If you don’t have time to do a longer tour you can still enjoy a short bike tour where you will explore the stunning beauty of the Donegal Coast and discover the rich history from the stone age to the present. You wind your way through quiet country roads alternating between Ireland’s famous boglands, green fields and along spectacular coastline.
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For this self-guided cycling break we use a mixture of traditional family run bed and breakfasts and occasionally 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.
Choose a single, double, twin, or family room. Rooms have their own private bathroom.
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This cycling tour starts and finishes in Killybegs. It is easily accessible from Dublin and Ireland West (Knock) airports. 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.
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.
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/routes-and-timetables Look for route 30/X30
Connections to Killybegs via local link from Donegal. Timetable
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.
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.
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This tour finishes in Ardara. It is a short local bus journey back to your starting point in Killybegs or to Donegal Town where you will have transport connections to the main airports as well as other parts of Ireland. Alternatively the 30 minute taxi journey will cost approximately €60.
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To book the Donegal Short Cycling Break self-guided bike tour with Ireland by Bike:
1: Book Online
Please use the booking form opposite. Once you have completed the form you will be asked to pay a deposit of €150 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: Pay Balance
Full payment is required at least 4 weeks before your arrival date. 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 bike tour accommodation list, along with your bike tour guide notes and any other essential information. We will also send you GPX tracks. These can be loaded onto your own device or on a smartphone using an app such as Ride With GPS, Bike GPX, Map My Ride, etc.
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.
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Day 1: Arrive Killybegs.
Your bike tour begins in the bustling fishing port of Killybegs. This is where much of Ireland’s Atlantic catch is landed. Settle into your accommodation in the town centre – overlooking the harbour. Explore the piers, narrow streets pubs and restaurants of this pleasant town.
Day 2: Killybegs to Carrick. 21/24/35 km
West of Killybegs, you follow one of the most memorable stretches of coastline you will ever see. A highly recommended short side-trip will take you to beautiful Muckross Head where you can appreciate the beauty of Ireland’s coastline at its very best. Cycle through Kilcar Village, a centre for traditional tweed production, and along more magnificent coast to your overnight destination of Carrick. A short bike trip from Carrick brings you to the stunning Sliabh Liag (Slieve League) Cliffs – one of Ireland’s greatest treasures, and a sight not to be missed!
Day 3: Carrick – Glencolmcille – Carrick. 25/33 km
Explore the area around Glencolmcille with a loop cycle from Carrick. Cycle past beautiful sandy beaches, spectacular cliffs, and over wild boglands. Explore the archaeology of Glencolmcille where stone age court tombs, dolmens from the bronze age and inscribed early Christian standing stones are to be found. If you fancy leaving the bike for a while, a hike up to the Napoleonic era Lookout Tower on Glen Head is a very rewarding experience. Return to Carrick for the night.
Day 4: Carrick to Ardara. 29 km
Cycle north from Carrick over wild boglands as you climb gradually to emerge at the head of dramatic Granny Valley. The bike ride down the beautiful glacial valley will be one to remember. At the bottom of the valley, you will find pristine Maghera Beach with its caves that can be explored at low tide. Nearby is dramatic Assarancagh waterfall. Stop in the heritage town of Ardara, before continuing to your overnight stop in the pleasant village of Glenties.
Day 5: Depart
Time to leave. A local bus service or a taxi will bring you to Donegal where you can catch connections to the main airports or other parts of Ireland.
Arrival Day: Sunday
Tours available: Sunday 27 April 2025 – Sunday 21 September 2025
Peak Season: Sunday 01 June 2025 – Sunday 24 August 2025
A 10% EARLY BIRD discount applies to the tour price if booked before 31 December 2024. In order to avail of the offer simply enter the code EARLYBIRD25 in the booking form. The discount will be applied automatically.
Price per person sharing: €750. €675 if booked before 31 December 2024.
Peak Season: €790. €711 if booked before 31 December 2024.
Single occupancy: €160. €144 if booked before 31 December 2024
27 Speed Bicycle (Ladies or Gents available): €60
Unisex E-bike: €140
• Bed and breakfast accommodation in B&B’s or small hotels
• Welcome meeting and bike set up on first morning
• Hotel to hotel 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
• Travel to and from start/finish of tour
• Meals other than breakfast
• Entertainment
• Entry to sites and attractions not included as part of the tour
This 4 night short cycling breakr is new for 2024, however as it is simply a short version of our Donegal Coastal Treasures Bike Tour those reviews will give a good idea of what to expect.
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 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. 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 short cycling break starts in Killybegs and finishes in Ardara. There are local bus connections to Donegal from Killybegs and Ardara where you can connect with regular direct bus services to and 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 “Getting Here” tab above.
