Bike Weekend Donegal

robh71

Hi
We are looking for a good cycling route in Donegal for a Fri/Sat/Sun in summer. We don’t particularly want to emanate the Sean Kelly's of this world and don the polkadot jersey, while at the same time not afraid of a few climbs!
I’m just not familiar with this part of the country, either by bike or car so any tips on a good route would be appreciated.
Nice pub stop-overs crucial!

Dermot Illogical

On my list of ones to do is the Inishowen 100 route, a 100 mile scenic route. It's hilly and very beautiful. There are some really good stopover possibilities too. Malin Head, Culdaff, Greencastle and Ballyliffin are all worth checking out. Get any bit of nice weather and you won't want to be anywhere else...
http://www.discoverireland.ie/Activities-Adventure/inishowen-100/10824

ednwireland

where you going ?
i'm in donegal town
nice short 30km run round lough eske

longer runs out to glengesh and back

big county you know

north of the county inishowen

fanad head

round glencolumbcille

http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/31754792

robh71

Thanks RT66, would never have thought of Inishowen, it looks great and definitely up for doing that! So much of our bike weekends have being South West, Ring of Kerry, West Cork, etc so be nice to get to see the rest of this amazing country on 2 wheels, up north.

robh71

Not sure of exact route yet but what we'd like to do ednwireland is a 3 day trip of max 100 Km per day, probably in a loop so we can finish where we started for returning to where we left cars. ALternatively routes served by trains remove the need for finishing where we started.
Thats a cool site you point me to also! Very useful, must look at more!

ednwireland

robh71 wrote: »

ALternatively routes served by trains remove the need for finishing where we started.

:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D

robh71

really, that bad eh?

Harrybelafonte

If by bad you mean none? There are no trains in Donegal.

robh71

Jez, I did'nt realise ye had no trains! Where is the nearest train so..Sligo??

Dermot Illogical

robh71 wrote: »

Jez, I did'nt realise ye had no trains! Where is the nearest train so..Sligo??

To the south, yes. Derry has a train service too which takes you to within 5-6 miles of Donegal.

Dermot Illogical

robh71 wrote: »

Thanks RT66, would never have thought of Inishowen, it looks great and definitely up for doing that! So much of our bike weekends have being South West, Ring of Kerry, West Cork, etc so be nice to get to see the rest of this amazing country on 2 wheels, up north.

A good place for a stopover might be Greencastle. Pubs & seafood etc. But it also has a ferry over to Magillgan which bring's the Giant's Causeway into daytrip distance at just shy of a 50 mile round trip.

ednwireland

RT66 wrote: »

To the south, yes. Derry has a train service too which takes you to within 5-6 miles of Donegal.

from belfast !

Dermot Illogical

ednwireland wrote: »

from belfast !

Which, unlike Donegal, is connected to the Irish Rail network!

Harrybelafonte

RT66 wrote: »

Which, unlike Donegal, is connected to the Irish Rail network!

Yeah, but it means two trains.

There's plenty of bus services, you just need to pick a provider that goes to the end you want. As said before, it's a oretty big county.

Here's a previous link that might help for routes too.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056246731

Possedion

A good spin would be from Rossguil Penisula through to Fanad.
It has a birdge connecting - nice hills!!