REVISED August 2018 August 6-16, 2019 Bike Ireland Along the Wild Atlantic Way Biking Killybegs to Malin Head Leader: Dick Cable Trip #1918 Co-Leader: Joe Thomas Escape to Ireland s beautiful North West with this unique cycling tour. Allow yourself to be awe-struck by the beauty of the Irish surroundings. Feel at home with the genuine warmth of the local hospitality. Let the salty sea breezes soothe your senses as you explore Ireland s most off-the-beaten-track region. You may have been to Ireland before, but that was the tourist Ireland. Come visit this breathtaking, seldom experienced region of this beautiful country. Come experience the Wild Atlantic Coast of County Donegal. For biking purposes, this trip has be rated 4 bikes out of 5 (distances are long and hilly). All participants should be capable of riding at this level. The route may also experience strong winds. If the distances, climbs or wind seem a bit much for you, an E-bike is available and worthy of consideration.
This fabulous long-distance biking route takes you along the Wild Atlantic Way (the longest marked coastal route in the world) from Killybegs in the south to Malin Head in the north. It is one of the most stunning stretches of coastline in the world. Make your way along the coast, where every turn will leave you awe-struck with everchanging panoramas. You ll explore one of the strongest Gaeltacht areas in Ireland, where many residents still use Gaelic as their primary language, and take in key landmarks such as the Slieve League Cliffs, the Glengash Pass, Horn Head & Fanad Head. The route is 181 miles in total with 11,811 feet of climbing giving an average of 30 miles per day and just under 2,000ft of climbing. The daily cycling stats are shown in the itinerary. You ll visit unique ancient sites on this cycling holiday. Ireland has a history that stretches back more that 5,000 years. Here you can visit sites from virtually every era right up to the present. Marvel at stone age court tombs, bronze age dolmens, Celtic ring forts - impossibly situated in lakes and on mountains and early- Christian standing stones and monasteries. Take a break to visit rural pubs, where the hospitality of the locals will soon have you feeling like you are in a second home. Hear vibrant traditional music, unique to this part of Ireland, handed down unchanged for generations.
OUR ITINERARY (This itinerary is what the leaders have planned at the time of this writing; various factors may require changes for reasons of safety, weather, transportation or lodging availability and other unforeseeable circumstances. The leaders reserve the right to make such changes as necessary both before and during the trip. Day 1 - Tuesday, August 6: Leave USA Day 2 - Wednesday, August 7: Arrival in Belfast Today we have the day to explore the fascinating city of Belfast with it s history, charm, and pubs. Day 3: Thursday, August 8: Transfer Belfast to Killybegs. Situated on a natural deepwater harbor, Killybegs is Ireland s largest fishing port. Visitors not afraid of heights can try walking along One Man s Pass which takes hikers to the highest point of Sliabh Liag. There is also a visitor s viewing platform for non-hikers to experience the views. It is also possible to view the cliffs from the sea via a Sliabh Liag boat ride. Day 4: Friday, August 9: Killybegs to Ardara (33.3mi; +2856ft / -2825ft) Start the bike ride by heading west to the wonderfully scenic Cliffs of Sleive. A short ride through the gated entrance to this natural reserve will take you to amazing views of Carrigan Head, which some say equal the more famous Cliffs of Moher. A lunch stop at Hegarty s Pub (or a similar spot) will be followed by a ride past traditional peat bogs as you head north to Ardara. Your hostelry tonight is the friendly Nesbitts Arms. Ardara has a bar famous for traditional Irish music the Beehive Bar where you might like to enjoy a drink this evening.
Day 5 Saturday, August 10: Ardara to Kincasslagh (34.8mi; +2311ft / -2319ft) Today will see you journey broadly northwards with occasional turns to the west to contour along the jagged and wild coast of Donegal part of the Wild Atlantic Way. There are some long stretches of unspoiled beach along the way. Lunch will be at the Gweebarra s Bar in in the Gaeltacht village of Letterwacamard, where the friendly owner Kevin will welcome you. From Lettermacaward, continue north through remote moorland to the bustling Donegal town of Dungloe, and then along scenic coastal landscapes to Burtonport. Tonight s lodgings, in Carey s Viking House Hotel near Kincaslough, are a short ride north-east from Burtonport. Day 6 Sunday, August 11: Kincasslough to Gortahork (27.3mi; +1514ft / -1531ft) A fairly easy day s cycling on mostly level terrain. You ll depart the hotel with a picnic lunch as today s ride is through remote country and there are no bars or hotels at the mid-day point. Follow the Wild Atlantic Way close to the shore and through the area known as Bloody Foreland. This north-west corner of county Donegal did not, as might be expected, take its name from a bloody battle, but rather from the intense red hue of the rocks at sunset. In this area, Irish is still the dominant language. After a picnic lunch around midday, continue to Gortahork, enjoying the views of the coast and, in the distance, the mountains of the Glenveagh National Park along the way. Tonight you stay in the well-appointed Ostan Loch Altan Hotel in Gortahork. The hotel has a good-sized bar serving pub meals. Day 7: Monday, August 12: Gortahork to Marble Hill (33.7mi; +2765ft / -2720ft) Leave Gortahork this morning and ride a short distance along the coast before turning inland to reach the pretty town of Falcarragh, a popular tourist spot. Leaving Falcarragh, the road rises steadily as you cycle through rugged and rocky terrain with some fantastic views along the way. Then it s through the villages of Creeslough & Dunfanaghy to reach the Horn Head Peninsula, one of the scenic highlights of the Donegal section of the Wild Atlantic Way.
