlands 300 Audax 2026

The route is designed to simplify the step up to a 300km audax. As a result it stays mainly on R (regional) roads, is generally flat (one hill), easy to navigate and with plenty of options for food along the way.

It leaves Dublin heading in a clockwise direction for Naas, Portlaoise, Mountrath and on to Birr via the Slieve Bloom mountains. On reaching Birr the route turns north to Athlone before turning east and back to Dublin via Kilbeggan, Kinnegad and Maynooth. There are ample food options in the main towns and villages along the way and while the route does pass through the Slieve Bloom mountains, it is possibly the flattest 300 in the country.

The culture of Audax is based on self-reliance.  Routes are not marked, there are no Marshals, and riders typically navigate using a GPS or with routesheet giving turn-by-turn instructions.  There are no support vehicles and if you go off course or have a mechanical problem, you are expected to take responsibility for making your own repairs on the road, or finding your own way home.