Highlands of Donegal Tour
8 days - 7 nights Cycling Vacation in Ireland
Day 1 Saturday: Arrival in Donegal
The group meets up with the guide at 6.30pm in the bar of The Abbey Hotel in the centre of Donegal Town (ph 074-9721014). This is our meeting point only and not where we will be staying. If you are unexpectedly delayed please call the hotel and leave a message for the guide as to when you expect to arrive. After an introductory talk, an evening meal is organised in the hotel bar while your luggage is being transferred to our central guesthouse accommodation in Donegal that night. There is a chance later on this evening to meet again in a local pub to hear some music.
Day 2 Sunday: Donegal to Glencolumbcille 38 ml/61.5 km
After being fitted out with your bike you then begin the tour with a cycle out of Donegal town towards the wonderful coastline where we continue to our lunch stop in village of Carrick. After lunch we cycle up to a viewing point of the spectacular Slieve League Cliffs one of the highest marine based cliffs in Europe. In the afternoon we head to our night stop in the village of Glencolumcille passing freshly cut peat drying in the surrounding bogs.
Day 3 Monday: Glencolumcille to Dungloe 37.5 ml /60 km
Today we head up into wild highland country along quiet back roads with a wonderful open landscape. There follows a wonderful descent down the dramatic Glengesh Valley to the beautiful Maghera beach. The beach is well worth stopping at for a walk across its wonderful white sands to explore the caves of Maghera. You can also go for a swim in the lagoon here and pretend you are in the Caribbean(!) before heading to the village of Ardara for a pub lunch. In the afternoon we continue along a quiet bog road before heading to the coastal town of Dungloe where again we stay in local guesthouses.
Day 4 Tuesday: Dungloe to Dunfanaghy 39.5 ml/63 km
We continue through a rolling landscape through quiet sleepy villages and can visit Leo's pub where Enya and Clannad first sang. Later we cycle toward the spectacular Mount Errigal and stop for lunch at the base of this mountain. In the afternoon we cycle up to take in a view of the Poison Glen and then descend through an empty mountainscape towards Dunfanaghy. You also have the option of visiting Glenveagh National Park in the afternoon.
Day 5 Wednesday: Rest Day in Dunfanaghy
The hotel overlooks Portnablagh Beach and dunes where you can swim, swing a golf club or saddle-up for a gallop down along the beach.
Day 6 Thursday: Dunfanaghy to Millford 27.5 ml/44 km
The morning’s cycle takes you through isolated highland country roads with a worthwhile detour to Doe Castle. We stop for lunch in Downings on the Rosguill Peninsula. A roller coaster ride around the coast affords spectacular views of white sandy beaches as we wend our way down to our evenings accommodation in the town of Millford.
Day 7 Friday: Millford to Rathmullan/Ramelton 44 ml/70 km
Today we cycle the beautiful and remote Fanad Pennisula stopping for lunch in Port Salon. We continue along the shores of Lough Swilly through Rathmullan from where the last Earls of Ireland fled to Europe in 1607, thus ending the old Irish Order. The final leg of our cycle brings us to Rathmelton where our coach will then transfer you back to Donegal town for a farewell night on the town together.
Day 8 Saturday: Departure Day
After a leisurely breakfast, back to reality!