The Causeway Coast Bike Tour

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The Causeway Coast Bike Tour — Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive Derry/Londonderry
Arrive in historic Derry/Londonderry, the only city in Ireland with its full medieval walls still 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 Irish Cycling Adventure.

Day 2: Derry/Londonderry to Moville.  38 km
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.

Day 3: Moville to Portstewart.   43 km
A short cycle will take you to the ferry terminal in the pretty fishing village of Greencastle.  The 15 minute ferry crossing (€5 not incluede) 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.  Cycle on 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.

Day 4: Portstewart to Ballycastle.  43 km
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.

Day 5: Ballycastle.  44 km
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.

Day 6: Ballycastle to Cushendall.  30 km
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.

Day 7: The Glens of Antrim.  25/47km
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.

Day 8: Depart.
Following breakfast, easy bus connections will bring you to Belfast or back to Derry. There you may continue your travels, or make your way home.

The Causeway Coast Bike Tour – Accommodation

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 — which will set 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, triple or family 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!

The Causeway Coast Bike Tour – Getting Here

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

City of Derry Airport
This is a small airport located around 14 km from the city centre.  There are direct flights to London, Glasgow and Liverpool. Airport Website

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 from Cushendall

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.

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The Causeway Coast Bike Tour –  2023 Dates and Prices

2023 Dates

Tuesday 13 June  2023
Tuesday 18 July  2023
Tuesday 15 August  2023
Tuesday 05 September 2023

Alternative Start Date

Available to groups of 5 or more (Subject to availability)

Prices

Price per person sharing: €1,390
Single occupancy: €280
Bicycle: €100
E-bike: €230

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 Causeway Coast Bike Tour – Photo Gallery

The Causeway Coast Bike Tour – Booking

To book the Causeway Coast self-guided bike tour with Ireland by Bike

1: Make a Booking Request

Please use the booking form opposite.  Once you have completed the form you will be asked to pay a deposit of €100 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

We will contact you confirming your booking.    We will send you your invoice for the balance along with 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 guide notes and any other essential information.

4: 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 relax and really enjoy your adventure.

Please see our Booking Terms and Conditions.

The Causeway Coast Bike Tour – Customer Reviews

“It was a wonderful trip and we are so happy we did our first bike tour with Ireland by Bike.  Company was great and well organized.  Routes were great and distances just right.”  Katharine and Chuck Hope, CA, U.S.A.   May 2019

“Thanks again for the flawless organization and support during our recent trips (August 2019).  We had a fabulous time and have recommended Ireland by Bike to all of our friends here in Switzerland.  Don’t be surprised if you soon see a deluge of Swiss adventure seekers.  We very much appreciated the personal attention from you and the friendly welcomes we received from everyone along the route… it seems you two are on a first name basis with everyone we met!”   Chris and Bettina Venezia, (Prangins, Switzerland). Causeway Coast Tour + Backroads and Beyond Tour.  August 2019.

“We were pleased beyond words with the two tours (Yeats Country & Lakelands and The Causeway Coast) we took in August, 2019 with Ireland by Bike. The owners have planned extraordinarily beautiful routes through Northwest and Northern Ireland, chosen charming B&B’s, supplied near flawless cue sheets/maps paired with a GPS unit, and provided exceptional in-person and phone-call service. The scenery on The Causeway Coast tour was absolutely stunning with dramatic cliffs meeting the sea, lush farmland with roller coaster hills, and deep green glens. Seamus and Nora, your cycling tours top our list of favorites!”

Julane and Art Anderson, Maryland, U.S.A.  Yeats Country and Lakelands + Causeway Coast August 2019.

See Julane and Art’s wonderful photo album and commentry here: (External Link)

The Causeway Coast Bike 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 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.

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 €