IRELAND
The Wild Atlantic Way & Causeway Coast
14 Days
Escorted
Self-Guided
11 Cycling Days
528km-625km
€4200
What makes this trip special?
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Cycle two of Ireland’s most dramatic routes, the Wild Atlantic Way and the Causeway Coast, with ever-changing views of rugged cliffs, sweeping beaches, remote headlands and rolling green countryside.
Experience the warmth of Irish hospitality, traditional music, local storytelling and Gaelic heritage as you pass through small villages and historic coastal towns rarely seen by most visitors.
A truly memorable coast-to-coast cycling journey linking Ireland’s wild northwest to the iconic basalt columns of the Causeway Coast, finishing in the historic seaside town of Ballycastle.
Stay in and explore vibrant places like Derry/Londonderry, where medieval walls, layered history and a lively cultural scene add depth and contrast to the coastal riding.
Stay in welcoming family-run hotels and B&Bs, where personal service, local knowledge and hearty breakfasts are part of the experience.
Dates
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Itinerary
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Looking for more Ireland cycling? Join our optional 6 day pre-tour extension through beautiful Connemara, featuring three relaxed days of coastal riding and tranquil valleys — an ideal scenic warm-up to the main tour.
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We start 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 from Dublin Airport and Ireland West Airport.
Arrive during the course of the day at our starting hotel. The tour officially starts with a group meeting at 6pm followed by an included group dinner.
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Once you are set up on your bike and ready, 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 ride out and back to visit the lighthouse at St. John’s Point. Continue 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.
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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. After leaving Sliabh Liag, more breath-taking coast, beautiful sandy beaches and 5,000 years of history await. Don’t miss the side trip to the Silver Strand – one of Ireland’s most beautiful beaches. From there continue to Glencolmcille where a treasure trove of history from the stone age to the present awaits. Return to Carrick where you will spend your second night.
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Your ride today 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 cycling 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.
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The stunning area west of Glenties around the villages of Portnoo and Rossbeg is just waiting to be explored. A newly opened cycle path will bring you from Glenties to Portnoo. Here you can stroll along the magnificent golden strand. At low tide it is possible to walk out to tiny Inishkeel Island. Cycle along the coast at Rossbeg where you can take in the views over the bay and mountains beyond. On the way back towards Glenties the stone age dolmen at Kilclooney is not to be missed.
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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 ticket 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.
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The unique beauty of the Donegal Highlands is all around during today’s ride. 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.
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Leave Letterkenny and cycle through the rich farmland of East County Donegal, an area known as “The Lagan”. The area has a long history of potato farming. Pass through the villages of Convoy and Raphoe, before visiting the Beltany Stone Circle. Cross the border into Northern Ireland just past the village of Carrigans and follow the old railway line, now a greenway, running along the River Foyle to the city centre.
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Historic Derry/Londonderry is the only city in Ireland with its full medieval walls 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 a day off the bike.
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Leave Derry City following the river north through Bay Park and along Lough Foyle back in the Republic of Ireland to the hamlet of Quigleys Point. Climb over the hills to the town of Carndonagh, one of Ireland’s most northerly towns. From here cycle to the village of Culdaff where you stay for the night.
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A short cycle will take you to the ferry terminal in the pretty fishing village of Greencastle. The 15 minute ferry crossing (€5 not included) 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. Continue 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.
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Today your ride 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, where thousands of interlocking basalt columns meet the Atlantic, shaped by ancient volcanic forces and centuries of Irish legend. 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.
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Our final ride is one of the best. 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 Torr Head and into the pretty town of Cushendun and Cushendall. You are now in the heart of the Glens of Antrim, a series of lush, sweeping valleys where quiet roads wind between green hills, waterfalls and some of the most unspoilt landscapes in Northern Ireland. We climp through Glenann – one of the prettiest but quietest of the glens, and make our way back to Ballycastle through Ghenshesk to celebrate the end of an incredible two weeks in Ireland.
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The tour ends after breakfast. There are bus connections or transfers can be arranged to Belfast where there is an international airport.
Itinerary is subject to change.
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Inclusions
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Accommodation
The accommodation used on this trip is of a 3-4 star standard, mostly small local hotels and B&Bs. In a couple of locations where the hotels are very small, we will use two hotels within the same town.
On this tour there are just 5 nights where you stay in a hotel for only one night. For the rest of the tour you will have two nights in each location.
