THE WILD ATLANTIC WAY AND WESTERN IRELAND
6 CYCLE TOURS ALONG IRELAND’S WEST COAST
by Tom Cooper
JUNIPER HOUSE, MURLEY MOSS,
OXENHOLME ROAD, KENDAL, CUMBRIA LA9 7RL
About the Author
Tom Cooper is a writer and editor who fell in love with Ireland’s Atlantic coast many years ago on a six-week ride from Belfast to County Cork. He enjoyed himself so much that he keeps going back for more.
© Tom Cooper 2018
Second edition 2018
ISBN 978 1 85284 909 2
First edition 2010
Printed in Poland on behalf of Latitude Press Ltd
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
All photographs are by the author unless otherwise stated.
Acknowledgements
Thanks to my parents for the enduring gift of a love of the outdoors, and to Charlotte for her help with the text and enthusiasm for the project.
Updates to this Guide
While every effort is made by our authors to ensure the accuracy of guidebooks as they go to print, changes can occur during the lifetime of an edition. Any updates that we know of for this guide will be on the Cicerone website (www.cicerone.co.uk/909/updates), so please check before planning your trip. We also advise that you check information about such things as transport, accommodation and shops locally. Even rights of way can be altered over time. We are always grateful for information about any discrepancies between a guidebook and the facts on the ground, sent by email to [email protected] or by post to Cicerone, Juniper House, Murley Moss, Oxenholme Road, Kendal, LA9 7RL.
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Front cover: Author off the beaten track approaching Cleggan (Route 3, Stage 4)
CONTENTS
The Wild Atlantic Way cycle route – Route summary table
The Wild Atlantic Way cycle route – Overview map
Six cycle tours in Western Ireland – Route summary table
Six cycle tours in Western Ireland – Overview map
Built heritage and architecture
Maps
Using this guide
Route 1 Tour of Donegal
Stage 1 Derry/Londonderry to Culdaff
Stage 2 Culdaff to Clonmany
Stage 3 Clonmany to Letterkenny
Stage 4 Letterkenny to Portsalon
Stage 5 Portsalon to Downies
Stage 6 Downies to Bunbeg
Stage 7 Bunbeg to Portnoo
Stage 8 Portnoo to Carrick
Stage 9 Carrick to Donegal Town
Route 1 Route cards
Route 2 Into the Atlantic
Stage 1 Donegal Town to Ballyshannon
Stage 2 Ballyshannon to Sligo
Stage 3 Sligo to Ballina
Stage 4 Ballina to Belmullet
Stage 5 Belmullet to Achill
Stage 6 Tour of Achill Island
Stage 7 Achill to Foxford
Stage 7A WAW link from Newport (Stage 7) to Westport
Stage 8 Foxford to Sligo
Route 2 Route cards
Route 3 Tour of Connacht
Stage 1 Westport to Roonah Quay
Stage 2 Tour of Clare Island
Stage 3 Roonah Quay to Tully
Stage 4 Tully to Clifden
Stage 5 Tour of Inishbofin