Highlights of the Highlands: Donegal by E-bike

Name: Highlights of the Highlands: Donegal by E-bike
Brand: BikeTours.com
SKU: bt48x1297
Rating: 4.3 (10 reviews)

★★★★★★4.3/5 (10)

7 nights

38 miles/day

Self guided from EUR € 1340
Bike tour in Ireland

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Highlights of the Highlands

Smell the wonderfully refreshing salty breezes as you cycle along one of the world’s most beautiful coastlines. Feel that wonderful sense of total freedom as your bike tour takes you across a wide open expanse of Irish bogland. Stop at a sandy beach and dip your feet in the crystal clear water. Climb to the top of a heather covered hill, and be awe-struck by the panoramic views, then feel the exhilaration as you cycle down the other side. Listen to vibrant traditional music – as unique and undiscovered as the area that inspired it. Be sure to stop for a chat with the locals – and don’t hurry – you might be there for a while!

County Donegal is truly one of Ireland’s gems – the perfect place to experience one of Ireland’s best bike tours. Quiet roads await you as you explore one of the country’s least known regions. This self-guided cycling holiday allows you to cycle at your leisure. Use our legendary tour notes to really get to know the region. Feel secure in the knowledge that we are only a phone call away.

We recommend our clients consider renting an electrically assisted bike for this tour to more easily accomplish the consistently hilly terrain. Of course, standard bikes are also available to rent.

Escape from the hustle and bustle of modern life with one of the best bike tours you will ever experience.

This tour is able to be extended by adding extra nights before the tour in Donegal Town or at the end of the tour in Letterkenny. See rates listed under Pricing Tab or inquire within for further details.
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Highlights
- Biking North West Ireland's spectacular coastline
- Donegal Town and Castle
- Option to visit the cliffs at Slieve League, one of Ireland's greatest attractions
- Biking over remote boglands
- Mount Errigal and the Donegal Highlands
- Glenveagh National Park
- Ancient History at Glencolmcille
- Traditional Irish Culture and Music
Learn More

Learn more about self-guided tours or see more cycling tours in Ireland.
CC-BY-SA-4.0 - Carrick, Donegal County, Ireland.' data-type='image'>

CC-BY-SA-2.0 - Glenveagh National Park, Donegal, Ireland. CC:Michal Osmenda' data-type='image'>

Traveler photos
Highlights of the Highlands

Tour Description Daily Program
Daily program

Day 1: Arrival to Donegal Town
Arrival to your accommodations after 3pm after which you might like to explore the town. Donegal Town is steeped in history, with its imposing castle and ruined abbey. It also has a great selection of lively pubs and cafés.
Overnight in Donegal.

Day 2: Donegal – Carrick (36 - 46 miles/58 - 75 km)
In the morning, you will be met by a representative for a tour briefing and bike delivery. You will start your tour cycling west along Donegal Bay. The smell of the sea will soon be all around as you pass quiet bays, headlands and inlets. Cycle to the fishing port of Killybegs and on along the dramatic coastline to Carrick. If you arrive early enough a visit to the cliffs at Sliabh Liag is an unforgettable experience. If you don't have time to fit in a visit to the cliffs in the evening it is possible to do so the following morning.
Overnight in Carrick.

Day 3: Carrick - Glencolmcille - Port – Carrick (24 - 37 miles/38 - 59 km)
More stunning coast, beautiful sandy beachs, remote deserted valleys and 5,000 years of history combine to make this one of the most unforgettable days of cycling you will ever do. Cycle from Carrick to the beautiful and historic valley of Glencolmcille. If you feel like a visit to one of the most stunning beaches you will ever see then don't miss the side trip to the Silver Strand. From Glencolmcille continue to the remote deserted valley and harbour at Port. Return to Carrick where you will spend your second night.
Overnight in Carrick.

Day 4: Carrick – Glenties (25 - 36 miles/41 - 58 km)
Today takes you from Carrick over boglands to the top of Granny Valley. Experience the adrenalin rush of a cycle down this amazing 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. An option here is to cycle to the stunning headland at Loughros Point. Continue to your overnight stop in the pretty village of Glenties.
Overnight in Glenties.

Day 5: Glenties – Portnoo – Glenties (0 - 25 miles/0 - 40 km)
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.
Overnight in Glenties.

Day 6: Glenties – Annagry (29 - 43 miles/46 - 70 km)
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 the dramatic coasts, a cycle around Crohy Head should do nicely. From the harbour at Burtonport, you have the option to visit one of the many inhabited islands off the Donegal Coast. Arranmore is a 20 minute ferry trip from Burtonport (ferry tickets not included). The boat trip itself makes the journey worthwhile! Make your way back to the mainland where you cycle past yet more beautiful golden beaches to the village of Annagry.
Overnight in Annagry.

