Arrive in historic Derry/Londonderry, the only city in Ireland with its full medieval walls intact. This vibrant city is rich in culture and history. Walking the walls takes around one hour. It is a great way to explore both old and recent history, as well as offering great views of the city. Derry has many lively bars and restaurants, making it the perfect location for the first night of your Cycling Adventure.

Your cycling tour starts by following the pleasant path along the River Foyle — taking you north and out of the city centre. Soon you will be cycling along quiet country roads, leading you across the border into County Donegal, in the Republic of Ireland. Bike through pleasant green pastures with Lough Foyle on one side and the Inishowen hills on the other. Continue north to the pleasant seaside town of Moville, where you stay for the night.

A short cycle will take you to the ferry terminal in the pretty fishing village of Greencastle. The 15 minute ferry crossing (€5 not included) brings you to Magilligan Point in Northern Ireland. Cycle to Downhill Beach and Demesne with the iconic Mussenden Tower. Game of Thrones fans will easily recognise this place. Continue to the university town of Coleraine at the mouth of the River Bann. A little further along the coast is your overnight stop in the pretty seaside town of Portstewart.

Today your cycling tour brings you to some of the most iconic locations in all of Northern Ireland. You’ll pass Dunluce Castle, impossibly perched on a cliff top. Cycle to Bushmills, where you can sample a whiskey from the world’s oldest distillery. Then it’s on to the legendary Giant’s Causeway. Further along the coast, an extra cycle will take you to the vertigo-inducing Carrick-a-Reed Rope Bridge. Tonight you’ll stay in the lovely seaside town of Ballycastle, where the views from the harbour will make you want to sit and relax forever.

Choose between resting, visiting Rathlin Island or a loop cycle to the Dark Hedges. Rathlin Island is a magical place. (Ferry tickets not included.) Life moves at a different pace here. Its lighthouses are well worth a visit. The west lighthouse perched on the cliff edge is also a seabird observation point. If you are a Game of Thrones fan you will need no introduction to the Dark Hedges. This is one of the most photographed sites in Northern Ireland. A 35 km cycle through the lovely rolling Ulster countryside will bring you to this iconic location.

Amazing sea views greet you at every turn as you cycle along the north east corner of Ireland. The rolling road takes you past beautiful Fair Head and Torr Head, and into the pretty town of Cushendun. You are now in the heart of the Glens of Antrim. Follow the coast south to your destination in Cushendall. This lovely coastal village is located where Glenballyeamon reaches the sea.

A day to explore the beautiful Glens. A leisurely 25 km cycle will allow you to explore Glenballyeamonn and Glenariff, “Queen of the Glens”. A longer cycle will take you through the quieter but no less beautiful Glendun and Glenann. Whichever option you choose you can enjoy a great downhill cycle back to the sea, and a final night in Cushendall.

Breakfast and tour end.

2027 Dates

Tours available:
Tuesday 01 June, Tuesday 29 June, Tuesday 10 August, Tuesday 31 August

Alternative Start Date
Available to groups of 6 or more (Subject to availability)

Prices

Price per person sharing: €1,690
Single occupancy: €350
27 Speed Bicycle (Ladies or Gents available): €100
Unisex E-bike: €230
E-tandem: €420

Self-Guided bike tour price includes:

• Bed and breakfast accommodation in B&B’s and small hotels
• Welcome meeting and bike set up on arrival evening or first morning
• Luggage transfers
• Comprehensive guide booklet
• Maps and turn by turn directions
• GPS unit with all routes pre-programmed (one per room)
• GPX tracks available pre-tour. (If you would like to use your own GPS device or mobile app)
• Emergency support
• Free Ireland by Bike gilet

Not included in price:

• Travel to and from start/finish of tour
• Meals other than breakfast
• Entry to sites and attractions not included as part of the tour
• Evening entertainment
• Greencastle to Magilligan Ferry (€7 payable on board)

On this self-guided bike tour we use small family run bed and breakfasts and guest houses, apart from Derry where you stay in a small hotel. We have chosen the accommodation carefully to best suit the needs of the cyclist. The locations are in pretty towns and villages. We have chosen locations close to the village centres where you can comfortably walk to local restaurants and pubs.

Choose a single, double (one double bed) or twin (two single beds) room. Rooms have their own private bathroom.

We choose locations as close as possible to the village or town centre, so that you will be able to stroll out in the evenings to have a meal and then afterwards you can check out the local entertainment!

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 holiday begins in Derry/Londonderry – Northern Ireland’s second city. It is easily reached by direct bus from Belfast International and Belfast City Airport. There are also direct bus services to Dublin Airport.

From Belfast International Airport

Aircoach bus service direct from both airports every hour. Aircoach Website

From Belfast City

Direct buses every half Hour Timetable Search for bus route 212

Frequent trains Timetable Click on Train Timetable and scroll down to find the Belfast – Derry route.
Note: Buses may be more convenient as the railway station is located on the opposite side of the river from your accommodation.

From Dublin Airport and Dublin City

Frequent direct buses Timetable Search for route X3

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.

Departure

Regular bus service to Ballymena Timetable Search for route 150, then train and bus connections to Belfast, Derry/Londonderry and elsewhere. Train and bus timetable search for bus route 120, or for train timetable click train and scroll down for timetable.

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 this 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 who is comfortable cycling 40 – 50 km (25 – 30 miles) on a typical day. It is important to note that on some days the routes are very hilly. Experienced cyclists will have no difficulty with the distances and hills. If this tour appeals to you but you are worried about the hills, we recommend using an e-bike.

What cycling experience do I need?

It is important that you are a competent cyclist with adequate bicycle handling ability and a clear understanding of the rules of the road.

Will I be cycling along with others?

It is quite likely but not guaranteed that others will be following the same routes as you. However as this is a self-guided bike tour there is no guarantee that you will be along with others.

Is this tour on cycle paths or public roads?

For most of this tour you are on roads that are also open to traffic. There are some dedicated cycle paths in towns like Derry and Coleraine where you would expect to find the heaviest traffic. There is also a section on gravel along the old railway line between Bushmills and the Giant’s Causeway. There are some short stretches on roads with moderate traffic. However even here traffic is limited and cycling is not difficult.

Are the routes hilly?

The routes on this bike tour are very hilly. (This is partly why it is so beautiful) Most hills are not long however the gradient varies constantly from gentle to very steep. On an average day where you would typically cycle 40 km (30 miles) you can expect an elevation gain of approximately 400 metres (1,300 ft). Using an electric bike will make the hills seem non-existent.

How do I get to the start?

This bike tour starts in Derry City (Londonderry) It has regular direct bus connections to Belfast and Dublin Airports. There are also direct connections to Ireland West (Knock) Airport. To see links to websites with more information and timetables click on the “Getting Here” tab above. If you are flying Trans-Atlantic it is worth noting that most flights are overnight – arriving in Ireland in the early morning so you may want to consider a “recovery day” before starting to cycle.

How do I get from the end of the tour?

The tour finishes in Cushendall in the Heart of the Glens of Antrim. There are bus connections to Ballymena where you will find frequent bus or train connections to Belfast or back to Derry.

What is the currency?

In Northern Ireland the currency is the British Pound (sterling) £
In the Republic of Ireland the currency is the Euro €