Donegal Town has fantastic bike rides for all levels of cycling experience, whether you want to take your time and take in the local sites or are looking for a more adventuress cycle. Here are a selection of bike rides in Donegal Town.
Route 1 – The Holmes (6km)
Murvagh Beach, DonegalA short out and back cycle suitable for the complete beginner. A nice quiet beach to enjoy a swim in the Atlantic or a picnic at the shore. Exit Ted’s Bike Shop, turn right. Take immediate right. Follow this road, after 2km at Y junction follow road to right. This takes you to The Holmes Beach.
Route 3 – Laghey (26km)
Harvey’s Point Hotel, Donegal TownAnother nice leisurely route which is mostly flat. Exit Ted’s Bike Shop, turn right. Cycle through Donegal Town towards Ballyshannon. At Tullyearl roundabout, take 2nd exit. After approx 1km take left into Laghey village. Option for a coffee stop at The Flour Pot Cafe. In village, take left over bridge and then take next right. Keep on this road until you approach the main road. Take left towards Donegal town,take 3rd exit at roundabout, 2nd exit at next roundabout to arrive back at Ted’s Bike Shop.
Route 5 – Ballyshannon (54km)
The Sandhouse Hotel, DonegalVisit the birthplace of legendary Blues Guitarist Rory Gallagher and get a picture with his statue in the centre of the town. Also you can visit Dicey Reilly’s pub and microbrewery for a pint of their famous ‘Donegal Blonde’. Follow the main road to Ballyshannon, then take the road to Rossnowlagh. After approx 6km, turn left to take you to the beach. Enjoy lunch in ‘The Gaslight’ or ‘Smugglers Creek’, both overlooking Donegal Bay. Follow the signs ‘Wild Atlantic Way (S)’ to take you back to Donegal Town.
Route 7 – Glengesh (95km)
Fanad Lighthouse, DonegalExperience one of Donegal’s famous cycle climbs! Ireland’s only professional road race, Rás Tailteann, has used this climb numerous times. You can still see the riders names painted on the road. Exit Ted’s Bike Shop and turn left on to the Killybegs Road.
Route 2 – Mountcharles Pier (13km)
Malin HeadAnother nice spot for a swim orjust to cycle right alongside the Atlantic ocean. This route is also short enough to suit beginners. Exit Ted’s Bike Shop, turn left. After approx 2km, take left. This road takes you along Mountcharles pier. Follow this road up Salthill. At the top of the hill, turn right towards Mountcharles village. Stop for coffee and cake in The Village Tea Rooms or a spot of lunch in The Village Tavern. Follow the main road back towards Donegal town.
Route 4 – Lough Eske (27km)
Lough EskeThe most popular cycle route in the area. There are many places on this route to stop for photos. Lough Eske is also home to two 5 star hotels, Harvey’s Point and Solis Lough Eske Castle. Two beautiful Hotels forlunch or afternoon tea. Exit Ted’s Bike Shop, turn right.Take immediate left at Herron Autos. Follow this road for approx 4km. At the end of this road, keep left. At Y junction, take left. Follow this road around the lake. After approx 12km, take right at T junction and this will take you back in to Donegal
town.
Route 6 – Ardara/Glenties (75km)
Slieve League Cliffs, DonegalFancy a longer spin with a few hills!! Exit Ted’s Bike shop and turn left onto the Killybegs Road, cycle approximately 10km and turn Right signposted Ardara. Follow along this road for 16k untill you enter the
popular town of Ardara. The area boasts a thriving tourist trade and social scene, and is known as “The Festival capital of Donegal”.
We recommend you stop in the famous pub, Nancy’s for a bite of lunch.There are also numerous craft and tweed shops to browse around. At the top of the hill in Ardara take the road signposted Portnoo/Narin, follow the road and the signs for Glenties. Cycle through Glenties followng the signpost for Donegal Town.
Route 8 – Wild Atlantic Way (117km)
Murvagh Beach, DonegalCycle along part of the world’s longest defined coastal route, the ‘Wild Atlantc Way’. Be sure to have a camera with you! To keep it simple, you can follow the ‘WAW’ signposts as far as Ardara, but it is slighty longer as it takes in all the coastal roads. Exit Ted’s Bike Shop, turn left. Follow the main road to Killybegs. Go straight through Killybegs towards Kilcar. Approx 7km from Killybegs, take the left signposted ‘coast road’ just after the ‘Blue Haven Hotel’.
This will take you on the scenic route to Kilcar. Be on the lookout for a certain Hollywood couple who have a holiday home on this road. In the centre of Kilcar, turn left. This will take you on the scenic route to Carrick. From Carrick, cycle towards Glencolumbkille. After approx 4km, turn left signposted Malin Mór. Follow this road towards Glenkolumbkille. Then towards Meenaneery and up the ‘easy’ side of Glengesh. As you come down off Glengesh, follow signs to Ardara. Then towards Glenties, but before you enter Glenties take the right signposted Frosses, Donegal town. After Frosses follow the main road back towards Donegal town to Ted’s Bike Shop.