Glenveagh National Park By Bike

OVERVIEW

Ride bike through the wilds of Glenveagh National Park, pausing to admire its stunning natural beauty, castle and gardens. After departing from the pier, you will settle in for a leisurely ninety minute drive across County Donegal and into the heart of the Derryveagh Mountains. This is one of the most beautiful, least populated areas in Ireland with a picture-postcard setting around every turn. Upon entering Glenveagh National Park, you will receive a safety briefing and then hop on a bike and pedal off into the wilds. Other than the Park’s shuttle bus, vehicles are not allowed beyond the car park, which makes your cycling experience very safe and pleasant. The park sprawls over 40,000 acres of mountains, lakes and glens, all of it pristine and full of wildlife. You may catch sight of a herd of red deer bounding through the park, as they have been in Ireland since the last Ice Age and thrive here. If you prefer an extended ride, you can bike to the waterfall at the head of the glen. The park contains about 247 acres of natural and semi-natural woodland. As you continue your travels you're sure to be surrounded by oak, birch, hazel, yew and aspen trees towering over lush green carpets of mosses and ferns. Have your camera handy. In addition to the Red deer, peregrine falcons and an occasional golden eagle call this park their home so be on the lookout. Bird lovers should listen out for the wood warbler, a rare bird in Ireland but annual visitor to Glenveagh. The best way to locate one is to listen for its unique call, which sounds like a coin spinning on a plate. The park was once the estate of John Adair, a wealthy 19th century landowner. To show his extreme wealth he began building a storybook castle in 1867. Designed to look like a medieval fortress the castle resembles Scotland's Balmoral Castle, complete with a parapet and a four-story rectangular keep. The castle’s gardens are exquisite and worth discovering. The layout of the original 19th century Victorian Garden remains intact while modern gardens such as the Gothic Orangery and Italian Tuscan are also picture-worthy. Afterwards, you will rejoin your minibus and travel back to the pier.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Travel to your biking destination by coach, crossing through picture-postcard Donegal countryside.
• Hop on your bike and head out into vehicle-free Glenveagh National Park.
• Opt for a leisurely sightseeing spin through woodlands and glens, or a longer ride to a remote waterfall.
• See picturesque Glenveagh Castle and its gardens, built during Victorian times when the park was an infamous landowner’s estate.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.