Day 7: Annagry – Letterkenny (35 - 40 miles/57 - 65 km)
The unique beauty of the Donegal Highlands is all around during today’s cycle. Pass beneath the peak of majestic Mount Errigal. Further along is the hauntingly beautiful Poisoned Glen. Your cycling tour then takes you to Glenveagh National Park. Red deer and golden eagles live here, among the pristine lakes and mountains. Follow the paths through the park to the shore of Lough Gartan. Continue through lush farmland to the bustling town of Letterkenny.
Overnight in Letterkenny.

Day 8: Departure
After breakfast it is time to leave your cycling holiday behind. Bring with you your memories of a tour around one of the most beautiful and friendly regions in the world.

Surface and terrain

On most days you cycle around 37-43 miles (60-70 km), on paved small secondary roads with little traffic.

We suggest being comfortable with cycling hills consistenly for a few hours. If cycling on hilly terrain is a problem, then opt for one of the electrically-assisted bikes, where even the toughest hill becomes flat! Also, alternative route on paved road available if needed.

Hotels

These are sample hotels and may vary based on availability.

The accommodations for this bike tour are carefully selected with the needs of the cyclist as a top priority. They are family run bed and breakfasts and small hotels, all of which are of a very high standard, and approved by Fáilte Ireland (Irish Tourist Board). They are a real treat and a highlight of the tour.

Waters Edge B&B, Donegal
www.thewatersedge.ws

Brennans Bed and Breakfast
https://www.brennansbnb.ie/

The Tara Hotel, Killybegs
https://www.tarahotel.ie/

The Station House Hotel
https://www.stationhouseletterkenny.com/

Caisleáin Óir Hotel, Annagry
www.donegalhotel.ie

Interested in visiting other areas before or after your tour? Visit our hotels page to learn more about lodging options.

How to get there

Tour start and end
Nearest airport: Dublin, Knock, and Ireland West Airport

Flying into Dublin- There are direct buses from Dublin airport and city center, which take about 3 hours and 30 minutes.

Flying into Knock- It's easy to get a direct bus to Donegal from Knock. It takes about 1 hour and 45 minutes.

Another option is to fly into Ireland West airport.

Tips on getting to and from your tour

Highlights of the Highlands

Tour Photos Dates & Prices
Dates
Fridays: Apr 26-Sep 20, 2024 (additional dates available for groups of 5 or more)
Standard season: Apr 26, 2024 - May 30, 2024, Aug 24, 2024 - Sep 20, 2024

Peak season: May 31, 2024 - Aug 23, 2024

Prices

Tour package

Standard Season Peak Season

Per person, double occupancy €1340 €1390

Single use room (1 person/1 room) €1600 €1650

Extra Nights, Donegal Town or Letterkenny*

Per person, double occupancy €90

Single use room (1 person/1 room) €120

*Rooms are not reserved in advance for extra nights, subject to availability when booking.*

Bike Rentals

Standard touring bike, 27-speed €100

Electrically assisted bike €230
Included services
- 7 nights accommodation with breakfast in carefully selected Bed and Breakfasts and small hotels.
- Daily breakfast
- Daily luggage transfers
- Detailed maps and guide notes (including recommendations on bars, restaurants and sights along the way)
- Hotline and emergency support
- GPS unit with all routes pre-programmed (one per group)
- Welcome meeting and bike setup on first morning
GPS tracks are available for downloading to your own device, if desired please request prior to departure.

Bike rentals

Bikes available to be rented on this tour (reserved in advance at time of booking):
- Standard touring bike, 27-speed
- Electrically assisted bikes
All the above bike rentals will be equipped with:
- Helmet
- Front carrier bag with map holder
- Mudguards
- Rear luggage carrier
- Lock
- Puncture repair kit
- Pump
- Spare inner tube
- Rear saddle bag
One rear saddle bag provided, second saddle bag available free of charge upon request. Please note this on your booking form.

Additional specifications about the standard touring bikes:

The standard touring bikes available are 27 speed with all Shimano components including Shimano Hydraulic Disc Brakes. These standard models, combine the best features of road and mountain bikes, making them the perfect choice for touring the type of terrain in North West Ireland.

Additional specifications about the electrically assisted bikes:

The e-bikes available are Thompson Enigma or equivalent. This bike features the Bosch Active + motor with 500 wh battery. Perfect for providing extra assistance on the hilly terrain of North West Ireland.

