Backroads and Beyond – 11 Night Cycling and Hiking Tour
Tour Overview
County Donegal is a cyclist’s paradise, but it is equally as attractive for anyone who is willing to step off the bike to discover what lies over the horizon. The Backroads and Beyond Tour combines the best of both worlds. Savour the wonderful backroads, villages and jaw-dropping views of a bike tour and the undiscovered secrets of a walking tour. This mixed activity adventure will take you as the name suggests – beyond even the backroads.
Duration
12 Days/11 Nights
Tour Price
From €2,100
Season
April – September
Terrain
Very hilly. E-bike Recommended
Difficulty
Difficulty With E-bike
Tour Highlights
Cycling the spectacular coast – Experience breathtaking coastal views and dramatic landscapes along Donegal’s stunning shoreline.
Hiking Sliabh Liag and Glen Head – Conquer two of Ireland’s most iconic cliff-top hikes with awe-inspiring Atlantic views.
Pleasant towns and villages – Discover the charm and warmth of traditional Irish communities along your journey.
Spectacular Granny Valley – Experience the thrill of the dramatic descent through one of Donegal’s most beautiful valleys.
Legendary local hospitality – Experience the genuine warmth and welcome that Ireland is famous for.
Traditional Irish Pubs – Enjoy authentic Irish music sessions and the craic in local pubs.
Tour Photos
Tour Itinerary
Donegal Town, ancient seat of the O’ Donnell Chieftains, from where they ruled over much of Ireland, is where your bike and hike tour begins. Depending on your arrival time you might like to explore the town. The town is steeped in history, with its imposing castle and ruined Abbey. It also has a great selection of lively pubs, restaurants and cafés.
Cycle west along Donegal Bay. The salty smell of the sea will soon be all around. Pass quiet bays and inlets. Take in the wonderful views of the mountains further west and across the bay to Sligo. Pass the fishing village of Killybegs. Follow a stunning stretch of coastline, where every turn reveals a picture-perfect vista, to your overnight destination in the village of Carrick, nestled at the foot of Sliabh Liag.
Today you hike one of Ireland’s iconic landmarks. The cliffs at Sliabh Liag rise almost 600 metres above the Atlantic. Follow the cliff top route with awe-inspiring views of the coast and the sea far below. Covering the full loop involves hiking over difficult terrain. However it is possible to choose shorter and less demanding options. The shorter options will be no less dramatic. Return to Carrick for the night.
The coast between Glencolmcille and the deserted fishing hamlet of Port is among Ireland’s most stunningly beautiful spots. Yet you will almost certainly find yourself alone here among the towering rocks and sea stacks. This is a hike that we promise you will never forget. On your return to Glencolmcille, you can visit many Early-Christian historic sites.
Today the remoteness of the landscape dominates. You cycle through one of the most sparsely populated areas in Ireland. Experience the thrill of the descent through dramatic Granny Valley to Maghera, where a pristine beach, a series of caves, and Assarancagh Waterfall await. Cycle along Loughros Beag Bay to your overnight destination either in Ardara or Glenties. You might just be lucky enough to stumble upon one of the legendary local traditional music “sessions”.
Today you cycle a beautiful loop around the coast by Portnoo and Rossbeg. Once again, the views are magnificent and ever-changing. Stop at the impressive Kilclooney Dolmen, dating from the early Bronze Age. If you fancy a dip in the Atlantic Ocean there are several beautiful sandy beaches. If you would prefer a shorter route, there are easier options to choose from. Return to Ardara or Glenties for the night.
Follow the coast north overlooking the many inlets, sand dunes and islands of Gweebarra Bay. If you simply can’t get enough of dramatic coast a cycle around Crohy Head should do nicely. From the harbour at Burtonport you have the option to visit one of the many inhabited islands off the Donegal Coast. Arranmore is a 20 minute ferrry trip from Burtonport. (Ferry tickets not included) The boat trip itself makes the journey worthwhile! Make your way back to the mainland where you cycle past yet more beautiful golden beaches to the village of Annagry.
