Donegal Route Suggestions

mo_bhicycle

Hi all,
heading to Donegal for the long weekend, going to be staying around Gweedore and Dungloe. Wondering if anybody might have any suggestions for nice cycling routes. I'm looking for 2 routes, each around 100k each. I've cycled around the south of Donegal (Ardara, Killybegs, Glengesh, Glencolumbkille) before so would like to try something new. I don't mind hills (and need to work on them) so lumpy routes are fine by me.

Any suggestions?

theotherone

I don't mean to be smart but get a map. The OSI do really good ones. I think there is a series of 4 maps for Ireland and they show all roads on them. You can get them in most petrol stations. Donegal is a lovely spot and by reading the map you can usual spot from evaluation where will have nice views. Woodland is also generally marked. Its a great skill to learn and you will be amazed at some of the routes you come up with. The maps are to scale so you can work out rough distance and plan your route based on wind direction.

Harrybelafonte

Wahey, finally a route question I can answer. I would recommend Bunbeg towards Glenveagh, there's a turnoff past Errigal to the left when you're almost there (I'm on a phone so can't link, but there's only one turn off for about 15 miles). This will bring you up the side of Muckish on into Falcarragh. From there you can come back into Crolly. If you're okay with distance go right at the crossroads in Crolly and it'll bring you up Bloody Foreland and back along the coast to Bunbeg. Going left will just bring you back a simple enough route to your original route.

There are another few routes I haven't tried yet but there are basically only 3 ways to leave Gweedore. One is towards Glenveagh via Dunlewey (bring a phone and tell people where you are going, there are no houses or people or phone signal for a very long stretch of this). The other is along the coast, Bloody Foreland, Crolly, Falcarragh, Dunfanaghey etc. This is really nice in the summer and there's plenty of places to stop off fir food etc. The the only other way is via Gortahork to Dungloe. There are some other routes between the two around Carrickfinn and Anagry.

From Dungloe, you can either head towards Glenties (Coastal) or Donegal Town which is more barren wasteland devoid of habitation like around Gweedore.

Tbh any way you go in any of those will be massively scenic, it depends on the scenery you want and how many people you want to come in contact with.

Harrybelafonte

I just realised you said 100k so have a look at going out by Glenveagh to Creeslough and back in via the coast and Dunfanaghy, Crolly, Bloody Foreland etc.

mo_bhicycle

Thanks for the suggestions guys.
@Harry, really like the sound of your last suggestion, will def do that one.