Pedals and Saddles:
If you would like to bring your own pedals (and shoes) and saddles, please feel free to do so. The tour company can assist you with fitting to the bikes.

Helmets:
Helmets are included in the tour package price. If you do plan to bring your own helmet, please let us know.

Bike Protection:
Bike protection can be purchased at the time of booking. You can read more about that HERE.

Tour Company
Highlights of the Highlands

Daily program Route Map
Route Map

Maps are for information purposes only and reflect typical routes between overnight locations. They may not reflect your actual route.

Highlights of the Highlands

Dates & Prices Tour Reviews
Reviews

Write a review
- ★★★★★ John Maxfield 5 months ago
  
  Beautiful Irish coast and fabulous cycling roads
  
  This was an outstanding tour! The coast of County Donegal was breathtaking, and the roads / routes well chosen, with clear directions using both maps and GPS. I would suggest adding a longer mileage option for the circuit ride (Day 4) from Glenties; I did part of the circuit twice to get in a full day of cycling while my wife enjoyed the beach, waiting for the tide to go out for our walk to the island.
  
  What was the date of your tour?
  August 2023
  How many tours have you completed?
  2
  Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
  As expected
  Who is this tour suitable for?
  First-time bike tourists, Solo travelers, Families with teens
  Do you recommend this tour?
  Yes
  - 5/5 Value
  - 5/5 Included meals
  - 4/5 Bikes + equipment
  - 5/5 Hotels or boat
  - 5/5 Scenery
  - 5/5 Ease of navigation
  - 5/5 Tour documents
  - 5/5 Local tour company services
  - 5/5 Route selection
- ★★★★★ Katya Spielberg 6 months ago
  
  Fantastic Introduction to Ireland Countryside
  
  A wonderful way to experience Donegal County in Ireland!! In spite of high winds 2 days and some rain most days, the beauty of the landscape and the loveliness of the Irish people made it one of my all-time favorite bike trips. Moreover, the customer service provided by Ireland by Bike was top notch -- from the maps and GPS to the history and daily recommendations provided, everything was made easy and accessible. Definitely appreciated the e-bikes given the number of hills and strong breezes on the coastline!! The quality of the B&B's did vary by location, but all were clean and hosts were friendly and helpful. Would definitely recommend to my friends and family!!
- ★★★★★ joseph eberly 6 months ago
  
  Amazing scenery and people
  
  The North West coast of Ireland is breathtaking. For the most part, quiet country roads or bike paths. Our B&Bs were very nice and the hosts even nicer. There are some areas that were quite challenging and we were very happy to have e-bikes. A little rain but nothing that kept us from riding. We had a fun and challenging ride through the national park with a dirt path and a steep climb on a gravel path. We had some equipment issues that slowed us down but operator got us going again. The Garman GPS was amazing. We made plenty of wrong turns, but it always got us back on track. All in all, this is the most beautiful part of Ireland and we had great food at every stop.
  
  What was the date of your tour?
  June 2023
  How many tours have you completed?
  This is our second trip with Bike Tours
  Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
  Somewhat harder
  Who is this tour suitable for?
  First-time bike tourists
  Do you recommend this tour?
  Yes
  - 5/5 Value
  - 5/5 Included meals
  - 2/5 Bikes + equipment
  - 5/5 Hotels or boat
  - 5/5 Scenery
  - 5/5 Ease of navigation
  - 5/5 Tour documents
  - 4/5 Local tour company services
  - 5/5 Route selection
- ★★★★★ Marge Anderson October 5, 2022
  
  Lots of friendly people
  
  We had beautiful weather. This helped make the trip really nice. We had very nice hosts at our accommodations. Some of the places were much nicer than others. The Brennan B&B was excellent. Other places had some problems like plumbing, but in general the accommodations were fine. We did arrive in one town (Glencolmcille) to find there weren't any restaurants open. We thought this wasn't very good planning on the part of the bike company.
  The roads were ok. Some of the roads were a bit busy. Some were very nice country roads. There was a section that was gravel that was a bit tricky. The scenery was lovely.
  There were some errors in directions that should be fixed.
  I've been on a few other biking trips. This was my least favorite.
  