The unique beauty of the Donegal Highlands is all around during today’s cycle. Pass the hauntingly beautiful Poisoned Glen and majestic Mount Errigal. Your cycling tour then takes you to Glenveagh National Park. Red deer and golden eagles live here among the pristine lakes and mountains. A cycle along the lakeshore here is a wonderful experience. Follow the paths through the park to Lough Gartan. Continue through lush farmland to the bustling town of Letterkenny.
Today is a day to explore Glenveagh National Park on foot. The park offers a variety of hiking trails through pristine wilderness, with opportunities to spot red deer and golden eagles. Visit the stunning Glenveagh Castle and its beautiful gardens. The park’s dramatic mountain scenery and peaceful lakeshore paths provide a perfect day of hiking. Return to Letterkenny for the night.
A stunning cycle along the southern end of Glenveagh National Park awaits. Leaving from Letterkenny a stop at the Newmills Corn and Flax mill is an option. From there climb towards the viewing point at the southern end of Glenveagh, where beautiful views of the lake and valley await. Follow a lovely quite road through the Derryveagh Mountains and back to Glenties once again.
Your last day of cycling brings you back once again to Donegal Town. From Glenties climb gradually through typical Irish boglands before following more quiet roads and a descent back to your starting point in Donegal. This cycle will typically take half a day. If you simply can’t stop exploring, a cycle around tranquil Lough Eske nestled at the foot of the Bluestack Mountains, is a lovely extra option. Time to enjoy the last night of your tour, and perhaps a final Irish Stout.
After one more breakfast it’s time to depart, taking with you treasured memories of the natural wonders and friendly people of Donegal.
Additional Information
2026 Dates
Arrival Day: Friday
Tours available: Friday 10 April 2026 – Friday 18 September 2026
Peak Season: Friday 05 June 2026 – Friday 21 August 2026
Prices
Price per person sharing: €2,100
Peak Season: €2,190
Single occupancy: €440
27 Speed Bicycle (Ladies or Gents available): €160
Unisex E-bike: €350
E-tandem: €660
Included in the Tour Price
• Bed and breakfast accommodation in B&Bs or small hotels
• Welcome meeting and bike setup on first morning
• Luggage transfers from one B&B or hotel to the next
• Comprehensive guide booklet
• Maps and turn-by-turn directions
• GPS unit with all cycling routes pre-programmed (one per room)
• Optional transfer to/from hikes on Sliabh Liag and Glen Head. (Cycling to/from hike also possible)
• Transfer to/from start/end of hike in Glenveagh
• GPX tracks available prior to the tour (If you prefer to use your own GPS device or mobile app)
• Emergency support
Not Included in the Tour Price
• Travel to and from start/finish of tour (Donegal Town)
• Meals other than breakfast
• Entertainment
• Entry to sites and attractions
One of the great things about travelling by bicycle or by foot in Ireland is the chance to meet local people, and one of the best places to do this is at your accommodation. There is no better type of accommodation to suit cyclists and walkers than the type we use — the traditional Irish Bed and Breakfast (and occasionally small hotels). Here you will be guaranteed a warm welcome. The owners cater much more to the needs of the adventure traveller than the larger hotels.
Your host will serve you a delicious breakfast in the morning — setting you up perfectly for the day ahead. All of the accommodations we work with cater for people with special dietary requirements.
Choose a single, double, twin (two single beds), or family (one double and one single bed) room. Rooms have their own private bathroom.
1: Book Online
Click one of the “Book Now” buttons on this page. To confirm the booking, you will be asked to pay a deposit of €150 to secure your place. Please note that this deposit is non-returnable, so it is important that you have all your travel details correct before proceeding to book.
2: Pay Balance
Payment is required at least 4 weeks before arrival. You will receive an automatic reminder close to the date when payment is due. Once we have received full payment, we will email you your accommodation list, along with your bike tour guide notes and other essential information.
3: Enjoy Your Adventure
We will meet you on the morning of your first cycle and get you set up with your bike, notes, GPS etc. Time to let the adventure begin!
Please see our Booking Terms and Conditions.
