Day 1 – Donegal
Welcome to Donegal! The tour starts with an overnight stay in Donegal town. If you arrive early, you can leave your luggage at your accommodation and stroll around Donegal town and explore it at your leisure
Day 2 – Donegal to Glencolumkille. 39 miles/62km.
After being fitted out with your bike you then begin the tour with a cycle out of Donegal town towards the wonderful coastline where we continue to our lunch stop in village of Carrick. After lunch we cycle up to a viewing point of the spectacular Slieve League Cliffs one of the highest marine based cliffs in Europe. In the afternoon we head to our night stop in the village of Glencolumcille passing freshly cut peat drying in the surrounding bogs.
Day 3 – Glencolumkille to Dungloe. 38 miles/60km.
Today we head up into wild highland country along quiet backroads with a wonderful open landscape. There follows a wonderful descent down the dramatic Glengesh Valley to the beautiful Maghera beach. The beach is well worth stopping at for a walk across its wonderful white sands to explore the caves of Maghera. You can also go for a wonderful swim in the lagoon here and pretend you are in the Caribbean 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 – Dungloe to Dunfahaghy. 39 miles/63km.
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 mountainscape towards Dunfanaghy. You have the option of visiting Glenveagh National Park on this afternoon.
Day 5 – Rest Day in Dunfahaghy.
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 -Dunfahaghy to Ramelton / Rathmullan. 39 miles/62km.
The morning’s cycle takes you through isolated highland country roads with a worthwhile detour to Doe Castle. We stop for lunch in Downings on the Rosguill Peninsula. A roller coaster ride around the coast affords spectacular views of white sandy beaches as we wend our way down to our evenings accommodation in the town of Millford.
Day 7 – Circular tour of area – Donegal. 23 miles/38km.
Today we cycle the beautiful and remote Fanad Pennisula stopping for lunch in Port Salon. We continue along the shores of Lough Swilly through Rathmullan from where the last Earls of Ireland fled to Europe in 1607, thus ending the old Irish Order. The final leg of our cycle brings us to Rathmelton where our coach will then transfer you back to Donegal town for a farewell night on the town together before heading our separate ways the following morning.
Day 8 – Departure Day
Sat After a leisurely breakfast, back to reality!
This itinerary can also be offered as a self-guided cycling holiday on request.