Highlights of Donegal
5-Night Self-Guided Bike Tour
Tour Overview
Duration
6 Days/5 Nights
Tour Price
From €1,090
Season
April – September 2027
Terrain
Very hilly. E-bike Recommended
Difficulty
Difficulty With Ebike
Donegal truly is one of Ireland’s gems, so much so that National Geographic Traveller named it as “The World’s Coolest Destination for 2017” and Lonely Planet ranked it as one of the top 4 destinations to visit in the world in 2024. In this self-guided bike tour you can savour Ireland’s most awe inspiring land and seascapes. Along the way you will meet some of the friendliest and warmest people on the planet. This is the tour that has everything; amazing coast, stunning national parks, open boglands, ancient history, pleasant villages and legendary hospitality.
Tour Highlights
Cycling in Donegal – One of Lonely Planet’s top destinations for 2024
The Sliabh Liag (Slieve League) cliffs – Among the highest sea cliffs in Europe, offering breathtaking views over the Atlantic Ocean
History at Glencolmcille and Glenveagh – Explore ancient sites and historic landmarks throughout your journey
Glenveagh National Park and Gardens – Pristine wilderness with red deer, golden eagles, and stunning mountain scenery
Numerous sandy beaches – Golden strands perfect for a refreshing Atlantic dip
Numerous options for extra cycling – Extend your daily routes to explore even more of this beautiful region
Traditional music – Experience authentic Irish culture in local pubs and villages
Legendary Irish Hospitality – Warm welcomes await you in family-run B&Bs and small hotels
Tour Photos
Tour Itinerary
This self-guided bike tour of County Donegal – Ireland’s North West corner starts in historic Donegal Town. The town is steeped in history, with its imposing 15th century castle and ruined abbey. It also has a great selection of lively pubs and cafés. There are easy transport connections to Dublin Airport and Ireland West Airport making it the ideal arrival point for your adventure.
We will meet you at your Bed & Breakfast at 9:30 a.m. and set you up with everything you need for your bike tour. Once ready you cycle west, along Donegal Bay. The smell of the sea will soon be all around as you pass quiet bays, headlands and inlets. If you feel like some extra cycling visit the lighthouse at St. John’s Point. Cycle to the fishing port of Killybegs and on along the dramatic coastline to your overnight destination in Carrick. Jaw-dropping coastal views, golden beaches, tiny bays and headlands create this picture-perfect coastline.
In the morning cycle to one of the most awe-inspiring places along the entire Wild Atlantic Way – the Sliabh Liag (Slieve League) Cliffs. Take your time here to soak up the beauty of your surroundings. Your cycle then takes you north over wild boglands. You have the option of cycling to the now deserted harbour at Port – one of the most remote and atmospheric spots on Ireland’s western seaboard. Experience the adrenalin rush of a cycle down amazing Granny Valley to Maghera where a pristine beach, a series of caves, and pretty Assarancagh Waterfall await. Cycle along Loughros Beag Bay to the heritage town of Ardara – a centre for traditional weaving. Continue to your overnight stop in the village of Glenties.
Follow the coast north from Glenties, 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 Burtonport you have the option to visit Arranmore island. It’s a 20 minute ferry trip from Burtonport. (Ferry tickets not included) The boat trip itself makes the journey worthwhile! Back on the mainland 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 allows you to immerse yourself in the remote beauty. Follow the paths through the park to Lough Gartan, and on to the bustling town of Letterkenny.
Time to leave the “Coolest Place on the Planet”. Letterkenny has good bus connections to airports and other destinations within Ireland.
Additional Information
2027 Dates
Arrival Day: Friday
Tours available: Friday 16 April 2027 – Friday 24 September 2027
Peak Season: Friday 28 May 2027 – Friday 20 August 2027
Prices
Price per person sharing: €1,090
Peak Season: €1,140
Single occupancy: €200
Bicycle: €70
E-bike: €170
E-Tandem: €300
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 by request
- Emergency support
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
The accommodation we use on this tour is a mixture of family-run Bed and Breakfasts and small hotels. These are ideal places to cater to the needs of the cyclist. Your host will serve you a delicious breakfast in the morning — setting you up perfectly for the day ahead.