This cycling and Hiking tour starts and finishes in Donegal Town. It is easily accessible from Dublin airport.
Use the links below to check the bus timetables.
If you are arriving in Ireland at a different location and would like advice on how to get here, let us know and we will help you to plan your journey.
From Dublin Airport and Dublin City
By Bus: Direct buses (route 30/X30) run to Donegal Town from Dublin Airport and City every 90 minutes. For timetables see https://www.expressway.ie/ Look for route 30/X30
Parking
If you are arriving by car, on-street parking is available in Donegal Town. A permit lasting up to 1 month is available at a cost of €20.
To acquire a permit visit https://donegal-permit.giantleap.net/#/parking/products/agreement Select “Donegal Town”. We recommend No. 4 Car Park.
Bring your own bicycle or choose the bicycle that best suits your needs.
Touring Bikes
Comfortable 27-Speed touring bike with Shimano gears and disc brakes. Step-through and crossbar frames available.
E-bikes
Comfortable e-bike with Bosch motor and battery, Shimano hydraulic disc brakes. Recommended for bike touring in Donegal’s hilly terrain.
E-Tandem
High-quality Gepida Thoris E-tandem with Bosch motor and batteries. Shimano hydraulic disc brakes and gears.
Accessories
All bikes are provided with the following accessories free of charge;
- Front handlebar bag (7 litre capacity)
- Waterproof rear pannier – Ortleib back city roller (20 litre capacity)
- Lock
- Repair kit, including spare inner tubes
- Helmet. Please feel free to bring your own helmet if preferred
- High visibility vest
Below you will find the answer to some of the most commonly asked questions about the Backroads and Beyond Cycling and Hiking Tour. For other more general FAQ’s please visit our FAQ page.
Who is this tour suitable for?
This tour is suitable for anyone with a reasonable level of fitness. It is important the you are a competent cyclist with adequate bicycle handling ability and a proper knowledge of the rules of the road. For cycling days the distances are typically 40 – 60 km with some extra options. The routes for the cycling sections are very hilly. (E-bikes recommended)
The hikes are up to 15 km (10 miles) in length. However they are over sometimes difficult and varied terrain with a lot of climbing. The hikes on this tour do not always follow trails and you will be following unmarked routes on open mountain. It is possible to choose shorter hikes if preferred.
Will I be cycling and hiking along with others?
Possibly – but this is not guaranteed. May and September are quieter months when visitor numbers are smaller so it is quite possible that yours will be the only group on the road or trails at that time.
Will I be biking on dedicated cycle paths or public roads?
For the vast majority of this tour you are on roads that are also open to traffic. However as we focus on small back roads the traffic is almost non-existent in most places. There are some short stretches on roads with moderate traffic. However even here cycling is not difficult.
Are the cycling routes hilly?
The cycling routes on this tour are VERY hilly. (This is partly why it is so beautiful) The gradient varies constantly from gentle to very steep. On an average day of cycling 40 km you can expect an elevation gain of approximately 400 metres (1,300 ft). For this reason we recommend using an electric bike for this tour.
What type of terrain do the Hiking routes follow?
The routes involve climbing to the top of Glen Head and Sliabh Liag. The terrain in both places can sometimes be difficult, with uneven underfoot conditions. For safety you will need sound hiking footwear.
How do I get to the start?
This tour starts in Donegal Town. It has regular direct bus connections to Dublin Airport where most people arrive into Ireland. There are also direct connections to Ireland West (Knock) Airport. Belfast Airport has bus connections with one change. To see links to websites with more information and timetables click on the “Getting Here” tab above.
Tour Options
Reserve Now
What Customers Say About Ireland by Bike
“Back Roads and Beyond” was our first self-guided bike tour in another country. We were doing it to celebrate a 65th birthday! Nora and Seamus organized and supported us with every rotation of our pedal, choosing excellent routes to ride and comfortable warm B&B’s to end each day. Having the luggage transferred and our B&B chosen ahead of time was so great. We could not have done this on our own. Their knowledge of the country was invaluable in every way. They were open, honest, knowledgeable and approachable.