Horn Head offers a 360-degree view over everything that Donegal offers. On a clear day you can look out as far as Malin Head, the most northerly point of Ireland and endpoint of your ride, while in the other direction is Rosguil Peninsula and the mountains of Muckish & Errigal, two of the Seven Sisters. After a picnic lunch at Horn Head and time to admire the views, cycle north to Marble Hill, today s end point. Tonight you stay at the very comfortable Shandon Hotel & Spa, perched on the hilltop overlooking Sheephaven Bay. Day 8: Tuesday, August 13: Marble Hill to Buncrana (40.1mi; +2463ft / -2531ft) Today involves a lengthy 40-mile ride along the north-facing coastline of Donegal the remote and wild Fanad Peninsula! Leaving Marble Hill, you cycle through Carrigart, a popular location for Irish holiday makers with its fantastic beaches, hiking and cycling. The route then continues through some remote and quiet pockets of farmland before reaching Portsalon on the coast. Portsalon is notable for its coastal golf course and beautiful old pier. After lunch in Portsalon, you ll tackle a steep 400ft climb up from sea level to a marvelous viewpoint overlooking Denree Head & Lighthouse on the Inishowen Peninsula. There will be time to stop and rest at the top of the viewpoint, before continuing south along the western shore of Lough Swilly to Rathmullan, from where you take the Swilly Ferry to Buncrana. You stay tonight at the very comfortable Inishowen Gateway Hotel, in Buncrana. Day 9: Wednesday, August 14: Buncrana to Redcastle via Malin Head (48.9mi; +3185ft / -3172ft) You finish your tour with a challenging 50-mile ride to Malin Head, Ireland s most northern point and one of the Wild Atlantic Way s most famous views. Start by heading north on the peninsula, passing through turf bogs, small lakes and heather-covered moors to arrive at Carndonagh, a surprisingly bustling town for such a remote area! Carndonagh marks approximately the half-way point between Buncrana and Malin Head. The last section of the ride will take you through Malin Village, with views of the vast, tidal sea loughs, followed by a final push up the hill to Bamba s Crown on Malin Head. The coastline shows its wild and craggy side at this most northerly position, reflecting the determination of the Atlantic to make and leave its mark on the country. Lunch will be at the aptly named Seaview Tavern, just a few miles from Malin Head itself, after which it s a gentle ride south down the peninsula to finish in Redcastle, by the shores of Lough Foyle. Tonight you stay at the very special Redcastle Hotel.
Day 10: Thursday, August 15: Redcastle to Dublin by coach You will be collected at the Redcastle Hotel and transferred to the Clayton Hotel in Dublin for an overnight stay before your onward travels the following day. The drive time is approximately 4½ hours. Day 11: Friday, August 16: Depart Dublin After breakfast you are free to explore Dublin independently and/or make our own way to the airport for your international flight home. As of 2010, Dublin has been listed as a global city, with a ranking of "Alpha-", which places it amongst the top thirty cities in the world. It is a historical and contemporary centre for education, the arts, administration, economy and industry. Whether you take the opportunity to tour Trinity College including the Book of Kells, take a tour or the Guiness or Jameson distilleries (with samples!!) or just wonder this beautiful city over the Ha Penny Bridge and the Liffey River, you ll be enchanted by this city.
TRIP COST: $3550 $1200 due with application; $1200 due June 1, 2018 and $1150 due January 1, 2019. Leaders: Dick Cable has been an AMC member for many years. He is a CT and Berkshire Chapter bike and hike leader He has been an Adventure Travel Leader for 10 years and has led nearly 25 trekking, hiking, horse trekking, walking and biking trips to Yosemite, Mongolia, Nepal, Italy, Sicily, France, Norway, Finland, Tanzania, Cambodia, Vietnam, New Zealand, Patagonia, Peru, Easter Island, Germany, the Czech Republic and India/Bhutan. Dick is a retired teacher, Early Childhood administrator, and a national and international educational consultant. He is a certified trainer and fitness instructor. When in CT, he teaches senior fitness at a YMCA. He spends part of his year in Salamanca, Spain. Joe Thomas has an avid interest in health and fitness which has paved the way to adventure travel. He has participated in bike trips through the Po Valley of Italy and the Camino de Santiago in Spain. He has co-led trips to Machu Picchu/ Easter Island, Italy, Patagonia, Dolomites, Tanzania, Vietnam/Cambodia, India/Bhutan and Croatia. Both leaders have a strong interest in sharing the allure of adventure excursions to the most beautiful and intriguing places on earth. Both are CPR and Wilderness First Aid certified. Disclosures AMC Adventure Travel trips are run on a nonprofit basis. Leaders are not compensated except for their travel and administrative costs associated with the trip. A program fee is assessed toward AMC Adventure Travel Excursion program and administrative expenses. TRIP INCLUDES: 9 nights (4* hotels in Belfast and Dublin. 3*/4* hotels while biking); all breakfasts and packed lunches, bank debit card for dinners; hybrid bike rental (optional upgrade to E-bike available for $145 and is recommended), luggage transfers, guide, support driver with vehicle and travel insurance TRIP DOES NOT INCLUDE INT L FLIGHT OF APPROXIMATELY $800. CANCELLATION POLICY: Cancellations will receive a refund to the extent that it does not affect the trip status. Cancellations affecting the trip status may result in forfeiture of all or part of As leaders, our goals for the group are to have fun, utilize your skills, and savor a foreign culture at reasonable cost and in the company of other adventurers with similar interests. We encourage your individual contributions, cooperation and good humor to enrich the group s experience. We anticipate each participant s engagement as part of a group, and expect each to abide by the leaders decisions and work towards the group having a good time. Be prepared to help your fellow participants and spend time with other participants on the trip. In doing so, you will help ensure each participant s maximum experience. and enjoyment of the trip. OUR GOALS For additional information, contact Dick at r.cable@sbcglobal.net or Joe at 203-755-5141 or thomasj73@sbcglobal.net.