Choose a single, double, twin, or family (one double and one single bed) room. The accommodations we use have their own private bathroom.
We make every effort to choose locations as close as possible to the village or town centre, making it easy to explore your surroundings once you have checked in.
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 bike tour starts in Donegal Town. It is easily accessible from Dublin Airport, via regular direct buses.
Use the links below to check the bus timetables.
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/route/ 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 Highlights of Donegal Bike 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 with cycling 60 km+ daily. The routes are very hilly, so we strongly recommend using an electric bike to make the most of your experience.
What cycling experience do I need?
You must be 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?
Possibly, but this is not guaranteed. At busy times of the year (June/July/August) it is quite likely (but again not guaranteed) that others will be following the same routes as you. In the quieter months when numbers are smaller it is quite possible that yours will be the only group on the road at that time.
Is this tour on 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 routes hilly?
The routes on this bike tour are VERY hilly (this is partly why it is so beautiful.) The gradient varies constantly from gentle to very steep. The length of the climbs also varies greatly. For this reason we strongly recommend using an electric bike.
How do I get to the start?
This bike tour starts in Donegal Town. It has regular direct bus connections to Dublin Airport (the arrival point for most people into Ireland). There are also direct connections to Ireland West (Knock) Airport. Belfast Airport has bus connections with one change.
How do I get from the end of the tour?
The tour finishes in Letterkenny. There are regular bus connections to the major airports and other parts of Ireland. We provide a list of contact numbers in our tour notes.
Tour Reviews
We had a great bike trip going on the highlights of Donegal. The booking, payment, and organization was very straightforward and detailed, which made things very simple. Congrats to Seamus and Nora for such a smooth process. The E bikes were ideal for this trip with the significant elevation gains. It was also very nice to be on bike trails for a portion of the trip and the vast majority of vehicles on the secondary roads were very cautious drivers and friendly. The E bikes had no problems with the distance and were of very high-quality. Accommodations were nice and the transfer of luggage worked smoothly. We couldn’t say enough, kind words about the Irish people that we met, and it made travelling very easy when sometimes the weather in this area of Ireland was not very accommodating. Fortunately, the scenery and the people make up for a little rain and wind! 5 star trip and organization. Highly recommend.
Wonderful. The bike routes were very well planned out. We were very rarely on main roads. The accomadations were all comfortable and the hosts were all generous and helpful. Seamus was awesome with local flair and explained why we should go to certain spots and why certain spots could be avoided if needed. Thank you for an incredible adventure in such a beautiful country.
Gorgeous country side, roads selected were great with little traffic, and very hilly. If renting a regular bicycle be prepared for a very heavy bike that works well, but it’s a little unwieldy. We are avid cyclists and struggled with some of the climbs because of the weight of the bikes. The Ireland by Bike team was wonderful and provided great support before and during the trip. The accommodations were very nice with great hosts. Loved it!!
Donegal Bike Tour was a Highlight!
“We had a truly wonderful biking experience in Donegal Co with Ireland by Bike. The bikes are perfect for the terrain and very well maintained. The routes were magical – always on quiet backrounds with fabulous scenery. So many “Wow!” moments were had. The written notes and instructions, along with maps and a GPS meant we never got lost and we had some information that made everything just that much more interesting. We were in Ireland for 2 weeks, and this week of cycling was our Highlight in so many ways. Thank you Seamus and Nora for an excellent trip. Christine and Brian Vancouver, Canada”
Delightful Donegal by E-bike
“Our e-bike tour will go down as one of the best holiday experiences we have had! The trip was well organized right from the point of arriving in Donegal town to handing our bikes back in Letterkenny. It was great knowing that our luggage and accommodation were sorted out while we were off exploring each day. The routes available were excellent and long enough to fill in the day without being overwhelmed by too many kms. We did all of the ‘extra’ routes will minimal difficulty each day. The bikes were well maintained and it was good to know that Seamus was just a phone call away if there were problems.”
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