Iconic Donegal and Connemara Cycling Tour

Explore not one but two of the most exciting destinations on the Wild Atlantic Way!

Begin your tour in County Donegal — which is among the best regions in the world to visit in 2024! — according to “Lonely Planet”.  You will cycle the spectacular coast from Historic Donegal Town all the way around to the Heritage Town of Ardara.  Then we will transfer you to Westport, where the Connemara part of your adventure begins.

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Tour Highlights

• The spectacular Donegal Coast
• Sliabh Liag Cliffs
• Spectacular Granny Valley
• Heritage Towns of Donegal, Ardara, Westport and Clifden
• Doolough Valley
• Kylemore Abbey and Gardens
• Numerous sandy beaches in Donegal and Connemara
• Vibrant traditional music
• Donegal and Connemara’s Gaelic culture

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Accommodation

For this self-guided bike tour we use a mixture of traditional family run bed and breakfasts and we occasionally use small hotels.

Your host will serve you a delicious breakfast in the morning that will set you up perfectly for the day ahead.  All of the accommodations we work with cater for people with special dietary requirements.  All rooms have their own bathroom.

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

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Getting Here

This bike tour starts in Donegal Town and finishes in Clifden.  It is easily accessible from Dublin Airport, via regular direct buses.

If you are flying Trans-Atlantic, it is worth noting that most flights are overnight, arriving in Ireland in the early morning.  Therefore, you may want to consider a “recovery day” before starting to cycle.

Use the links below to check the bus timetables:

Getting to Donegal Town 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

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Getting to Donegal Town From Ireland West (Knock) Airport

By Bus: Frequent buses (route 64) run to Donegal Town direct from the Airport. See https://www.expressway.ie/routes-and-timetables  Look for route 64. 

Getting to Donegal Town From Belfast Airport

By Bus:  Airporter service to Derry City See https://airporter.co.uk/  then bus route 64 to Donegal.  See https://www.expressway.ie/routes-and-timetables  Look for route 64. 

If you are arriving in Ireland at a different location and would like advice on how to get to Donegal Town, please let us know and we will help you to plan your journey.

Departure

This tour finishes in Clifden.  A local bus service will bring you to Galway City where you can get connections to all of the major airports and to locations around Ireland.  See https://www.buseireann.ie/  Look for route 419.

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Iconic Destinations of the Wild Atlantic Way — Booking the Tour

To book this self-guided bike tour with Ireland by Bike:

1: Make a Booking Request
Please use the booking request form  Once we receive your request we will confirm availability.  You will be asked to pay a deposit of €100 per person to secure your booking.  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: Confirmation
After receiving your deposit we will contact you to confirm your booking.  We will send you your invoice for the balance along with some other details.

3: Pay Balance
Full payment is required at least 4 weeks before your arrival date.  Once we have received full payment we will email you your bike tour accommodation list, along with your bike tour guide notes and any other essential information.  If you would like the GPX tracks we will send them to you at this stage.

4: Enjoy Your Adventure
We will meet you either on the evening you arrive or on the morning of your first cycle and get you set up with your bike, notes, GPS etc.  Time to start exploring!

Please see our Booking Terms and Conditions.

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Day 1: Arrive Donegal Town.
Arrive at the first of your destinations in Donegal Town.  Donegal Town is easily reached with direct bus connections from Dublin Airport, as well as connections from Ireland West (Knock) and Belfast airports.  Depending on your arrival time, we may arrange to meet you on the evening of your arrival, or alternatively, on the following morning before you set off for your first cycle.  Donegal is a very pleasant town to explore with its history as the former seat of the O’ Donnell Chieftains.  It also boasts a good selection of restaurants and bars.
Photo:  Donegal Castle

Day 2: Donegal to Killybegs. 40/55 km
Leaving Donegal Town you wind your way through a network of back roads taking you west along Donegal Bay.  Sometimes you cycle along the coast, sometimes cycling through farmland.  You reach St. John’s Point, a narrow finger-like peninsula pointing towards the centre of Donegal Bay.  A well worthwhile addition to your adventure is to continue to the lighthouse at the end of the peninsula. From here follow the coast to the lively fishing port of Killybegs.
Photo:  St. John’s Point

Day 3: Killybegs to Glencolmcille 37/40/54/63 km.
One of the most memorable days of cycling you will ever experience.  Follow the road that hugs the coast west of Killybegs.  Visit breathtakingly beautiful Muckross Head, and continue through the villages of Kilcar and Carrick.  Don’t miss the Sliabh Liag Cliffs, one of the greatest attractions on the Wild Atlantic Way.  Closer to Glencolmcille is the Silver Strand, one of the most beautiful beaches in Ireland.  Cycle along more stunning coastline to your destination in Glencolmcille.  This valley is steeped in history from the stone and bronze ages and the early-Christian period.
Photo:  Sliabh Liag Cliffs

