Causeway Coast – 8 Day Self-Guided Bike Tour
Tour Overview
Enjoy a bike tour where you visit many of the best known landmarks on the island of Ireland. Cycle along the Northern Irish Coast with its ever changing and dramatic views. Start your journey in historic Derry City. Along the way stay in pretty towns and villages. You’ll have plenty of opportunities to stroll or swim at one of the many sandy beaches. Visit Bushmills and sample the whiskey from the world’s oldest distillery. If you are a Game of Thrones fan, this cycling holiday will take you to many of its iconic filming locations. And of course The Giants Causeway is a must see for all visitors to Northern Ireland.
Duration
8 Days
Tour Price
From €1,690
Season
June – September
Terrain
Very hilly. E-bike Recommended
Difficulty
Difficulty With Ebike
Tour Highlights
Derry – Ireland’s only walled city
Downhill Demesne and the Mussenden Temple – Iconic clifftop temple and Game of Thrones filming location
Bushmills Village and Distillery – Sample whiskey from the world’s oldest distillery
Dunluce Castle – Impossibly perched on a cliff top
The Legendary Giants Causeway – One of the most iconic locations in Northern Ireland
Charming Towns and Villages – Stay in pretty seaside towns along the coast
Cycling along the spectacular coast – Ever changing and dramatic coastal views
The Beautiful Glens of Antrim – Rolling Ulster countryside and stunning glens
Rathlin Island and its “upside down” lighthouse – A magical island where life moves at a different pace
Tour Photos
Tour Itinerary
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.
Additional Information
2026 Dates
Tours available:
Tuesday 02 June, Tuesday 30 June, Tuesday 11 August, Tuesday 01 September
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 €
Reserve Now
What Customers Say About Ireland by Bike
Loved it!
“We are avid cyclists from Florida. My boyfriend and I just completed the causeway tour-8 day 7 night. It was wonderful. The countryside was amazing, the routes were rural, which as a cyclist was great. Lots of hills in Ireland. Scenery is amazing. I used the electric assist bike, my boyfriend, who is a much stronger cyclist used a regular bike. The bed and breakfast’s each night were perfect. Just remember to bring rain gear. Jacket, pants and shoe cover. It rained every day, some worse than others but we still enjoyed it very much and would do another tour with this company.”
Hi Seamus and Nora. Thanks again for another great cycling trip. The route was excellent and varied. Everything – bike, B&Bs, GPS were absolutely fine. I very much enjoyed the trip. I’m glad you persuaded me to go to Rathlin Island as that was such a great day with fabulous views.
Love the Causeway Coast Self-Guided Bike Tour
“My husband and I are retired, active and marginally fit. While I had been on a self- guided bike trip before (5 years ago), he had not. We chose this tour because I wanted to see the Giant’s Causeway. I was not expected to be blown away by the history in Derry, the peacefulness of the backroads, and the kindness of strangers. Seamus provided a great overview of the route along with alternative suggestions should we decide to go off route or have some time off the bikes. The BnBs were outstanding – excellent breakfast, quiet and comfortable rooms, and friendly, knowledgeable hosts willing to answer questions. The route is challenging (hills) but doable especially with e-bikes. This was our first time on e-bikes. We found them to be easy to use and so much fun! The villages along the route are scenic, historic and welcoming. We were especially happy to have 2 nights in several places along the way. Not having to pack up every day made the trip more enjoyable and gave us flexibility to choose how to spend our time (laundry, hiking instead of biking, sleep in). Seamus and Nora happily responded to questions quickly while anticipating and answering follow up questions. The tour is accurately represented on the website. The tour documents are clear, concise and helpful. The tour was uneventful in that we had no punctures, were able to get back on track when we missed a turn (my fault), and no injuries. We spent a month in Ireland and, even though the bike portion was in the first 10 days, it is our favorite part of the trip. We highly recommend this route and Ireland by Bike.”
