Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way Bike Tour
Perhaps the Wild Atlantic Way’s least-visited region, the coastal regions of Sligo, Mayo and Donegal are as wild and dramatic as they are laid-back! Explore the mysteries and mythologies connected with Ireland’s northwest as you discover this little-known but wonderful region. Bike through windswept coastal bog lands, enjoy clifftop views and spin through gentle green pastureland as you uncover the interesting and diverse terrain that makes up this region. Your hotels are uniquely Irish. From converted coastguard stations to village inns and country manors to castles – classic Irish hospitality and a grand welcome await each evening.
Itinerary
Day 01
Westport: a pilgrimage site and a lovely ride.
Meals
– Lunch
– Dinner
Lodging
The Westport Plaza
Distance
30 miles (48 km)
Elevation
+1,942 ft / -1,942 ft
Arrive in Dublin where you’ll meet your guide and transfer westwards to Mayo. After a bike fit, we hit the road, heading across to Westport where we will arrive in time for lunch. Leaving the bustling market town on two wheels, you will pedal past the conical summit of Croagh Patrick mountain. This sacred location has been a pilgrimage site since ancient times. Even today thousands of pilgrims flock here each year. Stay at The Westport Plaza.
Day 02
Cycle through Ballycroy National Park - Ireland's greatest wilderness.
Meals
– Breakfast
– Lunch
– Dinner
Lodging
The Talbot Hotel
Distance
56 miles (90 km)
Elevation
+2,238 ft / -2,256 ft
Ballycroy is Ireland’s greatest wilderness. It comprises of 11,000 hectares of Atlantic blanket bog and mountainous terrain, covering a vast uninhabited and unspoiled wilderness. This is one of the last intact active blanket bog systems in the world. Today’s route is through the heart of this fascinating eco-system where the challenge is not so much in the terrain but in the ever-changing winds that make biking in this area fun and unpredictable. Staying in the heart of the bustling seaside town of Belmullet, this is a great opportunity to find some real Irish pubs and great traditional music.
Day 03
Sea-cliffs buffer the green hills of Mayo. Stop for tea and scones at Ireland's most important Neolithic site.
Meals
– Breakfast
– Lunch
Lodging
The Talbot Hotel
Distance
63 miles (101 km)
Elevation
+2,401 ft / -2,348 ft
Mayo is a myriad of different vistas and landscapes. Today’s loop of the northern part of the county takes in them all; from the windswept coastline of Downpatrick Head where some of Europe’s tallest sea-cliffs make for a dramatic backdrop, to the rolling green hills of the area’s interior. Stop at one of the world’s most fascinating Neolithic sites for tea and scones. On today’s route, you’ll enjoy the short, sharp climbs and exciting descents that characterize riding in these parts. Finishing up at a rural pub, end the day with a great pint of Guinness before a short transfer back to the Talbot. Dinner is on your own tonight.
Day 04
Ride along the West Sligo Coast and through the Ox Mountains and relax with a seaweed bath.
Meals
– Breakfast
– Lunch
– Dinner
Lodging
The Glasshouse
Distance
47 miles
Elevation
+1,922 ft / -1,923 ft
Transfer to a seaside town in the morning where you can enjoy a traditional Irish remedy – a steaming bath of freshly harvested seaweed is a perfect soother of sore muscles. Follow the coast to the foothills of the Ox mountains. Climb through open pastureland as the landscape grows ever wilder, enjoying incredible views. Roll on to Sligo for a two-night stay at the award-winning and modern The Glasshouse right in town. Sligo is one of Ireland’s bastions of traditional music and has some of the country’s liveliest pubs, so you can explore as you like from the hotel.
Day 05
Pedal poetic Sligo, William Butler Yeats' "land of heart’s desire."
Meals
– Breakfast
– Lunch
Lodging
The Glasshouse
Distance
48 miles (77 km)
Elevation
+2,627 ft / -2,626 ft
Sligo was immortalized in the poetry of William Butler Yeats, who described the area as the “land of heart’s desire”. Today’s looped route takes in some of his favorite haunts and includes some local favorite bike routes. Following the shores of Lough Gill, a beautiful lakeside ride gives way to gorgeous ocean views as we lunch in the bohemian seaside town of Strandhill where surfers from the world over gather to take on some of the Atlantic’s mightiest waves in the shadow of the prehistoric hilltop grave of mysterious Queen Maeve. Dinner is on your own tonight. In addition to the music and the pubs, Sligo has a great food scene. Stay another night at The Glasshouse.
Day 06
Cycle from mysterious, fortress-like Benbulben mountain to stay in a castle in Donegal.
Meals
– Breakfast
– Lunch
– Dinner
Lodging
Lough Eske Castle Hotel
Distance
64 miles (103 km)
Elevation
+3,624 ft / -3,455 ft
The skyline in these parts in dominated by the dramatic cliffs of Ben Bulben mountain and today’s biking begins in the shadow of this eerie rock. Starting at the childhood home of one of Ireland’s most famous revolutionaries and one of the first women ever elected to political office, we follow a network of valleys and glens, passing by tranquil lakes and through green pasture lands before briefly crossing the border into Northern Ireland and back out again. Hear stories of cross-border smuggling and tales of the region’s dramatic recent history before finally rolling into our castle hotel for the evening for a celebratory final dinner. Stay at Lough Eske Castle Hotel.
Day 07
Lough Eske and the Bluestack Mountains.
Meals
– Breakfast
– Lunch
Distance
9 miles (14.5 km), or double it
Elevation
+594 ft / -591 ft; or double it
Some might opt to enjoy a well-earned massage at the castle’s award-winning spa this morning. But for those who want to see a little bit more of the local landscape we will take a short spin through the granite hills of the Bluestack Mountains around Lough Eske for some rewarding views. If you like the ride going clockwise, we recommend you try it in the opposite direction as well! After lunch and a chance to shower, we hit the road back to Dublin where your adventure will end.