  What was the date of your tour?
  September 2022
  How many tours have you completed?
  5
  Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
  As expected
  Do you recommend this tour?
  No
  - BikeTours.com staff reply from JV October 6, 2022
    
    Thanks for sharing this feedback with us. We are working on improving the directions to make them more clear and fix errors. We hope you travel with us again.
  - 3/5 Value
  - 3/5 Included meals
  - 4/5 Bikes + equipment
  - 3/5 Hotels or boat
  - 4/5 Scenery
  - 3/5 Ease of navigation
  - 3/5 Tour documents
  - 2/5 Local tour company services
  - 3/5 Route selection
- ★★★★★ David Anderson October 4, 2022
  
  Pretty location, ok organization
  
  In general, it was a great experience. I'd never been on a bike tour, and this was a load of fun. My wife and I plan to do more bike tours. However, if I had to choose between bike tours, I wouldn't recommend this specific one.
  Going over this bike tour's organization.
  GPS / Directions.
  A few things here to complain about.
  1. The printed directions were inconsistent between people on the tour. Some printed directions said left at an intersection, others said right. They were simply out of date, and the tour didn't re-print everything. Old printouts = old directions.
  2. The printed directions were inconsistent with the web directions. We were sent PDFs of directions. Those didn't match up with the printouts. Again, likely because they were older or newer (we couldn't figure out which). Different roads sometimes, different turns.
  3. The printed and web directions were inconsistent with the GPS tracks. This was super annoying, because we were biking along listening to the GPS directions (on the unit provided), and the GPS would say "turn here!" and the printed directions indicated we should go another few blocks.
  4. The printed / web / GPS directions were out of date for actual road conditions. In two different locations, the road was literally closed, and we had to detour around an area using Google maps. In one place, the GPS road literally had grass growing on it, and had obviously moved at least 5+ years before. These directions are *very* out of date at times.
  These direction inconsistencies didn't mean we got lost, but it did mean *daily* stops to consult our map, Google maps, GPS directions, and try to figure out where the tour intended us to go, regardless of all the inconsistencies. I'd highly suggest having offline Google maps if you're going to take the tour.
  Lodging.
  Some places were outstanding and high quality. Other places were lower quality. One place in particular stank heavily of peat smoke, with smoke literally billowing in through our windows. I don't know how often the tour company inspects the places they're sending people.
  Food.
  The tour included breakfast. It was sometimes great, mostly fine, but sometimes a bit low quality. Again, perhaps a lack of inspection on exactly what they're paying for.
  While the tour didn't provide dinner, we sometimes had trouble finding any place which was open. In one town, we got *lucky* that there was a food truck open, because otherwise every single restaurant in town was closed down. The locals all said that it made no sense that we hadn't planned on dinner, because their town didn't have restaurants open in this season. Many locations only had a single restaurant option. I think if you're going to operate a tour this late in the season, you need to scout out restaurants which will actually be open. SHOW MORE
  
  What was the date of your tour?
  September 2022
  How many tours have you completed?
  1
  Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
  As expected
  Do you recommend this tour?
  No
  - BikeTours.com staff reply from Bike Tours Team Member October 19, 2022
    
    Hi David,
    Thank you for taking the time to leave us feedback - we really appreciate it! For future bike tours, I do recommend following GPS tracks OR printed instructions. They can sometimes vary depending on updates but do not necessarily mean one or the other is wrong (I recommend GPS over printed instructions). It's a fair assessment that all hotels are not equal (i.e. breakfasts, amenities), sometimes our options are limited in certain towns. Unfortunately the same goes for restaurant options in certain towns. I would agree that an e-bike battery should never run out if it is properly charged. However, if the battery is being heavily used or is getting too old, it can run out and should be replaced. Although we know you can't fully inspect the ebike battery, we do recommend you do a good inspection of your bicycle before starting the tour, so we can try to address any issues before you get cycling. In the 2023 season we will offer 24/7 hotline to our local office so that we may be able to assist you immediately when any issues arise. I hope you had a great trip despite the the issues.
  - 3/5 Value
  - 3/5 Included meals
  - 1/5 Bikes + equipment
  - 3/5 Hotels or boat
  - 5/5 Scenery
  - 2/5 Ease of navigation
  - 1/5 Tour documents
  - 1/5 Local tour company services
  - 2/5 Route selection
- ★★★★★ erinling May 27, 2019
  
  Just Get the E-bike
  
  Amazing way of seeing the countryside. County Donegal is gorgeous. Killybegs to Glencolmcille to Glenties were my favorite rides. I began day 1 of my journey on a hybrid bike thinking "I'm in shape, I can do this." WRONG. The terrain is very hilly and the hybrids heavy, so just go ahead and get that e-bike. Seamus was incredibly friendly and helpful and worked with me if a problem arose. All of the B&B hosts were great, though Letterkenny's was certainly my least favorite. My only regret is being too concerned about making good time and not taking more opportunities to hop off and hike around more.
  
