Highlands of Donegal

Introduction
Donegal Ireland

Donegal is one of the undiscovered gems of Ireland. There is a wonderful mix of coastal cycling, followed by a highland landscape where you can feel completely away from it all, before returning back to the coast and the most beautiful beaches in the country. The light is amazing here, with a landscape full of browns, greens and purples constantly altering their tone with the changing light. The pace of life is wonderfully easy going and the people amongst the most welcoming in the country.
We meet up in the town of Donegal. The following day we start our cycle by heading along the wonderful coastline towards the Slieve League Marine Cliffs on our way to the first nights stop, the Irish speaking village of Glencolmcille.
Over the week we keep to quiet backroads passing some of Ireland’s most wonderful coastal scenery. Dramatic mountains fall into the Atlantic Ocean interspersed with some of the most unspoilt beaches you are likely to find. We continue through a rolling landscape of quiet sleepy villages and stop in Leo’s pub where Enya and Clannad first sang.
Our cycle brings us through Glenveigh, Ireland’s largest National Park where conservationists work hard to keep the wild rhododendron under control. Our rest day is in the seaside village of Dunfanaghy before we continue on our journey to the bustling town of Letterkenny. Our last days cycle sees us winding our way back towards Donegal town.

Accomodation

Tour Accommodation:    

Is on a twin sharing basis in a mixture of family run hotels and guest houses with breakfasts  included.  Upon booking we need to know whether sharing will be on a twin (two beds) or double (one big bed) basis.  Due to the isolated nature of several of the places we stay in, we cannot guarantee the availability of single room accommodation. For people coming on their own we will twin share them with another single person on the tour.  In exceptional cases we may be able to provide a single room at a supplement for the week.  
 

Extra Accommodation: 

We can arrange additional accommodation either before or after the tour for you -prices are on request.

Meals:  The guide will recommend a lunch stop each day where a snack lunch will cost between €8 and €12. A group evening meal is organised by the guide each night which costs between €20 and €30. One evening meal during the tour is included in the tour price

Riding

Itinerary

Day 1  We start in Sligo where you stay in guesthouses close to the center of town.

Day 2 A 10:00 AM bus will transfer the group to Killybegs, the largest fishing port in the country. After being fitted out with your bike you then begin the tour with a wonderful coastline cycle to our lunch stop just outside of the village of Carrick. After lunch we cycle up to a viewing point of the spectacular Slieve League Cliffs, the highest marine-based cliffs in Europe. In the afternoon we head to our night stop in the village of Glencolumcile passing freshly cut peat drying in the surrounding bogs.

Day 3  Today we head up into wild highland country along quiet backraods with a wonderful open landscape. There follows a wonderful descent into the dramatic Glengesh Valley to the beautiful Maghera Beach. The beach is well worth stopping at for a walk across its glorious white sands to explore the caves of Maghera. You can also go for a swim in the lagoon here before heading to the village of Ardara for a pub lunch. In the afternoon we continue along a quiet bog road before heading to the coastal town of Dungloe where again we stay in local guesthouses..

Day 4  We continue through a rolling landscape through quiet sleepy villages and stop in Leo's pub where Enya and Clannad first sang. Later we cycle toward the spectacular Mount Errigal and stop for lunch at the base of this mountain In the afternoon we cycle up to a wonderful view of the Poison Glen and then descend through an empty mountain-scape towards Dunfanaghy. You have the option of visiting Glenveagh National Park on this afternoon

Day 5  The village overlooks Portnablagh Beach and dunes where you can swim, swing a golf club or take a change of saddle, to gallop down the beach

Day 6  The morning cycle takes you through isolated highland country roads with a tea stop in a wonderful country pub. We stop for lunch in Kerrykeel before cycling up into more beautiful highland country before descending to the Rathmullan from where the last Earls of Ireland fled to Europe in 1607, thus ending the last Irish Order. There follows a nice coastal cycle to our guesthouses in the village of Ramelton.

Day 7  In the morning a coach will bring us down to the village of Garrison. We then cycle via the shores of Lough Melvin and through rolling green fields to Manorhamilton where we stop for lunch. In the afternoon we head south and cycle along Lough Gill to Parkes Castle, a 15th-century Norman Tower House which you are welcome to visit. We then head back into Sligo for a farewell night on the town together.

Day 8  After a leisurely breakfast, back to reality!

Distances: The average cycling distance is an easy 30m (45km ) with longer routes being available each day.

The Group, Guide and Back-Up Support
The group size varies from 12 to 20 people . Each group is lead by a local guide driving a support van. She/He will  sweep during the day to check on cyclists. In the afternoon they will be gone for about two hours to leave the  luggage off at your accommodation therefore may not be on hand to give you a lift, but there is no rush; you have all day to complete the ride. As soon as the guide has delivered the luggage to your accommodation they will  sweep back to do a final check on cyclists.
Our aim is to allow you feel like an independent traveller, free to cycle each day at your own pace while at the same time having the security of knowing that a support van is nearby just in case you might need it.  Most importantly,  our guide is there to  help in whatever way possible so that  all you have to do is leave your worries behind and enjoy  the many wonderful experiences that this cycling holiday  has to offer.

Rates and Dates for Highlands of Donegal

Dates Note:

Other Info
Meeting: Donegal Town
Airport: Donegal, Sligo, Dublin
Transfer: Donegal Town

Climate: