DMTC & Donegal Roads 2006

Entrance Routes: Ballyshannon, Beleek, Strabane, L'Derry
Main Towns: Donegal, Letterkenny, Killybegs
Web site: http://www.donegaldirect.com

Donegal is Ireland's most northerly county, noted for its mountainous topography, most land being over 100m though few hills exceed 500m, criss-crossed by narrow valleys; the coast, a mixture of long beaches in sheltered river estuaries on the northern coast with rugged sea-cliffs to the south west. The uplands attract the highest rainfall in Ireland and are covered by a deep layer of wet blanket bog or, sometimes, coniferous forest. The low population density makes for privacy with solitary farmhouses inland and virtually all towns are along the heavily indented coastline. A slow road (N56) winds around scenic southern, western and northern coasts. Inland, the main north-south road (N15) runs from Donegal town, through the 672m high Blue Stack Mountains via the Barnesmore Gap, to Ballybofey (Strabane) Letterkenny and Derry. Offshore the north-western islands make for summer excursions.

The 400 sq. mile terrain west of the Killybegs to Ardara road (N56) is probably the 'jewel in the crown' for the hiker or motorcyclist, with road from Ardara crossing the Glengesh Pass at 275m, with long winding dead-end lanes going into the hills or to hidden secluded beaches, harbours or sea-cliffs (Slieve League 595m).

Circuit from Donegal town (0km): West on N56 though Killybegs and then R263 through Kilcar and Carrick to Glencolmumbkille (52km). Take time to detour along the local roads by the bay and the "dead-end" roads to the Slieve League cliffs. Take a local road northeast from Glencolmcille over the Glengesh Pass to Ardara (76km), and then R261 via Portnoo to Maas (90km). Rejoin N56 to Dunloe & Gweedore 125km. About 3km after Gweedore take the R251 to Glenveagh National Park (140km). Continue on R251, R255 & N56 to Letterkenny 175km. A detour from here along the Fanad peninsula to the most northerly point of Ireland would add 135km to the trip. Alternatively continue south along the N56 & N15 to Ballybofey, the Barnsmore Gap & Lough Eask to Donegal Town (225km without detours, but a hard days riding).