There can be no other way to see Ireland! The Irish people were open, friendly and very welcoming. They are not jaded toward tourists but rather helpful and encouraging. We often got the side-ways nod as we cycled, the nod that says, “Not my cup ‘o tea but good for you!” Thank you Nora & Seamus!
Nora and Seamus, you did an excellent job! De manier waarop jullie zorg droegen voor ons en alles wat we maar nodig hadden gedurende de fietsreis, was voortreffelijk! We vroegen ons wel eens af of het allemaal niet te veel was voor jullie, al die zorg. We hoopten met het boeken bij Ireland by Bike op een zorgeloze vakantie, zonder geode en geregel; en dat is precies wat we hebben gekregen. Of het nu de keuze van B&B’s ,de fietsroutes of de routeboekjes waren, aan alles was te merken dat jullie deze vakanties met veel liefde en overgave organiseren. We zullen jullie zeker aanbevelen aan onze vrienden!
(“Nora and Seamus, you did an excellent job! The way you took care of us and of all the things we needed, was remarkable. Sometimes we worried if it wasn’t too much for you to handle. We hoped to have a carefree holliday, without any hassle, and that is what we got. In every aspect it was noticeable that you organize these holidays with a lot of love and care. We would surely recommend you to our friends!”)
We wanted to go on a bike trip in late May 2015, but couldn’t decide where to go – France, Italy, or Spain – maybe Ireland. We knew that the weather would most likely be great in the first 3 countries and would most likely be bad in Ireland. So why choose Ireland?
In a nutshell:
Wow! The scenery is stunning, beautiful, incomparable – especially the sea cliffs.
Seamus is an amazing host. Words do not do justice.
The weather was challenging (rain, hail, wind, but also sun).
The people of Ireland are gracious, welcoming, and they take care of you – you have to experience it to believe it!
My wife and I were on the 11-day Cycling and Walking Tour in late May 2015. Compared to other bike trips in France and Italy it was both easier (terrain) and harder (weather). We were in Donegal during an unusually cold and wet May, or so we were told. And yes, you do hear “no one comes to Ireland for the weather” an awful lot.
But regardless of the weather (or maybe because of it), people were exceptionally friendly and welcoming — almost beyond reason. At two different B&Bs when we came in from the elements wet and cold, we were immediately taken care of by wonderful innkeepers (Rosaleen in Glenties and Geraldine in Glencolmcille). And I mean taken care of: we were placed near a peat fire, had our wet clothes dried, and provided with scones and hot tea. Afterwards, all was well in the world.
Donegal is a very special place. It is a generally quiet place, visually spectacular, a little browner in some parts than expected (from the peat), and the Glenveagh highlands were reminiscent of the Alaskan tundra (a surprise to us). In Donegal town, we heard traditional Irish music in a pub (not the touristy rendition that is heard in many places) and even had great Indian curry.
Biking along the coast from Killybegs to Glencolmcille or Glencolmcille to the Maghera Beach Caves near Ardara — were among the most memorable days of our lives. But it was the hiking at Slieve League and the sea cliffs near Glencolmcille that were our favorite parts of the whole trip.
But I’m saving the best for last – and this is Seamus. You’ve probably already read that he is amazing, is a wonderful man, takes care of you, and all that. And he is all this and more. But, the impression that I am left with is this: Seamus is a truly caring man who really wanted us to have the best possible vacation. And he made it happen. For example, during a break in an otherwise rainy forecast, Seamus offered to break with the schedule, drive back down to Donegal Town to pick us, drive us the opposite direction to Glencolmcille (a lot of driving on his part), and then dropped us off at the trail head for what became for us, one of all time great hiking experiences. The views were breathtaking and this was only made possible because of his generosity (and knowledge of the area).
So, if all this talk of rain scares you a little – don’t be turned off by it. We were in Ireland during a bad patch – even for the Irish. And, in spite of it (or because of it), we experienced one of the best adventures that we have ever had.
“I think Ireland by Bike gives us an excellent experience to explore Donegal. Otherwise we would not be able to see so many beautiful and quiet places. The idea behind Ireland by Bike is very good.”