The hotels and B&Bs we intend to use are:
Central Hotel in Donegal
Carrick Gate + O Neills B&B in Carrick
Highlands Hotel + Marguerites B&B in Glenties
Caisleain Óir Hotel in Annagry
Station House Hotel in Letterkenny
City Centre Hotel in Derry
McGroarys Hotel in Culdaff
Cul Erg B&B + Cromore Halt in Portstewart
Marine Hotel in Ballycastle
The tour accommodation is based on twin sharing. If you are a single traveller you will be matched with another person of your gender to share a twin room. If you would like a single room throughout the trip there will be a single supplement of €800. Note there is limited number of single rooms available for this tour and a single room may not be available.
Meals
All breakfasts are included at our accommodation.
Lunches are not included allowing you to choose where to eat as you ride. There are plenty of places to choose from and your route information will have some suggestions.
A welcome dinner on the first night and celebration final night dinner are are included. Other dinners will be free for you to choose your own experience. Of course we will be able to offer advice on where to eat.
Support
This tour is self-guided trip but still has all the support features of a fully supported bike tour:
Escorts - Jason from Pedal Pedal and our regular Irish guide, Sinean Callery, will escort the group throughout the trip.
Backup Vehicle - we will have a dedicated 2-seat support vehicle at the back of the group to look after anyone who needs a break from the cycling or for non-cycling partners.
Bikes
The bikes included in tour price are the premium 27 speed hybrid bikes.
Waterproof handlebar bags, panniers, pump and repair kit are included with each bike.
Feel free to bring your own pedals, saddle, and helmet. You must bring your own water bottle.
Ebikes will be available at a surcharge of €250. Ebikes must be reserved well in advance of the tour so please do let us know when you book if you would like to use one.
Connemara Pre Tour Extension
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Looking for more Ireland cycling? Join our optional 6 day pre-tour extension through beautiful Connemara, featuring three relaxed days of coastal riding and tranquil valleys — an ideal scenic warm-up to the main tour.
The Nitty Gritty
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Escorted Self-Guided
The group will be escorted by Jason Williams from Pedal Pedal and our regular local Irish ride leader and multi-linguist, Sinean Callery.
Your luggage will be transferred each day and it will be up to us as a group to navigate our way along the route.
We will have a dedicated 2 seat support vehicle that will tail the group and provide backup to anyone not up for the ride.
Trail Conditions
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.
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, if you are unsure of your abilities, we strongly recommend using an electric bike.
On many days there will be a choice of distances to follow. So if you are looking for an easier day, take the shorter route and for those looking to get in as much riding as they can, the longer route will satisfy your cycling needs.
Three of the cycling days are loop rides so you won’t need to pack up your gear and move hotels on these days. You could even take the day off the bike and explore by other means.
A downloadable app for your mobile will be used for navigation. We will provide a link to the app before the tour begins.
Group Size
16-24 people
As an escorted self-guided trip you will be free to travel at your own pace leaving each day at a time that suits you, stopping when you want and controlling how you see the regions we are cycling through. Usually small groups of similarly paced cyclists form and ride together throughout the day so while you are travelling with a large group it never feels like a crowd.
Pricing & Payment
€4200 per person, twin share
Deposit: AU$600 to confirm places on the trip.
Deposit Refund Policy
The deposit will only refunded under the following conditions:
If the tour is sold out at any time before you cancel, we will only refund your deposit if we can find a replacement person for your place on the tour irrespective of how long in advance you cancel.
If the tour is not sold out you can cancel up to 3 months before the start of the tour for a full refund of the deposit.
Final payment will be due 75 days before the start of the tour. Payments are accepted in AUD, EUR, GBP, & USD. We will calculate your local price based on the exchange rate at the time of final payment. For those outside these currency locations you will be invoiced in EUR.
Extras
You must have travel insurance as part of the conditions of travel. Your insurance must cover emergency medical and evacuation.
Ebikes are available at a surcharge of €250.
Voluntary Single Supplement €800.
You will need to bring your own helmet as they are not supplied locally.
Flights, Stopovers & Excursions
Our agent partners at HelloWorld Travel in Pakenham are on hand to help with flight bookings, insurance, extra hotel nights, stopovers, Ireland & Europe extensions and anything else that you might need aside from the bike tour. If you would like any help or advice email Lucy at lucy.pakenham@helloworld.com.au.
Questions
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If you have any questions about the tour please do let us know.
Phone (Aust): 0437 599 363
Phone (International or WhatsApp): +61 437 599 363
Email: jason@pedalpedal.com.au
Or fill in our enquiries form