  What was the date of your tour?
  30/04/19 - 05/05/19
  Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
  Somewhat harder
  Who is this tour suitable for?
  Solo travelers, First-time bike tourists, Families with teens
  Do you recommend this tour?
  Yes
  - 5/5 Value
  - 5/5 Included meals
  - 4/5 Bikes + equipment
  - 5/5 Hotels or boat
  - 5/5 Scenery
  - 5/5 Ease of navigation
  - 4/5 Tour documents
  - 5/5 Local tour company services
  - 5/5 Route selection
- ★★★★★ Faye October 2, 2017
  
  A very good trip
  
  The trip was generally great, as we were lucky with the weather. The B&B's were generally very good, particularly the one in Glenties. All of the B&B owners were helpful and friendly and the breakfasts were great. The B&B that we stayed at in Donegal was not as good- the bed was uncomfortable, the curtains didn't block out the light, and the toilet didn't flush very well.
  Great to have an electric bike for those hills, and a GPS to navigate!
  
  What was the date of your tour?
  September 15 to 22nd, 2017
  How many tours have you completed?
  8
  Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
  As expected
  Who is this tour suitable for?
  Solo travelers, First-time bike tourists, Families with teens
  Do you recommend this tour?
  Yes
  - 4/5 Value
  - 5/5 Included meals
  - 5/5 Bikes + equipment
  - 4/5 Hotels or boat
  - 5/5 Scenery
  - 5/5 Ease of navigation
  - 5/5 Tour documents
  - 5/5 Local tour company services
  - 5/5 Route selection
- ★★★★★ cdreby July 25, 2016
  
  Our first bike tour
  
  It was harder than expected with many more steep hills than described but the B&B's at the end of each day were a welcome reward. We had wet weather for most of our tour however, the beauty and the variety of the landscape came through the clouds and damp weather. Seamus was very helpful and fixed any problem we had right away.
  
  What was the date of your tour?
  July 10-17 2016
  How many tours have you completed?
  0
  Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
  Somewhat harder
  Who is this tour suitable for?
  Solo travelers
  Do you recommend this tour?
  Yes
  - 5/5 Value
  - 4/5 Included meals
  - 5/5 Bikes + equipment
  - 5/5 Hotels or boat
  - 5/5 Scenery
  - 4/5 Ease of navigation
  - 4/5 Tour documents
  - 5/5 Local tour company services
  - 5/5 Route selection
- ★★★★★ Julane April 28, 2016
  
  A Most Excellent Adventure in Donegal County
  
  From stunning scenery to quiet roads and a variety of climbing challenges, from lovely B&B’s and gracious hosts/hostesses to charming villages, from dependable bikes to near-perfect cue sheets and maps, Seamus Gallagher, owner of Ireland by Bike, has planned an adventure we will remember for years to come.
  
  How many tours have you completed?
  Europe-16; USA-7; Canada-1
  Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
  As expected
  Who is this tour suitable for?
  Families with teens, Solo travelers
  Do you recommend this tour?
  Yes
  - 5/5 Value
  - 5/5 Included meals
  - 5/5 Bikes + equipment
  - 5/5 Hotels or boat
  - 5/5 Scenery
  - 5/5 Ease of navigation
  - 5/5 Tour documents
  - 5/5 Local tour company services
  - 5/5 Route selection
- ★★★★★ Alpskier November 14, 2015
  
  The Rugged Beauty of the Emerald Isle
  
  Highlights of the Highlands was one of my favorite trips. The affable local tour operator met us at our b&b in Donegal Town and told us what to expect. Bikes were great and the b&b lodgings were solid, including a satisfying breakfast. To be sure, the ride has parts that are truly rigorous, including a couple of long, steady inclines. And most of the ride follows low-trafficked roads, first along the rocky coast and later inland through national parks. The Irish were most welcoming and so were the pubs. But the beauty is in the land, resplendent vistas, hours of riding through glacial valleys. It was a pretty cool thing to ride through a pack of sheep. We road in the summer. Expect changeable weather, a bit chilly and rainy. Needless to say, bring a camera!
  
  How many tours have you completed?
  8
  Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
  As expected
  Who is this tour suitable for?
  Solo travelers
  Do you recommend this tour?
  Yes
  - 5/5 Value
  - 4/5 Included meals
  - 5/5 Bikes + equipment
  - 4/5 Hotels or boat
  - 5/5 Scenery
  - 4/5 Ease of navigation
  - 4/5 Tour documents
  - 5/5 Local tour company services
  - 5/5 Route selection
Highlights of the Highlands

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