Day 4: Glencolmcille to Ardara. 30/43 km
Cycle over the remote boglands typical of the west of Ireland.  An option is to visit the deserted fishing hamlet of Port.  It’s rugged and remote beauty has the ultimate “get away from it all feel”.  Cycle to Granny Valley where you can experience the thrill of a cycle down through this remote glacial valley.  At the bottom you can find Maghera Beach with its pristine white sand — and a little further on — beautiful Assarancagh Waterfall.  Follow Loughros Beag bay to your destination in the the heritage town of Ardara.
Photo: Boglands near Glencolmcille

Day 5: Goodbye Donegal – Hello Connemara!
After breakfast, pick up is at your accommodation in Ardara at 10:30 for the transfer to Westport. Enjoy the chance to see the varied Irish landscapes.  Stop for a break and coffee at Drumcliffe — the resting place of poet W.B. Yeats. The graveyard and beautiful church are located on the site of an old monastery where you will still find the remains of a round tower and a very impressive high cross.  Continue to Westport, one of Ireland’s most beautiful towns, where the second leg of your Irish adventure begins.
Photo:  Westport

Day 6: Welcome to Connemara. Westport to Leenane. 53 km
Today’s cycle is a stunning one.  Following the coast road, along the shores of Clew Bay, you will pass by Croagh Padraig, Ireland’s holy mountain, before arriving at Louisburgh.  Cycle on through beautiful Doolough Valley.  Soak in the stillness of this place as you follow the shore of its lake.  Further along, you will pass through Delphi Valley and you will soon see Killary Fjord – Ireland’s only real glacial fjord.  Soon you will arrive at your destination today – Leenane.  Enjoy your first night in Connemara!
Photo: Doolough –  Courtsey Joseph Carr Photography

Day 7: Killary Fjord, Kylemore Abbey and Renvyle. 25km
Today’s adventure begins at beautiful Killary Fjord.  An option here is to take a boat tour and get to know more about its fascinating history.  Continuing further, you will reach Kylemore Abbey (guided visit optional), a recommended stop on your way.  This gothic-style castle was built in 1867 and boasts one of Ireland’s finest gardens.  Leaving Kylemore, you will experience the full majesty of the Twelve Bens Mountain range as you pass beneath their brooding peaks.  Head further on to lovely Renvyle peninsula – home to stunning white beaches and an authentic Connemara community!
Photo: Kylemore Abbey. Courtesy Chaosheng Zhang

Day 8: Renvyle to Clifden 37 km
On your last day of cycling, you will head from Renvyle towards Connemara’s Capital – Clifden.  This stunning bike ride will take you along empty roads, lovely beaches and onto the famous Sky Road.  Take your time here to admire the beautiful view over the Atlantic Ocean and discover an old castle on the way into the lively town of Clifden, where you spend your final night.
Photo:  Renvyle Beach © Big Smoke Studio

Day 9: Departure from Clifden
Today after breakfast we will say – Slán go foil! – you can take the bus to Galway where you will have transport connections to all of Ireland and all airports. Better still ask for one of our lovely add-ons that would include Galway & Aran Islands
Photo: Clifden Harbour © Big Smoke Studio

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Iconic Donegal and Connemara Cycling Tour – 2024 Dates and Prices

Dates

Tours available: 08 April 2024 – 25  September 2024
Peak Season:  01 June 2024 – 01 Sepetmber 2024

Prices

Price per person sharing: €1,990
Peak Season Supplement: €90
Single occupancy: €320
Unisex E-bike: €240

Self-Guided bike tour price includes:

• 8 nights Bed and breakfast accommodation in B&B’s or small hotels.
• Bicycle (e-bike available with supplement)
• Welcome meeting and bike set up on arrival evening (or first morning after arrival) in Donegal.
• Hotel to hotel luggage transfers
• Set-up meeting on arrival in Westport.
• Private transfer – Ardara to Westport.
• Visit to W.B. Yeats grave and monastic site at Drumcliffe.
• Comprehensive guide booklet
• 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

Not included in price:

• Travel to and from start/finish of tour (Donegal Town/Clifden)
• Meals other than breakfast
• Entertainment
• Entry to sites and attractions not included as part of the tour

Iconic Donegal and Connemara Cycling Tour – Photo Gallery

Iconic Donegal and Connemara Cycling Tour  — Customer Reviews

New for 2024

Iconic Donegal and Connemara Cycling Tour – FAQ’s

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.  The distances you cycle each day are relatively short.  Typically 30 – 40 km with some extra options.  However it is important to note that the routes are very hilly.  For this reason we recommend using and electric bike.

Do I need to be a regular cyclist?

It is important that you are a competent cyclist (as distinct from a fit cyclist) with adequate bicycle handling ability and a proper knowledge of the rules of the road.  It is not recommended that you book a cycling holiday unless you have cycled (at least occasionally) before you arrive.

Will I be cycling along with others?

Possibly – but this is not guaranteed.  At busy times of the year like June, July and August, is 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 many 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, particularly in the Donegal section.  (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.

How do I get to/from the start/finish?

This bike tour starts in Donegal.  Donegal has regular direct bus services from Dublin Airport (where most people arrive into Ireland).  There are also connections between Donegal and 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 “OVERVIEW” tab above and scroll down to the Getting Here section.